NovaM_R404 USB modem on Raspberry Pi 3: ERROR: Unable to detect a usable serial port

Steven_Zillmer · January 3, 2018, 7:24pm

I successfully ran curl -L hologram.io/python-install | bash plus python-update, without any error messages. I then rebooted, inserted the Nova modem, and tried to connect. Got ERROR: Unable to detact a usable serial port.

Any ideas? Pi newbie here.

pi@raspberrypi:/boot $ sudo hologram version
0.7.2

pi@raspberrypi:/boot $ uname -a
Linux raspberrypi 4.9.59-v7+ #1047 SMP Sun Oct 29 12:19:23 GMT 2017 armv7l GNU/Linux

pi@raspberrypi:/boot $ sudo hologram modem connect -v
INFO: Detected modem NovaM_R404
ERROR: Unable to detect a usable serial port

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04b3:3025 IBM Corp. NetVista Full Width Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 046d:c077 Logitech, Inc. M105 Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 05c6:90b2 Qualcomm, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMC9514 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

ahaw021 · January 3, 2018, 10:58pm

have you got anything else talking to that serial port?

the challenge with serial ports is only one process can talk to it at a time

Andrei

Steven_Zillmer · January 3, 2018, 11:02pm

Not that I’m aware. This is a brand new pi installation with USB keyboard/mouse, ethernet and HDMI connected.

I also followed someone else’s suggestions about uninstalling and reinstalling all the hologram-python packages and also the ppp package, then rebooting.

ahaw021 · January 3, 2018, 11:03pm

below is a python script i wrote using the PySerial Library

import serial
import os

def print_ports():
    if os.name == 'nt':  # sys.platform == 'win32':
        from serial.tools.list_ports_windows import comports
    elif os.name == 'posix':
        from serial.tools.list_ports_posix import comports
    #~ elif os.name == 'java':
    else:
        raise ImportError("Sorry: no implementation for your platform ('{}') available".format(os.name))

    serial_ports = comports()

    for n, (port, desc, hwid) in enumerate(serial_ports, 1):
        print("PORT NAME: {} \t\t  DESCRIPTION: {} \t\t  HWID: {} ".format(port,desc,hwid))

print_ports()

Andrei

omardude · January 4, 2018, 12:13am

I am having the same issue.

pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo hologram version
0.7.2
pi@theomarpi:~ $ uname -a
Linux theomarpi 4.9.35-v7+ #1014 SMP Fri Jun 30 14:47:43 BST 2017 armv7l GNU/Linux
pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo hologram modem connect -v
INFO: Detected modem NovaM_R404
ERROR: Unable to detect a usable serial port
pi@theomarpi:~ $ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 05c6:90b2 Qualcomm, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
pi@theomarpi:~ $

2g/3g Nova works fine.

pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo hologram modem connect -v
INFO: Detected modem Nova_U201
INFO: found working port at /dev/ttyACM0
INFO: chatscript file: /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/Hologram/Network/Modem/chatscripts/default-script
INFO: Instantiated a Nova_U201 interface with device name of /dev/ttyACM0
INFO: Connecting to cell network with timeout of 200 seconds
INFO: Checking for existing PPP sessions
INFO: Rerouting packets to ppp0 interface
INFO: found working port at /dev/ttyACM1
INFO: Successfully connected to cell network
pi@theomarpi:~ $ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 1546:1102 U-Blox AG
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Standard Microsystems Corp. SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
pi@theomarpi:~ $

derrick · January 4, 2018, 12:21am

Hi there, we’re looking into this issue internally.

Before you run sudo hologram modem connect -v, can you ensure the Nova Cat-M1 drivers are loaded? Can use these commands:

sudo modprobe option
sudo sh -c ‘echo -n 05c6 90b2 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id’

Let me know how this goes.

Best,
Derrick

omardude · January 4, 2018, 12:56am

Thanks for your help! It worked.

pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo modprobe option
pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo sh -c 'echo -n 05c6 90b2 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id’
pi@theomarpi:~ $ sudo hologram modem connect -v
INFO: Detected modem NovaM_R404
INFO: found working port at /dev/ttyUSB2
INFO: chatscript file: /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/Hologram/Network/Modem/chatscripts/default-script
INFO: Instantiated a NovaM_R404 interface with device name of /dev/ttyUSB2
INFO: Connecting to cell network with timeout of 200 seconds
INFO: Checking for existing PPP sessions
INFO: Rerouting packets to ppp0 interface
INFO: Successfully connected to cell network

derrick · January 4, 2018, 1:43am

Awesome good to hear
We’ll make sure this step is more prominent in our documentation and instructions.

Best,
Derrick

Steven_Zillmer · January 4, 2018, 2:09am

More prominent? How about “present”?

Thanks! the two added steps got me past the Error: unable to detect a usable serial port.

Now to the new issue:
raise PPPError(‘Modem hangup - possibly due to an unregistered SIM’)
PPPError: Modem hangup - possibly due to an unregistered SIM

INFO: Failed to connect to cell network

My SIM is activated/registered, so I assume the nearest tower might not be handling the Cat-M1 connection request gracefully…

ahaw021 · January 4, 2018, 8:56am

do you have cat-m1 coverage in your area? you providers might have maps.

I think you should be able to use AT Commands to confirm you are connected to the network before trying to run a PPP connection.

Andrei

Steven_Zillmer · January 4, 2018, 4:25pm

I’ll check on coverage. The NovaM would be using Verizon towers, correct?

Any tips for specific AT commands for checking service?

derrick · January 4, 2018, 5:50pm

Hi Steven, if you’re sending AT commands directly to the modem you can use AT+COPS=? to do a scan of available networks. Sometimes this command can take >1min to return a value.

Steven_Zillmer · January 4, 2018, 8:07pm

I tried sudo hologram modem signal and got 99,99.
It looks like 99 is a placeholder for no signal.
I replaced the attached ethertronics antenna with a larger antenna (another flat flexi with about 4x the area) and was able to establish a connection, with signal returning 25,99. You might want to re-evaluate the antenna you send out with the modems.
Thanks for your help!

derrick · January 4, 2018, 8:10pm

Thanks Steven we’ll take that into account as we evolve the product. Would you be able to share the model of larger antenna you’re using?

Steven_Zillmer · January 4, 2018, 8:15pm

Pulse W3554 V05

derrick · January 4, 2018, 9:19pm

Great thanks!

system · February 3, 2018, 9:30pm

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