Getting a Huawei USB broadband dongle to work in Hardy Heron

..And finally the web with Ubuntu! Ignore the statements below concerning lack of internet access with a T-Mobile USB Web 'n' Walk dongle. Massive thanks to the Ubuntu Forum for the instructions, work and insights of Sleep-ZZ-John, IanB, Callum and many, many others. I'm able to surf and download from repositories anywhere. Here's how it all goes and the steps I took:

In order to find the modem log on in a terminal as root and type 'dmesg'. The scroll down until you find Huawei E220, which shoulf be listed a GSM modem and as /dev/tty/USB0. This same dongle may also appear as a CD-ROM ( Windows exec files for setting up the device in Windows). You need to disable that by typing 'modprobe -r'.

Having gone through the above while still logged on as root type wvdialconf. This creates a file in /etc/wvdial.config. With gedit you need to edit this file and have ready you APN ie the name of your carrier in my case 'general.t-mobile.uk. You'll also need the dial number and your user name and password in that order. The wvdial.config file should look like this for example:

[Dialer Defaults]

Init1 = ATZ

Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0

Modem Type = Analog Modem

Baud = 9600

New PPPD = yes

Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0

APN = general.t-mobile.uk

Phone = *88#

username = username
password = username

The above is only an example. Fill in the entries as appropriate and note when the wvdial.config is opened there are semi-colons before the entries Phone, Username and Password. DELETE THEM. I could not get a connection with them present.

You also need to enter the above details in Administration>Networking and enable the connection.
You should also delete the last line of the file chap-secrets found under /etc/ppp.chap-secrets.
At this juncture close the terminal and reboot. On rebooting open the terminal and log on as root.Type su, followed by your password and then type wvdial. It should dial and if successful display this dialogue:

somebody@somewhere:~$ su

Password:

root@somewhere:/home/user# wvdial

--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60

--> Cannot get information for serial port.

--> Initializing modem.

--> Sending: ATZ

ATZ

OK

--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0

ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0

OK

--> Modem initialized.

--> Sending: ATDT*99#

--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT*99#

CONNECT

--> Carrier detected. Waiting for prompt

If you are successfully authenticated you'll get:

.

--> Don't know what to do! Starting pppd and hoping for the best.

--> Starting pppd at Wed Sep 10 13:23:22 2008

--> Pid of pppd: 6407

--> Using interface ppp0

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> local IP address 10.206.192.204

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> remote IP address 10.64.64.64

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> primary DNS address 149.254.192.126

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

--> secondary DNS address 149.254.201.126

--> pppd: ا[06][08]��[06][08]

Now click on your favourite web browser (ie Firefox, Galeon or Konqueror). REMEMBER to click on file and untick "work offline". Click on any hyperlinked object and you ready to surf.

If feel my EEEPC and Acer AA0 are now complete. Why wait for the new model to feature 3G when you can have it now. Perhaps Intrepid Ibex when it becomes available will better application support for 3G devices.


Anthony Johnson

UK