Connecting to GPRS network using data card...

[3dgrfxguy]

Hello,
I have bought a GPRS data card with a vodafone network SIM using Linux. The card works perfectly and can send/receive SMS messages. I have registered my card, and have been assured that I have data service for my card

However, I am not sure what the APN should be for vodafone internet service....

Various sites suggest that the APN for Pay-As-You-Go should be:

APN address: pp.vodafone.co.uk
Uername: web
Password: web

When I try and connect using PPP I get something as follows:
Dec 1 01:31:33: pppd 2.4.4 started by root, uid 0
Dec 1 01:31:50 : Serial connection established.
Dec 1 01:31:50 : Using interface ppp0
Dec 1 01:31:50 : Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS1
Dec 1 01:31:52 : Remote message: TTP Com PPP - Password Verified OK
Dec 1 01:31:52 : PAP authentication succeeded
Dec 1 01:31:53 : local IP address 10.90.113.113
Dec 1 01:31:53 : remote IP address 11.0.0.1
Dec 1 01:31:53 : primary DNS address 10.203.65.68
Dec 1 01:31:53 : secondary DNS address 10.203.65.68
Dec 1 01:31:53 : Hangup (SIGHUP)
Dec 1 01:31:53 : Modem hangup

Any ideas why this should be happening?

[Hopefullyuseful]

Hi 3dgrfxguy,

I picked up from your post 'When I try and connect using PPP I get something as follows:', the access point is PP, perhaps this could be what the problem is? If this is a typo and you have used PP then we'd need to offer some more support to get this working. Let me know and then I can decide the next course of action to sort this out with you.

Hopefullyuseful
Vodafone UK

[3dgrfxguy]

Here's the whole story:

I've bought a Vodafone datacard, plus PAYG sim card, registered and topped it up. I'm using Linux (Fedora Core 6), so I have installed the Nozomi drivers.

I've tested the card using minicom, which allows me to use the Hayes modem commands to test the signal strength (AT+CSQ), send and received SMS messages (AT+CMGF=1, AT+CMGW, AT+CMGL, etc...) These work perfectly.

Now, when I try and using the chat process and the pppd daemon (which funnels all the IP traffic over a serial link), the startup scripts send the following commands to the data card. First set of quotes is what to expect, send set is what to say:

"" "AT&F" - Reset to factory defaults
OK "ATE1"
OK "AT+COPS?" - Get our current network operator (Vodafone UK)
OK "AT+COPS=?" - Get a list of all available operators (2,"VODAFONE", "VODA", "23415"), (3,"ORANGE","ORANGE", "23433" ), (3,"O2", "23410")
OK "AT&V"

Prepare a connection to pp.vodafone.co.uk
OK 'AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","pp.vodafone.co.uk"'
Check this with
AT+CGDCONT?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IP","pp.vodafone.co.uk","",0,0

Now open the connection by dialing "*99***1#", and expect the modem to say "CONNECT" in return:
OK "ATDT*99***1#"

This gives the message
ERROR
rather than the expected:
CONNECT [baud rate] '\c'

But If I use 'AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP", I do get the
CONNECT message, but

Dec 4 02:35:02 : Serial connection established.
Dec 4 02:35:02 : Using interface ppp0
Dec 4 02:35:02 : Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS1
Dec 4 02:35:03 : Remote message: TTP Com PPP - Password Verified OK
Dec 4 02:35:03 : PAP authentication succeeded
Dec 4 02:35:04 : Hangup (SIGHUP)
Dec 4 02:35:04 : Modem hangup
Dec 4 02:35:04 : Connection terminated.
Dec 4 02:35:05 : Exit.

I am assuming the username and password passed 'web' and 'web' respectively.

[edwardpeter]

Hi 3dgrfxguy,

Unfortunately, the Vodafone datacards aren't officially compatible with Linux. The only operating systems we can support are Windows and Mac OS. I'm sorry but we won't be able to provide any further support. I wish you the best of luck with getting it working though.

edwardpeter
Vodafone UK

[ajpdes]

Hi

quote

Now open the connection by dialing "*99***1#", and expect the modem to say "CONNECT" in return:

end quote

Without looking things up, feels like too many stars between 99 and 1.

Could be wrong of course, often the case.

Andrew.

[Homer J]

Nope, I've always used *99***1# , but that's using a cellphone via bluetooth.

[3dgrfxguy]

Hi 3dgrfxguy,

Unfortunately, the Vodafone datacards aren't officially compatible with Linux. The only operating systems we can support are Windows and Mac OS. I'm sorry but we won't be able to provide any further support. I wish you the best of luck with getting it working though.

edwardpeter
Vodafone UK

Thanks. I found another site called the Vodafone Betavine - they are a Vodafone R&D lab that are aiming to support the Linux platform.

https://forge.vodafonebetavine.net/frs/?group_id=12

Cheers,
3dgrfxguy

[marathonninety]

Try just with *99#