Cellular Internet Connection

The Sixfab Base HAT acts as a bridge between a mini PCIe cellular module and a Linux-based Single Board Computer (SBC) such as Raspberry Pi. To establish an internet connection, the usage guidelines provided by the mini PCIe module manufacturer must be followed. For convenience, a set of tutorials has been prepared based on these official user guides to simplify and accelerate the connection setup process.

The most commonly used and supported protocols for cellular internet connectivity are ECM and QMI. Only one method is required to establish a connection. The appropriate tutorial should be selected based on the specific use case and module capabilities.

ECM

Applicable to: Quectel and Telit cellular modules

ECM (Ethernet Control Model) is a protocol used for exchanging Ethernet-framed data between the mini PCIe module and the host system. In this mode, the USB bridge appears as a standard network interface on both ends and transports Ethernet frames directly.

Unlike PPP and QMI, ECM does not require additional software installation. This approach focuses on proper configuration of ECM-capable cellular modules and is supported natively by the Linux kernel.

1. Cellular Internet Connection in ECM Mode

QMI

Applicable to: Quectel and Telit cellular modules

To replace legacy connection methods, modern USB-based cellular interfaces such as QMI and MBIM have been introduced. Both Quectel and Telit cellular modules support QMI (Qualcomm MSM Interface), which operates as a native network interface, typically appearing as wwan0.

QMI provides improved performance and accessibility compared to the PPP protocol and is suitable for high-speed and long-duration connections.

1. Setting up a data connection over QMI interface using libqmi — For both Quectel and Telit modules

Quectel CM Tool

Applicable to: Quectel cellular modules

This guide provides an overview of setting up and using quectel-cm, a connection management tool designed specifically for Quectel cellular modules. It outlines the essential steps required to establish a cellular data connection efficiently. For advanced configurations and detailed technical references, the official Quectel user manual for the specific module should be consulted.

The quectel-cm tool manages cellular connectivity by automatically handling network registration, IP address assignment, DNS configuration, and routing.

1. Quectel CM Tool – Introduction and Setup Guide

The tutorials provided include installation scripts that have been tested with the mini PCIe modules available through Sixfab stores. Compatibility with other mini PCIe modules cannot be guaranteed. For unsupported modules, the official user documentation provided by the module manufacturer should be followed when used with the Sixfab Base HAT.