Original Poster: glenaeus
I have successfully installed and made connection to the Verizon Wireless BroadbandAcess EVDO network using their UM150 USB modem plugged into the usb slot of an older Dell latitude CPI lap-top with a PClinuxOS (2007).
Verizon technical help says they do not and will not support a linux connection but with a little work it can be done. If you use the method I used you will need to make your first connection to the Verizon network with a Windows os computer! I took my card to a friend with an XP laptop and he performed the task in less than ten minutes.
I searched for help, before beginning, and found good help at the following link. I did change a few things though.
http://www.linux.com/feature/52729? As the above link suggested I found the vendor and the product in a terminal window by typing the following command before and after inserting the device in the usb slot.
cat /proc/bus/usb/devices devices
my device was a PanTech usb modem with vendor=0x106c product 0x3711
I used the link's instructions as root in a terminal as follows
modprobe usbserial vendor=ox106c ProdID=3711
After this step I diverted from the links instructions. I first tried setting up kppp to make the connection but soon turned to genome-ppp. I used Synaptic to install this package it then appeared in the pull down menus in PC (The KDE desktop) under System>Configuration>Networking.
The setup tab for the Device needs to be set to /dev/ttyACM0 (You will have to type this in)
Type USB Modem
Speed 115200
Phone Line Tone
The Networking Tab
Dynamic IP address
Automatic DNS
The only checked items in the Options Tab are Dock in notification area (my preference) and Check carrier line. I set idle time 0 disabled
After set up is complete, set the user name to your new Verizon number for the device (the 10 digit phone number) set the password to vzw and the phone number to call as #777.
That's basically all there is to it .... but the device will not keep or make a connection until you get someone to use a Windows OS machine XP or Vista with VZAcess Manager Software installed (The disk comes with the device) to make the first connection. Once that initial connection is made you are good to go, just run genome-ppp and connect from just about anywhere, in the USA at least.
I hope this helps others and would be interested to know of other successes and how one can get the device activated without connecting via the VZAcess Manager first. After I had genome-ppp ready to connect I called Verizon Technical to see if they would "activate or turn my device on". Their reply was no way, we will not! I was ready to give up but decided to try a connection with Windows as a possible "activation" step. It worked.
