Oct 10, 2010

Connect to internet using Ncell Connect (E1550)

First of all sincere thanks to Amit for providing me his Ncell-Connect dongle to try it out in linux.

Ncell has recently launched a data service in Nepal called Ncell Connect. Ncell provides E1550 dongle to to its user. E1550 is uses a Switchable USB Device (storage cum serial device).
In linux, it is detected as storage device only, and one, need to switch the device to modem mode.
So here's, how to install it in ubuntu(linux).
1. Install "usb-modeswitch"
2. Instruct Udev to call mode-switcher whenever the device is plugged in:
Update: Command to switch to root Privilege added.
sudo -s
apt-get install usb-modeswitch
cat > /etc/udev/rules.d/99-ncell-connect.rules <<EOT
# Ncell Connect switch mode to usbserial (E1550 device id => 12d1:1446)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idProduct}=="1446", ATTRS{idVendor}=="12d1", RUN+="/lib/udev/modem-modeswitch --vendor 0x12d1 --product 0x1446 --type option-zerocd"
EOT

3. Insert the device.
4. Create a new "Mobile Brodband" connection
4.1 Goto System->Preferences->Network Connections
4.2 Goto "Mobile Brodband" Tab

4.3 Create a new "Mobile Brodband" connection, following are the details that you require:
Device: HUAWEI Technology HuAWEI Mobile [if the list is empty, you messed up Something wrong, Restart from step 1]
Country: Nepal
Service Provider: Ncell
APN: web
Number: *99#
Leave other fields empty.

That's it. Enjoy!!
Happy Dashain

6 comments:

Hempal said...

Dear Amit, Suraj,

Thanks for the the guidelines, its really very simple and useful, I could connect in just 5 minutes. - Hempal

Abish ! said...

loved it ! took less than 2 minutes. too simple.
i hope ncell brings out an unlimited plan!!
cheers.:)

gespacho said...

Thanks a lot. I was concerned that i wouldn't be able to use the device with linux. You confirmed it for me.

gespacho said...

Thanks, again. I subscribed to the service, here in Kathmandu, and your tutorial had me connected in seconds!! Good work.

Guilherme Samel said...

Thanks a lot! Your instructions were of great help and in short time I was connect without having to go back to Windows!!

But then I had to come to Pharphing where Ncell Connect doesn't work. Do you please know how I can connect Nepal Telecom Sky using Ubuntu?

Many thanks.

Suraj Sapkota said...

@samel,
Abish has documented it clearly in his blog.
You can follow this link:
http://abish.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/using-cdma-wireless-modem-in-ubuntu/