FM350-GL and BE14 finally works on BPI-R4

Banana Pi Router design BPI-R4/BPI-R4 Pro(MT7988)
1

Since the BE14 233 fw and patch had been pushed to openwrt last week, after some time of fiddling around I managed to get the FM350-GL and BE14 working on the BPI-R4.

Here’s a summary of some of the operating points in case anyone needs them, and please point out any mistakes, thanks.

Compilation Steps

  1. Hardware Setup:

    • Insert the FM350-GL into the PCI-E 2 slot labeled SIM1.
    • Attach the appropriate antenna.
    • Install a larger heatsink to prevent overheating.

  2. Prepare the Compilation Environment:

    • Use Ubuntu 24.04.3 Server.
    • Follow OpenWrt’s toolchain installation guide: OpenWrt Toolchain.

  3. Pull Source Code:

  4. Configure Build Options:

    • Run make menuconfig and select the necessary kernel and LuCI modules:
      • mt7986-wo-firmware
      • mt7988-2p5g-phy-firmware
      • kmod-mtk-t7xx, kmod-phy-aquantia, kmod-sfp, kmod-wwan
      • kmod-usb-net-rndis, kmod-usb-serial, kmod-usb-serial-option, kmod-usb3
      • kmod-mt7915e, kmod-mt7986-firmware, kmod-mt7996-233-firmware, kmod-mt7996e
      • luci-proto-mbim, luci-proto-modemmanager, luci-proto-ncm
      • comgt, pciutils, usbutils

  5. Compile the Firmware:

    • Start the compilation: make -j$(nproc) defconfig download
    • Modify the Device Tree Source (DTS) file to disable PCI-E mode,and switch to USB3 Mode:
      • Path: ./build_dir/target-aarch64_cortex-a53_musl/linux-mediatek_filogic/linux-6.6.52/arch/arm64/boot/dts/mediatek/mt7988a-bananapi-bpi-r4.dts
      • Change line 290 from status = "okay"; to status = "disabled";
    • Compile with: make -j$(nproc) world
    • Flash the newly compiled firmware onto the BPI-R4.
    • Power off and reboot the device.

  6. Install the ATC package for better management:

    • wget https://github.com/mrhaav/openwrt/raw/master/atc/fib-fm350_gl/atc-fib-fm350_gl_2024-08-04-0.2_all.ipk
opkg install atc-fib-fm350_gl_2024-08-04-0.2_all.ipk
wget https://github.com/mrhaav/openwrt/raw/master/atc/luci-proto-atc_20230813-0.2_all.ipk
opkg install luci-proto-atc_20230813-0.2_all.ipk
    • Create a new ATC proto port in the interface tab and configure the APN.
    • Identify the modem device (e.g., /dev/ttyUSB4).

By following these steps, you can set up a Wi-Fi 7 AP with a 5G WWAN connection on the Banana Pi BPI-R4.

See my blog for more detailed steps and lengthy experimental procedures and references.

https://blog.nyamoe.com/2024/10/using-the-fibocom-fm350-gl-5g-module-on-banana-pi-bpi-r4/

6 Likes
2

Hi! On which checkout is availabe BPI-R4 to compile? I try on few version and on list is only BPi-R3

3

BPI-R4 is currently supported on snapshot only.

4

Can you help what should look commant git checkout to give snapshoot with available R4?

5

git should checkout the main branch by default, which is snapshot. Otherwise run git checkout main.

6

In tut is mistake. In actual main that patch is in dtsi file not in dts as mentioned.

And actuali is problem with instalation package fm350

ERROR: unable to select packages: atc-fib-fm350_gl_2024-08-04-0.2_all.ipk (no such package): required by: world[atc-fib-fm350_gl_2024-08-04-0.2_all.ipk] luci-lib-base-24.322.80622~a403707: error: uninstallable arch: all satisfies: luci-lua-runtime-24.322.80622~a403707[luci-lib-base] luci-lib-ipkg-24.322.80622~a403707: error: uninstallable arch: all satisfies: world[luci-lib-ipkg]<

After adding opkg manualy next problem:

root@OpenWrt:~# opkg install luci-proto-atc_20230813-0.2_all.ipk Unknown package ‘luci-proto-atc’. Collected errors:

  • pkg_hash_check_unresolved: cannot find dependency libc for luci-proto-atc
  • pkg_hash_fetch_best_installation_candidate: Packages for luci-proto-atc found, but incompatible with the architectures configured
  • opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package luci-proto-atc. root@OpenWrt:~#
7

You need to add “all” as a secondary architecture. Edit this file: “/etc/apk/arch” and make sure it reads:

aarch64_cortex-a53
all

The ATC packages will install after that.

8

Now new challange:

ERROR: unable to select packages: https://github.com/mrhaav/openwrt/raw/master/atc/luci-proto-atc_20230813-0.2_all.ipk (no such package): required by: world[https://github.com/mrhaav/openwrt/raw/master/atc/luci-proto-atc_20230813-0.2_all.ipk]

9

I guess you fall into new package issue

10

Hi,

I want to ask do you have any update with this issue?

12

233 firmware is be14, mt7996e are both

14

Thanks again for this tutorial, I’ve now tried to implemented it for my HP-branded FM350-GL. mrhaav’s fm350_fcc_unlock.sh reported the modem as pre-unlocked.

  • Without the &pcie2 to disabled, the card wouldn’t even bring up any tty/go into pcie mode. Instead, it’ll very audibly “whistle.”

  • After “disabled”, six ttyUSB# appear & stay, and ttyUSB3 responds fine. This seems to kernel 6.6’s fixed behavior.

Then at first it seemed to not detect the SIM, with ATC just reporting “Unknown error (PINerror)”. Updating the modem’s firmware to 29.23.06 didn’t change this.

mrhaav then showed me the fix: The modem simply got delivered in ESIM mode and needed a reset with AT+GTDUALSIM=0. Before that, AT+SIMTYPE? returned 1, AT+GTDUALSIM? returned +GTDUALSIM : 1, "SUB2", "NO SERVICE".

Took a few more minutes (probably for my MVNO) and now the card simply works.

15

Hi @twwn,

I have a question, could you share the image with the changed configuration to USB mode? I tried to compile the image myself but after several attempts I was not able to do it.

16

Hi there,

I have a question about using the Fibocom. Is it still needed at latest OpenWRT release(24.10.0) to use it with USBMode? I have installed the stock bananan pi image and it looks like it is getting recognized but i cant use it (register modem error). So now i am not sure if it’s a problem cause i’m running it at PCIe mode oder maybe just an other error (dial up connection / pin problem etc.).

And it looks like i cant send AT commands at PCIe mode but with umbim i can read some stuff from the modem.

To be honest, of course i can compile it for myself but like i said, maybe i don’t have to :slight_smile:

So if someone got it running at PCIe mode at latest OpenWRT release (not snapshot nor rc), please tell me how :slight_smile:

cheers Chris

17

im testing my fm350 pcie mode without kernel panic on 24.10 but im getting lte speed only while usbmode im getting 600+ mbps. how can i force it to 5g mode only?when trying to set preferred mode to 5g only on luci , i got an error and modem wont connet