Using BSNL EVDO Card (Prithvi UE100) on Ubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS

So the last time around I faced some trouble installing the Huwaei EC156 Tata Photon + USB Data Card on Ubuntu and provided you guys with an example.

Now I am for a short stay in a part of Kolkata where Photon speeds are painfully slow and hence I am forced to use the BSNL EVDO/1X Card, the hardware for which is provided by Prithvi Communications by the name of UE100.

Linux does not recognise this and you are in for a soup if you don't know what to do :p

Ok here goes the short and smart tutorial.

First connect the device to your laptop/PC.
Run the command

ls /dev/tty*

There should be a device ls /dev/ttyACM0 (or a name similar to that)
To verify, remove the device and run ls /dev/tty* again to check that device has vanished :)

Now you need a nifty program called 'wvdial'
install it using

sudo apt-get install wvdial

After wvdial has been installed we need to provide a configuration file for wvdial. Create one using

sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf

Enter the following data into the file

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Baud = 460800
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
ISDN = 0
Phone = #777
Password = 91xxxxxxxx
Username = 91xxxxxxxx
Stupid Mode = 1

Where your username and password are the mobile numbers (replace xxxxxxxxxx with your device mobile number)

If you don't  know username and password you can use this ... (psst... do not tell anyone about this ;) :P )

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Baud = 460800
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
ISDN = 0
Phone = #777
Password = 165
Username = 165
Stupid Mode = 1

Now run this command (2-3 minutes after you have plugged in the device) to ensure this is working

sudo wvdial

It should show some DNS servers, (your notification area won't show any connected network) . Open browser and see if pages load. If it does, and I believe it will, then it's good to go.
Now if you are a geek you can just enter sudo wvdial every time to connect, but for people you prefer the comfort of mouse clicks you have some more jobs left to do.

sudo gedit /usr/bin/bsnl

enter this data into that file

gksudo wvdial

Now we need to set execution permissions to the file

sudo chmod 777 /usr/bin/bsnl

Now we will create a desktop shortcut.

gedit ~/Desktop/BSNL.desktop

and enter this data into the file

 [Desktop Entry]
Name=BSNL EVDO Connection
Exec=bsnl
Type=Application
StartupNotify=false
Icon=package_network

and make it executable

chmod 777 ~/Desktop/BSNL.desktop

Now everytime you plug in the device, wait for 1-2 minutes, then double click the brand new icon on your desktop, and woot!! you are online :)

cheers