i have a huawei e180 mobile internet usb stick in Portugal, that i use to get internet, but as i have switched to Linux , i was wondering if this would work, as before it would install software on the system to run the internet?
regards
i have a huawei e180 mobile internet usb stick in Portugal, that i use to get internet, but as i have switched to Linux , i was wondering if this would work,…
Yes, it should do. Plus it in and type this in a console
dmesg|tail
Sometimes you just need to install a little utility called usb_modeswitch to get the device ‘flipped’ into modem device mode (rather than as storage device mode).
Are you using KDE or Gnome. When you plug the device in, does the network manager see it?
…as before it would install software on the system to run the internet?
The software is for Windows environment, so not useful or required for Linux.
I am using KDE.
Dont know yet about software as i am not yet in portugal.
Read my post again, and post the ‘dmesg |tail’ results. You may need to install the ‘usb_modswitch’ package, depending on output.
It is highly likely that the software you used to connect in Windows will not work in Linux, just as deano_ferrari stated.
The linux equivalent is a command line utility called wvdial.
Usage:
sudo wvdialconf
sudo nano /etc/wvdial.conf
sudo wvdial
You only need to launch nano the first time around. You need to enter the modem’s phone number, and any login information for your ISP. The wvdial.conf is pretty self-explanatory once open. I recommend sudoing wvdial the first time. But after that, try without sudo. I have found that it is necessary to run wvdialconf on every hot plug-in.
Also, you may receive DNS errors. In the error message, wvdial will tell you what DNS servers it connected to.
sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
and enter
nameserver [the DNS server]
comment out any other nameservers with a “#” (no quotes).
Good luck.
so is it any use doing the ‘dmesg |tail’ without the usb modem??
so is it any use doing the ‘dmesg |tail’ without the usb modem??
No, because you want to know the kernel output when the device has been plugged in. In particular, we’re looking to see if /dev/ttyUSB0 (or similar) is created, or whether usb_modeswitch is needed to expose the modem interface first.
ok i will post my finding when i have got hold of my modem.
if you are still out there Luke;
I see you list Hampshire as your location; and you want to use a Huawei E180 modem in Portugal?
I think it is likely you will need usb_modeswitch to “flip” the ID so it is seen as a modem; (the latest ubuntu does this by itself; opensuse still seems to need the nudge of usb_modeswitch);
some very good and up-to-date rpm packages are available; usb_modeswitch needs a data file as well; I suspect the rpm package drags that in automatically;
so … assuming you are travelling with a netbook??? … best install as above: ie before travelling out to Portugal??
eg download from here
usb_modeswitch-data-1.1.6-22.1.noarch.rpm - openSUSE 11.3 - Download & Review
or if you are extremely suspicious, look within such as pacman for a similar file number
read some forums and it worked out the box the only issues were:
a)telephone#
b)username
c)password
the answers were
a) *99#
b)tmn
c)tmn
Great news! Increasingly, these devices just work out of the box. Thanks for your update.
FWIW, I’m using KDE4.5.95 now on my work laptop (HP Compaq 6710b with an integrated bluetooth + WLAN interface). With KDE4.4.4 (openSUSE 11.3 install), I had to manually add the settings via the etworkmanagament widget. Now, with KDE4.5, this is taken care of by a wizard during configuration. (There is database package called ‘mobile-broadband-provider-info’ which provides this info now). 
HI,
I have the E220. It works out of the box
Install the package: mobile-broadband-provider-info
and it will setup automatically. Try it while still connected at home in case Yast asks for dependency packages
glad to hear it worked Luke: as deano and phiga comment; having the mobile-broadband info installed means you do not have to add the apn settings; (as Luke seemed to have to …) …(eg Ubuntu 10.10 has your tmn provider in Portugal already loaded to select);
I understand 11.4 OpenSuse will have this built-in, so that will help everyone, as mobile broadband becomes more prevalent.
enjoy the mobile-broadband;
look forward to ther update/upgrade of opensuse 11.3
keep up the good work guys.