cricKet A600 Broadband

[azziam]

Hi all, I guess I'm new (again) as it had evidently been so long since I logged in that I disappeared and had to re-register.  That's because I mainly use PCLOS-GNOME.

I searched and found the thread that should answer my questions but I'll need a little clarifying.  Thread is:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,63325.0.html

I went to a repo and got usb_modeswitch installed.  Do I need to edit or add to that?  I don't find /etc/wvdial.conf on my system.  Do I have to do something to cause this to be created so I can edit it?  Or do I just need to reboot or what?

I'll leave it at that till I'm ready for the next step.  So far I've installed this A600 on a Win7 machine out of temporary necessity but when I plug it into this box under PCLOS-G it's apparently seen but not recognized.  That is to say, things get very slow for a while but no contact with the 3G setup facility in PCC or any other indicator it exists, except for an extra CD-ROM shown but not accessible.

Lemme know if I need to supply more info or go digging in Win7 for some numbers from the dongle.

~~~
 azziam
...No matter where ya go, you came from somewhere else...

[Ramchu]

 I just used kppp to get my usb modem working and didn't have to do anything to wvdial .
 Just go to PC>internet>Remote Access> kppp and configure it manually
__________________________________________________________________________

in the accounts tab,

Connection name Cricket
Phone number #777
Authentication PAP/CHAP
Callback type None

Store password is checked (x)

in the device tab

Modem name a600
Modem device /dev/ttyACM0   ( may be at a different location depending on where the device is plugged in - use " ls usb " to locate yours ( without " " ) Mine is actually at  /dev/ttyUSB3
Flow control  Hardware CRTSCTS
Line termination CR/LF
Connection speed 9216000

Use lock file  is unchecked
Modem timeout 60

in the modem tab

Wait for  dialtone before dialing is checked (x)

Busy wait  0 sec

Modem volume  0

On the main kppp screen,  choose the new account you made for the Cricket a600,
use your assigned phone number as Login ID,
and Cricket as your password
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 That should get you going .

 You can then right click on kppp and put it into the panel for easy access - also you can check the dock into panel on connect and it will minimize on connect  - then to disconnect you can click on the icon in the task bar to bring up the disconnect dialog

Hope that this HELPS !

[azziam]

I just used kppp to get my usb modem working and didn't have to do anything to wvdial .
 Just go to PC>internet>Remote Access> kppp and configure it manually
__________________________________________________________________________

in the accounts tab,

Connection name Cricket
Phone number #777
Authentication PAP/CHAP
Callback type None

Store password is checked (x)

in the device tab

Modem name a600
Modem device /dev/ttyACM0   ( may be at a different location depending on where the device is plugged in - use " ls usb " to locate yours ( without " " ) Mine is actually at  /dev/ttyUSB3
Flow control  Hardware CRTSCTS
Line termination CR/LF
Connection speed 9216000

Use lock file  is unchecked
Modem timeout 60

in the modem tab

Wait for  dialtone before dialing is checked (x)

Busy wait  0 sec

Modem volume  0

On the main kppp screen,  choose the new account you made for the Cricket a600,
use your assigned phone number as Login ID,
and Cricket as your password
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 That should get you going .

 You can then right click on kppp and put it into the panel for easy access - also you can check the dock into panel on connect and it will minimize on connect  - then to disconnect you can click on the icon in the task bar to bring up the disconnect dialog

Hope that this HELPS !

Thanks much.  I'm not having success yet.  Here are my issues and questions as far as I can tell so far:

1. I have Gnome PPP and it may look a bit different than kppp.
2. Is "#777" the number I need to enter as the number to dial?  (In Windows none is asked for, must be pre-configured.)
3. In Setup>Modem>Device I have a choice of dev/modem, dev/ttyS0, dev/ttyS1, dev/ttyS2, dev/ttyS3.  There is also a Detect button.  Detect gets "No modem was found on your system." and the app then freezes [temporarily].  Trying the available selections, all but one get me "Can not open modem" and dev/ttyS0 says "Connecting..." and then gives "Modem not responding."  I have modem type selected as USB Modem and where it asks for tone or pulse dialing I have tried both but left it on Tone.  Under Phone options I entered #777 as the number to dial and "Wait for dialtone" is checked.  On the face of the applet where it asks for username I just put Cricket and for number I entered the number they assigned to this modem.  I left password blank.

4. To complicate things, I hooked the thing up to the win7 machine again yesterday to try to make contact (other wi-fi was down again) and the Win machine gave me a message of faulty USB device when I plugged it in and ther cricKet applet couldn't find the modem   .  Then after I shut that machine down and tried a restart, I found my PSU was totally dead, no flakiness, no flicker, no twitch, no nothing.  darn, sometimes it feels like an attack of bad luck.  So, for now, I don't know if this modem has gotten screwed up internally but I'd bet on getting this corrected in Linux before in Windows.  I may have to take it to a Cricket store and ask them to test it.  

Fortunately my main wi-fi (fringe hotspot) is working fine for now but has been mostly unavailable lately.

[Was_Just19]

Did you run 'modeswitch' before trying to set up the connection?

I think you may need to, to make the modem visible in Linux.

[Ramchu]

 Hi azziam - hope this helps !

2. Is "#777" the number I need to enter as the number to dial?
Yes the number for the unit to dial is #777 ( all 4 characters )

"Wait for dialtone" is checked.
 Try not checking Wait for dialtone.

3. In Setup>Modem>Device I have a choice of dev/modem, dev/ttyS0, dev/ttyS1, dev/ttyS2, dev/ttyS3.
I have no idea ! - What does lsusb ( in the terminal ) show ? In the device/modem box you can alter the preset by holding the left click button and drag over it ( highlight ) and then enter the location of the usb modem .( see attachment )

  I left password blank.
cricket is the password - and must be entered.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[azziam]

Did you run 'modeswitch' before trying to set up the connection?

I think you may need to, to make the modem visible in Linux.

Yes, I've been running usb_modeswitch for every try.  Also, I didn't know if it mattered so I uncommented the operational lines in etc/usb_modeswitch.conf.  When I run modeswitch I get:

[typed because it's on the other machine]
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking for target devices ...
 No devices in target mode or class found
Looking for default devices ...
 Found default devices (1)
Accessing device 003 on bus 002 ...
Using endpoints 0x08 (out) and 0x87 (in)
Inquiring device details; driver will be detached ...
Looking for active driver ...
 OK, driver found ("usbfs")
 OK, driver "usbfs" detached
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

lsusb shows:

[Can't believe I'm typing all this but...]

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0ace:1211 ZyDAS 802.11bg
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 1f28:0021
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 03f0:4911 Hewlett-Packard PSC 2350
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

~~~~
When I saw these entries I expected the thing to work.  No joy yet but I must be getting close.  Probably need an adjustment to GNOME PPP.

~~azziam

[azziam]

Hi azziam - hope this helps !

2. Is "#777" the number I need to enter as the number to dial?
Yes the number for the unit to dial is #777 ( all 4 characters )

"Wait for dialtone" is checked.
 Try not checking Wait for dialtone.

3. In Setup>Modem>Device I have a choice of dev/modem, dev/ttyS0, dev/ttyS1, dev/ttyS2, dev/ttyS3.
I have no idea ! - What does lsusb ( in the terminal ) show ? In the device/modem box you can alter the preset by holding the left click button and drag over it ( highlight ) and then enter the location of the usb modem .( see attachment )

 I left password blank.
cricket is the password - and must be entered.

I had already tried the proper cricket password and had most everything else entered right enough except for the /dev/ttyxxxx.  I tried it with /dev/ttyusb3 since lsusb said I was on bus 2 device 3.  Now, I have found true joy by entering it as /dev/ttyACM0 (typed in manually).  THANKS guys!  Now I'm connected once again through my OS of choice

While I'm at it, the usb_modeswitch output I typed in my previous post must have been what I got after I'd already switched or something.  I'll paste here what I had been seeing for the benefit of anyone who might get some help from this.  It should have looked like:

Code: [Select]

[root@GoodDay ~]# usb_modeswitch

Looking for target devices ...
 No devices in target mode or class found
Looking for default devices ...
 Found default devices (1)
Accessing device 003 on bus 002 ...
Using endpoints 0x08 (out) and 0x87 (in)
Inquiring device details; driver will be detached ...
Looking for active driver ...
 OK, driver found ("usb-storage")
 OK, driver "usb-storage" detached

Received inquiry data (detailed identification)
-------------------------
  Vendor String: Cricket
   Model String: T-Flash Disk    
Revision String: 2.31
-------------------------

Device description data (identification)
-------------------------
Manufacturer: Cal-comp E&CC Limited
     Product: USB Micro SD Storage
  Serial No.: 216387955300
-------------------------
Setting up communication with interface 0 ...
Trying to send the message to endpoint 0x08 ...
 OK, message successfully sent
-> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye.
Thanks again...  Now I can go out and play.

[PS]  I rebooted and found I didn't need to run usb_modeswitch again.  I'd put Gnome PPP on my desktop and a couple clicks has me connected.  I'll post my results over in the Gnome forum too with a link to this thread.

~~azziam

[Was_Just19]

Nice!  Congrats.

Glad it works for you now. 

[Ramchu]

Now, I have found true joy by entering it as /dev/ttyACM0 (typed in manually).  THANKS guys!  Now I'm connected once again through my OS of choice   

 Sweet ! ! - I had faith in you !

[Padma]

Ramchu, I just wanted to say thank you.  My wife picked up an a600 for her netbook, and I needed to be able to use it on my PCLOS laptop.  Your explanation walked me right though the setup necessary. 

[Ramchu]

Ramchu, I just wanted to say thank you.  My wife picked up an a600 for her netbook, and I needed to be able to use it on my PCLOS laptop.  Your explanation walked me right though the setup necessary.  

Great ! Glad that it Helped and Thank You for the feedback !   

[Was_Just19]

Only question I have is how to determine what device node is correct, besides trying them all in turn ......   surely there must be some means of determining the correct /dev/tty??? or whatever to make setting this up much easier?

[Ramchu]

Only question I have is how to determine what device node is correct, besides trying them all in turn ......   surely there must be some means of determining the correct /dev/tty??? or whatever to make setting this up much easier?

 JohnBoy that's a good question.
 I use the terminal and do "lsusb"

Code: [Select]

[chuck@localhost ~]$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 058f:9360 Alcor Micro Corp. 8-in-1 Media Card Reader
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 12d1:1413 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. <------------ this is my usb modem
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 093a:2510 Pixart Imaging, Inc. Hama Optical Mouse
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 03f0:2504 Hewlett-Packard
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
[chuck@localhost ~]$
 Now as you can see my usb modem is at: Bus 004 Device 002: ID 12d1:1413 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
it is configured in KPPP at : /dev/ttyUSB3

 I have not determined just exactly how it is recognized by the system, apparently not by the Bus # or the Device # I do see that it is the third from listed from the top, but then what about when it is detected as any of the other settings such as /dev/ttyUSB0 ?

If anyone can explain this I will be glad to add it to the instructions and help replies that I post

[Was_Just19]

I wonder if there would be any change in output of the following command with the device plugged in and without it plugged in?

Code: [Select]

ls /dev | grep tty
.....  just fishing .......

[Ramchu]

I wonder if there would be any change in output of the following command with the device plugged in and without it plugged in?

Code: [Select]

ls /dev | grep tty
.....  just fishing .......

Here is the results :
Device plugged in :

Code: [Select]

[chuck@localhost ~]$ ls /dev | grep tty
tty
tty0
tty1
tty10
tty11
tty12
tty13
tty14
tty15
tty16
tty17
tty18
tty19
tty2
tty20
tty21
tty22
tty23
tty24
tty25
tty26
tty27
tty28
tty29
tty3
tty30
tty31
tty32
tty33
tty34
tty35
tty36
tty37
tty38
tty39
tty4
tty40
tty41
tty42
tty43
tty44
tty45
tty46
tty47
tty48
tty49
tty5
tty50
tty51
tty52
tty53
tty54
tty55
tty56
tty57
tty58
tty59
tty6
tty60
tty61
tty62
tty63
tty7
tty8
tty9
ttyS0
ttyS1
ttyS2
ttyS3
ttyUSB0
ttyUSB1
ttyUSB2
ttyUSB3
ttyUSB4
[chuck@localhost ~]$
Device NOT plugged in :

Code: [Select]

[chuck@localhost ~]$ ls /dev | grep tty
tty
tty0
tty1
tty10
tty11
tty12
tty13
tty14
tty15
tty16
tty17
tty18
tty19
tty2
tty20
tty21
tty22
tty23
tty24
tty25
tty26
tty27
tty28
tty29
tty3
tty30
tty31
tty32
tty33
tty34
tty35
tty36
tty37
tty38
tty39
tty4
tty40
tty41
tty42
tty43
tty44
tty45
tty46
tty47
tty48
tty49
tty5
tty50
tty51
tty52
tty53
tty54
tty55
tty56
tty57
tty58
tty59
tty6
tty60
tty61
tty62
tty63
tty7
tty8
tty9
ttyS0
ttyS1
ttyS2
ttyS3
[chuck@localhost ~]$
as I See it still no definite answer, but at least narrows it to 5 selections .
ttyUSB0
ttyUSB1
ttyUSB2
ttyUSB3
ttyUSB4