Integration of 3G Wireless Modem Detection - 4.1.2 & 4.2.1

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richard.a
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practical example of Mi-Fi usefulness (if I had one)

#511 Post by richard.a »

Regarding the MiFi device mentioned, it may very well prove useful anyway, for demo-ing a combination of Linux, wifi hotspots, and 3G connectivity among friends and business owners with whom I'm acquainted. (I'm retired from the work force)

We need more hotspots after all, and imho the internode hotspot system is possibly the best Australian one for minimal investment by businesses.
I wrote that in my last post, and this is a little off topic.

Since then, at 2001 yesterday (according to IRC logs) my main ADSL service went down due to a line fault. Australia's phone lines are all owned by just one telco. We are hamstrung here.

It's now almost 12 hours since the failure. I've been using 3G wireless connectivity to keep IRC bots and channel (chat room) logging going via a laptop with the 3G dongle mentioned previously.

If I had the MiFi I described - instead of the USB dongle - at least parts of my LAN could be operational to the outside world, allowing more than one computer access :)


UPDATED
I have the MiFi unit - a dash into Adelaide to pick up the unit from Internode.

A very simple job to transfer the SIM card, there is an instruction book.

I tested it out, and while a little iffy first up to recognise the unit on 4.3.1 vanilla, it did after 3 attempts. Also on 2.14X15 (nicely) as well as superbly on 4.2.1

This was on a Toshiba Satellite 1800, 896 Celeron processor, 256, and a D-Link PCMCIA AirPlus-G NIC.

Richard in Adelaide -
although my whois on 3G often says I'm in Sydney, 1000 miles away lol. Today it says Melbourne, 800 miles away:)
Last edited by richard.a on Tue 30 Mar 2010, 10:31, edited 1 time in total.
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cthisbear
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#512 Post by cthisbear »

richard.a

Whirlpool forum...same problem.

" Im trying to get a huawei E160E USB modem to work with Puppy Linux. "

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... =-1#bottom

Chris.

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01micko
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#513 Post by 01micko »

richard.a

You may find this interesting so you can share you 3G internet, I have done it and know it works with ethernet, but should work with a wireless adapter too.

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 11&t=37520

It is a great little program and it has documentation included.

______________

cthisbear

Posted a reply on whirlpool for your mate over there.

Cheers
Puppy Linux Blog - contact me for access

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#514 Post by cthisbear »

01micko:

Good work mate...........Chris.

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Aitch
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#515 Post by Aitch »

Richard a.

Which Mifi device did you get?

I'm curious, as I posted a link earlier for the Huawei E5830 one used by Three in UK

Good to see you got it working on 4.2.1, 4.3.1, and 2.14X - my 3 favourite puppies at the moment, but some tips on what you did would be useful

Do you have full web admin access? - the Three version seems crippled, [?] and seemingly doesn't allow wep ar wpa/2 security, though there are reports of updating the firmware, and unlocking the device to get around this - I only have mine [very new acquisition] working on Windoze, atm :(

thanks

Aitch :)

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richard.a
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Mi-Fi does work, and nicely

#516 Post by richard.a »

Aitch wrote:Which Mifi device did you get?
The natty little black box says it's a 2352, and the manual says it could have been a 2372. Not sure what the difference is. I did read somewhere that it has Huawei E5830 internals rather than those of the E160E dongle which I have.

It also appears to have been available in black or silver. Mine is black.
Aitch wrote:I'm curious, as I posted a link earlier for the Huawei E5830 one used by Three in UK
Oh... I must have missed that :(
Aitch wrote:Good to see you got it working on 4.2.1, 4.3.1, and 2.14X - my 3 favourite puppies at the moment, but some tips on what you did would be useful
While it was running for the next few hours, I also tried an Aspire1 on which I have the four OS's I mentioned so I know it supports at least two WiFi connections nicely.

I didn't wish to waste time with the security stuff, particularly because I have found with a Netgear WG614 (v9) that there were difficulties in getting the three puppy versions mentioned connecting encrypted. 4.21 was more iffy than 4.31 in that regard.
Aitch wrote:Do you have full web admin access? - the Three version seems crippled, [?] and seemingly doesn't allow wep ar wpa/2 security, though there are reports of updating the firmware, and unlocking the device to get around this - I only have mine [very new acquisition] working on Windoze, atm :(
As mentioned, I didn't explore what I can do with it; almost all of my ISP's Adelaide customers had DSLAM failure which nobody has explained yet... but one suspects it was a problem associated with what is referred to as "the last mile" here - the length of copper conductor from the phone exchange mainframe to the customers, administered by "the only game in town" so to speak.

The chat rooms in which I'm an admin (in my spare time!) were having to be supervised by bots and personal clients on an old Toshiba laptop running WindowsXP SP2. So, hence my extremely fast "get-it-running-at-all costs" saga because of this situation which didn't need downtime longer than a few minutes.

I charged the battery (without inserting the SIM because the latter was in use) - the book says 4hrs initial charge - and it showed a solid LED charged indication after 2 hours.

About 30mins later (to ensure it was fully charged), I shut down the charger, shut down bots and chat clients, and pulled the 3G dongle from the WindowsXP home SP2 ancient Toshiba Satellite 1800 laptop, leaving the laptop idling.

Then removed the SIM from the dongle, removed the (now charged) battery from the MiFi, plugged SIM and then battery into MiFi (SIM sits under the battery), and pressed the power on button on the MiFi.

As soon as the MiFi LEDs announced its search had located a 3G signal and locked on (this is described in detail in the instruction booklet provided by manufacturer Novatel), I told the (Windows) laptop to go looking and it was quickly located and set as default, I restarted the bots and chat clients

It really was as simple as that!


Comments
I wrote to Internode later that evening giving them an update, and said a maximum of 15mins to do the change-over, but I suspect it was far, far, less.

Setting up to use the hotspot on the puppies mentioned was only slightly longer in duration than on WindowsXP... and was about the same length of time as in accessing a regular "proper" hotspot!

Actually it IS a proper hotspot lol :)

Once my regular ADSL connection was restored considerably later that night, I tried the same puppies on the Toshiba laptop and they performed similarly. Interestingly the D-Link PCMCIA WiFi identifies in puppies and PCLinuxOS as Atheros, which is what the Aspire1's claims to be. So that isn't as good a check as it might be.

The instruction book also tells you how to go about using it as a regular 3G device, but the WiFi side is disabled if you do that - which I thought was pretty pointless.

The ability exists to configure the device by both web browser and alternatively via a USB cable, but I didn't use either method as it self-configures nicely and quickly (without any security of course) on its own. WPA etc needs to be set up with either web or USB access.

There is a miniature card slot on the back which can be for any capacity up to 16Gb for storage of downloads etc - very useful when the 3G provider charges for the bandwidth in both directions. My ISP (who doesn't count uploads on its regular ADSL plans) have little choice but to pass on the charges from Optus who is the 3G carrier they use. So the card can be removed later and its contents copied across a regular LAN, etc.

I'm impressed actually at the simplicity of operation. A plus for non technical users, and it is ideally suited for converts to alternative OS's who could be discouraged if it wasn't simple. I've seen the expressions on their faces when something is sufficiently "different" to be a worry factor :).
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Aitch
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#517 Post by Aitch »

Richard a.

Thanks, good feedback!

Here's the link I posted ,

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 490#394490

...and like you, hooked it up really easily - haven't done much more experimenting with it yet, as I have broadband, and it's fairly expensive to use, but I bought it for my camper & narrowboat, though I'm still trying to get a good 12v Car PC rig in the boat - having a problem with the right power supply - blown 2 cheapies already, and I'm still experimenting with powered USB extension cables for the remote DVD player/writer, as it plays up on standard extensions, and getting a low power screen to work, cheaply [I'd really like a 15" touchscreen that uses about 25watts or less! ] - not enough 'leisure' battery reserve amps is the real problem, so I'm also trying to get better charging output from the main engine alternator....and maybe a solar panel

Meanwhile, mobile I have an Edubook running XP Fundamentals[?] slowly..., and an IBM T21 running XP/214X, using a standard 3G E220 :D and a 300w inverter to recharge the batteries :D

Aitch :)

Baldronicus
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Internode 3G access Puppy 4.3.1 standard E160E (or X)

#518 Post by Baldronicus »

Hi rerwin et al,

Thanks very much for all the effort and information with the dial up and Mobile Broadband modems.

Hopefully the following might be of assistance with the Internode connection problem (at least it seems to work- not sure if there might be hidden rough edges, or whether I might unknowingly have done something else to get it to work).

Edit (again- cut out too much): As Richard (rerwin) points out in another post below, the description that originally followed is not really the best way to approach the connection. At this stage, updating /etc/resolv.conf with the DNS info on the sheet provided with the modem (by Internode), looks a much better way to go.

Best to have the latest backend and modem update pets loaded (you may need to use a pupsave or a remastered 4.3.1- if remastering 4.3.1 see the threads in the forum-as there may be a problem unless you use one of the various fixes). Reboot with the modem attached (initial run), and follow Richard's (rerwin's) advice for detecting the modem.

Set up PupDial with:
Phone Number: *99#
Username: (as per Smokey01's advice this can be anything- I used "a"
Password: (as per Username)
APN: internode

Open /etc/resolv.conf. (I don't know if you would need to uncomment and overwrite the first line with the following, but it may not hurt). Key in the word "nameserver" (without quotes), leave a space, then enter the Primary DNS info as given on the sheet. On the next line do the same for the Secondary DNS info. Save the file (in place) and hopefully it should work when you try connecting through PupDial..

The initial connection may still seem a bit slow, but it seems to work pretty well after that.

Edit:paragraphs removed as redundant.

Hope this helps, and I haven't botched anything (no, I don't know what I am doing).

Thanks.
Baldronicus

Edit: forgot to note modem type: Huawei E160E (possibly E160X in documentation)
Last edited by Baldronicus on Mon 03 May 2010, 00:53, edited 3 times in total.

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kazzamozz
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3Gwireless modem autodetection

#519 Post by kazzamozz »

Hi Rerwin
I know this forum is for 4.1.2 and upwards but I
just thought I would update you on recent events.

Have installed your latest 3g 13.pet
and Istandish's mt-gprs-2.6.21.7-12.pet
Success with a Vodafone 3Gk3715
using ttuxxxs 214r5 puppy and also mini-sys-linux mini 008.4c-En & Muppy
kernel 2.6.21.7
New Years Pup 4.11 base not sure of the kernel

I know this is only supposed to work on 4.1.2 and later but this is working on the early puppies and also updating the menus for gprs connect. It works very well too.

once you install this plug in the modem reboot
Click on gprs connect I get a connection. I still cannot get this modem to actually work under pupdial, it can see it but it just sits there waiting for a response, but as stated previously for some reason it's very happy to connect with gprs connect I only have to enter.
Vfinternet.au
guest
guest
and it works.

I am currently testing on growler and teenpup but am having problems as they won't create the save file. This is related to the Toshiba L300 keeps going to a dead screen when rebooting so will be testing on the desktop tomorrow.

Just thought this may be of interest with all the work you have been doing on this. Personally I am wrapt I can get a 3G modem to work on the older pups as some of them are pretty cool. I didn't have to do any mucking around either they just installed. So whatever magic you have created seems to work on any puppy so far !! 8)

Cheers
Kazzamozz

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rerwin
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#520 Post by rerwin »

I am pleased to see you making such progress on your own. I have been preoccupied with the upgrade to usb_modeswitch in time for 4.3.2. Now I need some of you to test out the new packages so we don't get an ugly surprise in 4.3.2.

First, install the updated pup_event_backend_modprobe_fix_to_p43x-4.pet:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... h&id=27883

Then, if you already have modem_fix_pack_to_431-5 installed, just install modem_fix_pack_delta-5-to-6.pet:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... h&id=27884

Otherwise, if you start with a fresh 4.3.1 or 4.3.2 puppy and new pupsave, just install modem_fix_pack_to_431-6.pet:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... h&id=27882

Please report your results ASAP so I can recommend that ttuuxxx add the fix pack delta to his official 4.3.2 (or make a quick fix)..

Regarding the possible need for the "-chap" workaround: there is a way to avoid the editing of the /ppp/options file. In anticipation of a need for it for other ISPs, I implemented an easy way to add new providers. However, I see that the instance I created for whoever-raised-the-issue did not make it into 4.3.1 as I had intended. But it is easy to add yourselves. Given your actual APN string, which I show here as (APN), enter the command:
echo "-chap" > /etc/wvdial_options/APN-(APN)

Pupdial will then insert the "-chap" automatically. You need do that only once, since it is retained. Please post the new files that are needed so I can add them to an update. Thanks

With the completion of the fix-pack-6, I am ready to resume work on details for particular modem models. So, when trying the latest implementation, please tell me of any problems. I admit that my progress on the ones I have been working has been frustrating. But we need to press on with what can be resolved.

Thank you for all of your help with this.
Richard

Baldronicus,
I am fascinated by your experimentation with your E160. You are the first I know of to utilize the extra Init statements I built into wvdial.conf. Your Init4 entry tells me you need to force your provider to use only 3G, and not 2G. Is that because they give you 2G by default? Or will 2G not work if they have to "fall back" to it? I am surprised it is necessary in your case.

Regarding commenting out the line with 115200: all the feedback I see is that the speed value is irrelevant for wireless modems, so any value can be set and will be ignored. One less thing to mess with.
Richard

Greatnessguru,
Regarding your Motorola VE465 mobile phone in USB modem mode: I have something to help you along. Although we won't be able to get the Connect Wizard to detect your phone (because it requires the generic usbserial driver/module), we can automate the loading of that module, so that you can simply probe for the modem in Pupdial.

Modems commonly use a driver (e.g., option, sierra) that has an associated initialization script that finds the ttyUSB- device. Those drivers actually invoke usbserial, so having a script for usbserial gets tricky. But these cases are rare and the probe step is at least straightforward.

The latest modem fix pack (-6) has a file: /etc/udev/rules.d/50-modprobe-usbserial.rules, which can be expanded to include your phone/modem. The file currently has one special case in it, More can be added in the following format:

Code: Select all

# #################################################
# Modem name...

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ACTION=="add", \
ATTRS{idVendor}=="vvvv", ATTRS{idproduct}=="pppp", \
RUN+="/sbin/modprobe usbserial %s{idVendor} %s{idProduct}"

where you change the vvvv to the vendor ID and pppp to the product ID. Adding the modem name would be good, too.

Your entry should be this:

Code: Select all

#################################################
# Motorola VE465

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ACTION=="add", \
ATTRS{idVendor}=="22b8", ATTRS{idproduct}=="2b24", \
RUN+="/sbin/modprobe usbserial %s{idVendor} %s{idProduct}"
Please try the new update packages and try this out. There may be more things to adjust, but this is a start.
Richard

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Class attribute?

#521 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,

Code: Select all

...
# Modem name...
...
ATTRS{idproduct}...
... %s{idProduct}"
Upper case "P", or lower?

Also, the idea is to _not_ special case phone modems,
but to _general case_ them.
Something like, I suppose:

Code: Select all

#################################################
# Cls=ff(vend.)

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ACTION=="add", \
ATTRS{idCls}=="ff(vend.)", \
RUN+="/sbin/modprobe usbserial %s{idCls}"
Is "idCls" correct for the "Cls" attribute?

Thanks,
Eddie Maddox

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#522 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,
I tried much testing with Puppy 431, pfix=ram,
and your -4/-6 PETs.

No success ever.

I am very frustrated by the great inconsistency between the
/etc/udev/rules.d/50-modprobe-usbserial.rules code for the
existing special case and the code you supplied for the VE465.

Please supply links to docs on that file.

Thanks,
Eddie Maddox

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rerwin
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#523 Post by rerwin »

Greatnessguru,
That file was an experiment for someone with a Chinese cellphone, I think, but the user never responded. I have now concluded that you might be better off trying the 'option' driver, which apparently supports more than you would think.

There is a rules file:
50-modprobe-option.rules

to which you could add the following entry:

Code: Select all

# Motorola VE465
ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEMS=="usb", \
   ATTRS{idVendor}=="22b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="2b24", \
   ATTRS{bInterfaceClass}=="ff", \
   RUN+="/usr/sbin/pmodprobeoption.sh %s{idVendor} %s{idProduct}"
(Yes, it should be "idP..."; my typo before. And that is the attribute for class, too.)

Regarding your generic technique: modprobe expects vendor and product as keyword parameters, so the class would not work. And class ff probably has multiple meanings, depending on the device, which could be anything.

When you try the option idea, please get a diag file (with pmodemdiag) and PM it to me, so I can see what happened. I need clues as to why it is not working. If we have to go back to the usbserial angle, we will be blazing a trail. So I hope the option driver works here.
Richard

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#524 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,
please get a diag file (with pmodemdiag) and PM it to me,
pmodemdiag hung, never creating the file.

Code: Select all

Running PupScan silently to get hardware IDs and drivers.
 Collecting various modem-related files into an archive tarball:
  pmodemdiag-20100411.tar.gz.
Eddie Maddox

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#525 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,
Regarding your generic technique:
modprobe expects vendor and product as keyword parameters,
so the class would not work.
And class ff probably has multiple meanings,
depending on the device, which could be anything.
So, the natural thing to do is:
- probe for the Class "ff"
- for each Class "ff" found:
-- show the info in a dialog box
-- ask the user if it is a "modem" or is set to "modem mode"
-- if so:
--- extract the Vendor and Product for modprobe

Correct?

My Motorola VE465, via menus on the phone, can be set to either:
- Mass Storage
- Modem
for USB.

For Bluetooth it can be set to several different things.

Eddie Maddox

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rerwin
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#526 Post by rerwin »

Greatnessguru,
pmodemdiag hung, never creating the file.
This concerns me! The only line I suspect that could hang is line 60 of /usr/sbin/pmodemdiag. Please comment out that line and try again. If it still hangs, then find the /tmp directory of the name similar to the tar.gz file and make an archive of it to send me. I definitely do not want the tool to hang, so must find out why.

Re the ff business: I am not ready to deal with that at least until we get the original problem sorted out. I need to exhaust all the available possibilities before designing something new.
Richard

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#527 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,
pmodemdiag hung, never creating the file.
... line 60 of /usr/sbin/pmodemdiag.
Please comment out that line and try again.
Success!

Thanks,
Eddie Maddox

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#528 Post by Greatnessguru »

rerwin,
- booted PuppyLinux 431, pfix=ram
- installed the ...-6 PET
- installed the ...-4 PET
- installed pmodemdiag, #<line 60>
- ran pmodemdiag
- renamed file to "...before..."

- ran:
#!/bin/sh
cat /proc/bus/usb/devices | grep -B1 -A9 "Cls=ff"
echo
modprobe -v usbserial vendor=0x22b8 product=0x2b24
echo
cat /proc/bus/usb/devices | grep -B1 -A9 "Cls=ff"

- result:
T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=01 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 1.10 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=22b8 ProdID=2b24 Rev= 0.02
S: Manufacturer=Motorola Inc.
S: Product=Motorola VE465
C:* #Ifs= 2 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr=500mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 16 Ivl=128ms
E: Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=(none)
E: Ad=84(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=04(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms

insmod /lib/modules/2.6.30.5/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/usbserial.ko vendor=0x22b8 product=0x2b24

T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=01 Cnt=01 Dev#= 2 Spd=12 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 1.10 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=22b8 ProdID=2b24 Rev= 0.02
S: Manufacturer=Motorola Inc.
S: Product=Motorola VE465
C:* #Ifs= 2 Cfg#= 1 Atr=c0 MxPwr=500mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=usbserial_generic
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 16 Ivl=128ms
E: Ad=82(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
I:* If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=ff Prot=ff Driver=usbserial_generic
E: Ad=84(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=04(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 64 Ivl=0ms

- clicked "connect"
-- clicked the button for PupDial
"No modem detected..."
--- clicked "Probe"
---- clicked "Probe"
-- Modem detected, ttyUSB0
-- clicked "Exit"
- ran pmodemdiag
- renamed file to "...usbserial..."

- ran:
#!/bin/sh
cat /proc/bus/usb/devices | grep -B1 -A9 "Cls=ff"
echo
modprobe -v option vendor=0x22b8 product=0x2b24
echo
cat /proc/bus/usb/devices | grep -B1 -A9 "Cls=ff"

- result:
...
insmod /lib/modules/2.6.30.5/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/option.ko vendor=0x22b8 product=0x2b24
FATAL: Error inserting option (/lib/modules/2.6.30.5/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/option.ko):
Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
...

- dmesg | tail :
usbserial_generic 1-2:1.0: generic converter detected
usb 1-2: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB0
usbserial_generic 1-2:1.1: generic converter detected
usb 1-2: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB1
usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
usbserial: USB Serial Driver core
usbcore: registered new interface driver cdc_acm
cdc_acm: v0.26:USB Abstract Control Model driver for USB modems and ISDN adapters
...
option: Unknown parameter `vendor'

Please let me know the proper "modprobe" stuff for the "option" module to get that part working.

Thanks,
Eddie Maddox

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rerwin
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Regarding the Huawei E5830 3G wifi router

#529 Post by rerwin »

In researching a request from forum member reo (thanks for the PM), I found some frustrating information. The request:
i had a query about the 3G wifi routers from Huawei model number E5830.
i tried to use it as a direct USB modem but unfortunately it does not detect the modem. can you please advise.
I found this in a review of the device here: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 54&start=0
This part addresses direct/USB connection to the modem part:
HOW DO I USE IT?
There are two modes of operation, which I shall call 'tethered' and 'wireless'. Tethered means connected to your pc with a usb cable, wireless means connected by wifi. Here there is also a difference between Linux and Windows. If you are unlucky enough to be relying on Windows then it behaves in the customary manner of these devices, you plug it in and it installs software with which you can alter various settings and functions and also use it to connect from the pc so you don't have to use the modem buttons (it even has a firewall built in which I haven't investigated yet) if you are using Linux then you will of course not get this luxury. As this is a Linux forum I will concentrate on how it works with that.

I will deal with tethered mode first as that is the easiest - it doesn't work. That is to say, I can't make it work, which is not quite the same thing. It is not the usual problem though (storage mode). It is recognised as a modem and the kernel automatically creates the required device nodes (ttyUSB0,1,2) needed for it to connect, but nothing is capable of connecting to it. I have tried gnome network manager, umtsmon and gnome ppp, and everything reports that there is no modem on the system, even gnome ppp, and with that, you actually tell it which node the modem is attached to - and still it can't see it. The fact that a modem exists and is recognised can be confirmed by [normal-appearing] output from /var/log/messages.
[ . . . ]
At the end there it mentions a storage device which is attached to sdc. I have tried ejecting this and it makes no difference. Perhaps in time I will overcome this, but so far I haven't.

So on to wireless mode, and this is where the device comes into its own. Whatever your distribution or your skill with Linux, provided you have a Linux compatible wireless card in your pc you WILL be able to connect via this device. There is no kernel trickery required, and no external programs either, the connection to the internet is done entirely by the device itself, it doesn't even involve your computer. So this is how it goes.

First you press the lower of the three buttons to switch the device on. Second you wait until the modem receives a mobile broadband signal then you press the top button to connect the device to that signal. Third you press the middle button to switch on the wifi signal. Fourth you go to network manager and look for the SSID of your device and click on it. Fifth you enter the wifi key provided for you (it uses wpa-psk by default but you can change that if you need to). Sixth you are online.

The beauty of the device though is that it doesn't stop there. Any device that you own with wireless capabilities will be able to connect to it as well, just the same as if you had a wireless router, but this one works anywhere you can get a mobile signal, no telephone lines needed - ain't that brill :D
That explains why attempts by others do not seem to work. The solution appears to be to use it with a wifi network device. Connecting via USB just doesn't work. Unless someone has by now found a way.

Another issue with this device is the inability to configure it via the USB connection from linux. But I found this blog item addressing that. It points to some alternate firmware for it that resolves the problem. I cannot recommend using or not using it, but thought I would mention it, anyway.
http://luke.sheldrick.co.uk/blog/2010/0 ... hree-mifi/
Richard

reo
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue 09 Feb 2010, 19:11

E5830

#530 Post by reo »

Hi

thanks for the info.

actually the main reason i wanted the "tethered" option was so sthat i could set different APN configurations.

when u are on wireless u have to use the default APN set on the router.

however i think i may have found a way around this. there is a firmware upgrade that you can run which will allow u access to the router config page over the wireless connection. but i beleive that you could be limited by the profiles that are actually stored on the device. i am going to try this firmware and i will let you know the result and in which ways i am limited on the APN and how to get around that.

i have an unlocked E5830 so i can change the sim card and test with other networks.

i am not sure if im allowed to on the forum but here is a link to the tutorial on upgrading the firmware :

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthre ... 1058534564

regards

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