Wireless Broadband EVDO CDMA MM 5500SU usb modem in Suse 10.0, 10.1

HowtTo: Install Wireless EVDO CDMA usb modem Model MM 5500SU and Bigpond Broadband Internet in Suse Linux 10.0, 10.1

The EVDO network discussed here has been dscontinued. This page is no longer maintained.

Background: I used to connect my laptop when travelling [away from my wired broadband connection], by using VMware server running Windows as a guest OS in my Linux host OS. There's a HowTo about that on my site. But with Suse 10.x, EVDO CDMA usb modem Model MM 5500SU and Broadband Internet installs pretty much OOB.

Linux -vs- Windows, Modem Performance. I performed a quick "all things being equal" download speed test using the EVDO CDMA modem successively in Windows XP pro SP2 and Suse Linux 10.1, which both [multi-]boot on my Acer TravelMate 2310 laptop. I picked a large file on a busy site, VMware.com, and gave it 3 minutes downloading on each operating system. Results were Linux outperforms Windows by 6%. Within the limits of this poor statistical sample, I conclude the two OSes perform exactly the same.

Prerequisites: Check & if necessary install this software using Yast: ppp, udev, smpppd, wvdial, Kinternet.

Modem Settings for Suse 10.0, 10.1: The EVDO CDMA usb modem Model MM 5500SU is set up as a serial ppp dial-up modem using ttyACM0. The pic below shows pretty much all the settings:

Note of Encouragement: I mention some screens & link quite a few pics below. It's easy to miss a config step or miss getting one of the screens. Don't worry. Just press on to the end, which will lock in what you did get. Then reopen the modem config session and begin by "edit" of the installed CMOTECH (or whatever) device. I have to take a couple of runs through to pick everything up. In fact I always go through a second time just to make sure.

I use Yast to achieve these settings. Open network devices --> modem --> modem detection/initialising modem settings --><Link >Modem Configuration Overview.

That screen should show the device CMOTECH CDMA Technologies modem and should state that i's not configured. Highlight the modem and "edit" it. Now you see the<Link >Modem Parameters screen, with the modem attached to /dev/ttyACM0. For BigPond wireless, I put "tone dialling", no "dial prefix" and "detect dial tone".

Now click Details to set the<Link >Modem Parameter Details. Select the highest option for baud rate. My modem achieves speeds much higher than the limit in Yast, so perhaps that's irrelevant - however that's what I set. Initialisation strings: 1 is ATZ; 2 is AT Q0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0; 3 is empty. I've also got user-controlled activated and nothing in Dial prefix.

Click OK & then Next to move on to the settings for the Provider. If your provider isn't listed, click New<Link >Fill in the username [Bigpond uses the username@bigpond.com format] and password, give the provider a name [e.g. Telstra]. Telstra uses #777 for a wireless "phone number"

Now click Next to arrange<Link >DNS & other connection settings. Allow to modify DNS when connected and to auto-retrieve DNS. Provide for the Firewall. Note you should set the device to the "external" zone in the Firewall settings [elsewhere]. I use an idle time of 5 minutes. Telstra sometimes charges by connect time, sometimes by up/download amout and sometimes by quota-overflows, so I use a time limit whereupon the modem will disconnect. Note if you enable Dial on Demand, programs can access the internet without your knowledge. Leaving Stupid mode unchecked works with BigPond EVDO for me [Is there a message there for me? Hmmm...].

Now you can click Next to proceed to IP addressing.<Link >I use their dynamic IP addressing. It's different if you have a permanent IP allocation. Checking Default Route allows use of your earlier configurations.

Click Next etc to save your configuration. Activate the link by Kmenu --> Internet --> Dial up, and a network icon will appear in the task bar. Click the icon to connect/disconnect as required. Right click the icon for interesting options/information.

If you have feedback I'd be glad to receive it on the email contained in the graphic below. That way I can maybe incorporate some more advice in this HowTo – Thanks.

Credits: MattB

Good luck
Swerdna