Huawei B970/B970b HSPA Router

morkhans said:
Have you tried it in both router and modem mode? If it works in modem mode with MDMA then it could be a sneaky MTN router dashboard thing.

There was one person who flashed his B970 with the Vodafone firmware and he could use any SIM he liked thereafter. Might be worth a go.
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Yeah I read about that on this forum though it seems to come with a little risk. Guess it's not really a big loss if the thing breaks as it would be tossed anyway if it can't accept a SIM from a cheaper SP.
 
For unbranded dashboard, firmware and custom files for Vodafone plus custom file flasher.

Have a look here: http://www.dc-files.com/files/huawei/routers/B970/

The B970 is supported by DC-Unlocker it's listed alongside the E970. But your modem should not be locked. You can prove this by downloading the DC-Unlocker client program and reading the modem.

As pointed out earlier, only a handful of Huawei E620 cards were ever network locked in South Africa.

If you do a firmware update use Windows XP or Windows 7.
 
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I'd personally go for the local Vodacom (vodafone) firmware as per the B970 thread over what's on DC-Unlocker.
 
Any idea where I can find the Vodacom firmware for this router?

EDIT: NM, found it on the first post.
 
Realize this threads been a bit dead for a while - I was hoping to try to use one on a canadian sim network(rogers if it matters) - specifically I have the Vodafone branded B970b - but I can't get it to connect, I use the internet.com apn, on other routers all Ive needed was the apn and the dial number and it worked. The huaweii manaul references a place to enter a Dial number, but this doesn't appear to be in the Vodacomm/Vodafone version.

So I guess my question is, is there a way to flash it with the Huawei firmware, or a place to enter it in the vodafone sofware Im just not seeing? The dial number is *99***1# if it helps, and I have access to the rogers wholesale portal to change settings on the sim aswell if needed.
 
toustous said:
Realize this threads been a bit dead for a while - I was hoping to try to use one on a canadian sim network(rogers if it matters) - specifically I have the Vodafone branded B970b - but I can't get it to connect, I use the internet.com apn, on other routers all Ive needed was the apn and the dial number and it worked. The huaweii manaul references a place to enter a Dial number, but this doesn't appear to be in the Vodacomm/Vodafone version.

So I guess my question is, is there a way to flash it with the Huawei firmware, or a place to enter it in the vodafone sofware Im just not seeing? The dial number is *99***1# if it helps, and I have access to the rogers wholesale portal to change settings on the sim aswell if needed.
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How sure are you the router is not network locked?

Have you tried connecting through it as a USB Modem to test?

Does the frequency bands on your router match that of your provider?
 
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My understanding was none of the Vodafone ones were, rather that it was just software limitations that prevented it, I could be completely wrong though. Thats just from reading tho.

The sim is detected, even snags and IP/DNS, so I assume the signal/frequency isn't an issue. Rogers runs on GSM/EDGE @ ???, HSPA+ @ 850/1900 MHz I think, 3g communications is fairly new to me(the modem detects it as EDGE).

Unfortunately, I havn't. It did not come with the Y USB cable, and Ive been having trouble finding one, not much hardware here uses that sorta cable these days - this means I also afaik can't check with certainty the status of it being locked I believe, since you can't check it over lan? I an probably going to have to either order it, or splice/solder one up myself.
 
toustous said:
My understanding was none of the Vodafone ones were, rather that it was just software limitations that prevented it, I could be completely wrong though. Thats just from reading tho.

The sim is detected, even snags and IP/DNS, so I assume the signal/frequency isn't an issue. Rogers runs on GSM/EDGE @ ???, HSPA+ @ 850/1900 MHz I think, 3g communications is fairly new to me(the modem detects it as EDGE).

Unfortunately, I havn't. It did not come with the Y USB cable, and Ive been having trouble finding one, not much hardware here uses that sorta cable these days - this means I also afaik can't check with certainty the status of it being locked I believe, since you can't check it over lan? I an probably going to have to either order it, or splice/solder one up myself.
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Network lock is determined by country. Generally routers and modems from Europe are network locked (ala Vodafone). By some miracle South Africa got it right to make network locked devices illegal.

Your next problem is the frequencies. This router operates a 2100Mhz for UMTS/HSPA, so the best you will get with it will be EDGE, which is going to offer you similar speeds to dial-up. Unless you have no other connectivity options I'd can that idea.

As for the USB cable, you don't have to use a Y cable. The Y cable is simply there to supply auxiliary power on systems with sub par USB ports. A normal A to B cable should work if your USB ports provide the correct power output.

I think you would be better off getting a device (USB modem + router or all-in-one) that operates in your providers frequency than pursuing this further.
 
The routers were practically free(all 100 of them), and the sims are unlimited and covered through one of my corporate business partners :D so I really would like to get it to work. Speed concerns arn't a big deal to me at all, as the units will mostly be set up in areas that have no highspeed connection anyways, or used for POS devices that have no need for high speed - the idea is a backup where ADSL/CABLE landlines are down - and to replace dial connections as it is also cheaper for the merchants who have a high transaction rate as they are currently charged on a per transaction basis when over dial here. Their Vodafone branded on the outside, Vodacomm branded on the software.

I tried the unit with a traditional USB A/B cable on a few different systems to no avail, just flashed in and out of the device manager constantly, so I assume thats low amperage issue. The desktop I have here has all USB 3.0 ports which limit amperage to 1.5a on unrecognised devices tho, and the others an older laptop so that wouldn't surprise me if it were low. I'll try it at some systems at work perhaps.

Thanks for the info so far. Very much appreciated.
 
If you can't get it to work as USB modem then all that's left is going over your profile settings in the web interface. Have you followed the steps as per the first post to setup a custom profile for your APN?

Other thing that might be worth doing is a flash with SP04 (seeing as you have 100 units to test) ;)

Edit: Powered USB hub can also help for underpowered ports.
 
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I set a custom profile with just name Rogers name, dynamic, dynamic, internet.com apn, but like I said no place to enter or even SEE a dial number on profiles... I could try just taking each profile, and modding it to use the right APN....

The version is not a match for the SP04 download on the main page, I dont know if it is cause this is the B970b or what. 726.11.32.03.112 is the version, it lets me do the dashboard, but it fails at 79% every time.

I tried a powered USB hub, no dice. Same behaviour.

EDIT: Unless theres a way to force...
Edit 2: lol managed to force everything to goto SP04 cept the firmware.... >.>
 
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toustous said:
I set a custom profile with just name Rogers name, dynamic, dynamic, internet.com apn, but like I said no place to enter or even SEE a dial number on profiles... I could try just taking each profile, and modding it to use the right APN....

The version is not a match for the SP04 download on the main page, I dont know if it is cause this is the B970b or what. 726.11.32.03.112 is the version, it lets me do the dashboard, but it fails at 79% every time.

I tried a powered USB hub, no dice. Same behaviour.

EDIT: Unless theres a way to force...
Edit 2: lol managed to force everything to goto SP04 cept the firmware.... >.>
Click to expand...

Yes, the B970b firmware could well be different to the B970 (sorry I see you did specifically mention you have the B970b) so probably not a good idea to flash it (you've got 99 spare) :p

I've never seen a issue where *99# (default) does not work, buy hey Rogers could be doing something different?

Only last thing I can think of is seeing if you can Telnet in and poke around there for hidden settings.

If you are still not having any luck with USB, then possibly the unit is faulty or the USB is disabled. I did see a post somewhere that some providers disable the USB port.
 
Got sent a PM about new firmware for b970/b970b from the vodafone.de site. If someone is feeling experimental give it a whirl and post your findings.

http://www.vodafone.de/business/hilfe-support/umts-wlan-router-firmware_173678.html
http://www.vodafone.de/business/hilfe-support/umts-wlan-router-firmware_191671.html

It is a full featured version with some new function like watchdog function save/restore config

I figured out of a workaround for "Version does not match" error message:

telnet to router and do the following commands:

nvram set cfe_version=256.11.148.07.106sp05
nvram set app_version=256.11.148.07.106sp05

you do not have to commit just go back tu upgrade utility and click again check. I did test B970 only.
Click to expand...
 
morkhans said:
Got sent a PM about new firmware for b970/b970b from the vodafone.de site. If someone is feeling experimental give it a whirl and post your findings.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It works. I upgraded my b970 router today with the upgraded software from vodafone.de site as mention above by morkhans. It works thanks to the whole house as it has brought an end to an almost 2-week battle to get my GLO HSI Router to work with other SIM. Thank you.
 
Do people still use this old router?

The B683 is just so much better!!

Next stop is the Vodafone B2000 LTE router. ;)
 
Okay. I have no more clue what to do.

See my thread about problem here: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/502352-Huawei-B970b-No-signal

Short summary:

Unpacked MTN Branded B970b router that I won from MyBroadband a while ago.

Inserted Cell C SIM and went through the Quick Setup successfully.
Tested and used the router for accessing the internet via WLAN successfully that night.
Packed my bag for rugby game next day.
Connected at stadium and no network is detected. Not on CellC, MTN or Vodacom.

This is what the web interface looks like:

Capture.JPG

I have since confirmed from MTN that the router is not blacklisted.

Tonight I tried to update the firmware to see if that is a problem. And I keep getting this error with the FmcUpdate.exe

b970 firmware.JPG

Please help.
 
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Okay holding thumbs now for the firmware upgrade to be successful and for it to solve my problem.

I used Morkhans advice of telnet-ing into the router and running the following commands:
nvram set cfe_version=256.11.148.07.106sp05
nvram set app_version=256.11.148.07.106sp05

But in the version numbers I used the 726.11..... numbers and made the final part sp03.

Upgrade in process now. Hoping not to brick it.... :D
 
Okay.

I officially farked it up ;-)

The web interface is now in German (not a problem really) but there is no place where you can put in the *99# dial number in the profiles. It has like 200 preset profiles and you cannot change or add profiles.

Not that it matters at all because it still does not detect any networks or even a signal.

Capture02.JPGCapture01.JPG
 
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