Harsh J

This article shall detail the steps to setup, configure and begin using the Huawei E156 HSDPA (3G) USB Stick on Linux (fondly called by them BSNL employees as a ‘Data Card’).

On Windows, one generally uses the bundled ‘Huawei Mobile Partner’ software which does wonderful things like read messages, compute statistics, etc. There isn’t a similar software on Linux providing all of those under one roof, however.

First off, you need to create a BSNL 3G dialer profile, and you would require a software known as wvdial. Install it by either of these commands, in the Terminal application:

# On Ubuntu
sudo aptitude install wvdial

# On ArchLinux
sudo pacman -S wvdial

Now as root (or using sudo), open the file: /etc/wvdial.conf

# If you use GNOME, try:
sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf

# If on KDE, try:
sudo kwrite /etc/wvdial.conf

Paste into your editor, the following lines:

[Dialer bsnlnet]
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone = *99#
ISDN = 0
Baud = 460800
Username = " "
Password = " "
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = at+cgdcont=1,"ip","bsnlnet"
Stupid Mode = 1

Save the changes and close the editor. Now to get connected, you have to ask the wvdial command to start a particular connection. So simply do, on each startup:

wvdial bsnlnet

And lo, you’re online with blazing 3G speeds!

Note: You may be supposed to use a different APN like bsnlsouth sometimes (instead of bsnlnet or etc.), so change that in the highlighted line.

Life has not been so low as right now. No this isn’t some depression stuff. And I mean right _now_ as in right now. 28th Nov, near 2 AM in the morning.

I love the rains, yes I do. I don’t mind the water-logged roads either, I like walking in it. No matter how gloomy the weather, the falling droplets always make me cheerful. But no, this won’t last, not yet in my country. Just as I try to get some work done, my electricity starts to fluctuate, the EB would blame the rains if I blame them. Poof goes my router’s blinkenlights, and I have to reconnect and wonder if what was going on can be got back.

Not to mention what am trying to do seems so-much impossible on the thing am doing the what upon but the same what is, in fact, possible and that having been rubbed into your face by some powers that be, makes you literally go tearing your hair and screaming what the …

Weather on focus, my city’s been receiving lots of cyclone-induced rainfall. I’m thinking it rained enough to last a quarter of the oncoming summer period, if not half. Walked loads in the water today, some places almost upto thigh-deep water.

A little something on movies – Punisher – War Zone’s coming with Jigsaw in it (Dec 5), and these marketers are getting clever, releasing the original old Punisher with Jane and Travolta in it just a week before. Saw Quantum of Solace and it isn’t good, all action and deaths, or atleast most of it. Also saw The Dark Knight so many times that I started to like Batman Begins more.

Installed a new code-highlight plugin (The same awesome one as on WordPress.com blogs). Here’s a sample:

# In Python
class Foo(object):
    def __init__(self): pass
    @somedecorator
    def abc(ghi):
        print ("Spam and eggs")

More later as I get back to owning the lizard – the mighty, unconquerable openSuSE 11.0.

Just-for-record: 9 router disconnects in this post-typing period. Great voltage!

Aone Upliftment Trust (Regd.) is conducting a Dandia Festival for the Navratri at Dharamprakash, Chennai from 28-09-2008 to 7-10-2008.

For donor passes contact:

• Jainendra Chouraria – +91 98400 37945
• Sunil Shah – +91 98401 21000

Donor Passes are also available at:

• Reliance Communication – 18, Ritherdon Road, Chennai – 7
• Photo Optic – Doveton Tower, Chennai – 7. Ph: 044 26421479
• Bipin Jewellers – 66, N.S.C. Bose Road, Chennai – 1. Ph: 044 25355600
• Tower Opticians – Anna Nagar East, (Near Naidu Hall), Chennai – 40. Ph: 044 26288996
• Cheda Foods – Ormes Road, Kilpauk, Chennai – 10.

For more details, mail to aone@eth.net