raspberry pi compatible modem capable of SMS/3G

bhuvan over 11 years ago

Hi Guys

I request you guys to suggest a list of USB modems (3G/4G) which work with the pi in the USA.

My requirements are:

1. good 3G/4G connection

2. External antenna support

3. SMS function supported (outgoing). gammu or something else.

4. Api compatible

5. Directly detcted as a ethernet device, without sakis3G. I am really skeptical about sakis3G, as I belive there are lot of connection issues. I am ok with using sakis3g if I can get it connected automatically o boot, and if there will be not much connection issues.

http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeriphera ... 3G_Dongles

I went though the above link.

But I am not able to find out which ones support both 3g/sms

This is because recently I bought a set of unlocked huawei E353 modems from another country. But they dont seems to work here in USA. I am getting only a 2G signal here. But the frequency bands are the same.

Also, I bought a set of ZTEMf70 modems which gave a good 3g signal, but did not support sms.

SO, I request you to please suggest a modem which will work fine with 3G/SMS.

Also, if you know any modems compatible with sakis3g, do you recommend it?? because sakis3G seems kind of buggy to me.

Please reply back with the modems and links to them would be helpful.

crosseyejack over 11 years ago

http://wammu.eu/phones/ Contains a database of phones that work with Gammu and Wammu. I'm not in the US so I can not recommend any US Specific dongles for you but I have a E1750 and that works just fine for me.
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bhuvan over 11 years ago in reply to crosseyejack

thank you.

So, it is possible to send SMS messages from the pi and get a data connection on the pi using these modems ??
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crosseyejack over 11 years ago in reply to bhuvan

Yes.
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bhuvan over 11 years ago in reply to crosseyejack

thank you. Does it have external antenna capabilities ?? Is it automatically detected as an ethernet device, or do use sakis3g ?? If you use sakis3g, have you experienced any problems with it ??
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crosseyejack over 11 years ago in reply to bhuvan

Does it have external antenna capabilities?
Not mine, but if you know your way around a soldering iron one could be attached. For my purposes one was not needed, the in built antenna provides a good enough signal for the network I use it on.

Is it automatically detected as an ethernet device, or do use sakis3g?
It is not automatically detected as an network interface when you first connect it. You need to use usb-modeswitch to swap it from its "Mass Storage" Mode to its "ethernet mode". But you still need to provide the APN settings, this is something all 3g dongles need to provide. You can do this a number of ways, sakis3g is just one. Personally I have a homemade script that hands the modem the APN, connects and monitors for any disconnection in order to force a reconnect. But people have been saying good things about wvdial (I'll have to give it try sometime but that means breaking the rule "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"). There are plenty of guides on getting wvdial set up on the net, for example: http://myhowtosandprojects.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/how-to-setup-usb-3g-modem-linux.html

As for SMS you can be sent and read by issuing AT commands via the modems tty ports. This can be done by yourself or by using a daemon such as Gammu SMSD.
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cocomoo over 8 years ago

Have you had a look at Linkwave's PiloT? It provides a 3G connection and GPS and SMS is supported. A 4G variant is due to be released soon: The PiloT - Add a 3G mobile data connection to the Raspberry Pi
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