WvDial, Ubuntu, Huawei and Globe Visibility

Of course, this could also work with Smart WeRoam but for now, here are the steps for connecting to the internet using WvDial when you’re on Globe Visibility (since Globe’s customer’s service seems to be at a loss when asked about things Ubuntu and Linux).

A.Recommendations before installing wvdial

1. Ubuntu in latest distribution release (as of this writing, Hardy 8.04).

This is recommended to ensure that you are running the latest release of Ubuntu and therefore download and install as well the latest stable release of WvDial. Of course, WvDial has releases for Dapper, Feisty and Gutsy and will download packages depending on your Ubuntu release.

2. Check your Ubuntu distro in your terminal by typing:

$ lsb_release -irdc

You should see your distro ID, description, release and codename:

Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 8.04.1
Release: 8.04
Codename: hardy


3. Upgrade your Ubuntu if it’s not the latest distribution yet. Guides can be found here and here.

If you do not want to update, you can proceed to Section B.

4. Check for your WvDial package. In your terminal, type:

$ which wvdial

or

$ wvdial -V

$ which wvdial will show the path of the wvdial to be executed, usually in the /etc/bin/wvdial. $ wvdial -V will show the version installed in your system, like this:

WvDial 1.60
Copyright (c) 1997-2005 Net Integration Technologies, Inc.

B.Installing WvDial

1. You can install WvDial by running this command in your terminal:

$ sudo apt-get install wvdial

2. Another way is to go to System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager.

To easily find WvDial, click “Search” and type “wvdial”. Mark wvdial for installation by clicking on the wvdial checkbox, choose “Mark for Installation” and click “Apply”.

C. Configuring your wvdial settings

1. Detecting the Modem

Once you’ve installed wvdial, you need to detect your Globe Visibility modem so be sure that you have already put it in your serial/usb slot. Then, in the terminal, type:

$ wvdialconf

Wvdialconf automatically detects your modem, its maximum baud rate, and a good initialization string. Once detected, it will update your wvdial configuration located in /etc/wvdial.conf. It should look something like this:

root@jaja-laptop:~# wvdialconf
Editing `/etc/wvdial.conf'.

Scanning your serial ports for a modem.

Modem Port Scan<*1>: S0 S1 S2 S3
WvModem<*1>: Cannot get information for serial port.
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 Z -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: Modem Identifier: ATI -- Manufacturer: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 9600: AT -- OK
ttyUSB0<*1>: Max speed is 9600; that should be safe.
ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
WvModem<*1>: Cannot get information for serial port.
ttyUSB1<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- failed with 2400 baud, next try: 9600 baud
ttyUSB1<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- failed with 9600 baud, next try: 9600 baud
ttyUSB1<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- and failed too at 115200, giving up.
WvModem<*1>: Cannot get information for serial port.
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 Z -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 -- failed with 2400 baud, next try: 9600 baud
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 -- ^BOOT:143333,0,0,0,9
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: Modem Identifier: ATI -- Max speed is 9600; that should be safe.
ttyUSB2<*1>: Max speed is 9600; that should be safe.
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 +FCLASS=0 -- OK

Found a modem on /dev/ttyUSB0.
Modem configuration written to /etc/wvdial.conf.
ttyUSB0<Info>: Speed 9600; init "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0"
ttyUSB2<Info>: Speed 9600; init "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 +FCLASS=0"

Note the embolden text. These are the detected modem settings and as notified by wvdialconf, these are automatically written in /etc/wvdial.conf.

2. Editing wvdial.conf

Even when wvdial.conf already supplied settings for your modem, these are still not enough. You still need to add a few more settings. To edit, in your terminal, and in root, type this to open in text editor:

$ gedit /etc/wvdial.conf

The wvdial.conf dialer defaults will open and show:

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Baud = 9600
New PPPD = yes
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
ISDN = 0
; Phone = <Type your Phone Number here>
; Password = <Type your Password here>
; Username = <Type your Username here

This is the auto configuration made by wvdialconf when run previously. You need to uncomment the phone, username and password by deleting “;” or copy the following configuration:

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet.globe.com.ph"
Baud = 9600
New PPPD = yes
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
ISDN = 0
Phone = *99#
Password = globe
Username = globe
Stupid Mode = yes

The Init3 string contains the Access Point Number for Globe Visibility and should be copied as is.

Setting Stupid Mode to yes automatically starts PPP after detecting your carrier’s signal.

Once the settings above are done, save your edited wvdial.conf file.

It is safe to run wvdialconf even if you already edited it. Here, wvdialconf will again check your Modem, Baud, Init, and Init2 options, and save them leaving your other settings unchanged. Wvdialconf will only edit your settings if your modem is autodetected.

3. Editing PPP

PPP or Point-to-Point Protocol is that which provides a way for a serial link to establish a connection to the internet and negotiate this connection. To check/edit your wvdial-ppp settings, go to:

$ sudo gedit /etc/ppp/peers/wvdial

Save this settings:

noauth
name wvdial
usepeerdns

D. Executing wvdial to connect

Once you have completed the above steps, you are now ready to connect to the internet. In your terminal, you only need to type:

$ wvdial

You should see something like the following:

jaja@jaja-laptop:~$ wvdial
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60
--> Cannot get information for serial port.
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
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","internet.globe.com.ph"
AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet.globe.com.ph"
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT*99#
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT*99#
CONNECT
~[7f]}#@!}!} } }2}#}$@#}!}$}%\}"}&} }*} } g}%~
--> Carrier detected. Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Mon Oct 6 17:57:02 2008
--> Pid of pppd: 26659
--> Using interface ppp0
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> local IP address 10.157.0.12
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> remote IP address 10.6.6.6
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> primary DNS address 121.1.3.57
--> pppd: ��[06][08]
--> secondary DNS address 203.84.191.216
--> pppd: ��[06][08]


You know you are connected when you are assigned an IP address. Much so, you can try opening your web browser.

E. Terminating Connection

When browsing, you must leave your terminal open. Else, you will get automatically disconnected.

You can also terminate your connection by going back to terminal where you ran wvdial and doing a Ctrl + C.