Configuring ZTE MF286 with MF286R on 23.05.5

Hi,
I finally got flashed an ZTE MF286 with MF286R OWRT v.23.05.5 firmware.
The problem was that there on router was written that it is MF286 model. There was no place that I could find MF286R.
So I used MF286 firmware and got "Kernel panic..." on initramfs boot.
But then I observed, that flash layout output (cat /proc/mtd) is the same as on MF286R page: https://openwrt.org/toh/zte/mf286r#method_2_-_using_stock_firmware
So I took the firmware files from there.
So now I have flashed it. :slight_smile:

And question is - can I relay on cpuinfo and so is it really MF286R?

cat /proc/cpuinfo:

system type		: Qualcomm Atheros QCA956X ver 1 rev 0
machine			: ZTE MF286R
processor		: 0
cpu model		: MIPS 74Kc V5.0
BogoMIPS		: 385.84
wait instruction	: yes
microsecond timers	: yes
tlb_entries		: 32
extra interrupt vector	: yes
hardware watchpoint	: yes, count: 4, address/irw mask: [0x0ffc, 0x0ffc, 0x0ffb, 0x0ffb]
isa			: mips1 mips2 mips32r1 mips32r2
ASEs implemented	: mips16 dsp dsp2
Options implemented	: tlb 4kex 4k_cache prefetch mcheck ejtag llsc dc_aliases perf_cntr_intr_bit cdmm contextconfig perf mm_full
shadow register sets	: 1
kscratch registers	: 0
package			: 0
core			: 0
VCED exceptions		: not available
VCEI exceptions		: not available

If so I just need to figure out how to configure modem with sim...

brgds
p.s. I have photos and console outputs so if needed I can post/send...

Please refer to https://openwrt.org/toh/zte/mf286r#basic_configuration

Huh, stuck at "Failed to get modem information"

Tried different versions:

Where to look?

brgds

Show the output of cat /sys/kernel/debug/usb/devices
No pictures please.

This suggests MF286A - if the flash layout matches. Does your MAC address match and do you have both bands of Wi-Fi?

cat /sys/kernel/debug/usb/devices:

T:  Bus=01 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#=  1 Spd=480  MxCh= 1
B:  Alloc=  0/800 us ( 0%), #Int=  1, #Iso=  0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev= 5.15
S:  Manufacturer=Linux 5.15.167 ehci_hcd
S:  Product=EHCI Host Controller
S:  SerialNumber=1b000000.usb
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=  0mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   4 Ivl=256ms

T:  Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#=  2 Spd=480  MxCh= 0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=19d2 ProdID=1432 Rev= 0.00
S:  Manufacturer=ZTE,Incorporated
S:  Product=ZTE Technologies MSM
S:  SerialNumber=Z70000ATTD000000
C:* #Ifs= 5 Cfg#= 1 Atr=a0 MxPwr=500mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=option
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=option
E:  Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=  10 Ivl=32ms
E:  Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 2 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=option
E:  Ad=85(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=  10 Ivl=32ms
E:  Ad=84(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=03(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 3 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=qmi_wwan
E:  Ad=87(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   8 Ivl=32ms
E:  Ad=86(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=04(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 4 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=42 Prot=01 Driver=(none)
E:  Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E:  Ad=88(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms

T:  Bus=02 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#=  1 Spd=480  MxCh= 1
B:  Alloc=  0/800 us ( 0%), #Int=  0, #Iso=  0
D:  Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs=  1
P:  Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev= 5.15
S:  Manufacturer=Linux 5.15.167 ehci_hcd
S:  Product=EHCI Host Controller
S:  SerialNumber=1b400000.usb
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=  0mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub  ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS=   4 Ivl=256ms

Should I try to check the driver?
Used to do so on ubuntu similar things loong time ago...

then you need to follow
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wan/wwan/ltedongle

ATI
Manufacturer: ZTE CORPORATION
Model: MF286MODULE
Revision: BD_MF286MODULEV1.0.0B05
IMEI: _replaced_
+GCAP: +CGSM

now trying to figure out are there all needed drivers and packages...

There are none, if you can copy/paste the sample config from the wiki.

Hmm, mac address match - match with?

Yes I have dual band wifi.

I suppose the question is about what is reported by OpenWrt vs. printed on the sticker.

Hmm, there are no mac addres, just IMEI and that is the same.

WLAN SSID on the sticker contains the end of one of the MACs. This is what I see on my 286D.

Hmm, o'k - now I see. There are part of SSID on label with six characters.
Last four characters are the same, bit first two differs from mac I can see on owrt wireless overview.

But I have another problem:

Tue Feb 18 20:15:19 2025 daemon.notice netifd: mWAN (12874): Command failed: ubus call network.interface notify_proto { "action": 0, "link-up": false, "keep": false, "interface": "mWAN" } (Permission denied)

What I did wrong?

BTW: how could I tell what mode/protocol my modem is supposed to use?
Following this page: https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wan/wwan/ltedongle

I gave you a hint earlier when I quoted a line from your post:

Copy/paste QMI interface configuration example to your /etc/config/network, configure the proper APN then save and reboot.
Then if you have no connection over mobile network, open two ssh sessions. Run in the first logread -f and in the other one ifup wwan
Let it run in the 1st window for ~30 sec then stop with ^C and post the log here (as preformatted text).

The reason why I am asking is because this command

AT+QCFG="usbnet"	# check the current mode

Does not work on my modem:

root@OpenWrt:~# picocom /dev/ttyUSB1
picocom v3.1

port is        : /dev/ttyUSB1
flowcontrol    : none
baudrate is    : 9600
parity is      : none
databits are   : 8
stopbits are   : 1
escape is      : C-a
local echo is  : no
noinit is      : no
noreset is     : no
hangup is      : no
nolock is      : no
send_cmd is    : sz -vv
receive_cmd is : rz -vv -E
imap is        : 
omap is        : 
emap is        : crcrlf,delbs,
logfile is     : none
initstring     : none
exit_after is  : not set
exit is        : no

Type [C-a] [C-h] to see available commands
Terminal ready
AT+QSFG="usbnet"
ERROR

Do you see any sign that your modem is manufactured by Quectel?
I put the following note on the wiki page to avoid such situations:

don't expect these proprietary commands to work on devices from other manufacturers

So am I right that from ATI command follows that it is some ZTE model?
And I should find those AT commands to get mode?

But, any way - I got it working :slight_smile:
Probably missed some restart or messed with wwan connected by wifi at the same time or even no credit on SIM. :see_no_evil:

Thank you - solved!

Yeah, only the suffix is supposed to match.

You have a MF286A, 100%.