Cannot connect to mobile broadband through Huawei E303 modem

[Fibonacci]

I bought what is apparently a Huawei E303 with the brand of a local mobile company, and am trying to connect to the network through it in Ubuntu. It was recognised as a 12d1:15d4 instead of a modem, and so I found I had to use usb_modeswitch.
Switching modes was painful without an internet connection to find the exact string, but I finally managed to do it succesfully and now I've created the file /etc/usb_modeswitch.d/12d1:15d4 with the following content:

TargetVendor= 0x12d1
TargetProduct= 0x15d5
InquireDevice= 0

MessageContent="55534243123456780000000000000011062000000100000000 000000000000"

Even though the modem is now properly recognised and I've created an appropriate connection (for my operator) in plasma-nm, I still can't connect to he net. First I'm prompted by KDE for a password, and none of my account password, “movistar” (the default for that connection) or the SIM PIN seem to work. Then I get one notification stating that “IP configuration was unavailable” and many more with “Connection 'Movistar' deactivated.” Of course I never manage to actually get an internet connection.

The same modem is working fine under Windows, and in fact, I'm using it to post this.

What am I doing wrong?

[praseodym]

Please show the outputs of


usb-devices
lsmod
mmcli -m 0 | grep -Ev "imei|equipment|Numbers"

[Fibonacci]

Please show the outputs of


usb-devices
lsmod
mmcli -m 0 | grep -Ev "imei|equipment|Numbers"


$ usb-devices

...

T: Bus=04 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 11 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=12d1 ProdID=15d5 Rev=01.02
S: Manufacturer=HUAWEI
S: Product=HUAWEI Mobile
C: #Ifs= 6 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=500mA
I: If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=01 Driver=option
I: If#= 1 Alt= 0 #EPs= 1 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=16 Driver=option
I: If#= 2 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=03 Driver=option
I: If#= 3 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=ff(vend.) Sub=02 Prot=02 Driver=option
I: If#= 4 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usb-storage
I: If#= 5 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usb-storage

...

$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
ppp_deflate 16384 0
bsd_comp 16384 0
twofish_generic 20480 0
twofish_avx_x86_64 49152 2
twofish_x86_64_3way 28672 1 twofish_avx_x86_64
twofish_x86_64 16384 2 twofish_avx_x86_64,twofish_x86_64_3way
twofish_common 24576 4 twofish_generic,twofish_avx_x86_64,twofish_x86_64_ 3way,twofish_x86_64
xts 16384 1 twofish_x86_64_3way
ppp_async 20480 0
crc_ccitt 16384 1 ppp_async
huawei_cdc_ncm 16384 0
cdc_wdm 20480 1 huawei_cdc_ncm
cdc_ncm 32768 1 huawei_cdc_ncm
usbnet 40960 2 huawei_cdc_ncm,cdc_ncm
mii 16384 1 usbnet
option 49152 2
usb_wwan 20480 1 option
usbserial 53248 6 option,usb_wwan
snd_hrtimer 16384 1
binfmt_misc 20480 1
nls_iso8859_1 16384 1
drbg 32768 1
ansi_cprng 16384 0
dm_crypt 28672 2
joydev 20480 1
xpad 24576 0
ff_memless 16384 1 xpad
nvidia 10567680 115
input_leds 16384 0
uvcvideo 90112 0
videobuf2_vmalloc 16384 1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops 16384 1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_core 49152 1 uvcvideo
v4l2_common 16384 1 videobuf2_core
videodev 172032 3 uvcvideo,v4l2_common,videobuf2_core
snd_usb_audio 176128 1
media 24576 2 uvcvideo,videodev
snd_usbmidi_lib 32768 1 snd_usb_audio
gpio_ich 16384 0
snd_hda_codec_realtek 86016 1
snd_hda_codec_generic 77824 1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_hda_intel 36864 5
snd_hda_codec 135168 3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hd a_intel
snd_hda_core 65536 4 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hd a_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 16384 2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
intel_rapl 20480 0
iosf_mbi 16384 1 intel_rapl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal 16384 0
intel_powerclamp 16384 0
kvm_intel 167936 0
kvm 512000 1 kvm_intel
crct10dif_pclmul 16384 0
crc32_pclmul 16384 0
snd_pcm 106496 5 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ core
aesni_intel 167936 9925
aes_x86_64 20480 1 aesni_intel
lrw 16384 3 aesni_intel,twofish_avx_x86_64,twofish_x86_64_3way
gf128mul 16384 2 lrw,xts
snd_seq_midi 16384 0
glue_helper 16384 3 aesni_intel,twofish_avx_x86_64,twofish_x86_64_3way
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
ablk_helper 16384 2 aesni_intel,twofish_avx_x86_64
cryptd 20480 4965 aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd_rawmidi 32768 2 snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 69632 3 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
serio_raw 16384 0
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer 32768 3 snd_hrtimer,snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd 81920 24 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_usb_audio,snd_hwdep,snd_ timer,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_ge neric,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel, snd_seq_device
lpc_ich 24576 0
drm 356352 3 nvidia
soundcore 16384 1 snd
mei_me 32768 0
mei 98304 1 mei_me
shpchp 36864 0
nuvoton_cir 20480 0
rc_core 28672 1 nuvoton_cir
8250_fintek 16384 0
mac_hid 16384 0
w83627ehf 45056 0
hwmon_vid 16384 1 w83627ehf
coretemp 16384 0
parport_pc 32768 0
ppdev 20480 0
lp 20480 0
parport 49152 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
autofs4 40960 2
ses 20480 0
enclosure 16384 1 ses
hid_generic 16384 0
usbhid 49152 0
hid 118784 2 hid_generic,usbhid
uas 24576 0
usb_storage 69632 2 uas
psmouse 126976 0
e1000e 237568 0
ahci 36864 5
libahci 32768 1 ahci
ptp 20480 1 e1000e
pps_core 20480 1 ptp

$ mmcli -m 0 | grep -Ev "imei|equipment|Numbers"
error: couldn't find modem at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0'

[praseodym]

Repeat the last command with "1" or "2" instead of "0"

[Fibonacci]

Repeat the last command with "1" or "2" instead of "0"


$ mmcli -m 1 | grep -Ev "imei|equipment|Numbers"
error: couldn't find modem at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/1'
$ mmcli -m 2 | grep -Ev "imei|equipment|Numbers"
error: couldn't find modem at '/org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/2'

[praseodym]

Have a look at the UMTS checklist here:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1831649&highlight=umts+checklist

[Fibonacci]

Disable PIN code request (in the mobile phone / with WIN-software or umtsmon), this is often helpful
Done.

Stick Sim-/Netlock free (after a change of provider)
How?

enter PUK (This is the 8-digit code to unlock the SIM card if the PIN is entered incorrectly multiple times)
Where?

SIM card is inserted correctly (or dirty)? (For those who groan at this point. It can easily happen, happens, and no one needs to be embarrassed!)
sufficient Funds are available (may be consumed quickly by using the wrong APN)
Not applicable as it works fine under Windows.

Check whether the correct APN is used
Always enter at number * 99 # and never the mobile phone number (I dont know if 99 is country specific )
Done.

Check: → Users and Groups → Select "Advanced Settings" → User Rights → a checkmark in both entries, in which the word "modem" is included, then login once again for the changes to take effect (manual applies to gnome2-desktop apply to other graphical interfaces corresponding to the suppliers).
Couldn't find any "modem" entries.

disable Parallel WLAN / LAN connection
Done.

Use alternative dialer programs (from version 10.10 not really necessary anymore.) Umtsmon / Vodafone Mobile Connect (BMC as successor) / ixconn / sakis3g / wvdial / Ubuntu Kubuntu-NWM
Not applicable as I'm using 15.10.

If modem is not detected or is in disk mode: install "USB-modeswitch"
Check whether the package modemmanager is installed (e.g. Lubuntu lacks this package in its default installation)
Done.

In some models which are set in the disk mode it is automatically switched to modem mode when drive / virtual CD is removed (right click, remove the drive safely).
Not my case as I already explained.

All (kernel) updates installed?
Does Stick / modem work in Windows?
Yes.

Browser in offline mode?
No.

Check whether "Enable Mobile Broadband" is set (click on the icon in the panel)
Done.

Network Manager: Manually set the nameserver settings in the network manager
How?

In certain cases it may happen that in network (under the APN) or the "Mobile Network Code" must be specified. Overview here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Code
Where?

Connections may be required. try different USB ports (if posible: for Notebooks try CardBus USB) to avoid any long USB extensions, possibly using Y-cable. By using Y-cable or CardBus the sticks get a better power supply. Same effect is achieved by connecting to a powered hub (with power adapter).
In poor connections, it may be useful to chose the transmission rate (3G/2G). In Gnome network manager (Ubuntu until 10.10. Possible) klick "Type" button (default "Any") and choose accordingly. Likewise, in alternative dial-in programs and in the K-Network Manager (Kubuntu)
Disable firewall if installed
Done.

[Fibonacci]

Bump.

[mato3848]

i have the same problem, i cant use this modem with my raspberry, in my windows 10 machine it works fine.
How do you manage to switch the modem ?
Thanks