Using ST860U Under Ubuntu Linux

    Note: The following instructions are known to work under Ubuntu 8.10. However, these steps may also apply to other Linux distributions.

  • Insert ST860U with a working SIM card into a free slot/port. If your modem comes with a ZeroCD(some models do not contain a ZeroCD. Thus the following two pictures are not applicable to those modems.), the autorun driver installation program, as shown in the following picture, will pop up, asking for user interactions. Please click Cancel to close the popup window.

    The ZeroCD is then mounted, and you will see a virtual CDROM icon on your desktop. Right click that icon and click Eject Volume on the popup menu, as shown in the following picture, to eject the virtual CDROM. Please do not click Unmount Volume, or the modem may not work properly.

  • Press Alt+F2, key in gnome-terminal and Click Run to launch Gnome Terminal.
  • sudo apt-get install wvdial to install the latest PPP dialer. This may require you to enter a password.
  • sudo wvdialconf to auto detect the modem and create the default /etc/wvdial.conf configuration file. As you can see from the Terminal output, a modem has been successfully detected.
  • sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf to edit the default configuration file. Add the following lines to it:

    Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","cmnet"
    Phone = *99***1#
    Username = any
    Password = any
    Stupid Mode = 1

    Note: the first line contains your APN settings; "cmnet" is the APN for China Mobile. Replace it with your local APN if China Mobile is not your network provider. In some areas, you might have to change AT+CGDCONT=1 to AT+CGDCONT=2 or the like to get connected. If your provider requires a username and password, put them into the Username and Password lines, otherwise put something like any to those two lines. A blank Username and Password may have trouble connecting to your provider. Stupid Mode = 1 is used to bypass user inputs.

    Here is a sample /etc/wvdial.conf configuration file:

    [Dialer Defaults]
    Init1 = ATZ
    Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
    Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","cmnet"
    Modem Type = USB Modem
    Baud = 460800
    New PPPD = yes
    Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
    ISDN = 0
    Phone = *99***1#
    Username = any
    Password = any
    Stupid Mode = 1

    Save the file and close gedit.

  • If you have already connected to the Internet via PPPoE or LAN, please disconnect it first with the Network-Manager before running wvdial, or messy routing will give you a headache.
  • sudo wvdial to start a wireless connection. As you can see from the Terminal output, an IP is assigned to your wireless modem. You can surf the web now. Leave the Terminal window open or minimized while surfing. Press Ctrl+C at the Terminal window to go offline. You don't have to go over all the above steps next time. For wireless modems with a ZeroCD, the virtual CDROM must be ejected as illustrated above. sudo wvdial is the only command to get you connected.