Fixed Wireless (3G/4G/5G) Internet through dongles, phones & standalone modems

sidetone

sidetone

Internet can be served on 4G and 5G devices, which are under the category of Fixed Wireless Internet. Dongles and standalone gateway modems need a SIM card to function. It's important that the Access Point Name (APN) is set so that it will connect to Internet access based on that service. You may want to remember this setting for your device and service. Aside from the APN and the alias, the rest of the settings should take care of themselves.

To note, Fixed (4G/5G) Wifi Internet is often a more convenient and practical option than using satellite Internet. Satellite Internet may be good, if you're away from networks, or for specialized needs. Fixed wireless can also be more convenient than wired DSL Internet as well. (A)DSL may be more suitable if you have higher bandwidth needs, while Fixed Wireless is for simply if you need Internet. Fixed Wireless Internet is transmitted from telephone towers and telephone posts.

There's a few caveats about using Internet through a SIM on a phone. That, wifi has to be switched off, and Mobile data turned on for each time the Internet through the SIM card is used. Sometimes the network will also use the same addresses as your home LAN, but even if they're different, only either LAN or Mobile data can be used at once. Learned this recently using my phone by switching to using a local server on my home LAN which uses FreeBSD. You may want to remember the APN name, so you can configure it to reconnect, if the setting gets lost.

Standalone Fixed Wireless 4G/5G gateways are an option.

Question: Which Fixed Wireless (4G/5G) USB dongles, which use SIM cards, are supported on FreeBSD? Do they use the same architecture as Wifi dongles? or are they under Serial or Comm devices which use the USB framework?
 
Not to go all retro on you but I was running a MiFi after a few months of being on FreeBSD.
I don't understand "wifi has to be switched off". BeagleBone was my Mifi with cellular modem and RUN wifi usb dongle.
Only glitch I remember is AMRR had to be "manually" loaded on ARM board for WAP at the time.

Phishfry

Thread 'GPS on Beaglebone from 4G modem'

I am a pfSense fan and have Sierra MC7700 and Atheros Mifi embedded builds in a couple of headless vehicle Intel PC's. So I am familiar with embedded gear and I am learning with FreeBSD on the Beaglebone Black.
So due to a single USB port I used a USB hub with MC7700 on a USB to MiniPCIe adapter and a USB Wifi stick, the RaLink 5592 as a software access point, But I wanted to achieve one last thing:

GPS: The Sierra MC7700 provides NMEA0183 on an cuaU interface.

Here is the what it takes:

Install astro/gpsd package
Prep modem from terminal program:
cu -l /dev/cuaU0.3...

I do wish my original helper was still onboard. It was nice having somebody help in a time of need. Especially when greener than green.
Thanks Juha
 
Phishfry said:
I don't understand "wifi has to be switched off". BeagleBone was my Mifi with cellular modem and RUN wifi usb dongle.
Click to expand...
For my Android phone, that's how it works. In causes a conflict. Beaglebone is different.

When mobile data on my phone is on, it connects to my FreeBSD machine, but my phone doesn't connect to my local ftp server. When I turn mobile data off on my phone, my phone is able to connect to the ftp server on FreeBSD's Wifi lan. Also, when mobile data is on, it shows that it treats the Lan address as trying to connect from an IP not on my network, likely by one belonging to the 5G service.

When I turn on my wifi connection from my phone to my FreeBSD lan, mobile data needed to receive Internet or phone service doesn't work at all for my phone. Perhaps, because my Wifi on FreeBSD isn't connected to the Internet. The modem is down.

It probably depends on the type of Internet. As my connection of phone Internet, shares an Internet infrastructure split up to dedicated separate routes, which split up local IP's, a small range for each account. As if it's treated like a local lan with other accounts from the Internet Provider, where each account is kept separate.

DSL probably has more dedicated IP infrastructure for each account. I my case, it's interfering with my local LAN, as perhaps the Internet service is acting like a local lan of its own.


So, what hardware drivers and hardware can be used for dongles which use SIM cards for Fixed Wireless (4G/5G) on FreeBSD? I like learning about related technologies too. I'm aware of using regular dongles for WiFi or Mifi, and which set of drivers they use.

It occurred to me, if FreeBSD is the gateway modem, using a Fixed Wireless dongle, if PPP needs to be used. Or if the dongle takes care of that part. Fixed Wireless means it uses a 4G/5G connection, and it uses a SIM card to connect to that network. They're mobile networks for cellular phone service, and also used for providing Internet service.
 
Phishfry said:
MiFi after a few months of being on FreeBSD.
I don't understand "wifi has to be switched off". BeagleBone...
Click to expand...
More thoughts on this: Because its the way the phone works, for connecting, as opposed to a Raspberry or Beaglebone. It's more limited in features in this way, and less customizable than FreeBSD or any other OS meant for that hardware.

Back to the APN, one may want to note down other configuration settings for it, even if this is not always necessary to get it to work. It may be necessary if troubleshooting is needed.

Fixed Wireless dongle chipsets
ManufacturerChipset
MediaTek
(Ralink)		MT7601U
MT7921AU
RT5370
Qualcomm
(Atheros)		QNCCM865
Snapdragon X55
RealTekRTL8811AU
RTL8812AU
RTL8814AU
IntelAX200
AX210
MediaTek has better driver compatibility or readiness with Linux/Unix OS's. Some older chipsets under the same manufacturers not listed here.

About generations in phone service and fixed Wireless for Internet
G in this terminology is for generation

1G was for analog wireless technology with the most basic telephony service. This technology was known for use with "brick" cellphones. Max 2.4kbs.

2G is the first fixed wireless generation that used digital. It introduced SMS & MMS messaging for commercial use. 2G is still used for poorly served, for instance desolate, areas. Sometimes, it's used for roaming areas. Max 50kbs or 1mbs depending on technology.

2.5G & 2.75G were transitionary generations with higher bandwidths.

3G was commercially introduced in 2001. It added web browsing, email, video downloads, and picture sharing. Max bandwidth of 200kbps.

3.5G & 3.75G were transitionary generations which had higher bandwidths.

Ref: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/1g-2g-3g-4g-5g-wireless-phone-technology-explained-meaning-samad

If choosing hardware, and if having to choose only 1 fixed wireless modem of 4G or 5G, it may be better to go with 5G. The prices of 5G are competitive with rates of 4G. 5G is more advanced and allows for a more efficient fixed wireless network.

Broadband compared to Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)
I prefer DIA, which DSL is known for. However, DSL service is mostly monopolized to where there are very few choices, or down to 1 choice of service depending on location. When it comes to convenience, fixed wireless is more practical. The services I know of for fixed wireless are broadband. I've read about DIA fixed wireless though.

There needs to be a hybrid for fixed wireless, where there's a dedicated minimal bandwidth, and the rest of the bandwidth can be shared as broadband. I don't know of such technology as of now.
 
my only connection to the net is by wifi from my android phone which is connected by vpn. my phone uses a vpn to surf online.
other times, i use my phone as a usb dongle to connect to the net on this laptop. The phone is still a wifi hotspot which i very seldom switch off for my other openbsd laptop to use.
before that, i was using a cheap dongle to go online. The dongle also was a wifi hotspot.
 
Additional
5G modems are often backward compatible with 4G, 3G & 2G networks. On the other hand, a 3G or 4G modem may not work on a 5G network. The use of 4G networks is being reduced, and may be eventually phased out in many instances. So, 4G and 3G networks may become scarce in the long-term future. 5G has higher speeds, better latency and allows more connections than 4G. 5G would definitely be the one to choose for a gateway/modem.

GSM started with 2G. LTE is a technology on 4G. As for consumer use of 6G, this is expected closer to 2030.

forums.freebsd.org

fixed wireless modem

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