Linux And 3g Data Cards

[mahesh2k 0]

I was trying to connect my 3G data card from vodafone to linux system and found that it doesn't detect it as data card. It considers the drive as USB storage drive and mounts it and lets me open it. I don't know how to fix this now. I want it to be used as data card and connect to the internet. I did searched for the ways to find connectivity using 3g data cards. I am using vodafone huwei cards. I don't know if it in anyway allows to connect. Officially there is no linux support page on the vodafone site. So i have dropped hopes of getting help from the vodafone folks site in my country. I also tried asking some other ubuntu users using that type of datacard. But so far no one came across to answer the question.I have ubuntu 10.04 installation on my one of the old laptop. I guess it has all the usb-modeswitch libs and that lets me connect to the internet using my sony erricsson phone. I think it;s cool atleast that it lets me connect via phone. But somehow it is not letting me connect via datacard. Any ideas how to fix this ?

[yordan 10]

Did you have a look at this ? http://www.cottinghams.com/david/vodafone3g.shtml

Vodafone Supports Linux!
Incredibly, Vodafone are now linking to Linux drivers for their mobile broadband offerings! See Betavine (Vodafone R&D). This page may still be of use, but the most up-to-date information is likely to be on Betavine.

[mahesh2k 0]

Thanks yordan. But these libs are no longer working. They do install vodafone mobile connect scrip inside ubuntu. But somehow they can't get it to connect. I also tried to boot with USB connected but it is simply not showing the menu for connecting. I do get network icon on the top dashboard and from where i usually connect my mobile phone connection. But in case of USB it is not letting me connect. That USB is not in the menu. I think something is wrong with that package. I guess it is old compared to the installation that i have running on.

So i decided to try other methods and found ubuntu vodafone page. It did shows the similar usb-modeswitch files. I find that method working hardly on my computer. I think that method is very confusing and it can't get the connection done somehow. Then i used the sakis3g method. It is working for now on my computer. I did struggled with APN and some other settings on my laptop but it is working for now. I dont know if this is exact solution because sakis3g seems to be independent of the libraries that i downloaded from betavine. It makes use of usb-modeswitch only. Anyway, for now it is working and those who are looking for 3G connect with vodafone should try saksi3g. It doesn't show network connect icon in dashboard panel but it does connect and get things moving. Anyway thanks a lot for the link of betavine, even though it is not helping but gave me some pointers for search.