Help with NEXR5GO and Verizon Ipad Tether/Hotspot

[jm92590]

Hi everyone, I've read and searched a lot here on the forum for all of the information that I used to purchase a NEXR5GO from The Wireless Haven and used my post paid verizon unlimited plan to successfully tether my phone for home internet use (Signal is good enough I did not need external antennas). I followed BillA's Instructions here https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?p=10303#p10303 and had no problems at all tethering my phone and using around 150 gb of data for my last plan cycle with the following ruleset -

iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o usb0 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i usb0 -j TTL --ttl-set 117

I would rather have a device other than my primary phone to serve as my dedicated device and tried using a post paid unlimited verizon Tablet and ran into some issues. Firstly is there a way to physically tether an Ipad? There is no option to tether on the tablet itself, only wireless hotspot with no option for tether other than *Connect to a PC* and choose the settings from the PC.

Since I could not figure out how to USB tether the Ipad I tried BillA's instructions using the Wifi Hotspot manager and could not get the Ipad to NOT use the hotspot data, I tried TTL 65 and 117 using the below settings -

iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o wwan0 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan0 -j TTL --ttl-set 117

The speeds were fine, but only hotspot data was used. I also restarted the router any time I made changes. Any help would be great, thank you!

[Didneywhorl]

Is your phone that you used an android phone?

[jm92590]

Is your phone that you used an android phone?

Yes its a Google Pixel 2, sorry I left that out!

[Didneywhorl]

OK. First, there is a new NEXR5GO firmware.... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Szhc6s ... sp=sharing

Second... go to the menu Status-->System Log

Scroll down and look for the section that sees your USB modem connected, kind of like ....

Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Start of Modem Detection and Connection Information
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Product=EM160R-GL 2c7c 0620
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * This device does not have a switch data file
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Product=EM160R-GL 2c7c 0620
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:20 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Switched to : 2c7c:0620
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 1
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 2 option
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 3 option
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 4 option
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 5 option
Sat Feb 13 15:17:30 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 6 cdc_mbim
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 7 cdc_mbim
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 8 cdc_mbim
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * ProtoFind returns : 3
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Found Modem 1
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Connecting a MBIM Modem
Sat Feb 13 15:17:31 2021 user.notice Create Connection: Start MBIM Connection
Sat Feb 13 15:17:36 2021 user.notice Create Connection: MBIM Comm Port : /dev/ttyUSB2
Sat Feb 13 15:17:40 2021 user.notice Create Connection: Quectel Unsolicited Responses Disabled
Sat Feb 13 15:17:51 2021 user.notice Get Profile: Modem 1 is Quectel EM160R-GL
Sat Feb 13 15:17:51 2021 user.notice Get Profile: SIM ICCID Profile - ATT ipad
Sat Feb 13 15:17:52 2021 user.notice Create Connection: Profile for Modem 1 sets interface to WAN1
Sat Feb 13 15:17:52 2021 user.notice Create Connection: Modem 1 is using WAN1
Sat Feb 13 15:17:52 2021 user.notice Create Connection: Using DNS settings from the Connection Profile

But Pay SUPER attention to this line on yours where you can see that its your phone or tablet, instead of my usb modem above:

netifd: Network device 'eth1' link is up

or something like

netifd: Network device 'usb0' link is up

The device name there is what you want to set as your iptables mangle interface in the custom TTL rules

IE:

if you have, in your system Log:

netifd: Network device 'eth1' link is up

Then you'll want to put:

# Start-IP6-TTL-Fix
ip6tables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o eth1 -j HL --hl-set 64
# End-IP6-TTL-Fix

# Start-IP4-TTL-Fix
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o eth1 -j TTL --ttl-set 64
# End-IP4-TTL-Fix

...as your TTL rules under Network-->Firewall-->Custom Rules

[Didneywhorl]

Example:

Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 1 rndis_host
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 2 rndis_host
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Add : 1-1.2: Manufacturer=SAMSUNG Product=SAMSUNG_Android Serial=xxxxxxxxxxxxx 04e8 6863
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Start of Modem Detection and Connection Information
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Product=SAMSUNG_Android 04e8 6863
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * This device does not have a switch data file
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Product=SAMSUNG_Android 04e8 6863
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:11 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Switched to : 04e8:6863
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 1 rndis_host
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 2 rndis_host
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * ProtoFind returns : 5
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Sat Feb 13 18:45:21 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Found Modem 1
Sat Feb 13 18:45:22 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Connecting a Hostless Modem or Phone
Sat Feb 13 18:45:22 2021 user.notice Get Profile: Modem 1 is SAMSUNG SAMSUNG_Android
Sat Feb 13 18:45:23 2021 user.notice Get Profile: Default Profile Used
Sat Feb 13 18:45:23 2021 user.notice Create Hostless Connection: Profile for Modem1 sets interface to WAN1
Sat Feb 13 18:45:23 2021 user.notice Create Hostless Connection: Modem1 is using WAN1
Sat Feb 13 18:45:23 2021 user.notice Create Hostless Connection: Checking Network Interface
Sat Feb 13 18:45:28 2021 user.notice Create Hostless Connection: Using usb0 as network interface
Sat Feb 13 18:45:28 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is enabled
Sat Feb 13 18:45:28 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'usb0' link is up
Sat Feb 13 18:45:28 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' has link connectivity
Sat Feb 13 18:45:28 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is setting up now
Sat Feb 13 18:45:29 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5760): udhcpc: started, v1.28.4
Sat Feb 13 18:45:29 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5760): udhcpc: sending discover

I underlined and bolded it to highlight. You can quick find it using your browsers find (ctrl-F) feature.

[jm92590]

Yup I tried this (my device is registering as eth2) using ttl of 64/65/117 and none of them work with my IOS devices on verizon. Also tried this -

#startTTL
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o eth2 -j TTL --ttl-inc 1
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i eth2 -j TTL --ttl-inc 1
#endTTL

As recommended by dairyman on the whirlpool forums and still no dice, still using hotspot data. Anyone have any other ideas?

Heres my system log when connecting the IPAD
Mon Feb 15 21:13:51 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * This device does not have a switch data file
Mon Feb 15 21:13:51 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:13:51 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Product=iPad 05ac 12ab
Mon Feb 15 21:13:51 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:13:51 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * Switched to : 05ac:12ab
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 1
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 3 ipheth
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 4 ipheth
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice Log Print : Driver Name : 5 ipheth
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: * ProtoFind returns : 9
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: *****************************************************************
Mon Feb 15 21:14:01 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Found Modem 1
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice usb-modeswitch: Connecting an iPhone
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice Get Profile: Modem 1 is Apple_Inc. iPad
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice Get Profile: Default Profile Used
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: Profile for Modem1 sets interface to WAN1
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: Modem1 is using WAN1
Mon Feb 15 21:14:02 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: Checking Network Interface
Mon Feb 15 21:14:09 2021 daemon.err uhttpd[1716]: luci: accepted login on /admin for root from 192.168.1.203
Mon Feb 15 21:14:13 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: Using eth2 as network interface
Mon Feb 15 21:14:13 2021 kern.info kernel: [ 123.202378] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth2: link is not ready
Mon Feb 15 21:14:13 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is enabled
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'eth2' link is up
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' has link connectivity
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is setting up now
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 kern.info kernel: [ 194.103038] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth2: link becomes ready
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5120): udhcpc: started, v1.28.4
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5120): udhcpc: sending discover
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5120): udhcpc: sending select for 172.20.10.4
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (5120): udhcpc: lease of 172.20.10.4 obtained, lease time 85536
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is now up
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: reading /tmp/resolv.conf.auto
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain test
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain onion
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain localhost
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain local
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain invalid
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain bind
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using local addresses only for domain lan
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using nameserver 8.8.8.8#53
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using nameserver 9.9.9.9#53
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 daemon.info dnsmasq[3021]: using nameserver 172.20.10.1#53
Mon Feb 15 21:15:24 2021 user.notice URL-DEBUG: hotplug (iface): action='ifup' interface='wan1'
Mon Feb 15 21:15:25 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: saving Trusted locks
Mon Feb 15 21:15:25 2021 user.notice Create iPhone Connection: Set TimeZone
Mon Feb 15 21:15:25 2021 user.notice Connection Monitor: Start Connection Monitor for Modem 1
Mon Feb 15 21:15:27 2021 user.notice firewall: Reloading firewall due to ifup of wan1 (eth2)

[BillA]

Is your phone that you used an android phone?

Rich, I think he meant that initially he was using an Android phone via usb tethering which worked fine using regular phone data (used over 150GB), but when he tried tethering an iPad with WiFi (since it has no usb tethering option), that's using hotspot data.

Yup I tried this (my device is registering as eth2) using ttl of 64/65/117 and none of them work with my IOS devices on verizon.

*** NOTE: This guide is to tether an iPhone/iPad to the router via WIFi, NOT via USB! ***
*** USB driver are not yet included in the firmware, but should be in future updates. ***


The reason why your router is still using hotspot data when tethering an iPad via WiFi, is most likely due to an incorrect device name in the TTL rules. Or, if in fact you have the correct rules, the iPad changes/"mangles" the TTL internally, in which case there's no solution other than using a spare Android phone (they are sold cheap by the pound on Ebay... lol ... I'm using a Samsung S9 as an external usb tethered modem which works perfectly).

I believe the correct device name for a WiFi 2G tethered device is "radio0.network2", and for a WiFi 5G device is "radio0.network2". So try the custom TTL rules below which should cover both 2G/5G tethered devices including IPv4/v6.

First go to Network > Firewall and disable the Custom TTL Setting settings by unchecking the Enable box, click Save&Apply, then restart the router. There's no need to re-enable the Custom TTL Setting since you're using custom rules, you can simply copy and paste the above TTL rules into the Custom Rules box,

Go to Network > Firewall > Custom Rules > block and delete the entire page, copy and paste the rules below, click on Restart Firewall, restart the router, wait 5 minutes to boot up fully, then test it.


#start TTL rules - WiFi-2G hotspot
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o radio0.network2 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i radio0.network2 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -o radio0.network2 -j HL --hl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i radio0.network2 -j HL --hl-set 117
#
#start TTL rules - WiFi-5G hotspot
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o radio1.network2 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i radio1.network2 -j TTL --ttl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -o radio1.network2 -j HL --hl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i radio1.network2 -j HL --hl-set 117
#end TTL rules

Or try this (note: the tethered device name is "wwan", not "wwan0")

#start TTL rules - WiFi-2G hotspot
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o wwan -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan -j TTL --ttl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -o wwan -j HL --hl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan -j HL --hl-set 117
#
#start TTL rules - WiFi-5G hotspot
iptables -t mangle -I POSTROUTING -o wwan -j TTL --ttl-set 117
iptables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan -j TTL --ttl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -A POSTROUTING -o wwan -j HL --hl-set 117
ip6tables -t mangle -I PREROUTING -i wwan -j HL --hl-set 117
#end TTL rules


If the above didn't work, you could try changing the TTL value 117 to 64 or 65 at the end of each line.
Make sure to click on Restart Firewall, restart the router, wait 5 minutes to boot up fully, then test it.


If the above still didn't work, the easiest way to find out the correct WiFi tethered device name, is by going to:

Network > Interfaces > hover your mouse over the little icon in the middle of the "WWAN" interface box, look for "Device: xxx". Most likely the device name will be "radio0.network2" or "radio1.network2", but if it's different, then change it in the custom TTL rules.

You can double check the WiFi tethered device name by going to:

Status > Firewall > under Table Filter hover your mouse over each of the blue device links (br-lan, eth0, tun, wwan, wwan0, etc), and look for the interface name displayed in the lower left corner of the browser as a URL link. The one that displays "radio<x>.network2" or similar in the URL link is the correct WiFi tethered device.
Note, under Status > Firewall the device and interface names are flipped around compared to the Network > Interface list, so the blue links are the "device" names and the url links at the bottom of the screen are the "interface" names.

Whenever making any changes to the custom TTL rules, make sure to first disable the Custom TTL Setting by unchecking the Enable box, Save&Apply, restart the router. There's no need to re-enable the Custom TTL Setting since you're using custom rules, you can simply copy and paste the TTL rules into the Custom Rules box.

[jm92590]

Or, if in fact you have the correct rules, the iPad changes/"mangles" the TTL internally, in which case there's no solution other than using a spare Android phone

I think this may be the case, I contacted dairyman on the whirlpool forums and we discovered my router did not have the necessary packages included in the firmware image to USB tether to an Ipad/Iphone. Once I got that sorted out I was finally able to USB tether. After not being able to configure the ipad for data setting the ttl through usb under *eth2* I followed your instructions and the device is showing up as *wlan1* via wifi hotspot manager. Tried both 65/117 ttl settings and still no dice, haven't had any problems with my android phone. Looks like I'm just going to have to get a spare one! Thank you for the help.

[BillA]

I think this may be the case, I contacted dairyman on the whirlpool forums and we discovered my router did not have the necessary packages included in the firmware image to USB tether to an Ipad/Iphone. Once I got that sorted out I was finally able to USB tether. After not being able to configure the ipad for data setting the ttl through usb under *eth2* I followed your instructions and the device is showing up as *wlan1* via wifi hotspot manager. Tried both 65/117 ttl settings and still no dice, haven't had any problems with my android phone. Looks like I'm just going to have to get a spare one! Thank you for the help.

Wait, I was trying to help you tether an iPhone/iPad via WiFi and NOT via USB (iOS usb drivers are not yet included and must be loaded separately). I have actually tested an iPhone tethered to the router via WiFi and it worked fine. For me the "wwan" hotspot device name worked in iptables -t mangle -I PRE/POSTROUTING -o wwan -j TTL --ttl-set 117.
The trick is all in the settings, which requires patience and perseverance to get it right.