Question 1

Is your sim7600g-h hat the old version or the new version board?

Accepted Answer

New

Question 2

Does Raspbian OS automatically detect it and can be used plug and play as a network interface?

Accepted Answer

I know this is a bit of an abstract answer to a direct question, but I can provide the following:

This device works with 2 flavors of Linux at least from my own tests and use cases, but they're slightly different in configuration.

1) Rocky Linux 8 and I would assume CentOS (connected via USB to desktop - not usb to uart port).  Desktop sees the device as a network adapter and will use it to send/receive over cellular data.  Under this configuration, you can talk to the modem over serial via ttyUSB2 or 3 (you'll get 5 ttyUSB devices upon connection, but the others serve a different purpose).  The serial communications over USB do seem a bit unreliable regardless of baud rate in this configuration though and often lock up in minicom and picocom.

2) Raspbian OS (Connected as a raspi hat - serial communication).  When connected as a hat, I do not see the network adapter as I do in the previous example, but I don't think that it is "unsupported" but rather connecting it as a serial peripheral rather USB.  Connected in this way the modem shows up in the device list as ttyS0 and thats it.  Connecting to the serial interface is much more reliable this way and that is primarily how i'm communicating through it.  I have not tried connecting the hat via USB as in case 1 above on Raspbian OS yet.  This is serving as my cellphone and it is sealed in a 3D printed case, otherwise I'd confirm that for you.

One more item I would like to share (and I wish there was more info when I was purchasing) is network provider compatibility and "assumptions" that cost me more than it should have on this project (not related to your question, but useful IMO):

I originally bought the Waveshare Sim7600[A]-H (North America) and it is =not= compatible with voice calling on T-Mobile.  I bought one and successfully sent text messages using it, but calls will not go through.  Apparently it =might= work with AT&T from snippets I've found on the web.  Still a perfectly good IOT device with text only.

The product for this page, however, is the device I ended up trying on my second attempt (Waveshare SIM7600[G]-H global version).  This =does= work with T-Mobile for calls and texting via the associated AT commands.  I cannot speak for any other cellular provider as I have not tested outside of T-Mobile.

Again, I know I didn't directly answer your question, but I would recommend the following web search for further info:

"raspbian sim7600 lib-qmi network adapter"

Hope this helps in some way!

Question 3

What is a maximum upload (uplink) data transfer speed?

Accepted Answer

Up to 50Mbps

Question 4

For PI 4B is the USB connection required or is it just for testing? I am interested in sending periodic images or on command.

Accepted Answer

Actually, it's neither required... OR for testing. It depends on what you're planning to use the Waveshare Hat for. If you want to your Raspberry PI 4B to be able to "browse" the web via a web browser, then yes, you need to connect the Waveshare USB to Raspberry PI 4B USB & load the drivers for Raspberry PI. If all you want to do is to connect the Waveshare to the Internet via FTP/SFTP etc... then all you need to do is issue AT commands to the Waveshare via Minicom or your favorite terminal program.

RAM	LPDDR2
Wireless Type	802.11b
Brand	waveshare
Series	4G/3G/2G/GSM/GPRS/GNSS HAT for Raspberry Pi LTE CAT4 (Global Version)
Item model number	SIM7600G-H 4G HAT
Operating System	Linux distribution
Item Weight	0.352 ounces
Package Dimensions	6.1 x 4.33 x 1.85 inches
Color	SIM7600G-H 4G HAT
Processor Brand	VIA
Number of Processors	1
Manufacturer	Waveshare
ASIN	B0824P4B7M
Date First Available	November 28, 2019

Waveshare 4G/3G/2G/GSM/GPRS/GNSS HAT, Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5/4B/3B/Zero/Zero W/Zero 2W/Pico/Pico W/Pico WH, LTE Cat-4 4G / 3G / 2G Support, GNSS Positioning, Global Band

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