Error: couldn't start network: QMI protocol error (14): 'CallFailed'

glenn.miles · March 18, 2021, 9:35pm

I’m using the 3G/4G LTE Base Hat and the Quectel EC25-AFX on Verizon. I’ve been able to connect a couple times over the past 2-3 days, but as soon as I reboot, it no longer works. I’ve tried reinstalling all the kernel drivers and associated installs with no luck. Everything looks fine from what I can tell until I go to start the network and then get error: couldn’t start network: QMI protocol error (14): ‘CallFailed’, call end reason (1): generic-unspecified.

I also tried connecting using the quectel-CM -s vzwinternet and have never been able to connect in this way.

Maybe someone can see something in these logs or explain what this message means and how to resolve.

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ uname -sr
Linux 5.10.17-v7l+

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 2c7c:0125 Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. EC25 LTE modem
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ lsusb -t
/: Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/4p, 5000M
/: Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/1p, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=option, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 1, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=option, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 2, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=option, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 3, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=option, 480M
|__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 4, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=qmi_wwan, 480M

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ ls /dev/ttyUSB*
/dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/ttyUSB1 /dev/ttyUSB2 /dev/ttyUSB3

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ dmesg |grep tty
[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: coherent_pool=1M 8250.nr_uarts=1 snd_bcm2835.enable_compat_alsa=0 snd_bcm2835.enable_hdmi=1 video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080M@60 smsc95xx.macaddr=DC:A6:32:CA:CF:73 vc_mem.mem_base=0x3ec00000 vc_mem.mem_size=0x40000000 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline fsck.repair=yes rootwait quiet splash plymouth.ignore-serial-consoles
[ 0.001103] printk: console [tty1] enabled
[ 1.447895] fe201000.serial: ttyAMA0 at MMIO 0xfe201000 (irq = 36, base_baud = 0) is a PL011 rev2
[ 1.455178] fe215040.serial: ttyS0 at MMIO 0xfe215040 (irq = 37, base_baud = 62500000) is a 16550
[ 6.249186] systemd[1]: Created slice system-getty.slice.
[ 12.419823] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[ 12.420595] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[ 12.421276] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[ 12.421937] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo cat /sys/kernel/debug/usb/devices

T: Bus=01 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=480 MxCh= 1
B: Alloc= 0/800 us ( 0%), #Int= 0, #Iso= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0002 Rev= 5.10
S: Manufacturer=Linux 5.10.17-v7l+ xhci-hcd
S: Product=xHCI Host Controller
S: SerialNumber=0000:01:00.0
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr= 0mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 4 Ivl=256ms

T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=480 MxCh= 4
D: Ver= 2.10 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=2109 ProdID=3431 Rev= 4.21
S: Product=USB2.0 Hub
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr=100mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 1 Ivl=256ms

T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=ef(misc ) Sub=02 Prot=01 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=2c7c ProdID=0125 Rev= 3.18
S: Manufacturer=Quectel
S: Product=EC25-AFX
C:* #Ifs= 5 Cfg#= 1 Atr=a0 MxPwr=500mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=option
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=01(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=option
E: Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 10 Ivl=32ms
E: Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 2 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=option
E: Ad=85(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 10 Ivl=32ms
E: Ad=84(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=03(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 3 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=option
E: Ad=87(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 10 Ivl=32ms
E: Ad=86(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=04(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 4 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=qmi_wwan
E: Ad=89(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 8 Ivl=32ms
E: Ad=88(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=05(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms

T: Bus=02 Lev=00 Prnt=00 Port=00 Cnt=00 Dev#= 1 Spd=5000 MxCh= 4
B: Alloc= 0/800 us ( 0%), #Int= 0, #Iso= 0
D: Ver= 3.00 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=03 MxPS= 9 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=1d6b ProdID=0003 Rev= 5.10
S: Manufacturer=Linux 5.10.17-v7l+ xhci-hcd
S: Product=xHCI Host Controller
S: SerialNumber=0000:01:00.0
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=e0 MxPwr= 0mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=09(hub ) Sub=00 Prot=00 Driver=hub
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 4 Ivl=256ms
pi@raspberrypi:~ $

AT Commands

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo minicom -b 115200 -D /dev/ttyUSB2

Welcome to minicom 2.7.1

OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on Aug 13 2017, 15:25:34.
Port /dev/ttyUSB2, 11:18:27

Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

at
OK
ate1
OK
ati
Quectel
EC25
Revision: EC25AFXGAR07A03M1G

OK
at+qgmr
EC25AFXGAR07A03M1G_01.002.01.002

OK
at+cpin?
+CPIN: READY

OK
at+cpas
+CPAS: 0

OK
at+fun?
ERROR
at+cfun?
+CFUN: 1

OK
at+cops?
+COPS: 0,0,“Verizon Wireless”,7

OK
at+qcfg=“usbnet”
+QCFG: “usbnet”,0

OK
at+qcfg=“band”
+QCFG: “band”,0x260,0x42000000000000381a,0x0

OK
at+creg?
+CREG: 0,3

OK
at+cgdcont?
+CGDCONT: 1,“IP”,“vzwinternet”,“0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 2,“IPV4V6”,“VZWADMIN”,“0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 3,“IPV4V6”,“VZWINTERNET”,“0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 4,“IPV4V6”,“VZWAPP”,“0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 5,“IPV4V6”,“VZWEMERGENCY”,“0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,1
+CGDCONT: 6,“IPV4V6”,“VZWCLASS6”,“0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0

OK
at+csq
+CSQ: 31,99

OK
at+cgatt?
+CGATT: 1

OK
at+qcfg=“nwscanseq”
+QCFG: “nwscanseq”,0501030402

OK
at+qcfg=“nwscanmode”
+QCFG: “nwscanmode”,0

OK
at+qcfg=“iotopmode”
ERROR

at+qcsq
+QCSQ: “LTE”,43,-74,160,-12

OK
at+qnwinfo
+QNWINFO: “FDD LTE”,“311480”,“LTE BAND 4”,2125

OK

Signal Info

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -p -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --nas-get-signal-strength
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Successfully got signal strength
Current:
Network ‘lte’: ‘-43 dBm’
RSSI:
Network ‘lte’: ‘-43 dBm’
ECIO:
Network ‘lte’: ‘-2.5 dBm’
IO: ‘-106 dBm’
SINR (8): ‘9.0 dB’
RSRQ:
Network ‘lte’: ‘-12 dB’
SNR:
Network ‘lte’: ‘12.2 dB’
RSRP:
Network ‘lte’: ‘-74 dBm’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -p -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --nas-get-signal-info
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Successfully got signal info
LTE:
RSSI: ‘-43 dBm’
RSRQ: ‘-12 dB’
RSRP: ‘-74 dBm’
SNR: ‘12.2 dB’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -p -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --nas-get-home-network
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Successfully got home network:
Home network:
MCC: ‘311’
MNC: ‘480’
Description: ‘Verizon’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $

Attempt to make connection

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --dms-get-operating-mode
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Operating mode retrieved:
Mode: ‘online’
HW restricted: ‘no’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo ip link set wwan0 down
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ echo ‘Y’ | sudo tee /sys/class/net/wwan0/qmi/raw_ip
Y
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo ip link set wwan0 up
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --wda-get-data-format
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Successfully got data format
QoS flow header: no
Link layer protocol: ‘raw-ip’
Uplink data aggregation protocol: ‘disabled’
Downlink data aggregation protocol: ‘disabled’
NDP signature: ‘0’
Uplink data aggregation max size: ‘0’
Downlink data aggregation max size: ‘0’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $ sudo qmicli -p -d /dev/cdc-wdm0 --device-open-net=‘net-raw-ip|net-no-qos-header’ --wds-start-network=“apn=vzwinternet,ip-type=4” --client-no-release-cid
error: couldn’t start network: QMI protocol error (14): ‘CallFailed’
call end reason (1): generic-unspecified
verbose call end reason (2,241): [internal] (null)
[/dev/cdc-wdm0] Client ID not released:
Service: ‘wds’
CID: ‘5’
pi@raspberrypi:~ $

ensar · March 23, 2021, 5:45pm

Hi @glenn.miles ,

Thank you for your very useful information.

+COPS: 0
+CREG: 0,3
means that registration is denied.
It seems that the device isn’t able to properly communicate with the SIM card provider. Usually, the troubleshooting steps for this issue are these:

Try a different SIM card, preferably a SIM card from a different carrier than you already have.
Try to get connected when the device is in an area with stronger mobile coverage.
Make sure to power it up with enough supply.

glenn.miles · April 30, 2021, 1:48pm

I determined through Verizon this modem, although approved, is not certified and therefore the IMEI was not loaded in their database as a valid device. I also learned from Verizon that this would only be able to be used as a development device unless I signed up with their Open Development group and went through the process of getting all the pieces, modem, hat, and rpi, certified as a complete device. I ended up buying your certified IOT device and it is works fine with the same sim card.

In the end, your hardware and setup instructions were all good; it was Verizon!

jonyskids · March 2, 2022, 9:00pm

Which device did you buy to work with verizon?