Configuring ZTE M195 USB Modem

[zseller]

Hi everyone,
I have a ZTE M195 USB modem. It works in live mode, but when I install Kubuntu on the disk, the mobile broadband tab is just greyed out in Network Manager. The modem has some proprietary drivers, but these could not be installed, because in 12.10 qt3-mt package is not available. Anyway the stick works flawlessly out of the box in live mode. I checked the groups in live mode . On the installed system I am member of the same groups. I guess permissions are not set correctly, or some package is not installed.
Regards

[luckyone]

You're using Network Manager instead of Modem-Manager?

[zseller]

Yes, I used KNetworkManager. I don't know what does it call in the back-end, but anytime I log off I get a message about shutting down modem-manager. The message shows up both on live , and installed systems.

[luckyone]

On a USB modem it should be calling pppd. However I just used Modem-Manager to setup my 3G Modem.

For kppp:

This is how to find the address:
To check if your aircard is detected and that the driver is loaded, open a terminal window, plug in your aircard and type the following

dmesg | tailYou should get something like the section below

usb 2-3: Sierra USB modem converter now attached to ttyUSB2usbcore: registered new interface driver sierrasierra: USB Driver for Sierra Wireless USB modems: v.1.3.2usb-storage: device scan completescsi 5:0:0:0: Direct-Access Sierra Wireless Storage 2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2sd 5:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disksd 5:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0
If you get any response that lists a device like the first line in the above example, ttyUSB2, then your modem will work just fine.

• Output of dmesg | tail

lkh@mepis1:~$ dmesg | tail[10228.588314] sr 12:0:0:0: [sr2] unaligned transfer[10228.613315] sr 12:0:0:0: [sr2] unaligned transfer[10228.623314] sr 12:0:0:0: [sr2] unaligned transfer[10377.712046] usb 4-2: USB disconnect, address 3[10378.944020] usb 4-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4[10379.103381] usb 4-2: New USB device found, idVendor=106c, idProduct=3717[10379.103385] usb 4-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0[10379.103388] usb 4-2: Product: PANTECH USB MODEM[10379.103391] usb 4-2: Manufacturer: PANTECH[10379.107686] cdc_acm 4-2:1.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device

The ttyACM0 is the pertinent part that's needed. There are several choices in the modem setup. Select one and try it. Have everything else setup and when you get to the correct device name it will connect.

The above is how I first got my 3G Modem working. It's on the SimplyMEPIS wiki under Aircard.

Now Modem-Manager does all of the above for you. All you need to do normally is enter the Username, number to dial, and password. But if it doesn't find it you may need the above.

[zseller]

All right, once more. The modem works in live mode, that is, I can connect to thew network and stuff. When I install it to hard drive, the hardware gets recognized, but I can't connect with Networkmanager, or any other tool. When I am running a live session, I plug the stick in, it gets recognized, from the NetworkManager Mobile networks tab I create a new connection, choose my country, provider, and the connection gets established. I know what is the name of the device, what is the apn name, username, password, and so on and so forth, but I don't need them, because I can't set anything. If the tab by any chance would not be greyed out, I still don't need them, for Kubuntu has a nice database which describes my provider. I am member of the same groups on live and hard disk sessions. The same thing happens on two different computers, that is live session -modem works, after install no network access through modem.