Creating a Wireless 3G Network Connection on Fedora 9 With a Novatel Ovation U727
One of my favourite features of Fedora 9 is NetworkManager's new support for wireless 3G modems. I just recently got a Novatel Ovation U727 EVDO Rev A USB Modem for Sprint's network because this modem explicitly supports Linux. Sprint provides instructions for using the U727 on Linux from its Web site. But, since Fedora 9 makes this process much easier, here is how to do it:
- Have your laptop always load the proper drivers for the modem by adding the following lines to /etc/rc.local:
#load driver for Sprint Novatel u727 wireless modem
rmmod usbserial
modprobe -v usbserial vendor=0x1410 product=0x4100 - Insert your U727 into your laptop.
- The U727 has built-in flash storage for which Fedora will mount on your machine, launch a file browser, and show a link on your desktop. Close the file browser, and right-click the link to your flash storage and select to eject the device (note that unless you eject the flash storage, your modem won't work).
- Right-click on NetworkManager and select Edit Connections.
- Click on the Add button to create a new connection for your U727.
- Fill in the new dialog box with the name of your modem's connection and the number to dial. In my case, I named the connection Sprint Novatel U727. Type in #777 for the number to dial.
- Hit OK and then close the dialog box
- Now, click on NetworkManager, and you should see your new USB modem connection show up as a connection option.
- Select your new connection, and you'll be online!
- Insert your U727 into your laptop
- Eject the mounted flash storage device in your modem (unless you eject the flash storage, your modem won't work)
- Go to NetworkManager to select your U727 connection
I'm currently writing this post while online with my Sprint U727 modem. As a side-note, I selected Sprint's 3G service for mobile broadband even though I don't use Sprint for my cell phone service because Sprint has truly unlimited data usage (Verizon and AT&T cap at 5GB/month) with good terms of service (Verizon restricts things like streaming media), and its EVDO rev A network is fairly fast. Here are the results of a speed test that I just ran:
Update 5/19/2008:
Sprint is updating its Terms of Service to cap data usage at 5GB/month too. Given that, I will likely switch from Sprint to Verizon, which I prefer for cell phone service. Verizon also sells a U727 modem, so these instructions will work for Verizon too
4 comments:
Bryan - Thank you very much for these instructions. I have often been frustrated with the Sprint MiFi 2200 battery failing well before my laptop does. Now I make use of the remaining available power in my laptop to use the MiFi.
I added the connection (under Ubuntu-Jaunty Jackalope) to the Mobile Broadband section of the configuration display. I also had to add my password (leaving the username blank) to make the connection.
I haven't rebooted yet, but I tried running
sudo modprobe -v usbserial vendor=0x1410 product=0x4100
from a terminal and got several warnings. Do you know whether this command has been superseded in ubuntu?
I didn't need the wifi password after all. From right clicking on the Network Manager in Ubuntu, and choosing to Add a connection to Mobile Broadband, a list of carriers is provided. Selecting Sprint sets up the connection. I also did not need to edit /etc/rc.local. The connection manager in ubuntu 9.04 does everything for me.
Fedora will mount on your machine, launch a file browser, andD3 cd key show a link on your desktop. Close the file browser, and right-click the link to your flash storage and select to eject the device (note that unlessGuild Wars 2 Gems you eject the flash storage,
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