Safaricom modem on Ubuntu remix

[vtired]

Dear Kenyan Ubuntists,
I have problems with Safaricom modem on Ubuntu netbook remix. The connection wizard satrts very well and even has an option for kenya, safaricom. The first connection worked fine but when I tried a second time, the nm asked for a password, instead of pin. Anyone there with an idea of how to get a stable connection?
The safaricom guys aren't familair with Ubuntu.

[fuzzyk.k]

it normally asks for a password when the network is jammed , try around midnight

[rwaki]

Dear Kenyan Ubuntists,
I have problems with Safaricom modem on Ubuntu netbook remix. The connection wizard satrts very well and even has an option for kenya, safaricom. The first connection worked fine but when I tried a second time, the nm asked for a password, instead of pin. Anyone there with an idea of how to get a stable connection?
The safaricom guys aren't familair with Ubuntu.

Try disabling the PIN using a mobile phone. It worked for me

[madcowchow]

try wvdial instead

sudo apt-get install wvdial

sudo nano /etc/wvdial.conf

enter the following:

[Dialer Defaults]
Phone = *99#
Username = saf
Password = data
Stupid Mode = 1
Dial Command = ATDT
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Baud = 3600000
Init2 = ATZ
Init3 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
ISDN = 0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Init4 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","SAFARICOM"

save and:

sudo wvdial

[Akukudanger]

Hi guys.

I am a newbie in ubuntu. Recently installed ubuntu 10.04 on my laptop. I need to use my safaricom modem to connect to the Internet but so far I have hit a brick wall.
After reading several forums on the net about wvdial i got the modem assigned a local ip address plus the corresponding primary & secondary DNS addresses. (see output below)

WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60
--> Cannot get information for serial port.
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
OK
--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
OK
--> Sending: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","safaricom"
AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","safaricom"
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT*99#
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT*99#
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected. Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Tue Nov 23 05:16:35 2010
--> Pid of pppd: 2079
--> Using interface ppp0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> local IP address 197.176.51.162
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> remote IP address 10.64.64.64
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> primary DNS address 196.201.208.2
--> pppd: pj0 �i0 �i0
--> secondary DNS address 209.244.0.3

the problem is that I just cannot be able to connect to the internet. I have added the primary & secondary addresses manually to /etc/resolv.conf file but still I CANNOT connect to the net.
HELP PLEASE!!!

[SecretCode]

Can you ping the DNS addresses that you get via wvdial?

One of the problems with 3G (anywhere, it seems) is that sometimes you appear to connect but nothing gets through. Sometimes all you can do is wait until the network is less busy.

I'm not in Kenya atm but recently was there and had no problems linking to Safaricom from a 9.10 installation (just using NetworkManager) - but the SIM card was in my phone. I assume you are using the dongle supplied by Safaricom?

[Akukudanger]

I guess I finally figured out what my problem is though I still dont have a solution for it.
I normally use my laptop to connect to the office LAN. when I ping the DNS addresses the ping echo seems to go through my ethernet's static IP address. Hence the ping reply brings a" 172.x.x.x icmp_seq=1 Destination Host Unreachable" reply. (the DNS ping is done having unplugged the office LAN)
I guess the OS still considers my Eth0 connection as my 'gateway' even when LAN cable is unplugged and the modem connected.
Any ideas to go around this??

[SecretCode]

Ah - this sounds like a problem I've seen when using a 3G dongle while still on a local network. I get around it by disabling wifi, but if you have a wired connection I don't know if you can disable it.

Post the output of

route -n

when connected to 3G.

Try the following 2 commands

sudo route del default
sudo route add default gw 10.64.64.64

[Akukudanger]

sorry for not replying in time. been under with some throat infection...nothing ubuntu related
anyway here,s my route -n output.

Destination Gateway Genmask Flags Metric Ref Use Iface
10.64.64.64 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 UH 0 0 0 ppp0
172.31.41.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 eth0
169.254.0.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.0.0 U 1000 0 0 eth0
0.0.0.0 172.31.41.254 0.0.0.0 UG 100 0 0 eth0

[SecretCode]

Yes, so all your traffic is sent via eth0. Try the route del / route add commands.