My User Experience with Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service and Ubuntu 9.04

Recently Reliance Communications has launched Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service with speed up to 3.1 Mbps with small * in advertisement. Which is now a days logic of every consumer business. They are offering three types of modem as per their site. But when you will go to Reliance Web World, sales person will give demo with white modem which is Huawei EC168. It is working out of box on Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) and unfortunately it’s not available on sale. Sales person will reply “Sirji, Reliance has stopped shipping of this modem due to some problem, but you can take black one which is same, just cover is different”.

But, when you will ask for demo on Black Modem (Because i have to confirm that whether it’s working on Ubuntu 9.04 or not), they will say “Sirji, you have to buy that one, we don’t have that modem for demo”. After doing inquiry at 6 different reliance world in three different state about white modem, i finally decided to on black modem. I decided that i will do the hack with modem to work with Ubuntu 9.04.

Black Modem is Huawei EC1260. I could not find any confirmation of that modem on Ubuntu 9.04 (Yeah my poor searching capability ). There is another black modem from ZTE, but it was also not available in Reliance Web World. But their official site is mentioning about it. Finally i bought Huawei EC1260 by giving 3500 INR. I was eager to try on Ubuntu 9.04. After inserting Huawei EC1260 in my laptop’s USB slot, There was big smile on my face. Here is pictorial view which will help you to configure Huawei EC1260 on Ubuntu 9.04, provided by Reliance Communications to use their Netconnect – Broadband+ service.

Insert modem:

Reliance Netconnect Broadband+ Huawei EC1260 Modem on Ubuntu 9.04

Configure Reliance Netconnect Broadband+ service

Connect to the Internet:

You can also use the wvdial to configure the modem. Use wvdialconf command to detect modem and generate the “/etc/wvdial.conf” file.

person@CANONICALDESK:-$ sudo wvdialconf
Editing `/etc/wvdial.conf'.

Scanning your serial ports for a modem.

Modem Port Scan<*1>: S0   S1   S2   S3
ttyUSB0: Device or resource busy
Modem Port Scan<*1>: USB0
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 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: Modem Identifier: ATI -- Manufacturer: +GMI: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
ttyUSB2<*1>: Speed 9600: AT -- OK
ttyUSB2<*1>: Max speed is 9600; that should be safe.
ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK

Found a modem on /dev/ttyUSB2.
Modem configuration written to /etc/wvdial.conf.
ttyUSB2: Speed 9600; init "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0"
person@CANONICALDESK:-$

Here is modified the wvdial.conf to connect Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service.

person@CANONICALDESK:~$ sudo cat /etc/wvdial.conf

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Password = 93XXXXXXXX
Phone = #777
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Stupid Mode = 1
SetVolume = 0
Baud = 9600
Dial Command = ATDT
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2
ISDN = 0
Username = 93XXXXXXXX
FlowControl = Hardware (CRTSCTS)
person@CANONICALDESK:~$

Now dial the service:

person@CANONICALDESK:~$ sudo 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
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected.  Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Fri Jul  3 02:27:50 2009
--> Pid of pppd: 24176
--> Using interface ppp0
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> local  IP address 115.XXX.XXX.XXX
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> remote IP address 220.XXX.XXX.XXX
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> primary   DNS address 202.XXX.XXX.XXX
--> pppd: ?gv[08]
--> secondary DNS address 202.XXX.XXX.XXX
--> pppd: ?gv[08]

@ Bangalore

Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service test resutl using Speed Test @ Bangalore

@Ahmedabad

Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service test resutl using Speed Test @ Ahmedabad

Conclusion:

Overall +1 to Reliance Netconnect – Broadband+ service because it’s coverage in 35 Cities of India (It includes my Alpha Home) compare to other competitor provider. I am not expecting what they are claiming, but it’s giving boost up to my work while roaming. Increases my productivity in field and make it double while electricity crisis at Beta Home . I have subscribed to 10 GB Day + 10 GB Night Plan, But tracking of usage is very poor and not very well supported with Reliance Mycare. At last, i would say something is better then nothing