ZTE MF 823 (Megafon M100-3) 4G Modem
Contents
Device Identification
Examine the output of lsusb. You should get:
$ Bus 002 Device 018: ID 19d2:1405 ZTE WCDMA Technologies MSM
Here are the modes for this modem:
1225 – Default Mode. Available USB Mass Storage Device with CD-ROM and card reader. Corresponds to AT+ZCDRUN=9+AT+ZCDRUN=F
1403 – Operating Mode. Available RNDIS adapter and Mass Storage Device. Corresponds to AT+ZCDRUN=8+AT+ZCDRUN=F
1405 – CDC Ethernet Mode (the one we need). A mode similar to that described above (1403). Included in Linux after starting usb_modeswitch c default settings.
0016 – Download Mode. Under the name of ZTE., but simply a mode where available diagnostic port and two command (analog modem port and PC UI devices Huawei). Corresponds to AT+ZCDRUN=E
0076 – "real" Download Mode. Includes a standard for devices running QC methods.
If your modem does not appear as 19d2:1405 (or 1403), check USB 3G Modem#Mode switching article.
Ethernet Connection Established
This modem is recognised as Ethernet interface. That means you don't need special programs to work with it.
Use NetworkManager or dhcdpc.
You will see that the LED (Blue - 2G/3G or Green - 4G) on modem is not blinking. To establish a connection, the following link (CGI command) should be entered in a browser:
http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_set_cmd_process?goformId=CONNECT_NETWORK
To avoid entering this link every time, switch the modem to auto-connection mode:
If you are setting up internet using console (and therefore you have no browser), you should make request with referer, example:
curl --header "Referer: http://192.168.0.1/index.html" http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_set_cmd_process?goformId=CONNECT_NETWORK
otherwise you'll get response {"result":"faulure"}
Commands
CGI command for 2G/3G/4G mode selection:
http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_set_cmd_process?goformId=SET_BEARER_PREFERENCE&BearerPreference=
following options available after "=" sign (case-sensetive)
NETWORK_auto WCDMA_preferred GSM_preferred Only_GSM Only_WCDMA Only_LTE WCDMA_AND_GSM WCDMA_AND_LTE GSM_AND_LTE
This should be followed by the NETWORK CONNECT CGI command given before.
To switch the modem to FACTORY mode (WARNING! Unable to recieve further CGI commands, connection will be lost!), issue this link:
http://192.168.0.1/goform/goform_process?goformId=MODE_SWITCH&switchCmd=FACTORY
You may then need to run the following command (as root) in order to access the AT command serial port:
# echo 0x19d2 0x16 > /sys/module/usbserial/drivers/usb-serial:generic/new_id
The port should appear as /dev/ttyUSBn
, e.g. /dev/ttyUSB1
. When you discover the command port, you can use your favourite serial terminal emulation program to control the device. The commands below may be especially useful (here shown with modem-cmd):
# modem-cmd /dev/ttyUSB1 AT+ZCDRUN=8 # switch to 1403 mode (RNDIS) # modem-cmd /dev/ttyUSB1 AT+ZCDRUN=9 # switch to 1225 mode (default) # modem-cmd /dev/ttyUSB1 AT+ZCDRUN=F # exit DOWNLOAD mode and switch to selected mode (RNDIS or default)
Telnet Connection
The modem is available for telnet connection:
telnet 192.168.0.1 login: root password: zte9x15
As you can see, the modem has Linux system inside. You can even install some ARM-base packages (mc, nano...) or change something in Web-menu. Explore it carefully!
Switch Mode in OSX
For some reason this device can get stuck in mode 0016 and fails to switch to any other mode. I was unsuccessful in trying to switch modes using usb_modeswitch and sending AT commands to /dev/ttyUSB0 on various Linux systems. I successfully managed to change modes from 0016 to 1403 using Mac OSX. I was then able to use the dongle on Linux.
In mode 0016 on OSX you will see the follow interfaces:
/dev/tty.ZTEUSBATPort_ /dev/tty.ZTEUSBModem_ /dev/tty.ZTEUSBDIAGPort_
You can switch modes to 1403 by sending AT commands to the USBModem_ port by doing:
screen /dev/tty.ZTEUSBModem_ 9600 >>ATI Manufacturer: ZTE CORPORATION Model: MF823 Revision: MF823_T03 IMEI: 866948013728723 +GCAP: +CGSM >>AT+CREG? +CREG: 0,1 OK >>AT+COPS? +COPS: 0,0,"Telstra Mobile",7 OK >>AT+ZCDRUN=8+AT+ZCDRUN=F exit download mode result(0:FAIL 1:SUCCESS):1 OK
Now the device should act as a ethernet interface no matter which system you plug it into.
See also
whirlpool.net.au - Linux & Serial Diags
gsmforum.ru - ZTE MF823 thread (in Russian)