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Network manager GUI V cellular SIM examples

We’ll add to the examples as and when we test SIMs
So far the following have worked ok

  • PAYG EE
  • PAYG O2
  • PAYG Vodafone
  • PAYG Three

O2 PAYG SIM

Many networks appear to work without PAP or CHAP authentication. O2 requires PAP authentication - we tested using a PAYG SIM

On O2 the network seemed to prefer a connection to 2G edge - to workaround this during testing we locked the modem to 4g / LTE only

Configuring NetworkManager

  • Lock the modem to 4G / LTE by using AT command AT+KSRAT=5
  • Manually configure the modems context 1 using AT command AT+CGDCONT = 1,”IP”,”payandgo.o2.co.uk”,,,
    We think this may be necessary because network manager losses track of the modems AT+CGDCONT setting but this could be incorrect
  • Use the NetworkManager Applet (GUI) to configure network manager

The following is an example of using the NetworkManager Applet to configure an O2 connection

Note that APN and Number are blank and that only PAP authentication is selected

Setting Mobile Broadband

Setting PAP authentication

Note that the PPP setting is picked up by network manager and used via the MBIM interface not an actual PPP session

Read back settings via the networkmanager CLI

Vodafone PAYG

Notes from using a new PAYG SIM

  1. When purchased the SIM is not activated on the network
  2. To activate the SIM add credit
  3. After activation the SIM will enable cellular devices to connect on 3G / 2G
  4. The HL7692 does not support 3G - to work around this we enabled 2G on the HL7692
  5. To enable 4G the following steps were carried out.
    1. Added a £10 big bundle
    2. Created a Vodafone online account
    3. Added the SIM phone number to the online account

Then set up via NetworkManager Applet as per O2 above.

Note that after initial configuration clearing the apn setting from the NetworkManager Applet (right click -> edit connections) appears to be necessary for normal operation of NetworkManager

Value Setting
apn pp.vodafone.co.uk
username wap
password wap
Authentication PAP

It’s possible that NetworkManager Applet silently fails to set the modules apn - if NetworkManager fails to connect check the modems setting by using serial AT command

AT+CGDCONT?

to check the modules internal apn setting - if it’s not correct use something like the following to correct it

AT+CGDCONT = 1,"IP","pp.vodafone.co.uk",,,
AT+CGDCONT = 2,"IP","pp.vodafone.co.uk",,,

J Thompson 2022