Nokia E71 as a USB or Bluetooth 3G Data Modem on Linux

Posted by on 18 September, 2008 Leave a comment (40) Go to comments

1.) Install wvdial
2.) Add the following to /etc/wvdial.conf and adjust it for your operator settings:

[Dialer nokia-usb]
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
Baud = 3600000
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2
Init3 =
Modem Type = USB Modem
Area Code =
Phone = *99#
Username = ppp
Password = ppp
Ask Password = 0
Dial Command = ATDT
Stupid Mode = 1
Compuserve = 0
Force Address =
Idle Seconds = 0
DialMessage1 =
DialMessage2 =
ISDN = 0
Auto DNS = 1
New PPPD = yes

[Dialer nokia-bluetooth]
Modem = /dev/rfcomm0
Baud = 3600000
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2
Init3 =
Area Code =
Phone = *99#
Username = ppp
Password = ppp
Ask Password = 0
Dial Command = ATDT
Stupid Mode = 1
Compuserve = 0
Force Address =
Idle Seconds = 0
DialMessage1 =
DialMessage2 =
ISDN = 0
Auto DNS = 1
New PPPD = yes

3.) For USB when you connect the phone set it to “PC Suite” mode (else the modem won’t appear) and then:

su -c "wvdial nokia-usb"

4.) For Bluetooth, where ### is the Bluetooth Address of you phone

su -c "rfcomm release 0; rfcomm bind 0 ### `sdptool search \
--bdaddr=### dun | grep -i Channel | cut -c14-14` && wvdial nokia-bluetooth"

5.) Workaround for broken newer versions of NetworkManager where the DNS won’t be set properly can be found at http://seife.kernalert.de/blog/2008/12/11/using-dialup-with-111-if-networkmanager-does-not-handle-your-device/

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    Coding,
    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Have you tried network manager 0.7 beta? I bought my E71 today and had seen that it was supposed to be working out of the box with it via usb.

    • Ivan N. Zlatev

      I am using NM 0.7.0 and it has neither dial-up nor bluetooth support.

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Hmm, well here's what I was looking at: https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/…

      Can't wait until mine arrives to test it out. Also looking at the http://www.joikuspot.com/ as a different option.

    • Ivan N. Zlatev

      Keep in mind however that making your phone act as a wireless router will drain your battery in no time. And if you keep constantly charging it you will kill the battery very quickly. This is exactly what happened with my HTC windows mobile phone after I had to use it as a 3g modem via bluetooth – the battery died (well not literally, but it goes from 100% to 40% in 15min usage).

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Thanks for the warning. Very aware that the radios can drain the battery like mad. I like the option though when I'm out with people and there's no wireless available. I might be able to host a couple of other laptops on the connection. At least we'll see if it can.

      Any software suggestions for a new E71? My concern is the reviews of the default email client setup has me looking for nice solutions.

    • Ivan N. Zlatev

      So far I have installed:

      1) Instant Messaging (ICQ/AIM/MSN, Jabber/GTalk): IM+ from http://www.shapeservices.com/en/products/detail… (Paid)

      2) For IRC I found http://mirggi.net/ (Free), but I haven't tested yet.

      3) I have updated QuickOffice to the latest version (paid), because I was having some problems with editing some spreadsheets. Unfortunately there is no OpenDocument support.

      4) The default email “client” works (been using it with GMail IMAP), but I have found it to be slow and not really helpful user interface-wise. However I stumbled upon the beta version of Nokia Email Service and it's great – http://email.nokia.com .

      It's fast and the user interface is great (looks like a proper e-mail client not one wrapped in the SMS interface). However it lacks some features like support for IMAP folders. But according to this post – http://betalabs.nokia.com/blog/2008/08/19/recap… – most of the lacking features are being worked on (it's a beta after all). Oh and it also currently supports only 1 email account only.

      Some screenshots you can see at http://www.symbian-guru.com/welcome/2008/07/nok… . But I can assure you that with 2-3 tweaks you can optimize the screen space much better than it's by default (like – 2 line mail, so you can see the full subject and hide the email headers, etc).

      5) For Internet calls I have configured Internet Telephone / SIP with http://diamondcard.us . Unfortunately I get unreproducible random crashes. Basically when I want it to crash it doesn't, when I don't want it to crash it does :) . It automatically restarts, though.

      Just in case you want to use Skype I should warn you that there is no real client for symbian available. All clients you will find are fake and proxy the call through a call to real phone number.

      That's what I can think of right now. If you find any other good software drop in a comment.

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Thanks for the advice. Had the E71 going for a full day now and here's where I've gotten

      1) Ended up trying out slick since it was free, but there's a bug in the current version with sending from AIM it seems. Ended up trying out fring and it seems to be working well

      2) Loaded up mirggi and it works nicely. Had to adjust the colors a bit, but have it logging into freenode and doing auth as well.

      4) I'm actually ok with the default email client. I was going to try profimail, but for ever “works great” I see something bad about it. If I can get offlineimap to dump my work account into a subfolder of my personal email I might try the nokia mail beta. I just can't live without two accounts.

      5) fring is suppsed to do some of it, but not really used it much.

      Other software:
      goosync for pulling my google calendars is working great. Need to keep an eye on it and make sure it's auto syncing, but the paid version is letting me sync down 5 calendars I really need.

      I tried opera mobile, but couldn't figure out how to get a cursor or method to click things. Mini is working cool. The built in browser also works very well.

      Also installed putty for symbian. Very cool, my irssi window is too much to fit (wrapping 14 irc channels takes up too much space), but should be cool for quick top/tests.

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Just a heads up, with the latest updates to intrepid beta the fdi is fixed in hal so it detects all properly and such. Have it connecting via NM ootb now and works great.

      I love that since this can hookup via usb I can use it on my desktop as well for when comcast barfs on me.

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Ivan, have you had any luck syncing with USB adapters? I have purchased two usb solutions that plug into the usb ports. Upon plugging in they start to say “charging” and then fall off. I've read that the E71 requires some power levels above normal USB output and I wonder if there's some method to match the power output of the USB to what the little charger hole requires.

    • Ivan N. Zlatev

      syncing or charging with USB? I suppose you mean chargin. I do not have a usb-to-ac, but supposedely nokia sell an official one, because people moaned for the lack of usb charging. I don't have one.

    • http://www.mitechie.com Rick

      Yea, charging. There are a few out there and nokia has some official ones. The issue seems to be how Ubuntu is powering the usb port. I've not figured it out all the way yet. The dock I have allows both usb or a direct AC plug to power the dock and charge the E71. If I use it via the AC it works, via usb I get the issue where it starts to sync and then stops. I don't know the usb port is keeping up the juice.

      Thanks though.

    • Jeppe

      Dear Ivan
      Thanks for your post. I am a complete beginner in Linux and have just installed Ubuntu on my eee (ubuntu eee). I have tried all day to connect to the internet via my e71, but it will not work. I have tried all the description I have found on the internet and that I could manage with my very limited experience. I would therefore like to ask, if you could explain the process above in a bit more detail. Fx, what does it mean when you write: Add the following to /etc/wvdial.conf and adjust it for your operator settings? Should I do this in terminal or somewhere else? All hints are most welcome.

      With best regards,

      Jeppe

    • deepak

      Ubuntu Intrepid supports E71 on the fly

    • http://johannburkard.de Johann

      Thanks, that worked perfectly.

      JFTR: If you use o2 Germany, you don't have to edit anything.

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      i fount it a bit slow is i make a connection using Phone as a modem compare to the USB.

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      oh thanks, it's work!

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      Wow..Thank for this..looking forward for another trick..Bookmark this one

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    • http://www.re-views.co.cc/wireless-router/ wireless router

      can this work on the N79 too.

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      Hi.. thanks for this information..
      great sharing..

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      Comparasion Phone as a modem . The result Very Slow

    • paul

      hi there, my question is a bit weird, but in my country the internet access provided by most telcos is WAP over GPRS. However, there is a broadband provider in town who uses actual 3G/HSDPA networks. My question is…. if i used a 3rd party USB modem and hook it up to my E71, can i access the net via the 3rd party USD modem?

    • paul

      basically its

      E71—-> 3rd party USB Modem—-> Internet

      note that the mobile provider for the E71.. differs from the internet service provider for the 3rd party USB Modem

    • Ivan N. Zlatev

      Just connect the USB Modem directly to the computer and use that? The setup will be very similar (if not the same) to the nokia-usb one with wvdial (in case NetworkManager doesn't work out of the box). There is no way you will be able to connect the usb modem to the E71.

    • Oak

      Neither of these worked for my e71. But the following did (using USB) wvdial.conf:

      <br>[Dialer Defaults]<br>Phone = *99#<br>Username = doesnt<br>Password = matter<br>Stupid Mode = 1<br>Dial Command = ATDT<br><br>[Dialer nokia-usb]<br>Modem = /dev/ttyACM0<br>Init2 = ATZ<br>Init3 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0<br>ISDN = 0<br>Modem Type = USB Modem<br>Init4 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"<br>
    • Marc Gammon

      Thanks Ivan,

      This worked like a charm for me. I'm on Ubuntu, with an E71, connecting to MTN (a cellphone provider in South Africa). I did not have to change a single line of code from your code.

      Marc

    • http://identi.ca/macno macno

      Thanks! It worked like a charme.
      Env:

      Ubuntu 9.04
      Dell D830
      E71 (via bluetooth)
      I Wind (italia)

      In wvdial
      For business contract:
      Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=, ,”internet.wind.biz”

      For NON bussiness contract
      Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=, ,”internet.wind”

      macno

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      I have purchased two usb solutions that plug into the usb ports. Upon plugging in they start to say “charging” and then fall off. I've read that the E71 requires some power levels above normal USB output and I wonder if there's some method to match the power output of the USB to what the little charger hole requires.

    • http://retrovideogamer.com/ classic video games

      Have you tried network manager 0.7 beta? I bought my E71 today and had seen that it was supposed to be working out of the box with it via usb.

    • http://retrovideogamer.com/ classic video games

      Have you tried network manager 0.7 beta? I bought my E71 today and had seen that it was supposed to be working out of the box with it via usb.

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    • Alex

      Dude, it worked super, thanks.

      OS: Centos
      ENV: VMware
      Connection type: 3G

    • Alex

      Also if you want to find your phone's id just type:

      >hcitool scan

      and you should see: <phone id> <phone name>

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      thank you very much.

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      Thank you very much,  setting ‘PC Suite mode’ is the trick. Now I could browse from my laptop using Airtel mobile 3g services