Mobile Broadband connection through NetworkManager

[Antonio Olivares]

> I just purchased a EVDO USB broadband card from Sprint, and
> I'm trying to
> set it up using NetworkManager.
> 
> When I select Edit Connections from the applet, and then
> select the Mobile
> Broadband tab, I come to an empty screen, as I would
> expect.  Then I click
> on the Add button, but nothing happens.  I get no dialog,
> no error message,
> nothing.
> 
> This is what I get in /var/log/messages when I insert the
> card into the USB
> slot:
> 
> Aug  8 20:01:15 localhost kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: unable to
> enumerate USB
> device on port 1
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: new full speed
> USB device using
> ohci_hcd and address 3
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: configuration #1
> chosen from 1
> choice
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: sierra: probe of 2-1:1.0
> failed with error
> -5
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb-storage: device
> ignored
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device
> found,
> idVendor=1199, idProduct=0fff
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device
> strings: Mfr=1,
> Product=2, SerialNumber=3
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Product: USB MMC
> Storage
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Manufacturer:
> Sierra Wireless
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: SerialNumber:
> SWOC22905731
> Aug  8 20:01:16 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: USB disconnect,
> address 3
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: unable to
> enumerate USB
> device on port 1
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: new full speed
> USB device using
> ohci_hcd and address 4
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: configuration #1
> chosen from 1
> choice
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: sierra 2-1:1.0: Sierra
> USB modem converter
> detected
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB0
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB1
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB2
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: sierra 2-1:1.1: Sierra
> USB modem converter
> detected
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB3
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB4
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Sierra USB modem
> converter now
> attached to ttyUSB5
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device
> found,
> idVendor=1199, idProduct=0023
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device
> strings: Mfr=1,
> Product=2, SerialNumber=0
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Product: Sierra
> Wireless Compass
> 597 EVDO Modem
> Aug  8 20:01:17 localhost kernel: usb 2-1: Manufacturer:
> Sierra Wireless,
> Incorporated
> 
> It seems to recognize the card, and attach it to tty, so I
> think it should
> work.
> 
> Any help as to why I don't get a dialog would be
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Andy
> -- 


Your best bet is to do the following:
Open up a terminal and do
$ su -
password:
# wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf

It will scan modem ports and upon finding one will report something like 

a modem as found on /dev/ttyACM0, and you will have an empty wvdial.conf file.  You can edit it with your favorite editor and add your username information and phone number usually #777 like in my case.

You edit it and then after you are done, you can try to connect with
# wvdial

You should see something like connected and if you cannot browse, you will see some DNS numbers add those to the file 
/etc/resolv.conf as a root user.  You should be able to browse.

I use a different provider Cricket Wireless and they told me that Linux was not supported :(, but I googled and found some examples and I tried them and they worked :).  This is how I am getting the updates to a rawhide installation that I have.

Here's my wvdial.conf file, hope it can help you in some way


[root at localhost ~]# cat /etc/wvdial.conf

[Dialer Defaults]
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = USB Modem
Phone = #777
ISDN = 0
Username = MYUSERNAME****  this can be your accountnumber you need to try
Init1 = ATZ
Password = MYPASSWORD**** this can be your accountnumber 
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
Baud = 460800
Carrier Check = no
Stupid Mode = yes

I tried to connect with it and it connected

[root at localhost ~]# 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#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected.  Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Wed Jul 16 23:17:54 2008
--> Pid of pppd: 3517
--> Using interface ppp0
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> local  IP address 10.6.28.229
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> remote IP address 172.28.220.130
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> primary   DNS address 172.28.220.175
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> secondary DNS address 172.28.220.176
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]

I was not able to browse.  Though NetworkManager would take care of this, and it did not.  What did I do I added the 

--> primary   DNS address 172.28.220.175
--> pppd: 0��[08]���[08]
--> secondary DNS address 172.28.220.176

to /etc/resolv.conf as 

nameserver 172.28.220.175
nameserver 172.28.220.176

and I was able to browse.  Hope this helps in some way.

Regards,


Antonio