Re: Calling Verizon from a GOBI [Was: Trying to get a GOBI modem [back] to working]

[Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>]

On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 17:26 -0600, Dan Williams wrote:
> On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 16:57 -0500, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 16:28 -0500, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > > On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 15:12 -0500, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > > > Quoting Adam Tauno Williams <awilliam whitemice org>:
> > > > > Quoting Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>:
> > > > >> On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 14:12 -0500, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > > > >>> On Thu, 2012-11-29 at 13:12 -0500, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> > > > >>>> openSUSE 12.2 i686
> > > > >>>> NetworkManager-0.9.4.0-5.13.1.i586
> > > > >>>> ModemManager-0.5.2.0-2.4.1.i586
> > > > >>>> 3.4.11-2.16-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT
> > > > >> If it's Verizon, you need to load CDMA/EVDO firmware, not UMTS firmware.
> > > > >> Which is why you get the wrong configuration in the dialog that asks for
> > > > >> a "Plan Name".  Try directory '1' perhaps; I have these MD5 sums:
> > > > >> 06f76ed398458dad7b91c2d99a85a0a7  1/amss.mbn
> > > > >> 88a60ed745d75fb1b92c539574ecc972  1/apps.mbn
> > > > >> e4d8d4dbd0
> > > > > So... with these firmware files the Network Settings still shows the  
> > > > > broadband connection.
> > > Anyone know the secret sauce to get a 3G GOBI 2000 modem to connect to
> > > Verizon's CDMA network.
> > > In the past I believe I have used just a dial string of #777 and an APN
> > > name of "vzwinternet", but it isn't working.
> > > I have one connection on number "*99#" which is what it wants by
> > > default.  Also have a profile #777.  Both have an APN of "vzwinternet"
> > > and a Type of "any".
> > > I can only edit this using the old nm-connection-editor as Network
> > > Settings has the Option button from "Mobile broadband" grayed out.
> > 
> > Hmmm.  Captured a modem-manager log file.  That doesn't look healthy.
> 
> The log indicates that the Gobi still has GSM firmware loaded, not
> Verizon EVDO firmware.  Once the EVDO firmware gets loaded, you'll want
> to go into nm-connection-editor, delete any existing WWAN/3G connection,
> and start from scratch.  For EVDO connections, no configuration is
> necessary, just pick "New connection..." item from GNOME Shell's menu,
> follow the wizard's steps and pick US -> Verizon, then Accept.  No
> numbers are required, no APN necessary.
> 
> ModemManager figures out the right number to dial (if needed, this is
> only required for PPP) in all cases.  Also, APNs are a GSM/UMTS/LTE
> thing, and CDMA/EVDO does not use them at all.
> 
> But in the end, you still have GSM firmware loaded.  We can see this
> because ModemManager sends the "AT+GCAP" request and sees this:
> 
> <CR><LF>+GCAP: +CGSM,+DS<CR><LF><CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
> 
> If there was CDMA/EVDO firmware loaded, you'd see "IS856" or "IS707"
> instead of CGSM.

Oddly, I can't get gobi_loader to even finish loading firmware on my
system right now (gobi_loader 0.7, kernel 3.6.7) so I can't double-check
that the GCAP info is supposed to be IS707/IS856, but I'm pretty sure it
is.

Dan