HOWTO_connect_to_the_internet_via_ppp_and_sprint_pcs

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.99 Daniel Jacobson danimal@kidisgod.com http://kidisgod.com

Introduction

After spending some time looking for information on how to connect to the internet via sprint pcs and linux, what I could find was sparse at best. Hopefully this will help to fill in the gap. Using Sprint's PCS network, and a cable to connect your cell phone to your usb port, you can get 230k internet access anywhere you have sprint pcs coverage...... All you need is the ACM kernel driver and PPP installed on your computer.

Requirements

Your machine will need to have the following before you can access the internet:

ppp
kernel support for the acm driver

ppp

First check to see if ppp is installed:

Code: emerge -s ppp | more

ppp is not installed:

*  net-dialup/ppp
      Latest version available: 2.4.2-r5
      Latest version installed: [ Not Installed ]
      Size of downloaded files: 801 kB
      Homepage:    http://www.samba.org/ppp
      Description: Point-to-point protocol - patched for PPPOE
      License:     BSD GPL-2

ppp is installed

*  net-dialup/ppp
      Latest version available: 2.4.2-r5
      Latest version installed: 2.4.2-r5
      Size of downloaded files: 801 kB
      Homepage:    http://www.samba.org/ppp
      Description: Point-to-point protocol - patched for PPPOE
      License:     BSD GPL-2

2.4.x kernel

2.6.x kernel

check to see if the driver is built as a module

$locate cdc-acm | grep lib

/lib/modules/2.6.7-gentoo-r11/kernel/drivers/usb/class/cdc-acm.ko

The module is there, so load it:

# modprobe cdc-acm

Now make sure it actually loaded:

Code: Output of dmesg

spurious 8259A interrupt: IRQ7.
usbcore: registered new driver cdc_acm
drivers/usb/class/cdc-acm.c: v0.23:USB Abstract Control Model driver for USB modems and ISDN adapters

emerging packages

If you did not have ppp installed, or you want to upgrade your ppp to a newer version, then you need to install ppp.

emerge ppp

configuring

configuration of ppp will be done by making 2 control files for ppp

/etc/ppp/peers/sprint

/etc/chatscripts/sprint

once you have made the 2 control files you should be able to

Code: start PPP

pon sprint

and

Code: stop PPP

poff sprint

configuring using baselayout

As an alternative, you can configure ppp using the standard Gentoo init scripts. Here's a sample /etc/conf.d/net.ppp0 file:

# /etc/conf.d/net.ppp0.sprint:
# Config file for /etc/init.d/net.ppp0 softlevel sprint

RC_VERBOSE="yes"

PEER="sprint"                   # Define peer (aka ISP)
DEBUG="yes"                     # Turn on debugging
PERSIST="no"                    # Redial after being dropped
ONDEMAND="no"                   # Only bring the interface up on demand?
MODEMPORT="/dev/ttyACM0"        # TTY device modem is connected to
LINESPEED="230400"              # Speed pppd should try to connect at
INITSTRING=""                   # Extra init string for the modem
DEFROUTE="yes"                  # Must pppd set the default route?
HARDFLOWCTL="yes"               # Use hardware flow control?
ESCAPECHARS="yes"               # Use escape caracters ?
PPPOPTIONS=""                   # Extra options for pppd
USERNAME="YOURNAME@sprint.com"  # The PAP/CHAP username
PASSWORD=""               	# Your password/secret.  Ugly I know, but i
                                # will work on something more secure later
                                # on.  700 permission on /etc/init.d/net.ppp0
                                # should be enouth for now.
NUMBER="#777"	                # The telephone number of your ISP
                                # leave blank for leased-line operation.
REMIP=""                        # The ip of the remote box if it should be set
NETMASK=""                      # Netmask
IPADDR=""                       # Our IP if we have a static one
MRU="768"                       # Sets the MRU
MTU="768"                       # Sets the MTU
RETRYTIMEOUT="60"               # Retry timeout for when ONDEMAND="yes" or
                                # PERSIST="yes"
IDLETIMEOUT="600"               # Idle timeout for when ONDEMAND="yes"
PEERDNS="yes"                   # Should pppd set the peer dns?

AUTOCFGFILES="yes"              # By default this scripts will generate
                                # /etc/ppp/chat-isp, /etc/ppp/chap-secrets,
                                # /etc/ppp/pap-secrets and /etc/ppp/peers/isp
                                # automatically.  Set to "no" if you experience
                                # problems, or need specialized scripts.  You
                                # will have to create these files by hand then.

AUTOCHATSCRIPT="yes"            # By default this script iwll generate
                                # /etc/ppp/chat-${PEER} automatically. Set to "no"
                                # if you experience problems, or need specialized
                                # scripts. You will have to create these files by
                                # hand then.


# Directory where the templates is stored
TEMPLATEDIR=/etc/ppp

Note that the file has RC_VERBOSE=yes and debug=yes. If you prefer a little less data get rid of the former and set the latter to no.

Usage Notes

This allows you to use the normal /etc/init.d/net.ppp0 start | stop | restart | status syntax from the command line.

On my system, starting the script give an SIOCDELRT error. This doesn't seem to hurt anything. I believe it results from the following section in the /etc/init.d/net.ppp0 script: && route del default. I'm really not fussed by the error message, but if it bothers you, there's a place to start fixing.

known working phones / config

Audiovox 8920

Audiovox 9820 1.3MP camera phone
futuredial cable (ordered from the www.futuredial.com)

Audiovox 8920 ppp config

######################
#/etc/ppp/peers/sprint
######################
noauth
connect "/usr/sbin/chat -v -f /etc/chatscripts/sprint"
defaultroute
usepeerdns
#2.4 kernel
#/dev/ttyACM0
#2.6 kernel
#/dev/usb/acm/0
230400
local
novj

Audiovox 8920 chat script

#########################
# /etc/chatscripts/sprint
#########################
TIMEOUT                 5
ABORT                   '\nBUSY\r'
ABORT                   '\nERROR\r'
ABORT                   '\nNO ANSWER\r'
ABORT                   '\nNO CARRIER\r'
ABORT                   '\nNO DIALTONE\r'
ABORT                   '\nRINGING\r\n\r\nRINGING\r'
''                      \rAT
TIMEOUT                 12
OK                      ATD#777
TIMEOUT                 22
CONNECT                 ""

Sanyo 8100

sanyo 8100 camera phone
futuredial cable (purchased from radio shack)

Samsung SPH i500

Samsung SPH i500 Palm smartphone
retractable USB Data/Sync/Charging Cable (SAMi500-r) from MacMedia
scripts from natecarlson.com worked out of the box

Samsung A900

Samsung SPH-A900 (aka the "blade")
USB data cable from original Samsung packaging
same scripts as above/natecarlson.com

Sanyo 7300

'Ruggedized' phone, no camera
Sanyo data/charge cable (available from USBGeek.com and others)
Pretty much just works.

Toshiba (Audiovox) 4050

cable from www.3gcable.com
works perfectly using the scripts for the Audiovox 8920 on this page

Gentoo Wiki