Automated Flashing/Upgrading for all EM/MC74XX modems.

[danielewood]

I've written a bash script to automate the entire process of setting up any of the EM/MC74XX series modems (Generic, Dell, Lenovo). This assumes you have the Sierra card inserted into a USB enclosure.

From the script description:
- Only for use on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS LiveUSB
- All Needed Packages will Auto-Install
- Sets MBIM Mode with AT Commands Access
- Changes all models of EM74XX/MC74XX Modems to the Generic Sierra Wireless VID/PID
- Clears Band Restrictions and Places Modem in LTE only mode.
- Flashes the Current Generic Firmware as of 2018-07-18

Link to script:
https://github.com/danielewood/sierra-w ... sh-7455.sh

If you are feeling brave you can run the script with:

Code: Select all

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/danielewood/sierra-wireless-modems/master/autoflash-7455.sh && sudo bash autoflash-7455.sh

Feedback is welcome.

Video of the entire process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHJ5n3Jaj1Q

[Cameleer]

Thanks for this script! I have a dell em7455 in an M.2 USB enclosure, your script worked great. It took me a few tries to get it reprogrammed with the generic firmware. But, this was due to not booting Linux in live mode. I tried the first time in persistent mode and it got an error.

Thanks again for this script, it works fantastic and was so easy.

[han-tiong.khoo]

Thank you for the script! Really helped a lot and managed to flash my DELL em7455 with ancient firmware without major problems. Downloaded and ran Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS LiveUSB, plugged in a usb m.2 enclosure and just ran the script.

[JimHelms]

Daniel has also written a script with instruction for EM7565 stuck in QDLoader HERE.

[CAL77]

@danielwood

Hi, Daniel. Thanks for the tool and for keeping us apprised of Sierra's updates. Does your tool work now for Sep 10 version (generic) 02.30.01.01?

My configuration: ROOter GO 2007-12-15, EM7455 in a USB enclosure, Sprint

Lots of dropouts, typically it's good for 12-36 hours until it drops and does not recover well.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if the release notes indicate this version will improve my dropout problems. Have no idea what "certain locations" refers to. I only get B25 (15mHz) so I'm pretty sure I don't have CA, unless it's some hidden feature that I should be turning off. Would this firmware upgrade help me? Thanks!

[ph34rful]

@danielwood

Hi, Daniel. Thanks for the tool and for keeping us apprised of Sierra's updates. Does your tool work now for Sep 10 version (generic) 02.30.01.01?

My configuration: ROOter GO 2007-12-15, EM7455 in a USB enclosure, Sprint

Lots of dropouts, typically it's good for 12-36 hours until it drops and does not recover well.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if the release notes indicate this version will improve my dropout problems. Have no idea what "certain locations" refers to. I only get B25 (15mHz) so I'm pretty sure I don't have CA, unless it's some hidden feature that I should be turning off. Would this firmware upgrade help me? Thanks!

I'm not Daniel but per his GitHub:
Flashes the Current Generic Firmware as of 2018-09-14

So yes, it flashes the most recent firmware. As to whether upgrading the firmware would help you or not... there's simply no way to know. Only thing you can do is update and see what happens. If you do update, please share your results!

[ph34rful]

Does anyone know how to correct the script to fix the dead links? I'm having the same error as gsmantenna.

[cwarren78]

Update the script for these entries below............change 1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb TO 1.20.0.1-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb

deb_libqmi_glib5='libqmi-glib5_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_proxy='libqmi-proxy_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_utils='libqmi-utils_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'

[ph34rful]

Update the script for these entries below............change 1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb TO 1.20.0.1-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb

deb_libqmi_glib5='libqmi-glib5_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_proxy='libqmi-proxy_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_utils='libqmi-utils_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'

Thanks for your reply! I did as you indicated but I'm not sure how to run the script. I saved the txt from github to .sh but that doesn't seem to run. I'm sure I'm missing something obvious as I know almost nothing about linux.

[cwarren78]

are you using the livecd? if so:


sudo bash autoflash-7455.sh

if it doesn't run, may need to set execute bit: chmod +x autoflash-7455.sh

[erok5211]

Actually.
change 1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb TO 1.20.0-1.1ubuntu1_amd64.deb

[Dart67]

Update the script for these entries below............change 1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb TO 1.20.0.1-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb

deb_libqmi_glib5='libqmi-glib5_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_proxy='libqmi-proxy_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_utils='libqmi-utils_1.20.0-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'

This information is no longer correct.

Here is the correct information to change in the script as of 2/22/2019

deb_libqmi_glib5='libqmi-glib5_1.20.0-1.1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_proxy='libqmi-proxy_1.20.0-1.1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'
deb_libqmi_utils='libqmi-utils_1.20.0-1.1ubuntu1_amd64.deb'

[xray_man]

First I want to say I am very inexperienced when it comes to Linux and running scripts.
After much time and research, I got the bash script written by danielewood to run and to flash a Dell em7455 modem.
Below are some the pitfalls I ran into and my way of getting the script to run. Many steps needed to run the script are not that well explained and are just glossed very by the experienced users that do this type of work.
1. When downloading the OS for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS needed to make the LiveUSB, it is the desktop version that you download. Yes, the file with amd64 on the end. It will load and run on an intel cpu computer, not just an AMD. Use a new or fresh formatted 4 gig or large USB stick to burn the ubuntu-18.04.2-desktop-amd64.iso file on. I used Rufus. It is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys/pendrives, memory sticks, etc.
2. When downloading the autoflash-7455.sh script off of github.com first click on the Raw box. Then right-click any place on the script and then Save as. It will be saved with the .sh extension. I first copied and pasted the text into note pad on a win10 computer and saved it with the .sh extension, not a good idea. This caused many odd run errors in many lines of the script.
3. Don't forget to remove old lines and paste in the three updated lines of code provided by Dart67. I did this using the text editor in Ubuntu.
4. After you boot up using the USB stick, click on the Try it box, this will keep the OS on the USB stick and not on your hard drive. The danielewood script is made to operate only on the USB stick.
5. Before you try to run the script you need to provide an internet connection. The "try it" OS will not connect to your wifi automatically. I worked for half a day trying to get the script to complete all operations before I found out it needs to be connected to the internet.
6. When using Terminal in Linux some basic commands are useful to know. To get to the directory (folder) where you saved the autoflash script to use "CD" after the prompt, space and the name of the directory. This works to move only one directory at a time. I found to run the script this command worked for me if you are in the same directory as the script file: sudo bash autoflash-7455.sh

This is not a complete step by step how to but only some of the hang-ups I had.
Hope this will help the ones that get stuck when using the script.

[ph34rful]

Just an update for new members who may read this. Currently, Daniel's script is up to date and works perfectly without any changes necessary. Just run:

Code: Select all

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/danielewood/sierra-wireless-modems/master/autoflash-7455.sh && sudo bash autoflash-7455.sh

at the terminal in Ubuntu and you should be all set!

[CAL77]

Will this script get the latest firmware, which I believe is now Release 26:
Generic SWI9X30C_02.32.11.00

EDIT: I just ran the script (worked perfectly!)and can say it is 2.32.11.

[itzjae]

Tried this and got: error: error creating device: unexpected response received in dload sdp: 0x13
Firmware Update failed, exiting...

also em7455 now is in low power mode if that makes a difference? any ideas on resolving this?

[ronaldonascto]

Does it work as well on EM7430?