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Topic: mini-PCIe support in ZBT WG3526

The content of this topic has been archived on 27 Apr 2018. There are no obvious gaps in this topic, but there may still be some posts missing at the end.

The ZBT WG3526 has a mini PCIe interface, which can be used with a 3G/4G module as advertised by the manufacturer.

I would like to use the mini PCIe interface with a WiFi module. I am using a Sparklan WPEA-128N which is Qualcomm Atheros QCA9880 based (ath9k driver).

However, when I plug the WiFi module, OpenWRT doesn't seem to see the WiFi module.
The only difference I could observe in dmesg with the WiFi module plugged-in are the following lines:

[    1.980000] pci 0000:00:00.0: bridge configuration invalid ([bus 00-00]), reconfiguring
[    1.990000] pci 0000:00:01.0: bridge configuration invalid ([bus 00-00]), reconfiguring
[    1.990000] pci 0000:00:02.0: bridge configuration invalid ([bus 00-00]), reconfiguring

The output of lspci:

00:00.0 Class 0604: 0e8d:0801 pcieport
00:01.0 Class 0604: 0e8d:0801 pcieport
00:02.0 Class 0604: 0e8d:0801 pcieport
01:00.0 Class 0280: 14c3:7603 mt7603e
02:00.0 Class 0280: 14c3:7662 mt76x2e
03:00.0 Class 0101: 1b21:0611

Anyone can help ?

Thanks for the hint, I didn't know that:)

The different types of mini PCIe slots are explained here:
electronics.stackexchange.com/questions … -does-this

Moreover, I found that the WG3526 is shipped with the AirPrime MC7354 4G module, which according to the vendor's website is

Based on the PCI Express Mini Card standard with a USB 2.0 interface

Given that this is a USB only mini PCIe slot, is there a possibility to connect a standard mini PCIe card into it?
For example through an adapter ?
I found "USB to mini PCIe" and "mini PCIe to USB" adapters, but can't find "USB only mini PCIe to standard mini PCIe" adapter.

I think, it is not possible to have that adapter. Inboard slot does not have requested pins connected to ... Somewhere (Cpu, switch etc.)
I've placed a question to my supplier in ZBT about the InBoard slot and its usage.

With wg3526 i:
- checked 3 different miniPCIe wifi cards - not detected
- checked older GSM modem detected on other machine as USB device - detected
- look hard at PCB of wg3526 and some miniPCIe pinout - see no wires for PCIe data, only USB, SIM card, leds
Most USB modems i found work as USB 2.0 device, it's slow but as i found speed of modem connection is not much better.

The discussion might have continued from here.