3G Modems and Ubuntu

[ginggs]

I recently struggled to get an E220 working in Ubuntu 10.10, it only appeared as a usb-storage device, I ended up installing 'usb-modeswitch' and 'comgt' packages.

Still struggling on and off with this, if the "Enable Mobile Broadband" still does not show up in Network manger, try this:

sudo modprobe option

This manually forces the 'option' driver to be loaded, this driver works with Huawei devices too, not sure about Novatel and Sierra Wireless, etc.

[proze]

E220 and new CellC dongle both work out the box in Maverick. usb-modeswitch and usb-modeswitch-data are installed by default in 10.10, whereas you needed to install them manually in 10.04 and earlier. One funny is that if you choose CellC in the New Mobile Broadband dialogue then it adds an odd username in the connection settings. So edit the connection manually after creating it and remove the username. Otherwise you'll be prompted to a password continuously.

[san100]

The 21.6Mbps is a Huawei E1820 modem. Does not work with linux out of the box.

I am running opensuse 11.3 and the 21.6Mbps huawei modem works out the box with Knetworkmanager I just set up a new mobile broadband connection gave the connection a name , set phone number to *99# username - guest - and password - guest - and tick - connect automaticaly - all other settings were default.

the only issue I have is some times (very erratic) it drops the connection and the only way to restart is to remove the modem from the usb port and plug it back in.

hope this helps.

[HamishPillay]

I bought a Vodacom Internet starter pack. The modem is supposed to be plug and play. Model K3570-Z. It lights up and that's about it. Ubuntu sees it as a CD drive.
I need a step by step please. I desperately need to get this working.

Thanks

[Ockie]

I bought a Vodacom Internet starter pack. The modem is supposed to be plug and play. Model K3570-Z. It lights up and that's about it. Ubuntu sees it as a CD drive.
I need a step by step please. I desperately need to get this working.

Thanks

Hi there. Go into synaptic and look for this package 'usb-modeswitch' . Install it and reboot. Try it again after that.

[cbrunsdonza]

I have the same modem and it works out of the box without installing extra packages. Seems "usb-modeswitch" is installed by default now but do try @ocleroux instructions first.

[JimM]

I bought a Vodacom Internet starter pack. The modem is supposed to be plug and play. Model K3570-Z. It lights up and that's about it. Ubuntu sees it as a CD drive.
I need a step by step please. I desperately need to get this working.

Thanks

The -Z means it is a ZTE device and not Huawei. These devices have several ports one being CDROM emulation, one Test Port and the UI or COM Port.

Once you've tweaked Ubuntu to see the UI port it should work.

[cbrunsdonza]

The -Z means it is a ZTE device and not Huawei. These devices have several ports one being CDROM emulation, one Test Port and the UI or COM Port.

Once you've tweaked Ubuntu to see the UI port it should work.

You no longer need to "tweak" Ubuntu. The UDEV rules are standard on all installs - I double checked this morning as I spent last week writing new UDEV rules to auto "wvdial" and blacklist mine for Network-Manager.

In other words HamishPillay, it should be plug 'n play.

[Tun@]

I bought a Vodacom Internet starter pack. The modem is supposed to be plug and play. Model K3570-Z. It lights up and that's about it. Ubuntu sees it as a CD drive.
I need a step by step please. I desperately need to get this working.

Thanks

Ubuntu 10.10 - Both my Hauwei E1820 & my ZTE K3565-z worked without doing anything but setting up the profile.
(click on the last item to the left of your clock/Open VPN Connections/Configure VPN/Mobile Broadband/Add)
No sudo su $ ~./ +x i need to look thru Ubuntu forums half the day to get it working.bundle/

[san100]

I am running opensuse 11.3 and the 21.6Mbps huawei modem works out the box with Knetworkmanager I just set up a new mobile broadband connection gave the connection a name , set phone number to *99# username - guest - and password - guest - and tick - connect automaticaly - all other settings were default.

the only issue I have is some times (very erratic) it drops the connection and the only way to restart is to remove the modem from the usb port and plug it back in.

hope this helps.

Ok here is even an easier more stable option with opensuse 11.3. Again worked out the box, this time with qinternet (this is the latest version of Kinternet )

I set up a new modem connection with yast, give the connection a name, set the telephone number to *99# and username and password to guest, and time out to 0

Start qinternet and dial in to the connection name you set. It connects in about 20 seconds, and seldom drops the connection (if it does not connect, you may have more than one modem connection. To change to a different one, right click on the plug icon on your task bar, click on interface and change to a different modem)

I have never used ubuntu so do not know the system, but I am sure qinternet or kinternet will run, and be easily available on the ubuntu repositories. Alternatively try opensuse.

[cbrunsdonza]

If you're struggling to get a Huawei E220 recognised and working in Ubuntu [9.04+], then that E220 most likely has old firmware loaded and needs to be updated with the 7.2 enabled firmware that has been available from several sources for a long time.

Thanks. My E220 has been given crap and I replaced it with my E272 (still my fav modem) - will flash to see if I can get it to work, if not, I'm going to toss it as its anyway 3 years old (used 24/7 as my SMS gateway).

[ginggs]

Thanks. My E220 has been given crap and I replaced it with my E272 (still my fav modem) - will flash to see if I can get it to work, if not, I'm going to toss it as its anyway 3 years old (used 24/7 as my SMS gateway).

If it comes to it, can you toss it my way, please?

[The_Librarian]

The 21mbps modem is the E1820 (black) and the 7.2mbps modem is the E1752 (white). Both will work in Ubuntu if you have 'usb-modeswitch' installed. After that it's just a matter of setting up the connection in network-manager and letting rip. Don't forget to make sure that there's no username or password set up in nm or you'll be in for a whole world of pain.

CellC helpdesk and technical support (and salesdroid) all claim that it won't work under Linux because the modem is designed to work only with Windows. Do not believe them and do not let them convince you otherwise. Both modems work just peachy. Just make absolutely sure with your salesdroid that the SIM is actually activated/provisioned for data access and not merely loaded with the data bundle. Got the T-shirt.

I can't say for the E1752 but the E1820 isn't network-locked. Got an MTN SIM in there at the moment, typing this. I'll check out the E1752 during the week.

*Trybble*

Thank you.

It now works well. Speed's a bit wobbly, but that's the same issue under Winders.

[The_Librarian]

Note - got a telkom e220 - and it works just peachy in ubuntu.

[michael.kyritsis]

I have Ubuntu 10.10 which recognizes this USB 3G modem, and connects to the Cell-C network (located in Meadowridge, Cape Town - which has good cell phone reception). But the modem would intermittently disconnect approximately every 10 minutes. I tried searching for updated drivers, changing settings - nothing helped. Until I tried plugging it into the USB port at the back of the PC - it is a tower, not a laptop. Plugged in at the back it works perfectly. No disconnects at all. I was given a tip by Springbok computers (in Plumstead) that the ports at the front at USB 1.0 and lower voltage than the ones at the back (which are USB 2.0). So I guess the modem was not getting enough power. I hope this tip could help anyone else who experiences the same problems I had.