Option Globetrotter HSDPA USB Modem
Introduction
This example shows how to get the Option Globetrotter HSDPA USB Modem working with LMT (Latvian Mobile Telephone UMTS/GPRS networks), or with Amigo (GPRS network) in Latvia. Service in your country might have different requirements and strings, but this is just to give you an outline of what is required.
Hardware
Router Hardware: MikroTik Router with USB port(s) (RB230, any x86 system, or, RB433 when available with USB)
Router Software: RouterOS V3.x (works in v2.9.x as well)
USB Modem: Option N.V. Globetrotter HSDPA USB Modem H7.2
Manufacturer: Teltonika, model number U3G150
The USB Modem is recognized in RouterOS as an USB device and listed under the USB resources:
[admin@rb433_USB_test] /interface ppp-client> /system resource usb print # DEVICE VENDOR NAME SPEED 0 1:1 RB400 OHCI 12 Mbps 1 1:2 Option N.V. Globetrotter HSDPA Modem 12 Mbps [admin@rb433_USB_test] /interface ppp-client>
Make sure the USB ports are set to 9600:
[admin@rb433_USB_test] > /port print Flags: I - inactive # NAME USED-BY BAUD-RATE 0 serial0 Serial Console auto 1 usb1 9600 2 usb2 9600 3 usb3 9600 [admin@rb433_USB_test] >
Router Configuration for PPP
Copy and paste the following text into the router console:
/port set usb3 baud-rate=9600
/ppp profile
add name="ppp-LMT" remote-address=212.93.97.200
add name="ppp-Amigo" remote-address=212.93.97.200
/interface ppp-client
add name="ppp-lmt" modem-init="AT+CGDCONT=1,\"IP\",\"internet.lmt.lv\"" \
dial-command="ATDT" phone="*99***1#" profile=ppp-LMT \
user="" password="" \
add-default-route=yes use-peer-dns=yes\
port=usb3 disabled=yes
add name="ppp-amigo" modem-init="AT+CGDCONT=1,\"IP\",\"amigo.lv\"" \
dial-command="ATDT" phone="*99***1#" profile=ppp-Amigo \
user="amigo" password="amigo" \
add-default-route=yes use-peer-dns=yes\
port=usb3 disabled=yes
The first command sets the baud rate of USB port (our modem uses USB3). Next, two profiles are created (because we have two different SIM cards from two providers). Then, ppp-client interfaces are created (adjust your peer-dns and default-route settings according to what you want to do over that interface).
Enable the ppp-lmt interface and watch the logs to see how the connection is being established over the USB modem:
00:54:06 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: initializing... 00:54:06 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: reseting link... 00:54:06 system,info device changed by admin 00:54:07 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: initializing modem... 00:54:07 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: dialing out... 00:54:07 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: authenticated 00:54:10 system,info dns changed 00:54:10 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: connected
Check the addresses and routes! In our case we have:
[admin@rb433_USB_test] > /ip address print Flags: X - disabled, I - invalid, D - dynamic # ADDRESS NETWORK BROADCAST INTERFACE 0 D 10.5.8.62/24 10.5.8.0 10.5.8.255 ether1 1 D 10.34.252.96/32 212.93.97.200 0.0.0.0 ppp-lmt [admin@rb433_USB_test] > /ip route print Flags: X - disabled, A - active, D - dynamic, C - connect, S - static, r - rip, b - bgp, o - ospf, m - mme, B - blackhole, U - unreachable, P - prohibit # DST-ADDRESS PREF-SRC G GATEWAY DISTANCE INTER... 0 ADS 0.0.0.0/0 r 212.93.97.200 1 ppp-lmt 1 ADC 10.5.8.0/24 10.5.8.62 0 ether1 2 ADC 212.93.97.200/32 10.34.252.96 0 ppp-lmt [admin@rb433_USB_test] >
You may need to use masquerade to hide your private network when going out through the ppp.
Troubleshooting
1. If you do not get "authenticated" and "connected", then there is something wrong with your settings. Most likely, the profile or the ppp-client interface settings should be changed to match your provider's requirements.
2. If the USB port is not set to 9600 baud rate, there will be log message when you try to run the ppp client:
00:08:50 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: initializing... 00:08:50 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: reseting link... 00:08:50 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: reseting link... - could not acquire serial port 00:08:50 async,ppp,info ppp-lmt: disconnected
3. You can check if you can communicate with the USB modem by using the serial-terminal. Make sure the ppp-client is disabled! Start the serial terminal and run some AT commands:
[admin@rb433_USB_test] > system serial-terminal usb3 [Ctrl-A is the prefix key] AT OK AT+CSQ +CSQ: 12,99 OK
This must be okay, because the modem responds to your commands. Quit the serial terminal with "Ctrl-A" and "Q":
[Q - quit connection] [B - send break] [A - send Ctrl-A prefix] [R - autoconfigure rate] Welcome back! [admin@rb433_USB_test] >
4. Turn off PIN request for your SIM card, it makes the life much easier. Do it in a phone if you do not know the correct AT command.
Additional Resources
Huawei_EVDO WiKi Page with similar setup for a PCMCIA modem
Teltonika HomePage of the USB modem manufacturer