MiniPCIe LTE module, shown as USB

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I'm using a minipcie port to connect a LTE module (simcom-SIM7600 / quectel-UC20).

1000Ă—1000

I've tried installing the packages mentioned in openwrt's tutorials (like this one and this one)

list of all my installed packages is mentioned below:

base-files - 204.2-r11306-c4a6851c72
block-mount - 2020-05-12-84269037-1
busybox - 1.30.1-6
cgi-io - 19
chat - 2.4.7.git-2019-05-25-3
collectd - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-cpu - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-interface - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-iwinfo - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-load - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-memory - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-network - 5.12.0-1
collectd-mod-rrdtool - 5.12.0-1
comgt - 0.32-33
dbus - 1.12.12-1
ddns-scripts - 2.7.8-13
dnsmasq - 2.80-16.3
dropbear - 2019.78-2
dtc - 1.5.0-1
fdisk - 2.34-1
firewall - 2019-11-22-8174814a-3
fstools - 2020-05-12-84269037-1
fwtool - 2
getrandom - 2019-06-16-4df34a4d-3
glib2 - 2.58.3-5
hostapd-common - 2019-08-08-ca8c2bd2-7
ip-tiny - 5.0.0-2.1
ip6tables - 1.8.3-1
iptables - 1.8.3-1
iptables-mod-conntrack-extra - 1.8.3-1
iptables-mod-ipopt - 1.8.3-1
iw - 5.0.1-1
iwinfo - 2019-10-16-07315b6f-1
jshn - 2020-05-25-66195aee-1
jsonfilter - 2018-02-04-c7e938d6-1
kernel - 4.14.221-1-18384755d38fc43c447d83d4a3e07054
kmod-cfg80211 - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-crypto-crc32c - 4.14.221-1
kmod-crypto-hash - 4.14.221-1
kmod-fs-ext4 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-gpio-button-hotplug - 4.14.221-3
kmod-ifb - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ip6tables - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-conntrack - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-conntrack-extra - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-core - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-ipopt - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-nat - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-offload - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ipt-raw - 4.14.221-1
kmod-leds-gpio - 4.14.221-1
kmod-lib-crc-ccitt - 4.14.221-1
kmod-lib-crc16 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-mac80211 - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-mii - 4.14.221-1
kmod-mmc - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-conntrack - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-conntrack-netlink - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-conntrack6 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-flow - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-ipt - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-ipt6 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-nat - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-reject - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nf-reject6 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nfnetlink - 4.14.221-1
kmod-nls-base - 4.14.221-1
kmod-ppp - 4.14.221-1
kmod-pppoe - 4.14.221-1
kmod-pppox - 4.14.221-1
kmod-rt2800-lib - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-rt2800-mmio - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-rt2800-soc - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-rt2x00-lib - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-rt2x00-mmio - 4.14.221+4.19.161-1-1
kmod-sched-connmark - 4.14.221-1
kmod-sched-core - 4.14.221-1
kmod-scsi-core - 4.14.221-1
kmod-sdhci-mt7620 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-slhc - 4.14.221-1
kmod-udptunnel4 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-udptunnel6 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-core - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-ehci - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-ledtrig-usbport - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-net - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-net-cdc-mbim - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-net-cdc-ncm - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-net-qmi-wwan - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-ohci - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-serial - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-serial-option - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-serial-wwan - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-storage - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb-wdm - 4.14.221-1
kmod-usb2 - 4.14.221-1
kmod-wireguard - 4.14.221+1.0.20200611-2
libattr - 2.4.48-1
libblkid1 - 2.34-1
libblobmsg-json - 2020-05-25-66195aee-1
libc - 1.1.24-2
libcap - 2.27-1
libdbus - 1.12.12-1
libelf1 - 0.177-1
libexpat - 2.2.9-1
libfdisk1 - 2.34-1
libffi - 3.3-2
libgcc1 - 7.5.0-2
libip4tc2 - 1.8.3-1
libip6tc2 - 1.8.3-1
libiwinfo-lua - 2019-10-16-07315b6f-1
libiwinfo20181126 - 2019-10-16-07315b6f-1
libjson-c2 - 0.12.1-3.1
libjson-script - 2020-05-25-66195aee-1
libltdl7 - 2.4.6-2
liblua5.1.5 - 5.1.5-3
liblucihttp-lua - 2019-07-05-a34a17d5-1
liblucihttp0 - 2019-07-05-a34a17d5-1
libmbim - 1.22.0-2
libmnl0 - 1.0.4-2
libncurses6 - 6.1-5
libnl-tiny - 0.1-5
libpthread - 1.1.24-2
libqmi - 1.24.12-1
librrd1 - 1.0.50-3
librt - 1.1.24-2
libsmartcols1 - 2.34-1
libubox20191228 - 2020-05-25-66195aee-1
libubus-lua - 2019-12-27-041c9d1c-1
libubus20191227 - 2019-12-27-041c9d1c-1
libuci20130104 - 2019-09-01-415f9e48-4
libuclient20160123 - 2020-06-17-51e16ebf-1
libuuid1 - 2.34-1
libxtables12 - 1.8.3-1
logd - 2019-06-16-4df34a4d-3
lua - 5.1.5-3
luci - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-argon-config - 0.8-beta
luci-app-ddns - 2.4.9-7
luci-app-firewall - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-nlbwmon - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-opkg - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-qos - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-statistics - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-upnp - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-watchcat - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-wifischedule - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-app-wireguard - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-base - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-compat - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-lib-ip - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-lib-ipkg - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-lib-iptparser - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-lib-jsonc - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-lib-nixio - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-mod-admin-full - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-mod-network - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-mod-status - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-mod-system - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-proto-3g - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-proto-ipv6 - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-proto-ppp - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-proto-wireguard - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
luci-theme-argon - 2.2.5-20200914
luci-theme-bootstrap - git-21.107.58152-c19c716-1
minicom - 2.7.1-1
miniupnpd - 2.2.0-4
modemmanager - 1.12.10-2
mtd - 24
netifd - 2021-01-09-753c351b-1
nlbwmon - 2020-04-11.1-34a18876-3
odhcp6c - 2021-01-09-64e1b4e7-16
odhcpd-ipv6only - 2020-05-03-49e4949c-3
openwrt-keyring - 2019-07-25-8080ef34-1
opkg - 2021-01-31-c5dccea9-1
ppp - 2.4.7.git-2019-05-25-3
ppp-mod-pppoe - 2.4.7.git-2019-05-25-3
procd - 2020-03-07-09b9bd82-1
qmi-utils - 1.24.12-1
qos-scripts - 1.3.1-2
rpcd - 2020-05-26-67c8a3fd-1
rpcd-mod-file - 2020-05-26-67c8a3fd-1
rpcd-mod-iwinfo - 2020-05-26-67c8a3fd-1
rpcd-mod-luci - 20201107
rpcd-mod-rrdns - 20170710
rrdtool1 - 1.0.50-3
shadow-common - 4.8.1-1
shadow-useradd - 4.8.1-1
swconfig - 12
tc - 5.0.0-2.1
terminfo - 6.1-5
ubox - 2019-06-16-4df34a4d-3
ubus - 2019-12-27-041c9d1c-1
ubusd - 2019-12-27-041c9d1c-1
uci - 2019-09-01-415f9e48-4
uclient-fetch - 2020-06-17-51e16ebf-1
uhttpd - 2020-10-01-3abcc891-1
urandom-seed - 1.0-1
urngd - 2020-01-21-c7f7b6b6-1
usign - 2020-05-23-f1f65026-1
watchcat - 1-7
wifischedule - 1-2
wireguard - 1.0.20200611-2
wireguard-tools - 1.0.20191226-1
wireless-regdb - 2020.11.20-1
wpad-basic - 2019-08-08-ca8c2bd2-7
zlib - 1.2.11-3

output of ls /dev

lsdev
lsdev1248Ă—648 102 KB

bunch of ttyUSB*s

and also output of dmesg when module is connected is like this:

dmesg
dmesg1682Ă—358 155 KB

and I've seen on other forum pages that logs contained (like image below) the word PCI which I don't see any;

pcilog
pcilog752Ă—206 34.8 KB

The problem is that the LTE-module is getting connected via USB (not PCI).
Does anybody know what should I do inorder to connect it via PCI? any driver to install? or any driver that I must remove maybe? and by the way i want to use USB port too, isn't it interrupting my USB port?

2

Does it matter ?

http://www.simcom.com/product/SIM7600E-PCIE.html

---Interfaces---
•USB2.0 with High speed up to 480Mbps
•UART
•GPIO
•Antenna: Support Primary/Rx-diversity/GNSS active antenna
•(U)SIM card (1.8V/3.0V)
•Digital Audio through PCM

mPCIe is the physical connector, not the actual interface.

3 Likes
3

Thanks,
I thaught that I could use PCIe to get more speed than using USB.
And I found multiple sources to prove what you said, which I mention below:

one, two, three

4

USB2 is fast enough for 4G, since it never exceeds 100Mbps in real life scenarios.

The closest I've been myself was with a Huawei USB 4g modem, where I reached ~85Mbps.

Your devices is slower than that.
Downlink up to 42 Mbps, according to the spec.

5

That is very debatable.
With modems that are capable to do 3xCA people are getting 300+ Mbps speeds.
Depending on the router manufacturer the USB port may or may not have enough throughput to handle such load.

Edit: obviously USB2 is absolutely sufficient for ancient CAT1 modems like the one mentioned here.

6

I got confused again...
I'm connecting the Dongle via mini-PCIe port to my SoC.
The device must be seen as ttyUSBs in /dev right?
Is there any driver to install or any thing I could do to make sure about the highest performance of it?

7

You have all the drivers already installed, that gives you a number of /dev/ttyUSBx and /dev/cdc-wdm0
Talking about the highest performance with CAT1 modem is simply inappropriate.

1 Like
8

As #2 say, the "mini-pcie" is just a connecter, this module is only support USB Protocol.
like some mini-pcie SSD is running SATA Protocol.

(just like USB type-c , same connecter can be usb2.0/3.0/displayport/hdmi/mhl/thunderbolt ...etc

1 Like
9

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