3 Broadband on Linux

danjo

Hello,

I am interested in trying one of the Linux distributions on my laptop and wondering if anyone is using Linux with 3 broadband?
If so which version are you using and can you advise on modem setup/software?

Thanks in advance,

danjo

Tom Dunne

I used Ubuntu Live CD with my Vodafone broadband.

The reason I used a Live CD was that the broadband dongle worked better under Linux than on Windows, especially while I was travelling on the train to/from work.

There was no hassle, no drivers to install, you just click on the setup icon when it detects you have inserted the modem. So it should be identical for Three broadband.

I was using Ubuntu 9 (can't remember what version)

Knasher

I used an Huwei E160G modem from 3 on Ubuntu 10.04 and again there were no drivers or anything like that needed. The only thing that didn't work was that program that ships on windows which allows you to see the status of the modem and receive text messages.

laurence997

My friend had 3 mobile broadband running on lucid 10.04. He just plugged it in, but if I remember correctly it caused some problems. Now he has the mobile broadband dongle plugged into one of those routers with usb connections and it seems alot more straightforward to me.

jpl888

The best way to find out if your dongle has built in support is to download an Ubuntu install CD, boot from that, plug it in, and try it.

This may have changed in Lucid but in Karmic 3 defaulted to the old APN name which doesn't give you a public IP, so manually changing the APN name to "3internet" helps.

t0mm13b

jpl888 wrote: »

The best way to find out if your dongle has built in support is to download an Ubuntu install CD, boot from that, plug it in, and try it.

This may have changed in Lucid but in Karmic 3 defaulted to the old APN name which doesn't give you a public IP, so manually changing the APN name to "3internet" helps.

I have a unlocked Vodafone K3675 Dongle with 3 simcard in it and using the tools usbmode_switch tool to switch the USB from mass storage device into a modem, and using wvdial to dial out. It is quite fast and nippy. You need to have the Kernel compiled with USB gadget support for the modem and SCSI options as well... :cool:

Mathiasb

t0mm13b wrote: »

I have a unlocked Vodafone K3675 Dongle with 3 simcard in it and using the tools usbmode_switch tool to switch the USB from mass storage device into a modem, and using wvdial to dial out. It is quite fast and nippy. You need to have the Kernel compiled with USB gadget support for the modem and SCSI options as well... :cool:

Supported out of the box by Ubuntu.

Johnboy1951

danjo wrote: »

Hello,

I am interested in trying one of the Linux distributions on my laptop and wondering if anyone is using Linux with 3 broadband?
If so which version are you using and can you advise on modem setup/software?

Thanks in advance,

danjo

Most Desktop Linux versions will support such connections with little or no setup.

Just choose the Linux version that suits you ....... if you have no experience of different distributions I sould suggest it is time well spent to try out a few before you settle on any one.

Initial suggestions to try would be

PCLinuxOS,
Mepis,
Mint,
Ubuntu

jpl888

I've used Ubuntu with 3 and the Huawei E220, ZTE MF622 and Novatel X950D.

Assuming the modem has been picked up properly Network Manager will tell prompt you to configure the connection. 3 is in the list of providers although you will want to change the APN to 3internet to get a public IP.

If you want to try it and want further advice let me know.

Best of luck with it.