Adding OpenWrt support for ZTE MF286 3g/4g wifi router

Hi, im back . turning out my uboot wasnt wiped .. i just needed to plug usb cable and pw to get stable console.. I compiled fw based on 24.10 branch without ath9 stuff and included ath10k-ct unfortunetly no 5G wifi yet dunno why. Here link to firmwares including original one(DNA finnish?) to restore. If you have solution to wifi write me :slight_smile:

timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:16:00 2025 cron.err crond[1886]: USER root pid 9439 cmd /usr/bin/lite_watchdog.sh 120 3 162.159.192.1 3 wan
Mon Aug 11 16:17:00 2025 cron.err crond[1886]: USER root pid 9454 cmd /usr/bin/lite_watchdog.sh 120 3 162.159.192.1 3 wan
Mon Aug 11 16:18:00 2025 cron.err crond[1886]: USER root pid 9477 cmd /usr/bin/lite_watchdog.sh 120 3 162.159.192.1 3 wan
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 user.notice LITE-WATCHDOG: Restart modem on port: "/dev/ttyUSB1".
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9498): Stopping network 4G
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9498): Command failed: ubus call network.interface notify_proto { "action": 0, "link-up": false, "keep": false, "interface": "4G" } (Permission denied)
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is now down
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is setting up now
Mon Aug 11 16:18:01 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Waiting for SIM initialization
Mon Aug 11 16:18:05 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:18:07 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:18:07 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Failed to parse message data
Mon Aug 11 16:18:07 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Mon Aug 11 16:18:08 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:18:08 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): "Failed to connect to service"
Mon Aug 11 16:18:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:18:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9513): "Failed to connect to service"
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.238599] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 4
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.244443] option1 ttyUSB0: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.252919] option 1-1:1.2: device disconnected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.258041] option1 ttyUSB1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.266498] option 1-1:1.3: device disconnected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.271620] option1 ttyUSB2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.280079] option 1-1:1.4: device disconnected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:16 2025 kern.info kernel: [  744.312731] qmi_wwan 1-1:1.5 wwan0: unregister 'qmi_wwan' usb-1b000000.usb-1, WWAN/QMI device
Mon Aug 11 16:18:17 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9706): Stopping network 4G
Mon Aug 11 16:18:17 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9706): Command failed: ubus call network.interface notify_proto { "action": 0, "link-up": false, "keep": false, "interface": "4G" } (Permission denied)
Mon Aug 11 16:18:17 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is now down
Mon Aug 11 16:18:36 2025 kern.info kernel: [  764.792680] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 5 using ehci-platform
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.004598] option 1-1:1.2: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.011220] usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.019033] option 1-1:1.3: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.025637] usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.033458] option 1-1:1.4: GSM modem (1-port) converter detected
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.040009] usb 1-1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.074667] qmi_wwan 1-1:1.5: cdc-wdm0: USB WDM device
Mon Aug 11 16:18:37 2025 kern.info kernel: [  765.080874] qmi_wwan 1-1:1.5 wwan0: register 'qmi_wwan' at usb-1b000000.usb-1, WWAN/QMI device, 42:f5:ee:a3:44:2f
Mon Aug 11 16:18:38 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is setting up now
Mon Aug 11 16:18:38 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9912): Waiting for SIM initialization
Mon Aug 11 16:18:41 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9912): Failed to parse message data
Mon Aug 11 16:18:41 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9912): PIN verification is disabled
Mon Aug 11 16:18:42 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9912): Device does not support 802.3 mode. Informing driver of raw-ip only for wwan0 ..
Mon Aug 11 16:19:00 2025 cron.err crond[1886]: user root: process already running: /usr/bin/lite_watchdog.sh 120 3 162.159.192.1 3 wan
Mon Aug 11 16:19:05 2025 user.notice LITE-WATCHDOG: Restarting network interface: "4G".
Mon Aug 11 16:19:05 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9968): Stopping network 4G
Mon Aug 11 16:19:05 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (9968): Command failed: ubus call network.interface notify_proto { "action": 0, "link-up": false, "keep": false, "interface": "4G" } (Permission denied)
Mon Aug 11 16:19:05 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is now down
Mon Aug 11 16:19:10 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is setting up now
Mon Aug 11 16:19:10 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Waiting for SIM initialization
Mon Aug 11 16:19:14 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:19:16 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:19:16 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Failed to parse message data
Mon Aug 11 16:19:16 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Mon Aug 11 16:19:17 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:19:17 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): "Failed to connect to service"
Mon Aug 11 16:19:21 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): Request timed out
Mon Aug 11 16:19:21 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (10067): "Unknown error"

Frequently the modem takes too much time to start internet working, sometimes take a hour, and i need to reboot.

Show this on log, i tried with 2 sim card’s from different ISP’s, and have the same problem, ramdomly disconnects, and show this messages on log.

The same sim card’s on another modem (MF79U) work’s fine.

My device is MF286C, i tried MF286C snapshot, and using now the MF286A build.

Update: i’m testing network manager, and this solve the problem, modem reconnect’s fast if ISP drop’s connection, and detect the connection loss without script’s, but the CPU usage are higher, on Wi-Fi, can do only 65Mbps :frowning:

The uqmi/qmi celullar option on openwrt is bad option for stability and confiability, the connection goes down and won’t come back until you reboot the router, modem manager work’s better, but uses high CPU…

 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:28 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:34:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:34:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:34:36 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:36 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:34:40 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:40 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:34:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:34:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:34:48 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:48 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:34:52 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:52 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:34:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:34:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:34:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:35:00 2025 cron.err crond[2127]: USER root pid 5731 cmd /usr/bin/lite_watchdog.sh 120 3 162.159.192.1 6 wan
Tue Aug 26 10:35:00 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:00 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:04 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:04 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:11 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:11 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:35:11 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:35:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:16 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:16 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:23 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:23 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:35:23 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:35:24 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:24 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:28 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:28 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:35:35 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:35:36 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:36 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:40 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:40 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:35:47 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM
Tue Aug 26 10:35:48 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:48 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:52 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:52 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): "Failed to connect to service"
Tue Aug 26 10:35:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Request timed out
Tue Aug 26 10:35:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): Failed to parse message data
Tue Aug 26 10:35:59 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (5511): SIM in illegal state - Power-cycling SIM

The modem manager run with QMI, but CPU run at 100% with 100Mbps donwload on ethernet, Wi-Fi only do 60Mbps.

daemon.info [2330]: <inf> [modem0] already registered automatically in network '72411', automatic registration not launched...
Tue Aug 26 10:50:09 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (7/10): wait to get packet service state attached
Tue Aug 26 10:50:09 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (8/10): bearer
Tue Aug 26 10:50:09 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (9/10): connect
Tue Aug 26 10:50:09 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (registered -> connecting)
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1] QMI IPv4 Settings:
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     address: 177.163.27.127/24
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     gateway: 177.163.27.128
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     DNS #1: 187.50.250.115
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     DNS #2: 187.50.250.215
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]        MTU: 1500
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1] QMI IPv6 Settings:
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     address: 2804:18:7821:af88:68a7:125:951:4036/64
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     gateway: 2804:18:7821:af88:a991:da62:84d4:359a/64
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     DNS #1: 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::115
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]     DNS #2: 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::215
Tue Aug 26 10:50:11 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0/bearer1]        MTU: 1500
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] state changed (connecting -> connected)
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice [2330]: <msg> [modem0] simple connect state (10/10): all done
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): successfully connected the modem
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): signal refresh rate is not set
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): network operator name: VIVO
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): network operator MCCMNC: 72411
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): registration type: home
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): access technology: lte
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): signal quality: 86%
Tue Aug 26 10:50:12 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): IPv4 connection setup required in interface 4G: static
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding IPv4 address 177.163.27.127, netmask 255.255.255.0
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding default IPv4 route via 177.163.27.128
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding primary DNS at 187.50.250.115
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding secondary DNS at 187.50.250.215
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface '4G' is now up
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'wwan0' link is up
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: reading /tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 187.50.250.115#53
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 187.50.250.215#53
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for test
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for onion
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for localhost
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for local
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for invalid
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for bind
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using only locally-known addresses for lan
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): IPv6 connection setup required in interface 4G: static
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding IPv6 address 2804:18:7821:af88:68a7:125:951:4036, prefix 64
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding default IPv6 route via 2804:18:7821:af88:a991:da62:84d4:359a
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding primary DNS at 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::115
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.notice netifd: 4G (4258): adding secondary DNS at 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::215
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: reading /tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 187.50.250.115#53
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 187.50.250.215#53
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::115#53
Tue Aug 26 10:50:13 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: using nameserver 2001:12e0:0:1025:a080::215#53

I have a ZTE MF286C modem with Claro firmware CR_CLAROBRAMF286CV1.0.0B04. Can I help you in any way to bring official support to it?

Official openwrt 25.12 rc1 on mf286c

Which installation method?

depends on which MF286 you've got (most probably serial though) ?

I have the MF286C. Software CR_CLAROBRAMF286CV1.0.0B04