SerialResponseTimeout with Huawei E169

English Network/Internet
1

Hi there,

I would like to get my Huawei E169 (aka. Vodafone Mobile Connect K3520, E620 etc.) USB UMTS/3G modem running with my openSUSE 11.1 x86 installation on my MSI Wind U100.

The GPRS/UMTS connection works perfectly fine with the stand-alone application Vodafone Mobile Connect for Linux. However, there’s the drawback that this app overwrites /etc/resolv.conf (leads to DNS issues if I would like to connect via NetworkManager again) and doesn’t disable the off-line mode for Firefox automatically. Consequently, I would like to use NetworkManager for the GPRS/UMTS connection, too.

The NetworkManager configuration dialogue (I’m using the GNOME applet) seems to recognize the plugged USB stick without any issues (I get a radio button for “Huawei E620 USB Modem” in the respective add connection wizard). So I’ve created the configuration for my provider and saved it. After that I’ve tried to connect via the applet. However, approx. 2 seconds after I selected the connection, the applet says “Network disconnected” (German: Netzwerkverbindung getrennt) and the stick also obviously doesn’t get connected (visible via LED). I created several new connections with different names, replugged the stick, rebooted with and without the stick plugged, but without any success. I also installed the special RPM package which is recommended in Huawei UMTS USB Stick - openSUSE, but - of course - the corresponding 11.1 package. I also used the application manually and got the following result:

Looking up for HUAWEI modem and switching modem to BBO 06
4 set feature request returned 0
Switched: OK
You’ve got ttyUSB0 ttyUSB1 … (via usbserial vendor=0x12d1 product=0x1001)
Check /sys/bus/usb-serial/devices

After that, I tried to reconnect, but again without success…

So I checked /var/log/NetworkManager and that shows:

Jan 4 19:36:29 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) starting connection ‘GSM-Verbindung 1’
Jan 4 19:36:29 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 3 → 4
Jan 4 19:36:29 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled…
Jan 4 19:36:29 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started…
Jan 4 19:36:29 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: org.freedesktop.ModemManager.Modem.SerialResponseTimeout
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <WARN> state_machine(): GSM modem connection failed: Serial command timed out
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 4 → 9
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Marking connection ‘GSM-Verbindung 1’ invalid.
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) failed.
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 9 → 3
Jan 4 19:36:32 mobilewolf NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): deactivating device (reason: 0).

Can this time out of the serial command be the reason for the unsuccessful connection? And if yes, how can I force the system to wait longer here?

Moreover, I’m wondering, that the GNOME NetworkManager applet doesn’t allow me to enter the DNS entries for my GPRS/UMTS connection. Where can I add these entries manually or is that not needed?

Thanks in advance for the help!

2

I have exactly the same problem and no idea how to fix it :frowning:

3

Hi
Not a solution to your problem, but have you tried the option
usepeerdns in /etc/ppp/options which should cause it to
use /var/run/ppp_resolv.conf.$INTERFACE instead.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 x86 Kernel 2.6.27.7-9-pae
up 23:40, 2 users, load average: 0.35, 0.20, 0.09
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.82

4

Have you played around with wvdial at all? If not, it needs to be installed through yast first. Then, log in as super user and navigate to /etc/wvdial.

I assume you know your phone number, password, etc. You just enter them there and when ready enter the command wvdial as super user and try to establish a connection, taking note of any error messages in the terminal and referring back to man pppd (enter this name in the terminal to bring it up) for error codes and other useful info.

Wvdial is good for trying out different options and gives much more flexibility and feedback than Network Manager, which tries to do everything for you and generally fails, but without telling you why.

I use kinternet with my wireless card. You might try connecting with that program as well (use YAST / Network / Network Devices / Modem to configure kinternet). I have not had much luck trying to connect with Network Manager, so hearing about your problems does not really surprise me.

5

@malcolmlewis: Thanks a lot for this hint. I will try that out. That would at least help me with these DNS issues after using the Vodafone Mobile Connect application.

@foresthill: Also thanks for the hint, but the Vodafone Mobile Connect application already uses wvdial in order to establish a connection. And that works like a charm. Start the app, press connect and I’m online. Moreover, I can use it to send SMS texts. lol! However, this doesn’t integrate into NetworkManager which also works like a charm for the rest of my connections which I don’t want to miss. Consequently, I would like to have everything handled by NetworkManager. So sad that it gives me this time out here…

6

Hi
If you look at the start of the options file there is a grep command to
see what options are enable you can use the same command on other
files, just change the path to the file you wish to see. I would also
turn on the debug option so you can see what is being loaded.

I’ve always moved all my options to one file and rem out any others
created.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.1 x86 Kernel 2.6.27.7-9-pae
up 1 day 5:07, 1 user, load average: 0.05, 0.44, 0.40
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.82

7

I believe Gnome and KDE each have their own versions of Network Manager, or at least they did in 11.

You might check out both versions. Gnome Network manager has a CDMA option that configures itself virtually automatically, providing you enter the correct phone numbers and passwords. I did not care for it (I like using Kinternet) but your mileage may vary.

8

Hi i don’t know if you solved this if you do please return and tell us.
I have both Huawei E169 and Option GT Max datacard.

The only reason i did the upgrade was because of kernel 2.6.27 should support both hardware, and the HW is detected by the kernel, but not possible to connect with Knetworkmanager.

The usb port wich shows up in knetworkmanager is dev /dev/ttyUSB i belive that it should be /dev/ttyUSB1 since it shows /dev/ttyUSB0 with the datacard also, the datacard should not show usb it should show up with /dev/ttyHSX port.

What is very frustrating vor everybody is when i use the umtsmon application it detecs fine and shows signalstrengt and a can connect but No dns in resolv.conf nomather how many connections is made by the user, it will connect by no dns, and this is a new change in 11.1 witch we don’t we.

Why is the hardware so easy detected and working with umtsmon but not knetwork manager, if it works with umtsmon but not knetworkmanager a patch should be provided, because we can’t go on the way it is.

I tried to use ifup, it works fine and i can connect with dns, but then as a user you then are forced to choose between knetworkmanager and able to use wireless, or use ifup and only stick with umts.

This knetworkmanager issue is something we don’t need it worked fine using any application to connect in 11.0
I’am concerning to roll back to 11.0 there is just only problems in 11.1 it gives me nothing new.

When will we see umtsmon bundled with suse its a great program that solves alot of small issues the first time you start up the connection.

9

Maybe this will help as he also had HUAWEI Apunts de software lliure / Notes about free software: Configuring Vodafone Spain 3G and openSUSE 11.0

10

Very interesting, so we have the 3rd person here who has the same issue. And obviously the stuff worked in 11.0. :sarcastic:

Seems that kolehja already filed a bug report: https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=464511
So let’s keep looking what happens here…

For the concrete problem, I will switch to umtsmon. Seems to have a better UI than the Vodafone application, the statistics are working and (what’s most important) the DNS stuff works without manual corrections - so I can still use NetworkManager for the other connections.

11

Fix is available here: https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=464511#c4

12

I downloaded the patches but I still can’t get a connection. Has anyone else been able to get this to work?

Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) starting connection ‘verizon3g’
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 3 → 4
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled…
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started…
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <WARN> state_machine(): CDMA modem connection failed: Sending command failed: device is connected
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 4 → 9
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Marking connection ‘verizon3g’ invalid.
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> Activation (/dev/ttyUSB0) failed.
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): device state change: 9 → 3
Jan 23 00:57:12 linux-x0cu NetworkManager: <info> (/dev/ttyUSB0): deactivating device (reason: 0).

13

my expierience is rather interesting , i run into all the problems mentioned above while trying to get my huawei Orange 3G usb modem to work. I completely failed to connect using Knetworkmanger despite the fact that it could see the modem.

Only this evening however i logged on into my root account " bad idea :O" and voila the knetwork manager connects to the internet without requiring any patching . Is there a way one could start knetwork manager with admin rights in the other user accounts this may solve the problem

14

I know, this thread is over 2 years old ! … but it ended with no real solution and I thought I would post saying this ‘just works’ for me … (for me 2 years later, that is to say).

Since January-2009 I think openSUSE compatibility with 3G modems such as the Huawei K3520 has improved. I connected my first ever 3G modem to my openSUSE GNU/Linux PC earlier today, and within 5 minutes I had it working. It would have been MUCH quicker, but I did not have a clue as to what I was doing so I was doing everything in SLOW speed (I note it took my wife on Windows7 about ~3 hours to get same working).

I wrote about this in my openSUSE forum Blog post here: Successfully connected to Internet with Huwaei K3520 3G modem and openSUSE-11.3