3G HSDPA USB Modems on GNU/Linux <body> <pre> <b>GNU/Linux and 3G HSDPA USB Modems</b> Despite what you may have been told by the stores, they just work! Huawei 3G USB Modems such as the K3565 (sold by Vodafone, at least) and appearing in lsusb as <tt>12d1:1003</tt>; the Huawei E220 and many more just appear as ordinary USB Serial devices. The Linux Kernel typically likes to be told this information, but if it doesn't know, then you can use udev event triggers to fool things, like this: Create a file /etc/udev/rules.d/99-huawei.rules with the following contents, substituting the USB device info (lsusb) if appropriate: ## # # udev rule for HUAWEI E220 3G HSDPA Modem # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # (c)opyleft OOZIE < oozie@poczta.fm > # # This file prevents the pseudo scsi cdrom device from enabling, # thus providing a workaround for kernel versions < 2.6.20 # ## SUBSYSTEM=="block", \ ACTION=="add", \ SYSFS{idVendor}=="12d1", \ SYSFS{idProduct}=="1003", \ IMPORT{program}="huawei-mobile.sh", \ OPTIONS="ignore_device" Create a second file /lib/udev/huawei-mobile.sh: #!/bin/bash # # (c)opyleft 2007 by 00ZIE <oozie@poczta.fm> # # This software gives you no warranty whatsoever, you can copy and modify # it under terms and conditions of GPLv2 or later available at # # http://www.gnu.org/licences/gpl.txt # # This is the executable part of the workaround udev-rule for # HUAWEI 220 modem on kernels prior to 2.6.20 # # The latest version of this script and many more can be found there: # http://oozie.fm.interia.pl/pro/huawei-e220/ # #### export LOG=/dev/null # # If you experiece a wierd problem and want to contribute # please change the value of $LOG variable to /tmp/huawei.log # or so and send the file to me. Thanks! # export CONFIGFILE=/root/.huawei-config # # the $CONFIGFILE variable is created to give a possibility # of executing arbitrary commands just after the device is # enabled. (e.g. wvdial --config /etc/wvdial-3ireland.conf) # ( uname -a /sbin/modprobe usbserial vendor=0x12d1 product=0x1003 test -e $CONFIGFILE && ( . $CONFIGFILE ) & # # If found $CONFIGFILE will be executed in the background, # otherwise it could possibly slow down execution of other # udev rules. # ) 2>&1 >> $LOG ...actually, you could just do the /sbin/modprobe line if you really wanted to. Again, check the vendor and product ID. Next, to get actual "dialup", you should find out the APN, and create a wvdial.conf such as this: # wvdial for Vodacom Data. Created by Tazz_tux # Version 1.0 # Change Log: # # Added support for HSDPA. # Added Headers and version control. [Dialer hsdpa] Phone = *99***1# Username = web Password = web Stupid Mode = 1 Dial Command = ATDT Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0 Baud = 460800 Init2 = ATZ Init3 = ATE0V1&D2&C1S0=0+IFC=2,2 ISDN = 0 Modem Type = Analog Modem Init5 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","pp.internet"; where the APN in the case of Vodafone 3G PAYG is "pp.internet" and the username and password are both "web". I found these after some random searches for "3G APN", but I believe that they were listed as GPRS settings as well (which the USB 3G modems all support as well). Then all you need do is type "wvdial hsdpa", making sure that the user is in the "dialout" group, and checking that /dev/ttyUSB0 has been created in the group "dialout". Debian GNU/Linux has some fancy rules somewhere on USB Serial devices that automatically results in duh USB Serial devices being in group "dialout". If you want to use a "GUI" then look on Betavine, there is some great software there that was created for netbooks - sadly specifically for Ubuntu and even more sadly, specifically for Gnome desktops, despite it saying "only needs GTK". There are various dependencies that can be removed with judicious hacking, and I've notified the developers so stuff should get updated. xfce4-notify-daemon can be used instead of gnome for example - it's a bit of a mess if you dislike Gnome, but should work. Auto-detection of the type of modem; presentation of the choices of APNs etc. etc. all worked great. So basically, if ever you get told by a shop that GNU/Linux does not support 3G modems, they are talking crap: refer them to me. It is however assumed that you have a brain, can do Internet Searches, and are not afraid to install either random bits of software or to create a few files on your system. Allocate yourself a couple of hours to experiment and get over any trepidation you might feel; ask around if you're not sure, but there's nothing in the world stopping you from using Free Software Operating Systems to get connected to the Internet, from anywhere that you can get a 3G signal! </pre> </body> </html>