Linux: Fedora Core 3 / Novatel configuration help required

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aisne

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I have just got a Novatel 3G card and don't know how to go about installing it on FC3. The online documentation that I've seen refers to the Options card. Can anyone help? I'd love to have some pointers by COB today so that I can play on the weekend....
Aisne
 
aisne said:
I have just got a Novatel 3G card and don't know how to go about installing it on FC3. The online documentation that I've seen refers to the Options card. Can anyone help? I'd love to have some pointers by COB today so that I can play on the weekend....
Aisne
Click to expand...
That's odd bcos I just looked at v3g's FAQ thread where Linux is mentioned, opened the links to the Linux threads, and [post=184850]Tazz_tux has posted about Novatel & FC3 etc...[/post];)
 
I have the following results:

cardctl config
Socket 0:
not configured
Socket 1:
Vcc 5.0V Vpp1 0.0V Vpp2 0.0V
interface type is "memory and I/O"
irq 11 [exclusive] [level]
speaker output is enabled
function 0:
config base 0x0400
option 0x4f status 0x08
io 0x02f8-0x02ff [8bit]


[root@localhost etc]# cardctl ident 1
product info: "Novatel Wireless", "Merlin UMTS Modem", "U630", ""
manfid: 0x00a4, 0x0276
function: 2 (serial)

so it sees the card.

When I insert the card and run: cardctl insert 1 I get the following entry in /var/log/messages:

May 27 13:36:38 localhost cardmgr[2164]: socket 1: Serial or Modem
May 27 13:36:38 localhost kernel: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 11) is a 16550A


But now what must I do? Thanks in advance.

Aisne
 
Fedora 3 easy setup settings for U630 wireless datacard

When in X windows, run KPPP, under the internet bar.

Click "configure";
Click "new"-->"manual setup"
under connection name type tab type a name "Vodafone"
Click "ADD..." to enter a phone number
enter (*99***1#) for south africa. The number is almost the same for any country. sometimes its *99***3#
Click "Custom pppd arguments..."
enter "novj"
Click "add"
Click "ok"
There should be a "Vodafone" account.
Click "Modems Tab"
Click "new"
Enter a Modem name "MyModem"
modem device should be "/dev/modem" or "/dev/ttyS1"
Click on the "Modem tab"
disable "wait for dail tone"
Click "Modem commands..."
there should be a lot of settings, if all are blank restart kppp. and query the modem.
Change the following modem commands;

initialization string 1 should be: AT+CMEE=1
you can try 'ATZ' also at init string 1.

initialization string 2 should be: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"

thats it, this is the settings for vodacom SA.
type in the username and password anything will do.
user: guest
pswd: letmein
and click connect.

Hope it helps

Let me know if it works, but thats how i got it working on a clean full installation of fedora 3 in 2 minutes.

Here are my sources:
http://www.softwarelivre.citiap.gov.pt/Projectos/desktop/config_3g/
 
Hi there, thanks, just saw your message now. Currenly sitting in the Vodashop ironing out some other odds and ends. Will try your instructions later and look forward to a non-windows based life :-)
Cheers
Aisne
 
Hi again, I configured KPPP as directed, but every time I try to query the card, or connect to it, I get the message: The modem does not respond. Also the red LED flashes continuously from when I insert the card and this never varies. Any ideas. At the moment FC3 can't see to communicate with the card at all, never mind use it to access the net. I need to sort out the basic comms first. Any advice? Also, I have a PIN number when using Windows, how does this fit in to everything? Should I disable the PIN?
Aisne
 
I've disabled the pin now using windows and at least the modem LED flashes blue now. But I still am unable to get the modem to respond....
 
aisne said:
I've disabled the pin now using windows and at least the modem LED flashes blue now. But I still am unable to get the modem to respond....
Click to expand...

Still enjoying your non-windows based life I gather ??? :D.

All this cryptic cardctl nonsense and weirdo config scripts when had to configure an ISDN card was just one more reason why I went from Linux back to XP @ home.
 
re: setup

Okay first off all, if you used your card in windows, the pin number should be saved somewhere on the card. No NEED to enter a pin number.

The AT commands that you can use in any terminal program (minicom etc.)
to enter your pin are.
AT+CPIN="1234"

I reinstalled my Fedora 3 this morning on a clean drive and only used the settings i gave you.

my /dev/modem points to /dev/ttys1
so i can use either /dev/modem or /dev/ttys1 (serial port 1) to connect.
you should try to find out where you modem is located,

yours can be different

I get this message when i qeury the modem

Manufacturer: Novatel Wireless Incorporated Model: Merlin U630 (HW REV Rev 1B) Revision: 14.0-14.0 [2005-05-18 15:39:38] IMEI: xxxxxxxxxx +GCAP: +CGSM,+DS

THE PROBLEM (i think):
KPPP doesn't know where to find your modem.
try /dev/ttsy0
try /dev/ttsy1
try /dev/ttsy2
try /dev/ttsy3
try /dev/ttsy4
try /dev/ttsy5
try /dev/ttyl0
try /dev/ttSL0

In other words, try all the different options.
REMEMBER once you changed the Modem Device in KPPP click OK to go to the previous menu. Then click EDIT again. Otherwise the settings are not updated.

If you get an output similar to this, the you should be fine.
Manufacturer: Novatel Wireless Incorporated Model: Merlin U630 (HW REV Rev 1B) Revision: 14.0-14.0 [2005-05-18 15:39:38] IMEI: xxxxxxxxxx +GCAP: +CGSM,+DS

when i type cardctl config and cardctl ident 0
i get exactly the output you have posted.
My card is in socket 0 not 1.

It's a good sign.
 
aisne said:
I've disabled the pin now using windows and at least the modem LED flashes blue now. But I still am unable to get the modem to respond....
Click to expand...

Hey aisne,

What user are your when you are trying this ? Can you paste the result of:

ls -lr /dev/ttyS*

Laterz,
 
OK the modem is definitely on /dev/ttyS1 because when I do
cardctl eject, then there is no longer a link between /dev/modem and anything. When I go cardctl insert, I find the following:

[root@localhost ~]# ls -lr /dev/mo*
crw------- 1 root root 13, 32 May 31 2005 /dev/mouse0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 31 11:14 /dev/modem -> /dev/ttyS1
[root@localhost ~]# ls -lr /dev/ttyS*
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 71 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS7
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 70 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS6
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 69 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS5
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 68 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS4
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 67 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS3
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 66 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS2
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 65 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS1
crw-rw---- 1 root uucp 4, 64 May 31 2005 /dev/ttyS0
[root@localhost ~]#

Further, when I do the following (using Tazz_Tux's wvdial config), with the card first present and then not present, I get the following:
[root@localhost ~]# cardctl eject
[root@localhost ~]# wvdial 3gonly
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Cannot open /dev/modem: No such file or directory
--> Cannot open /dev/modem: No such file or directory
--> Cannot open /dev/modem: No such file or directory
[root@localhost ~]# cardctl insert
[root@localhost ~]# wvdial 3gonly
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
--> Sending: ATQ0
--> Re-Sending: ATZ
--> Modem not responding.

Further, if I switch to Windows, and test the card under ?System... Devices... Test Modem (whatever)... Windows also says "Device does not respond" . However obviously the modem is working under windows despite the test message saying that the modem doesn't respond.

So basically from here, I still haven't managed to get basic comms with the card. Am wondering how to tell if there isn't an IRQ conflict or something like that.....

Should I go to the shop and test with a different Novatel card? Maybe there's actually something wrong with this one....

Any ideas?
Ciao
aisne
 
This Might help

Try this initialization string instead of ATZ try AT+CMEE=1, its the prefered init string.

Also go to your bios and disable all the I/O devices that you don't need to free resources.
Disable onboard LAN, com1 and com2 and lpt1. If you don't need them.
Disable onboard sound.

Try to put the modem in after fedora has started.
I never take my card out.
Download and install the latest firmware for your device, rev.14 i think.
http://www.vodacom4me.co.za/vodacom4me-personal-resources/downloads/3GDataCard/

If this doesn't work, search for "gprs easy connect download" in google.
Download and install. This should also work.
 
You should use wvdial(Tazz Tux) like this:

"wvdial novatel internet 3gonly 384k"
or "wvdial novatel internet 2gonly"
remember to change this line in his wvdial.conf
[Dialer novatel]
Modem = /dev/ttyS0 << Change to Modem = /dev/ttyS1
 
Hi again,
Running wvdial as above made no difference. I had actually already tried that on the weekend (I went through a number of permutations). I have the latest Novatel software as well. I'm going to try your suggestion regarding the BIOS a bit later...
Cheers
aisne
 
aisne said:
Hi again,
Running wvdial as above made no difference. I had actually already tried that on the weekend (I went through a number of permutations). I have the latest Novatel software as well. I'm going to try your suggestion regarding the BIOS a bit later...
Cheers
aisne
Click to expand...

Hey aisne,

By the sounds of it your card is broken :( Let us know what the result is after the flash of rev14

Laterz
 
Hi
Well, the only other thing i can think of is to update your pcmcia module, and/or kernel.
Search for this file and install.
pcmcia-cs-3.2.8-4.12.i386.rpm
 
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