Q I have a three-USB broadband modem, Huawei E220, which automatically sets up on Windows and a Mac but not on Linux. Please let me know if any distro produces drivers for this, so I can use it on Linux.
A This modem has been supported by the Linux kernel since 2.6.20, so any recent distribution should have support for it. When connected, it should set up the device node /dev/ttyUSB0, which you use as the modem device in whatever dial-up software you choose. This configuration is reported to work for WvDial.
[Dialer mobile] Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0 Baud = 460800 Init2 =AT Init3 = AT&FE0V1X1&D2&C1S0=0 ISDN = 0 Modem Type = Analog Modem Phone = *99***1# Username = username Password = password
This modem actually contains two devices: the modem and a read-only USB mass storage device. The latter contains drivers for Windows, saving the expense of distributing a driver CD with the device, but as you're running Linux, you don't need it. The kernel should configure the modem side of the device when it detects it, but some people report a problem with this, with the device appearing as a memory stick instead. There is a program called HuaweiAktBbo that switches between the two modes. You will find it in the vodafone-mobile-connect-card-driver-for-linux package, which you can download from https://forge.vodafonebetavine.net/frs/?group_id=12&release_id=11. Although this is marked as a Vodafone package, other providers use the same hardware and the program works with them all. Running this program after inserting the stick forces it into modem mode. Do this automatically when you insert the stick with a suitable udev rule. Put this in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-local.rules (create the file if it does not exist)
SYSFS{idVendor}=="12d1", SYSFS{idProduct}=="1003", RUN+="/usr/sbin/huaweiAktBbo"
The vendor and product IDs may be different for your device; lsusb will show the correct values. Now the modem should appear as a modem at /dev/ttyUSB0 whenever you plug it in. Some people report success at 926100 bits per second (enabling you to use up your monthly allowance even sooner), but get it working at 460800bps before trying any tweaks.