There is no problem with any of the TPLINK router hardwares and we've seen 4G speeds up to 70Mbps using the 4G image on the very tiny 703n.

The primary problem is the PPP protocol that is routinely implemented by router suppliers (in this case TPLINK). TPLINK have indicated in correspondence that some modems are supported at full speed; but we haven't found any yet!

Fast 3G (HSPA+ DC etc) will also be speed limited by PPP.

For PPP, 25Mps is the maximum down speed and it is considerably less on the up side. The best that I have measured on the uplink is in the 2Mbps area. PPP is likely to be the cause of some of the speed issues you appear to be having? As far as I know, Open Wrt only uses PPP drivers at this time (except for our images).

All this information is available on the WIKI. Start there for what is hopefully a background description of the project and the key players. I'm simply a user.

One of the many challenges was to fit 'all this', into 4Mb.

Our programming wiz Dairyman managed this not inconsiderable feat, with space to spare.

So as we speak, we are light years ahead of the official TPLINK firmware in terms of speed/ throughput performance (and everything else for that matter).

Adding additional (unsupported) modems is basic process and Dairyman is keen to upgrade the images as required.

The current images are 100% tested, so safe to flash, with the normal provisos. 

Hi,

Your welcome.

Just be aware that it has not been tested with many modems, so there may be a few problems.

But nothing that cannot be sorted quickly we hope.

If you have a problem, pop up in the 'development thread' and we should be able to sort it out.

Most of us are in Australia, but our key programmer Dairyman is Canadian, so time zones slow things down a bit. 

I asked the same question

Here is the answer.

Me: What identifies that (use of PPP) from the system log?

Dairyman: The fact that it used AT Commands to connect to the network. The ATD *99 command is used for PPP only.

For QMI you'll see other stuff like ===Starting QMIhelp and various things QMI related.

For the Sierra it uses AT Commands but the key one is AT!SCACT which does the Direct IP thing.

So I can tell by looking what protocol is being used. Makes me look brilliant to the unwitting.
-----

So check your System log.

Is it successfully connecting to the network?

Yes it will.

The script is necessary to start the 'fast drivers'.

Your ISP/ 3G details (APN, user-name password) must go in the rc.local script (System -> Start Up), and not via the normal openwrt WAN interface.

By using the normal interface it will only use PPP and the information will be lost at restart etc.

The necessary 'how to' is HERE. Please follow it precisely for good results. 

It is very stable.

Yes it is different, but this is the only way the additional driver information could be incorporated in the limited 4Mb of ram. As you can see there is still plenty of space with our package, for ongoing developments. 

Hi guys,

Our 4G fast OpenWRT version has been updated to include:

* more modems
* QoS 
* ISP details are now entered via the routers modem GUI, rather than rc.local and the ISP DNS servers can be modified.

Details are HERE.

Make sure you use the new set-up procedure.

Note: There are currently two versions; QoS and non-QoS for each router. This was done due to concerns of RAM space. The QoS version makes almost no difference to RAM (still ~65% free), so please use the QoS version. The non-QoS will be removed at the next upgrade.

Cheers

John k

There is a new firmware release for our V1 OpenWRT image.

20/2/13 - A modem data page for capture of modem information. Include QoS package. Additional modems support. Fixed Custom DNS server order. Added the Script Version number to the Modem Connection page to identify the version. Include the 'relayed package' to support Client & Repeater mode.

Modem Gui is the icing on the cake with our version.

Details HERE.

Most certainly!   

But it depends on the capabilities of the modem. 

Control is achieved via Modem GUI; which works exclusively with our Openwrt version.

Read the Modem GUI Tutorial and the addendum on Custom commands.

It's best to have a play with it and then come back with any specific questions.

Sierra and Huawei modems have the best control.

Caution: If you set a band via Modem Gui; it will immediately send the appropriate AT command to the modem and that state will be set. So if you set '3G only', on a 3G/4G modem, then it won't receive 4G, even if it is removed and put in another device.

You can even select channels within a band (if they are known) via specific AT commands. This was one of the features that initially drove the project.

It's like using the usb modem with a connection manager and a PC ... but the router connection manager is more powerful.



SMS facilities for Modem Gui are coming soon.

PS Make sure that you disconnect and then exit.

Don't close with the red X as it leaves the modem in an unknown state.

PPS You may have to experiment with usb port numbers to find your modems connection port. Usually 1 or 2.

Are 'mode' selections shown for the E398?

Modem Gui updates at about 10sec intervals, so as not to interfere with the router operations.

Order of Mode/ band selection:

Select 'mode' ... wait for choices, make selection ... select 'band' ... wait for choices, make selection.

At each step, Modem Gui must send an AT command to the modem and wait for a response.

Let us know if there is still a problem and I'll take the question to the designer.

Ok, I'll ask.

I don't think so, but not sure.

There may be a problem with the E398 protocol?

Drop a copy of the modem info ... 

I'll update with a screenshot tonight when I get home. Thanks!

I finally found the time to register and join the party here. I'm Dairyman from the WP forum and the programmer behind the custom OpenWRT firmware. I live in Canada so I'm in a totally different time zone than everyone else here and my replies may be a bit slow.

The problem you are experiencing with the E398 stem from the fact that there is no support in ModemGUI for a 4G Huawei modem. Didn't have an example to work with at the time and never added it.

The program checks the modem for the mode and band it currently is set for and adjusts the dropboxes accordingly. It is being confused by a 4G setting when it doesn't know what that is. So what the dropboxes show is what the modem reports it is using.

Using Auto should allow it to use 4G as the modems seem to connect to the fastest mode available.

I will fix this problem in ModemGUI in the next release, as I get time.

A new version of the firmware is being created right now and will be available very soon. It adds a feature that will allow you to add a modem that is currently not supported and have it remain supported even after upgrading the firmware again. Simple to do and it is all through the web interface.

Wait is over.

Visit dairymans website and start testing.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-repli...176&p=149#r2973

Cheers

John K

Bit of a jump around on this latest release. 

There was a another little bug with 2013-04-13 that affected some E3276 modems.

This is now fixed.

Please re-download 2013-04-13 to access the fix and the following new feature:

A new Modem->Custom page where you can enter AT Commands, execute them and see the response from the modem. It waits until the status update is finished then runs the command you entered and updates the output box.

It's just as good as ModemGUI but no chance of a command collision here.



The windows based modem Gui is now obsolete.

Good question.

I guess it won't worry too many, but those swapping phone sims around and using usb modems portable, would probably need/ like it.

Dairyman likes a new challenge. 

I can be done but I haven't added all the pieces for this at this time.

It seemed a low priority item since no one had ever mentioned it before.

This can be a feature in the next version, which will be called Huntsman.

BlackWidow is now feature locked and will be the stable release from this time on.

I will add the DDNS package to Huntsman as long as it does turn out to be a memory hog. Doesn't look like it should be but you never know.

Those who have intention to buy a 3G router, go for 1043ND because in OpenWRT , it support USB modem , LTE modem too and it is power by a 1.5A power adaptor that also includes Gigabit LAN , price wise just abt rm30 over MR3420. It also have 8MB of flash memory for a bigger image compared to 4MB on MR3420, not forget to mention its triple antenna.........

which is better MR3020 or Mr3040 if wanna be mobile ?

Both also support OpenWRT rite ?