Not connecting to cellular network

[car46999]

Just bought a new Pinephone (non pro) and I am trying to get it setup and working. Out of the box with Manjero I tried my SIM and it would not connect to cell service, IIIRC it would give constant GSM error and a timeout. I then updated Manjero, with the same result of not connecting to cell service.

So today I switched to Mobian, the latest weekly build (mobian-pinephone-phosh-20221113.img). But I still appear to still have an issue with registering on the cell network.

My SIM is Puretalk, I am in the US. And it works in my Android phone. I checked before ordering the phone and saw several posts where people said PureTalk works fine. One said just slap the SIM card in and voice is good, setup the APN and mobile data is good.

I have tried the following:

• Cycling through all of the network types 2g-4g, and disabling and re-enabling the mobile network.
  
• Switching the Network (selection) from Automatic to off, most of the time this results in "Timeout was reached" or GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.libqmi...
  But after a several tires I usually get a list of carriers, and I select PureTalk.com. I can exit and go back in and it still shows PureTalk is selected. If I close the settings and re-open it it is back to Automatic.
• Multiple reboots, complete power off and battery removal
  
• Switching the modem hardware switch on and off.
  
• I am connected to WiFi and did update after installing.
  
• Tried disabling mobile data
  
• Tried a couple variations for APN (currently using PureTalk / RESELLER)
  
• Tried texting and calling. Texts to not send, calls just immediatly just say "call ended"
  
• SIM card has been in and out a few times, is installed correctly (since it sees my phone number)
  

Modem status:
Carrier (blank)
Network Type - Unknown
Signal - 20-55%
Network Status - Searching or Not registered
Own Number - ***-***-****  (Is Correct)



Any help on this would be great. I am liking Mobian, and would like to keep it.

[shulamy]

did you check the pogo pin ?

ezik

[car46999]

did you check the pogo pin ?

ezik

You talking about the 6 pins just above the dip switches? They look good, no damage and they all "pogo" in and out when pressed. What are they for? I do not see anything that they interface with on the back cover? FWIW all my setup and testing has been with the rear cover off.

I also checked the SIM card pins as best as I could, they look okay. With the SIM card out I get a SIM card shape with a question mark, so it appears the OS sees the SIM.

[car46999]

did you check the pogo pin ?

ezik

You talking about the 6 pins just above the dip switches? They look good, no damage and they all "pogo" in and out when pressed. What are they for? I do not see anything that they interface with on the back cover? FWIW all my setup and testing has been with the rear cover off.

I also checked the SIM card pins as best as I could, they look okay. With the SIM card out I get a SIM card shape with a question mark, so it appears the OS sees the SIM.

Just took a drive and tried to see if it was something with the cell tower near my house. Nope, no change. Signal strength was as high as 71%, but still the same behavior.

Only other thing I noticed as under Network status:
Network Status - Searching or Not registered or Unknown

[shulamy]

try the mmcli to see if the modem works

  https://www.mankier.com/1/mmcli
 
  ezik

[car46999]

try the mmcli to see if the modem works

  https://www.mankier.com/1/mmcli
 
  ezik

With the sim card out I get:

CMD
system response


sudo mmcli -L
     No modems were found

sudo mmcli -M
     No modems were found


With the SIM in and the modem DIP switch on I get:
sudo mmcli -L
     /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [QUALCOMM INCORPORATED] QUECTEL Mobile Broadband Module

With the SIM in and the modem DIP switch off I get:
No modems were found

Had to reboot after turning the DIP off to get the modem back.

sudo mmcli -r --modem=0 
successfully reseted the modem

sudo mmcli -L
     /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1 [QUALCOMM INCORPORATED] QUECTEL Mobile Broadband Module

sudo mmcli -w --modem=1
     /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1: Initial state, 'enabled'
     /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1: State changed, 'enabled' --> 'searching' (Reason: None or unknown)

It continued to switch back an forth between enabled and searching.

---

More info

sudo mmcli -m 0 --firmware-list
  ----------------
  Firmware | list: n/a


sudo mmcli -m 0 --firmware-status
  -------------------------------

  Firmware          |     method: fastboot

                    | device ids: USB\VID_2C7C&PID_0125&REV_0318&NAME_EG25GGB

                    |             USB\VID_2C7C&PID_0125&REV_0318

                    |             USB\VID_2C7C&PID_0125

                    |             USB\VID_2C7C

                    |    version: EG25GGBR07A08M2G_01.002.01.002

  -------------------------------
  Fastboot settings | at command: AT+QFASTBOOT

[shulamy]

i see you think it is a Puretalk problem.

but i  would try to update the firmware.

ezik

[car46999]

i see you think it is a Puretalk problem.

but i  would try to update the firmware.

ezik

I am not sure what the problem is, I haven't ruled it out as possibly being a carrier issue at the moment.

I will work on a firmware update. Thanks

[car46999]

i see you think it is a Puretalk problem.

but i  would try to update the firmware.

ezik

I am not sure what the problem is, I haven't ruled it out as possibly being a carrier issue at the moment.

I will work on a firmware update. Thanks

Firmware is on version 01.001.01.001. Do you recommend any specific version, stock or other?

Thanks

[shulamy]

i don't recommend but i use this

https://github.com/the-modem-distro/pine...k/releases

i installed firmware updater and this is the latest option

ezik

i'm sorry , i installed "firmware" not "firmware updater"

ezik