Installing Aircard (gprs) In Ubuntu

[uk_falang]

Hi

I am trying to install Sierra Wireless Aircard into Ubuntu. I am totally new to Linux and am installing from instructions. The Sierra instructions at the bottom of this message. I would greatly appreciate any help to get my computer online with Linux. I have to use Aircard as there is a long wait for ADSL in my area. I cant ask Sierra to help me as they dont offer support in Linux. It seesm they have only tested their card in mandrake and redhat.

I have done the following:

Downloaded and unpacked the drivers

1) sudo -i

2) EnteredPassword

3) Made a directory makedir /etc/pcmcia/cis

3) cp'd the SW_775_SER.dat to root@ubuntumarc:/etc/pcmcia/cis

4) cd to /etc/pcmcia/config.opts...gedit config.opts

5) See file below I added the instructions for Sierra Wireless 775 then saved the config file (just pressed save button) file .

6) Restarted computer

7) Apparently there should have been two short beeps but there were none. This was meant to indicate that the card was found.

I am now trying to understand this (from Sierra Wireless Instruction guide)"The Aircard can be accessed as dev/modem when inserted" What is dev/modem? I cant find this folder and i dont get two beeps when i insert the aircard. Also it mentions minicom - what is minicom?

# Local PCMCIA Configuration File

#

#----------------------------------------------------------------------

#

# System resources available for PCMCIA cards

#

# NOTE: these settings have no effect on resources assigned to a

# CardBus bridge device itself; this file only affects resources

# assigned to cards. Also, interrupt settings here will only affect

# ISA bus interrupts assigned to 16-bit cards. PCI interrupts

# generally can't be reconfigured.

#

# With the kernel PCMCIA subsystem, these settings also have no effect

# at all on resources used for 32-bit CardBus cards. Those are set by

# the PCI hotplug subsystem.

#

include port 0x100-0x3af

include port 0x3e0-0x4ff

include port 0x820-0x8ff

include port 0xc00-0xcf7

include memory 0xc0000-0xfffff

include memory 0xa0000000-0xa0ffffff

include memory 0x60000000-0x60ffffff

card "Sierra Wireless AC775 EDGE Network Adapter R1"

manfid 0x0192, 0x0710

cis "cis/SW_775_SER.dat"

bind "serial_cs"

# These may hurt on FSC.

# include port 0x3c0-0x3d2

# Exclude 0x3d3 as Radeon IGP MCE's if you touch these ports

# include port 0x3d4-0x3df

# High port numbers do not always work...

# include port 0x1000-0x17ff

# Extra port range for IBM Token Ring

include port 0xa00-0xaff

SIERRA INSTRUCTIONS

Guide to Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 for Linux

Question:

Can i use the Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 with a Linux OS?

Answer:

Guide to Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 for Linux

Please note: This guide is unsupported and is provided to the Linux user community as a courtesy. Linux users who would like to install and run the Sierra Wireless 775 on GPRS/EDGE network can use this document as a guide.

This document covers the following product:

Sierra Wireless AirCard® 775

This configuration has been tested on RedHat 7.0, Red Hat 7.3, Red Hat 9.0 and Mandrake 8.1.

Note: You must be logged in as root.

Before You Begin

Click here to download the AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz file. You can extract the files in the AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz by executing the following commands in terminal window:

gunzip AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz

tar - xvf AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar

The AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar contains:

SW_7xx_SER.dat, ac750, ac750chat, SW_775_SER.dat, ac775, ac775chat files

How to Configure Linux to Recognize AirCard 775

Before you start, make sure that the AirCard is not inserted into the PCMCIA slot.

The following instructions will configure the AirCard as a serial-only device on Linux:

1. Add the following to /etc/pcmcia/config under the Modems and other serial devices:

card "Sierra Wireless AC775 EDGE Network Adapter R1"

manfid 0x0192, 0x0710

cis "cis/SW_775_SER.dat"

bind "serial_cs"

2. Copy the file SW_775_SER.dat in this archive in /etc/pcmcia/cis/

3. Restart computer.

4. Insert the AirCard 775

When the card is inserted two high beeps should be heard, indicating that the AirCard has been recognized and the serial driver has been successfully loaded. The AirCard can be accessed as /dev/modem when inserted. Running minicom should allow access to the AT command interface.

How to Configure Dialup Networking

A valid SIM card, user name, password, and APN are required to configure dialup networking.

1. Copy the files ac775 and ac775chat into /etc/ppp/peers.

2. Edit the existing file /etc/ppp/pap-secrets to add the following line:

"< login>""< login>" "" "*"

Replace < login> with the user name and < password> with the account password.

(e.g. "sierra" "sierra" "mypasswd" "*")

3. Edit the file /etc/ppp/peers/ac775 to replace < login> in the line

"user < login>"with the same < login> name as the previous instruction. (e.g. user sierra)

4. Edit the file /etc/ppp/peers/ac775 so that the second line is:

OK AT+cgdcont= 1,"IP","< APN>"

The < APN> should be replaced with the APN for the network.

(e.g. for Rogers network OK AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet.com")

How to Connect to the GPRS Network

Before you start, make sure the LED on the AirCard is flashing green. If there is a problem connecting (dialed too soon after inserting card or other problem) eject and re-insert the card.

1. Connect using PPPD

pppd call ac775

NOTE:

Some pppd version may not correctly set up the dynamic DNS configuration. It may be necessary to copy /etc/ppp/resolv.conf to /etc/resolv.conf.

In order to terminate the connection send pppd the tem signal (Ctrl-C).

2. Connect using KPPP

It is also possible to connect using a dialer (e.g. Kppp in KDE).

1. Run KPPP configuration and click on New

2. Click on Dialog Setup and type in the name of connection.

3. Type *99# for phone number and select PAP for authentication.

4. Select Modem tab and for initialization string type in:

at+cgdcont= 1,"IP","< APN>"

where < APN> is the network APN and click on OK

5. Type in Login ID and Password

Where Login ID and Password are user name and password from your account.

6. Click on Connect.

3. Signal Strength

The RSSI (signal quality) and be read by starting minicom and issuing the command:

at+csq

The first number indicates the signal strength above -109 dBm (in 2 dBm increments). A value of 7 or higher (-95 dBm) can be considered adequate.

[uk_falang]

I forgot to mention:

When i unpackaged the file in terminal only the first line seemed to work

gunzip AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz

tar - xvf AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar

the second line returned an error so i then used the Unpackager program (the GUI one included with Ubuntu).

Thanks

Hi

I am trying to install Sierra Wireless Aircard into Ubuntu. I am totally new to Linux and am installing from instructions. The Sierra instructions at the bottom of this message. I would greatly appreciate any help to get my computer online with Linux. I have to use Aircard as there is a long wait for ADSL in my area. I cant ask Sierra to help me as they dont offer support in Linux. It seesm they have only tested their card in mandrake and redhat.

I have done the following:

Downloaded and unpacked the drivers

1) sudo -i

2) EnteredPassword

3) Made a directory makedir /etc/pcmcia/cis

3) cp'd the SW_775_SER.dat to root@ubuntumarc:/etc/pcmcia/cis

4) cd to /etc/pcmcia/config.opts...gedit config.opts

5) See file below I added the instructions for Sierra Wireless 775 then saved the config file (just pressed save button) file .

6) Restarted computer

7) Apparently there should have been two short beeps but there were none. This was meant to indicate that the card was found.

I am now trying to understand this (from Sierra Wireless Instruction guide)"The Aircard can be accessed as dev/modem when inserted" What is dev/modem? I cant find this folder and i dont get two beeps when i insert the aircard. Also it mentions minicom - what is minicom?

# Local PCMCIA Configuration File

#

#----------------------------------------------------------------------

#

# System resources available for PCMCIA cards

#

# NOTE: these settings have no effect on resources assigned to a

# CardBus bridge device itself; this file only affects resources

# assigned to cards. Also, interrupt settings here will only affect

# ISA bus interrupts assigned to 16-bit cards. PCI interrupts

# generally can't be reconfigured.

#

# With the kernel PCMCIA subsystem, these settings also have no effect

# at all on resources used for 32-bit CardBus cards. Those are set by

# the PCI hotplug subsystem.

#

include port 0x100-0x3af

include port 0x3e0-0x4ff

include port 0x820-0x8ff

include port 0xc00-0xcf7

include memory 0xc0000-0xfffff

include memory 0xa0000000-0xa0ffffff

include memory 0x60000000-0x60ffffff

card "Sierra Wireless AC775 EDGE Network Adapter R1"

manfid 0x0192, 0x0710

cis "cis/SW_775_SER.dat"

bind "serial_cs"

# These may hurt on FSC.

# include port 0x3c0-0x3d2

# Exclude 0x3d3 as Radeon IGP MCE's if you touch these ports

# include port 0x3d4-0x3df

# High port numbers do not always work...

# include port 0x1000-0x17ff

# Extra port range for IBM Token Ring

include port 0xa00-0xaff

SIERRA INSTRUCTIONS

Guide to Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 for Linux

Question:

Can i use the Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 with a Linux OS?

Answer:

Guide to Sierra Wireless AirCard 775 for Linux

Please note: This guide is unsupported and is provided to the Linux user community as a courtesy. Linux users who would like to install and run the Sierra Wireless 775 on GPRS/EDGE network can use this document as a guide.

This document covers the following product:

Sierra Wireless AirCard® 775

This configuration has been tested on RedHat 7.0, Red Hat 7.3, Red Hat 9.0 and Mandrake 8.1.

Note: You must be logged in as root.

Before You Begin

Click here to download the AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz file. You can extract the files in the AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz by executing the following commands in terminal window:

gunzip AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar.gz

tar - xvf AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar

The AirCard_7XX_Linux.tar contains:

SW_7xx_SER.dat, ac750, ac750chat, SW_775_SER.dat, ac775, ac775chat files

How to Configure Linux to Recognize AirCard 775

Before you start, make sure that the AirCard is not inserted into the PCMCIA slot.

The following instructions will configure the AirCard as a serial-only device on Linux:

1. Add the following to /etc/pcmcia/config under the Modems and other serial devices:

card "Sierra Wireless AC775 EDGE Network Adapter R1"

manfid 0x0192, 0x0710

cis "cis/SW_775_SER.dat"

bind "serial_cs"

2. Copy the file SW_775_SER.dat in this archive in /etc/pcmcia/cis/

3. Restart computer.

4. Insert the AirCard 775

When the card is inserted two high beeps should be heard, indicating that the AirCard has been recognized and the serial driver has been successfully loaded. The AirCard can be accessed as /dev/modem when inserted. Running minicom should allow access to the AT command interface.

How to Configure Dialup Networking

A valid SIM card, user name, password, and APN are required to configure dialup networking.

1. Copy the files ac775 and ac775chat into /etc/ppp/peers.

2. Edit the existing file /etc/ppp/pap-secrets to add the following line:

"< login>""< login>" "" "*"

Replace < login> with the user name and < password> with the account password.

(e.g. "sierra" "sierra" "mypasswd" "*")

3. Edit the file /etc/ppp/peers/ac775 to replace < login> in the line

"user < login>"with the same < login> name as the previous instruction. (e.g. user sierra)

4. Edit the file /etc/ppp/peers/ac775 so that the second line is:

OK AT+cgdcont= 1,"IP","< APN>"

The < APN> should be replaced with the APN for the network.

(e.g. for Rogers network OK AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet.com")

How to Connect to the GPRS Network

Before you start, make sure the LED on the AirCard is flashing green. If there is a problem connecting (dialed too soon after inserting card or other problem) eject and re-insert the card.

1. Connect using PPPD

pppd call ac775

NOTE:

Some pppd version may not correctly set up the dynamic DNS configuration. It may be necessary to copy /etc/ppp/resolv.conf to /etc/resolv.conf.

In order to terminate the connection send pppd the tem signal (Ctrl-C).

2. Connect using KPPP

It is also possible to connect using a dialer (e.g. Kppp in KDE).

1. Run KPPP configuration and click on New

2. Click on Dialog Setup and type in the name of connection.

3. Type *99# for phone number and select PAP for authentication.

4. Select Modem tab and for initialization string type in:

at+cgdcont= 1,"IP","< APN>"

where < APN> is the network APN and click on OK

5. Type in Login ID and Password

Where Login ID and Password are user name and password from your account.

6. Click on Connect.

3. Signal Strength

The RSSI (signal quality) and be read by starting minicom and issuing the command:

at+csq

The first number indicates the signal strength above -109 dBm (in 2 dBm increments). A value of 7 or higher (-95 dBm) can be considered adequate.

[uk_falang]

i am still really struggling with this, maybe i should switch to redhat as it has apparently been tested with my Aircard?

I have also been looking at GPRS Easy Connect http://www.gprsec.hu/modules/docs/#1 maybe i will have a look at this, but they are saying that Perl dependencies names are re-written by Ubuntu which makes installation more complicated.

[jackk]

i am still really struggling with this, maybe i should switch to redhat as it has apparently been tested with my Aircard?

I have also been looking at GPRS Easy Connect http://www.gprsec.hu/modules/docs/#1 maybe i will have a look at this, but they are saying that Perl dependencies names are re-written by Ubuntu which makes installation more complicated.

Don't switch to Redhat, latest released (9) was 4 years ago. It is now Fedora.

The problem is not Ubuntu but your install script. It's too old!

Someone explained how to install it at http://www.gprsec.hu/modules/news/view.php?id=260

Also, the Perl dependencies aren't a problem. If you want to find Glib, then use Synaptics package manager click Search and type 'glib perl', then scroll down until you find what you're looking for. It's a great tool for newbies to easily install/upgrade/downgrade, get descriptions browse/search through over 20,000 packages.

[stub]

This might help as it is very recent and Ubuntu specific - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/AirCard8X0