4G USB dongle (YONIS)

[caetano]

I'm trying to connect this 4G USB dongle using the default Network settings GUI Tool in Cinnamon (Mint 18.3) but I wonder if my dongle is compatible because when I go in "Mobile Broadband" and click on "Add connection", nothing happens.

[JerryF]

Let's start off by some information.

With the USB dongle plugged in:

From a Terminal windows, run these two commands and post each one:

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inxi -Fxz

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lsusb

[caetano]

I post them below but before that, I should precise that for some reason I can't bring back the "Mobile Broadband". I didn't delete it so I don't know why it's not coming back when I plug the dongle. I even restarted the computer to see if it would come back.
However my dongle still shows up in the Wi-Fi networks (it does both 4G and Wi-Fi).

$ inxi -Fxz :

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System:    Host: caetano-Lenovo-Z50-70 Kernel: 4.13.0-43-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine:   System: LENOVO (portable) product: 20354 v: Lenovo Z50-70
           Mobo: LENOVO model: Lancer 5A5 v: 31900058WIN
           Bios: LENOVO v: 9BCN26WW date: 07/31/2014
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-4510U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10375
           clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 1086 MHz 2: 1489 MHz 3: 1345 MHz
           4: 1458 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Card-2: NVIDIA GF117M [GeForce 610M/710M/810M/820M / GT 620M/625M/630M/720M]
           bus-ID: 03:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 driver: nvidia
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.05hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 820M/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 390.48 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 Intel 8 Series HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Card-2 Intel Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:03.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.13.0-43-generic
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 5000 bus-ID: 01:00.0
           IF: enp1s0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8723BE PCIe Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: rtl8723be port: 4000 bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1000.2GB (66.8% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST1000LM024_HN size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 83G used: 51G (65%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: /home size: 825G used: 563G (72%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 10.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda4
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 46.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:45C
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 228 Uptime: 14 min Memory: 1312.2/3836.8MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

In lsusb the dongle shows as:

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Bus 002 Device 007: ID 05c6:f000 Qualcomm, Inc. 

[JeremyB]

What is result for

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ls /dev | grep sr

[caetano]

this :

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sr0
sr1

[JeremyB]

Try

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eject /dev/sr1

See if lsusb results have changed

[caetano]

So it seems mobile broadband appears sometimes but it's hard to predict.

Right now it's not there but the device now shows a different name and ID in lsusb:

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Bus 002 Device 006: ID 05c6:6000 Qualcomm, Inc. Siemens SG75

[JeremyB]

Lets see if the command can be automated

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cd /usr/share/usb_modeswitch/
sudo tar -zxvf configPack.tar.gz

That will unpack the usb-modeswitch rules and hopefully you can reboot, plug in the dongle and use it

[phd21]

HI caetano,

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

FYI: Some hardware routers work with 3G/4G USB Dongles which may be an option for you to consider.

An example of a mini travel hardware router that is supposed to work with 3G/4G USB Dongles.

AmazonSmile: GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Mini Travel Router, Repeater Bridge, 300Mbps High Performance, 128MB RAM, OpenVPN Client, Tor Compatible
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1
...

[caetano]

phd21: I'd like to make sure if my dongle is not compatible before buying another one.
JeremyB: I tried what you suggested but it still doesn't work.
This is what I see:
https://i.imgur.com/Vl14aIQ.png
When I click on "Add new connection" nothing happens.

[phd21]

Hi caetano,

phd21: I'd like to make sure if my dongle is not compatible before buying another one.

I do not understand your reply? Buying another what, 4G dongle, or hardware router, etc...?

I think it is fine to try and get the 4G dongle working directly with your Linux Mint system. I only brought up the hardware router option because some of them claim to be plug-n-play with 3G/4G dongles, and you have a more secure connection because you have your own portable WiFi hotspot network with your secure login and password that all your devices could connect to.

[JeremyB]

Does the

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eject /dev/sr1

still make it work?

[caetano]

JeremyB I tried, to no avail:

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eject: unable to find or open device for: `/dev/sr1'

Here are other things I tried :

• going in /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules and adding this line (as I was recommended to by xenopeek on IRC):

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  SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="05c6", ATTR{idProduct}=="6000", RUN+="/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -W -v 05c6 -p 6000 -K"

• setting up a new Mobile Broadband by following these steps (didn't find a more recent tutorial). Maybe I should edit some fields afer the network is created but I'm not sure.

[JeremyB]

Lets try a test, edit /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf go to the line that is DisableSwitching=0 and make it DisableSwitching=1
Reboot and see if a CD-Rom device shows in file manager after plugging in the USB dongle and see if it works after ejecting it

[caetano]

When I disable switching it does appear as a CD but when I eject it with eject /dev/sr1 it soon reappears as a modem, then disappears again to reappear as a CD.

[JeremyB]

I am not sure if xenopeeks command is needed with usb switching on

[caetano]

I'm not using that command anymore. I updated usb-modeswitch to the latest version yesterday and the line I added (from xenopeek) disappeared after the installation.

However I've made progress in understanding the behavior of this dongle when plugged to a Linux Mint Cinnamon computer and let me tell you it's buggy as hell.

First off, it seems adding a Mobile Broadband connection manually was necessary.
When I plug the dongle (with switching enabled), it gets automatically ejected and connected back. But then it may get re-ejected and re-connected an unpredictable number of times (from 0 to ... enough times for me to reboot the computer).
At some point it may stay connected as a modem and the Mobile broadband first appears as unavailable but if I wait for a while, it becomes available. However I can't yet connect to it. I go to Network Settings > Mobile Broadband and click on the switch to turn it on which prompts me to enter my login keyring, so I enter it and then it prompts me to enter my Mobile Broadband Network Password, which I'm not sure what it is.
Once I enter a password (probably a wrong one), the pop-up closes and the Mobile Broadband is still off. When I click on the switch again to try to enter a different password, the switch immediately turns off again. In that instant, it displays the message "authentication required" but doesn't prompt me to enter a password anymore.
If I click on the switch multiple times, sometimes this other message briefly appears: "activation of network connection failed"
Sometimes clicking on the switch a few times ends up crashing Cinnamon.
Once Cinnamon is restarted, I can turn the switch on and it stays on but doesn't do anything.
Talk about a buggy network manager !

What I need to know right now is what this password prompt is referring to and where I can fnd it.

[JeremyB]

You may not need a username and password for the device connection settings

[caetano]

but it prompts me to enter one, so what can I do ?
I tried pressing enter without typing anything and the popup comes back.

[JeremyB]

Is there something in Network Manager, create new mobile broadband connection? I think most of these devices has the same issues and that is because there is a memory card on the USB with Windows drivers and that gets mounted. As long as you see ID 05c6:6000 Qualcomm, Inc. Siemens SG75 in lsusb results you should be able to use it