Setting up a Cellular Connection

Prerequisites

  • Network configuration from your operator (APN, SIM PIN, credentials).

  • Administrative privileges on the gateway.

  • Console access to the gateway (monitor/keyboard/mouse, SSH, or serial).

  • Connected cellular antennas.

Steps

  1. Log in as root:

    $ sudo su

  2. Identify the modem interface (e.g., cdc-wdm0 for RM500Q):

    $ mmcli -L
/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [Quectel] RM500Q-GL

  3. Create a NetworkManager connection (replace my_cell_conn and cdc-wdm0 as needed):

    $ nmcli con add type gsm con-name my_cell_conn ifname cdc-wdm0

  4. Configure APN (if required):

    $ nmcli con modify my_cell_conn gsm.apn xxxx

  5. Configure SIM PIN (if required):

    $ nmcli con modify my_cell_conn gsm.pin xxxx

  6. Configure username (if required):

    $ nmcli con modify my_cell_conn gsm.username xxxx

  7. Configure password (if required):

    $ nmcli con modify my_cell_conn gsm.password xxxx

  8. Set route metric (optional):

    $ nmcli con modify my_cell_conn ipv4.route-metric 1

  9. Enable NetworkManager and ModemManager on boot:

    $ systemctl enable NetworkManager && systemctl enable ModemManager

  10. Reboot:

    $ reboot

  11. Verify the connection:

    $ nmcli dev status

Troubleshooting

If connectivity issues persist despite correct APN and SIM PIN:

  1. Log in as root:

    $ sudo su

  2. Stop NetworkManager and ModemManager:

    $ systemctl stop NetworkManager && systemctl stop ModemManager

  3. Identify the modem interface (e.g., wwan0 for RM500Q):

    $ mmcli -L
/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [Quectel] RM500Q-GL

  4. Obtain and prepare the ivecm tool (contact us for details):

    $ cd ~ && chmod +x ivecm

  5. Attempt connection using ivecm (replace placeholders):

    $ ./ivecm -s <apn> -p <simpin> -i wwan0

  6. If successful, configure with nmcli and reboot:

    $ reboot

  7. Verify connection:

    $ nmcli dev status

  8. Check modem status (replace identifier):

    $ mmcli -m 0

  9. If issues persist, try upgrading the modem firmware or contact us.

Advanced

To connect without rebooting

$ nmcli dev connect cdc-wdm0

For advanced NetworkManager usage, see the Arch Linux and Debian documentation.

For detailed modem operations, use ModemManager

  1. Find the modem identifier

    $ mmcli ls

  2. Request modem information

    $ mmcli -m 0

Use mmcli --help for more details. qmicli is available for low-level QMI communication. Stop ModemManager (systemctl stop ModemManager) before using qmicli.

For AT command communication:

  1. Find the modem identifier (see above).

  2. Request modem information (see above).

  3. (Optional) Disable ModemManager temporarily (systemctl disable ModemManager) and reboot. Re-enable later (systemctl enable ModemManager && systemctl start ModemManager).

  4. Establish a serial connection (replace /dev/ttyX)

$ picocom -b 115200 /dev/ttyX

Additional Resources