Enabling the Cellular Modem on the PixieBoard

In this tutorial we will explain how easy it is to enable Quectel's integrated LTE modem on the PixieBoard. As you will soon learn it is very simple to enable the modem given that Code & Modules’ team has worked on having a reliable and flexible package ready to use on our Arch Linux images.

Why is it reliable and flexible? Because we have worked hard in integrating and enabling the already tested functionality of Modem Manager and Network Manager for our platforms. These two packages allow you to configure your cellular LTE 4G/3G and WiFi settings as you prefer. For example, if your PixieBoard PRO+ is configured to connect to either LTE or WiFi networks it will automatically connect to either available option.

Requirements to Start

1. Configured PixieBoard with our Arch image. If you don’t have a Pixieboard yet, you can get one at Treats4Geeks or Amazon.
2. 4G/3G Cellular Antenna for your PixieBoard. You can get one here.
3. A nano SIM card that is enabled for data usage. You also need to know the APN from your SIM provider (For AT&T the APN is phone and for T-Mobile it is fast.t-mobile.com).

Connecting the Antenna and Inserting the nano SIM

On the left we see the proper way of connecting the 4G/3G Antenna and how to insert the SIM.

1. Make sure that the slanted edge of the nano SIM card is looking towards the middle of the PCB. As shown in the image.
2. The 4G/3G Antenna is connected behind the USB connectors. The connector has a main tag next to it.

Enabling the Modem

To enable Quectel’s Modem it is as simple as typing the following command:

sudo enablePixieModem

Once executed the enablePixieModem package will enable the modem and set up a network interface called wwan0. It will take approx. 30 to 80 seconds to bring up the wwan0 interface. Type the follwing command to verify the interface is up:

sudo ip link

You should see the following output:

This is a list of all the networking interfaces registered on the OS. The first interface 1: lo is a virtual network interface that your computer uses to communicate with itself. Mainly used for diagnostics and troubleshooting.

The second interface 2: wlp1s0 is the default WiFi network interface primarly used to connect to WiFi networks but can also be used on other modes of operation.

Third but not least is the 3: wwan0 network interface used to configure connections to enable Cellular connectivity. This is the one we are looking for.

You can also verify the enabled modem by typing:

sudo mmcli -L

Output:

Modem 0 Enabled

Now, lets create a connection for the SIM to connect. To create the connection you need to know the APN of you SIM provider. Enter the following command replacing <connection_name> and <apn>. <connection_name> what ever you want. For example if you were to have a t-mobile SIM you would replace <connection_name> with t-mobile (or whatever name you want) and <apn> to fast.t-mobile.com.

sudo nmcli c add type gsm ifname cdc-wdm0 con-name <connection_name> apn <apn>

You should see the following output: “Connection ‘<connection_name>’ (xxxx-yyyyy-zzzzz) successfully added.”

Now lets connect to it with:

sudo nmcli c up <connection_name>

You should see the following output: “Connection successfully activated (D-Bus active path: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/5)”

It is that simple, once connected you should see an IP under the wwan0 network interface.

I recommend you take a look at the Arch Linux Wiki related to ip and Wireless Network Configuration for better understanding. I Also recommend reading about Modem Manager to enable location tracking.

You can verify that the PixieBoard has an IP address with:

sudo ip addr

You can also find out more information on the status of the SIM with:

sudo mmcli -m 0

Your PixieBoard is now connected to the internet via cellular!

You can now use this connection as you would use any other LAN or WLAN available, just remember that each packet transmitted or received might generate charges to your account.

Additional Notes about regions

Depending on your region and the Quectel’s modem model on your PixieBoard, you will be able to connect to a cellular network. Some models are restricted to just a few bands, while others support all the available frequencies around the globe. This is due to hardware size constraints and requirements for regulatory compliance. Please take a look at the table on the following link for more information on regions supported by your hardware.

Final words

Using your Pixieboard to access the internet through the cellular network is very simple and easy to do. With just a few steps, your platform is ready to send and receive data taking full advantage of LTE 4G networks.

Please leave a comment or question below and let us know about your experience working with Pixieboard.