warrenpost.wordpress.

com

The Huawei E153 modem on Linux

Posted on

Getting the popular Huawei E153 modem working on Linux is easy.

The Huawei E153 is a 3.5G HSDPA USB

modem. Where I live, it is the most common USB modem offered for
sale by mobile operators and third parties. Being ubiquitous, I
obtained a used one for free and quickly got it working on my Linux
boxes.
GATHERING INFORMATION
On Linux, lsusb reports the modem as ID 12d1:14ac Huawei
Technologies Co., Ltd..
I took it and a laptop running Windows to my mobile operators
service center. Where I live, service center staff only know Windows
and are liable to dissuade you from even attempting to use their
hardware or network with Linux. I had the staff confirm that the
modem works. In my case, the SIM card in the modem had expired: I

needed to buy a new one, put some airtime in it, and buy a one day
prepaid data plan to test the modem under Windows. Having the
support staff confirm this saved me a lot of time.
When inserted into a computer running Windows, a proprietary
control application by Huawei will prompt to install itself if not already
installed. It is claimed on the web that many mobile operators replace
Huaweis control application with their own. I suspect, however, that
these users are seeing what I see: Huaweis control program,
rebranded by the mobile operator.
In any case, once out of the service center, open the control program
and note the following information. Heres what I found and where I
found it:
Tools Diagnostics Network Status Network Name: Claro
HND
Tools Diagnostics Network Settings APN: web.megatel.hn
Tools Options Profile Management Dial-Up APN: Static;
web.megatel.hn
Tools Options Profile Management Dial-Up Authentication
User name: webmegatel
Tools Options Profile Management Dial-Up Authentication
Password: webmegatel (hidden behind asterisks; a Claro
Honduras representative confirmed the password)
Aside from the control application for Windows, the modems

memory also has a directory named Linux which contains a

README and binary blobs. Information on the web suggests that one
of these blobs is the Linux version of the control application. While I
appreciate that Huawei accommodates Linux, I prefer the open
source kernel driver built in to Linux and so have not used or examine
these files.
CONFIGURATION
Like everything in Linux, there are multiple paths to success. The
following is what works for me. To begin, youll need:
usb_modeswitch and usb_modeswitch-data installed.
NetworkManager installed and set to run at startup as root. Not
all distributions run it at startup by default.
Insert the modem and wait for the system to recognize the modem.
On my boxes, this takes about ten seconds and is indicated by the
status light changing from blinking green to blinking blue. If
usb_modeswitch is doing its job, the modem will not appear as a
USB mass storage device.
Right click on the NetworkManager icon. A setup wizard is available,
but I dont do no stinkin wizards. Instead I select Edit Connections,
open the Mobile Broadband tab, click on Add, and enter the following
nondefault settings:
Connection name: Your mobile operators name, or as desired.
Mobile Broadband Basic Username and password: As

observed in Windows. In my case, both are webmegatel.

Mobile Broadband Advanced APN: As observed in Windows.
In my case, web.megatel.hn.
Save and close.
USING IT
Youll need:
An activated data plan with your mobile operator
The modem inserted and recognized as described above
Left click on the NetworkManager menu. You should see the new
connection in the Available section. Select it and enjoy your
connection.
NOTES
I understand from the web that this and many USB modems are sold
SIM locked. Because I use the same mobile operator that originally
sold the modem, I had no need to confirm or deal with that.
The modem has a Micro SD slot, but it works fine without a memory
card. Indeed, Im unsure what a memory card brings to the table here.
The modem has a multicolored status light:
blinking green: initial startup
green: connected; strong signal

blue: connected; weak signal

blinking blue: not connected or no signal
A Claro Honduras service representative told me that a common
support issue is that the modem had been working, but attempts to
connect now hang with no diagnostic messages. Her solution is to
enter the modem control program under Windows and create a new
profile; she assured me that this always works.
Mageia 2 x86_64
Attempting to configure the modem using the Mageia Control Center
failed. Perhaps NetworkManager would have worked, but I didnt try
that.
openSUSE 12.3 64 bit
NetworkManager is installed by default but is enabled by default only
on laptop computers. It is easily enabled on other devices, however.
Ubuntu 12.10 amd64
In Ubuntu, NetworkManager is called network-manager.
REFERENCES
Manual pages for usb_modeswitch, NetworkManager
Fedoras documentation for NetworkManager

So far: Customer support guy, jungle guide, IT consultant, beach

bum, entrepreneur, teacher, diplomat, over-enthusiastic cyclist.

Tomorrow: who knows?