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Thread: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    Hi,

    I've just unlocked my 3G mobile broadband dongle so it can be used with SIM cards from multiple providers. (It's a ZTE MF627 that the unlocking process appears to have turned into an MF626)

    Networkmanager works fine with it when I've got the original Three.co.uk SIM inserted and I can join the network. When I insert my Vodafone SIM (which works in the area I'm going to - The Three one doesn't due to poor network coverage) the dongle lights up green and the device appears as a virtual CD. If I eject the virtual CD it disappears and reappears as a modem.

    When I ask NM to connect the NM icon zaps up and down like it's doing something but the modem stays lit up green (rather than changing to blue == 3G mode, which it does with the Three SIM). NM sits there spinning its wheels and never connects.

    I decided to try it in Windows to see if I had a dongle problem or a Linux problem. In Windows the dongle lights green then when I press connect a dialogue pops up that tells me the Vodafone SIM has PIN security enabled and asks me for the PIN. When I enter the PIN the dongle changes from green to blue and connects.

    My conclusion is that NM isn't connecting because the SIM isn't becoming ready as it's sitting there waiting to validate the PIN which doesn't arrive. I can work around this by disabling PIN security on the card but I would rather not. What do I need to do to make NM demand and validate the SIM PIN if there is one please?

    Thanks,
    Paul.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Re: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    your post is a little confusing

    does the connection work when the pin code is disabled

    have you entered the pincode in NM and then fails to connect
    Two tin cans are better than an iphone

    http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_2067160_ma...hone.html?cr=1

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    Hi,

    I will clarify...

    On Windows both of my SIMs work:

    Three (No PIN) card turns blue and connects as soon as the connect button is pressed.
    Vodafone (PIN) card stays green, when the connect button is pressed the modem manager demands the PIN. When the PIN is input the card turns blue and connects.

    On Ubuntu:

    Three (No PIN) card turns blue and connects as soon as I select the network in NM.
    Vodafone (PIN) card stays green when I click NM, the PIN is never requested and NM sits there with its icon "pinging" up and down.

    I haven't tried disabling the PIN on the Vodafone SIM card and seeing what happens with NM but I can do that when I get home if it helps.

    Thanks,
    Paul.

  4. #4
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    Re: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    have you entered the pin code details in the Network Manager vodafone connection
    Two tin cans are better than an iphone

    http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_2067160_ma...hone.html?cr=1

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    31
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    Doh! First time I've used NM with a PIN-enabled SIM and I missed that. Thank you. Sorry I wasted everyone's time and bandwidth.

    Cheers,
    Paul.

  6. #6
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    Re: 3G USB dongle with PIN-enabled SIM

    Hi

    you ain't wasted any ones time

    this what forums are for

    Enjoy

    regards

    alexfish
    Two tin cans are better than an iphone

    http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_2067160_ma...hone.html?cr=1

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