How to check bundle balance with USSD (gsm-ussd)

[trids]

How can i check the balance remaining on my data bundle WITHOUT moving the SIM to a cellphone and running the USSD command *141#?

Using: MTN prepaid, Huawei E220 3G modem on Ubuntu/Kubuntu linux

I heard that minicom can do it, apparently it can execute USSD commands. So i downloaded it -- but i don't have a clue where to start with it.

Any help gratefully appreciated!

[cbrunsdonza]

The only thing I've ever managed to get right with minicom is to freeze up the modem. Not a problem with a local PC but my intention was to use it on remote servers.

I also found the USSD response too random and was a hit 'n miss for me. Gave up.

But I'm interested in a solution as I'm looking at something to auto test USSD services we host for our clients.

[milomak]

is there an SMS number you can send a text to to get the balance?

you could use the vodafone mobile connect software if there is - http://www.betavine.net/bvportal/res...ards/os/ubuntu

[dabbler]

If you use the modem for browsing why not register at vodacom4me? Any reason NOT to?

[ginggs]

How can i check the balance remaining on my data bundle WITHOUT moving the SIM to a cellphone and running the USSD command *141#?

Download gsm-ussd from here.
I have just tested in Ubuntu 10.10.

For anyone wanting to use this with a Cell C E1820 make the following changes installing (for version 0.3.3):

sudo nano /usr/bin/gsm-ussd

change line 45 to read:

my $modemport           = '/dev/ttyUSB3';

change line 49 to read:

my @ussd_queries        = ( '*101#' );      # Prepaid account query as default

insert the following at line 349 (important!):

    'E1820',

then:

sudo nano /usr/bin/xussd

change line 297 to read:

USSD_QUERY='*101#'

[cbrunsdonza]

Thanks. Trying it on 10.10 but no success with my E220 (but the modem is dodgy and I'm too lazy to throw it in the bin)

Will try tomorrow at work

[cbrunsdonza]

OK, tried a different but no working in 10.10

[ginggs]

OK, tried a different but no working in 10.10

Can you be more specific?

I should have mentioned, type 'gsm-ussd' for the CLI version and 'xussd' for the gui version.

[Ockie]

If you use the modem for browsing why noy register at vodacom4me? Any reason NOT to?

Because these are hardened Linux geniuses. They like to take the road less traveled and challenge the Linux kernel gedoente. :-)

But yes, registering on the vodacom.co.za would be the easy way to do it. :-)

[rudivs]

For anyone wanting to use this with a Cell C E1820 make the following changes installing (for version 0.3.3)

Anyone got this working with the Cell C E1752 yet? I've tried gsm-ussd on Ubuntu 10.04, and just changed line 349 to read 'E1752' instead of 'E1820'. With that line, it times out after 20 seconds without a reply "No answer for 20 seconds!", and if I leave it out, I get the error "Broken command".

[rudivs]

Okay, I managed to get it working. It seems that my $modemport (line 45 in /usr/bin/gsm-ussd) keeps changing for some obscure reason (might be because I've inserted a faulty microSD card into the usb modem). Eventually I pinned it down to /dev/ttyUSB10 and could get a balance out of it, so I can confirm that gsm-ussd will work on the Cell-C Huawei E1752. Thanks for the instructions @ginggs!

[carelvdm]

Hi there

I'm using the 7.2Mbps Cell C speedstick with Ubuntu 10.10 and it works lekker lekker. Only problem is, how do I check my usage? On Windows I can check it with the Cell C management software but can I get that on Ubuntu? Or does Cell C have a web interface for checking data usage?

[rudivs]

@carelvdm:
Follow ginggs' post above (#5), but on line 349 where he inserts 'E1820', use 'E1752' instead. With the changes made to /usr/bin/gsm-ussd, the following works for me from the commandline:

gsm-ussd -m /dev/`dmesg | grep "usb 1-3" | tail -n 1 -c 8`

You could probably just use gsm-ussd without the stuff that follows, but for me it keeps switching to a different device, and I need to use the complicated command to keep track of it.

[Ockie]

Wow....thanks ginggs....this works 100% for me. Have 1.3Gig left still. Eish...gonna have to find me some lekker downloads before end of the month it seems :-)

[Bismuth]

hey, thanks ginggs, this works great!

B