I'm working on an HP machine with Ubuntu 16.04 installed and kernel 4.10.0-42-generic #46~16.04.1-Ubuntu. I want to use a Huawei ME906s-158 to connect to a mobile network, which is unfortunately mostly not working.
If I plug in the device, I can sometimes use it as expected with the graphical network manager tool. But after a few minutes (mostly after only a few seconds) the connection suddenly disappears without any error message. The network manager shows the device under wired connections as Ethernet Network and disconnected, and it is grayed-out. Often it is not detected as mobile broadband device at all and is shown as wired connection as described before.
I googled a lot but found no solution, which is why I try to get your help here. Please tell me which information you need to help me, these are things I tried:
i) This is the output of "dmesg" when no connection is established
[10396.949204] usb 3-13.1: new high-speed USB device number 11 using xhci_hcd
[10397.050249] usb 3-13.1: New USB device found, idVendor=12d1, idProduct=15c1
[10397.050253] usb 3-13.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[10397.050255] usb 3-13.1: Product: HUAWEI Mobile
[10397.050256] usb 3-13.1: Manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
[10397.050258] usb 3-13.1: SerialNumber: 0123456789ABCDEF
[10397.053658] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 usb0: register 'cdc_ether' at usb-0000:00:14.0-13.1, CDC Ethernet Device, 02:1e:10:1f:00:00
[10397.054034] option 3-13.1:2.2: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10397.054182] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[10397.054423] option 3-13.1:2.3: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10397.054564] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[10397.054772] option 3-13.1:2.4: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10397.054905] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[10397.055098] option 3-13.1:2.5: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10397.055220] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3
[10397.055427] option 3-13.1:2.6: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10397.055559] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB4
[10397.089063] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: renamed from usb0
[10397.139964] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): enp0s20u13u1c2: link is not ready
[10397.140197] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: kevent 12 may have been dropped
[10397.145814] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): enp0s20u13u1c2: link is not ready
[10413.066889] usb 3-13.1: USB disconnect, device number 11
[10413.066968] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: unregister 'cdc_ether' usb-0000:00:14.0-13.1, CDC Ethernet Device
[10413.089680] option1 ttyUSB0: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[10413.089692] option 3-13.1:2.2: device disconnected
[10413.089816] option1 ttyUSB1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1
[10413.089822] option 3-13.1:2.3: device disconnected
[10413.089926] option1 ttyUSB2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
[10413.089935] option 3-13.1:2.4: device disconnected
[10413.090035] option1 ttyUSB3: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
[10413.090043] option 3-13.1:2.5: device disconnected
[10413.090175] option1 ttyUSB4: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB4
[10413.090182] option 3-13.1:2.6: device disconnected
Always if the connection could be established for short time, dmesg shows:
[10981.483608] usb 3-13.1: new high-speed USB device number 39 using xhci_hcd
[10981.584906] usb 3-13.1: New USB device found, idVendor=12d1, idProduct=15c1
[10981.584909] usb 3-13.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[10981.584911] usb 3-13.1: Product: HUAWEI Mobile
[10981.584913] usb 3-13.1: Manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
[10981.584914] usb 3-13.1: SerialNumber: xxx
[10981.588332] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 usb0: register 'cdc_ether' at usb-0000:00:14.0-13.1, CDC Ethernet Device, 02:1e:10:1f:00:00
[10981.588725] option 3-13.1:2.2: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10981.588837] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[10981.589089] option 3-13.1:2.3: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10981.589202] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[10981.589417] option 3-13.1:2.4: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10981.589505] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[10981.589703] option 3-13.1:2.5: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10981.589784] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3
[10981.589992] option 3-13.1:2.6: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
[10981.590075] usb 3-13.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB4
[10981.632588] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: renamed from usb0
[10981.675707] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): enp0s20u13u1c2: link is not ready
[10981.675926] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: kevent 12 may have been dropped
[10981.680673] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): enp0s20u13u1c2: link is not ready
[11012.270567] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): enp0s20u13u1c2: link becomes ready
[11012.270577] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: kevent 12 may have been dropped
[11012.275779] cdc_ether 3-13.1:2.0 enp0s20u13u1c2: kevent 12 may have been dropped
ii) "lsusb -v" shows:
Bus 003 Device 018: ID 12d1:15c1 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 2.10
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 255
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x12d1 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
idProduct 0x15c1
bcdDevice 1.02
iManufacturer 1 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
iProduct 2 HUAWEI Mobile
iSerial 3 xxx
bNumConfigurations 3
Configuration Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 2
wTotalLength 301
bNumInterfaces 6
bConfigurationValue 1
iConfiguration 0
bmAttributes 0xa0
(Bus Powered)
Remote Wakeup
MaxPower 2mA
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 0
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 3
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 6
bInterfaceProtocol 16
iInterface 7 Huawei Mobile Connect - Modem
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 00 10 01
** UNRECOGNIZED: 04 24 02 02
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 01 00 00
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 06 00 00
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
bmAttributes 3
Transfer Type Interrupt
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x000a 1x 10 bytes
bInterval 9
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Interface Descriptor:
bLength 9
bDescriptorType 4
bInterfaceNumber 1
bAlternateSetting 0
bNumEndpoints 2
bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
bInterfaceSubClass 6
bInterfaceProtocol 19
iInterface 8 Huawei Mobile Connect - Application
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 00 10 01
** UNRECOGNIZED: 04 24 02 02
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 01 00 01
** UNRECOGNIZED: 05 24 06 00 00
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
Endpoint Descriptor:
bLength 7
bDescriptorType 5
bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
bmAttributes 2
Transfer Type Bulk
Synch Type None
Usage Type Data
wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
bInterval 0
... (do you need the full information, it has more than max. allowed characters?)
iii) "usb-devices" shows:
T: Bus=03 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=08 Cnt=03 Dev#= 44 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.10 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=ff MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 3
P: Vendor=12d1 ProdID=15c1 Rev=01.02
S: Manufacturer=Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
S: Product=HUAWEI Mobile
S: SerialNumber=xxx
C: #Ifs= 7 Cfg#= 2 Atr=a0 MxPwr=2mA
I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=02(commc) Sub=06 Prot=00 Driver=cdc_ether
I: If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=0a(data ) Sub=06 Prot=00 Driver=cdc_ether
I: If#= 2 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=06 Prot=10 Driver=option
I: If#= 3 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=06 Prot=13 Driver=option
I: If#= 4 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=06 Prot=12 Driver=option
I: If#= 5 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=06 Prot=14 Driver=option
I: If#= 6 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=06 Prot=1b Driver=option
Interestingly the device is sometimes not listed in usb-devices and lsusb.
iv) "mmcli -L" shows
No modems were found
or if a connection is possible:
Found 1 modems:
/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/16 [Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.] ME906s-158
If a modem is detected I can use "sudo mmcli -m xx" (here xx=16), showing:
/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/17 (device id '8f2c1ff8885e6c1f5b123a3b7382aa49353c683c')
-------------------------
Hardware | manufacturer: 'Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.'
| model: 'ME906s-158'
| revision: '11.617.04.00.00'
| supported: 'gsm-umts'
| current: 'gsm-umts'
| equipment id: '867160025875216'
-------------------------
System | device: '/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb3/3-10'
| drivers: 'option1, cdc_ether'
| plugin: 'Huawei'
| primary port: 'ttyUSB0'
| ports: 'ttyUSB0 (at), enp0s20u10c2 (net), ttyUSB2 (at), ttyUSB3 (at)'
-------------------------
Numbers | own : 'unknown'
-------------------------
Status | lock: 'none'
| unlock retries: 'sim-pin (3), sim-pin2 (3), sim-puk (10), sim-puk2 (10)'
| state: 'connected'
| power state: 'on'
| access tech: 'lte'
| signal quality: '48' (recent)
-------------------------
Modes | supported: 'allowed: 4g; preferred: none
| allowed: 3g; preferred: none
| allowed: 2g; preferred: none
| allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: none'
| current: 'allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: none'
-------------------------
Bands | supported: 'unknown'
| current: 'unknown'
-------------------------
IP | supported: 'ipv4'
-------------------------
3GPP | imei: 'xxx'
| enabled locks: 'none'
| operator id: 'xxx'
| operator name: 'xxx xx'
| subscription: 'unknown'
| registration: 'home'
-------------------------
SIM | path: '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SIM/10'
-------------------------
Bearers | paths: '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Bearer/8'
v) The behavior seemed to occur suddenly. I bought these modules about a month ago and tried them to check whether they are defective or OK, and I can't remember that I experienced similar behavior. It then occured yesterday after the cards where stored in my cupboard.
vi) I tried to setup udev rules, as it is recommended in several forums. I installed usb_modeswitch in version
usb_modeswitch: handle USB devices with multiple modes
* Version 2.5.0 (C) Josua Dietze 2017
* Based on libusb1/libusbx
and added
ATTR{idVendor}=="12d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="15c1", RUN+="usb_modeswitch -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15c1 -u 3"
to the "40-usb_modeswitch.rules" file in the beginning, but it did not help.
vii) If I try "usb_modeswitch -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15c1 -u 3" in the console it shows:
Look for default devices ...
product ID matched
Get the current device configuration ...
Found devices in default mode (1)
Access device 120 on bus 003
Get the current device configuration ...
Current configuration number is 2
Use interface number 0
with class 2
USB description data (for identification)
-------------------------
Manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product: HUAWEI Mobile
Serial No.: xxx
-------------------------
Change configuration to 3 ...
Device is busy, try to detach kernel driver
Looking for active driver ...
OK, driver detached
Device is busy, try to detach kernel driver
Looking for active driver ...
No active driver found. Detached before or never attached
Device is busy, try to detach kernel driver
Looking for active driver ...
No active driver found. Detached before or never attached
Device is busy, try to detach kernel driver
Looking for active driver ...
No active driver found. Detached before or never attached
Changing the configuration failed (error -6). Try to continue
-> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye!
viii) I'm not bound to the network-manager, and tried to setup the connections in its files directly, but the same behavior occured. Until now I did not install other software to setup the my connection. Should I give it a try? Can't I do it without installing another tons of libaries?
ix) This strange behavior occurs with three devices of the same type and three SIM-cards, also of the same type and provider. I also tried to get the modem working on two more computers, one (near) fresh Ubuntu 16.04 installation and one Ubuntu 17 installation. The behavior is the same on both. Until now I did not test with SIM cards of other providers, I will try to do so as soon as possible.
Is there anybody who can help or knows the problem? Thank you very much for your help. Martin
