With this firmware, the device behaves like a classic USB modem: there is an AT command port through which you can establish a connection using the PPP protocol (RAS). This is exactly how almost all 3G modems of previous generations work. Moreover, the speed is limited - no more than 20-30 Mbit per reception. In addition to PPP mode, there is an NDIS mode. In this case, the modem emulates a network interface through which data is transmitted, and only control commands go through the AT-port. In this mode, the speed is not limited. The main feature of the stick-mode is to establish a connection and support the operation of the channel using the OS of the computer to which the modem is connected. In this case, the computer receives the IP address directly from the cellular provider through a DHCP request, and the modem acts as a network bridge, transferring packets from the computer to the cellular network and vice versa, without changing them.

The initial USB stick stick composition is a virtual CD-ROM and microSD card reader. In order for modem ports to appear, you need to switch the composition. Under windows, this is done by carrier software available on a virtual CD, or by the huawei proprietary program Mobile Partner. Under linux, switching is done by the usb-modeswitch program. It is possible to prohibit the transformation of songs. This is done with the following command:
In this case, the modem immediately after switching on will look like a modem, 2 AT ports and a NDIS network card. CD and microSD will be excluded from the configuration. This mode is extremely convenient for using the modem in various home routers. To switch back the composition with switching, use the command:

Version numbers of stick-firmware always start at 21 — for example, 21.318.05.00.00.
Included with the Stick-firmware, the so-called Dashboard is flashed into the modem - an image of a virtual CD that appears in the system after the modem is connected. On this CD are the modem drivers for different operating systems, as well as a control program with which they establish a connection to the Internet, read SMS, make USSD requests, etc. There is a universal version of this program from the manufacturer of the Huawei modem (Huawei Modem), as well as specialized versions from specific telecom operators.

With HILINK firmware, the modem operates in router mode and is presented to the computer as a network interface (usb-ethernet-rndis). The computer receives network settings from this interface via DHCP, and then goes through it to the Internet, as through a normal wired local area network. The modem takes care of establishing the connection and maintaining the channel, the computer does not even notice that the Internet is accessed through the cellular network. In this mode, the modem has its own local IP address (usually 192.168.8.1), visible from the computer side as the default gateway (default route), as well as an external IP address received from the cellular network. Between the network of the cellular provider and the local area network (modem-computer), routing is performed using the address translation mechanism (NAT). Port forwarding from an external network (port forwarding and DMZ) is provided.
The modem is configured in this mode through the WEB interface available in the modem and accessible through its local IP address. Also, information on the modem status and signal of the cellular network, connection management, reception and transmission of SMS messages and USSD commands, SIM menus and much more is available through the WEB interface. This is especially valuable for Linux users, as well as for those whose modem is not connected to a computer, but to a home router. The modem is configured via AT-commands, as in stick firmware, in the normal mode of hilink firmware is not performed, although it is possible in a special debug mode DebugMode.

The initial USB composition of the HILINK modem is exactly the same as stick - a virtual CD-ROM and microSD card reader. Switching compositions under windows is done by a small program mbbservice, launched from the built-in CD. Under linux, the usb-modeswitch program does this. Regularly, the modem developers do not provide a mode without switching songs. Nevertheless, by some modification of the firmware it is possible to make such a mode. In this case, the built-in SD card reader is lost, but it becomes possible to use the modem with any router that supports usb-rndis network cards.

Version numbers of hilink firmware always start at 22 — for example, 22.318.05.00.00.
HILINK firmware consists of two parts - the firmware itself, and the WebUI (web interface). The first firmware is the main firmware, then the WebUI.