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Using a Treo as a cell modem

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#1 of 24 Posted Nov-2 8:20 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.1 ]

Terry:

I got my data plan today, and it is working, as I browsed the web on the Treo for a bit this evening. A very frustrating experience, I'm afraid, as the screen is SO small.

>So
(1) plug the usb cable between the two device<

Is that the same USB cable that I use for syncing the Treo? Or do I need a different one?

I'll be getting the USBmodem software in a few minutes.

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

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#2 of 24 Posted Nov-2 8:30 PM

From TerryXela Posts 1984 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.2 129666.1 ]

>Is that the same USB cable that I use for syncing the Treo?
Yes

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#3 of 24 Posted Nov-2 8:35 PM

From TerryXela Posts 1984 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.3 129666.1 ]

Treo 700p / Verizon

Installation

1. Unzip the distribution

2. Install USBModem.prc in the Treo using the kpilot in linux or palm desktop in windows

3. Copy the ppp-script-evdo-template file from the USB Modem distribution to /etc/ppp/peers

4. Rename ppp-script-evdo-template to ppp-script-treo

Note: this template is ready to go. Just in case the USERNAME is left blank the PASSWORD is left blank and the dial number #777

Connecting

1. In the Treo
   Start the USB Modem application
   Set Connectivity method to USB
   Enable the Modem Mode

2. In Linux
   To START
   # pppd /dev/ttyACM0 call ppp-script-treo

   To STOP
   # ps axl find the ppd pid number: 3rd column or
   # ps -C pppd
   # kill <pppd_process_pid>

or unplug :-)

-=terry=-

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#4 of 24 Posted Nov-2 10:09 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.4 129666.3 ]

Terry:

I followed the instructions, and successfully installed the prc file on the Treo. It works. I found the template and copied it unchanged to /etc/ppp/peers, and then renamed it.

From there I ran the app on the Treo. On the USBModem page on the Treo, there are several check boxes, all of which I left unchecked.

Low latency (vs high throughput)
Background mode
Enable automatically on start

In a root console I ran the command you gave me (the same one that is in the PDF instructions):

pppd /dev/ttyACM0 call ppp-script-treo

and I got an error:

pppd: Couldn't stat /dev/tty/ACM0: Not a directory

I'm running Kubuntu 8.04.

Now what?

Frank.

-----------------------
Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

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#5 of 24 Posted Nov-2 10:28 PM

From TerryXela Posts 1984 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.5 129666.4 ]

>pppd: Couldn't stat /dev/tty/ACM0: Not a directory

There is a typo there </> where does it come from ;-)

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#6 of 24 Posted Nov-2 10:43 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.6 129666.5 ]

Terry:

Man, took me a long time to find that.... I guess I'm getting tired.

OK, it ran. Now, how do I know if it is being used? I have wifi in the house, and this laptop is using that at the moment. Do I turn off the network manager, or what?

Frank.

PS: That broke my wireless connection. I had to disconnect the treo to post this to you. I tried logging on to google's site while connected to the Treo, but I get a 'server not found' error.

Do I need to have the phone logged into the Internet before I run USBmodem?

FB

PPS: Just tried connecting with the web browser first. It connects, but when I switch to USBModem and run the script, I get no web access.

-FB

-----------------------
Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

Edited Nov-2 by Frank B. (Forum Janitor)

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#7 of 24 Posted Nov-2 10:54 PM

From TerryXela Posts 1984 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.7 129666.6 ]

1. you should be able to turn off the wireless connection on the manager.

2. If manual ifconfig is used you can also ifdown the wireless connection.

3. or just unplug the modem for few seconds

4. After you follow the intructions I gave you, you should be connected.
Try to ping
# ping -c2 google.com

you shoud see the 2 packages.

5. Firefox may not work until you unchecked <work offline>

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#8 of 24 Posted Nov-3 6:44 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.8 129666.7 ] (Unread)

Terry:

OK, I'm answering this from my tethered Treo 650! :)

This time I rebooted, and prevent Network Manager from making a connection by choosing a locked network that I knew I could not get into. It sits there for a while, then gives up. At that point I did as you said by running the USBModem applet, and then ran the script. I then loaded Firefox and gave it a try. The connection is very slow, but at least it works. I'll try setting up my eeepc for this type of connection next. It also looks like I'll be buying the applet. :)

In any case, even with the old phone, this is a usable setup for low-volume stuff. It should work great when we are away, but still in cell range. I can get the weather, and folllow up business emails if nothing else.

Now, as to WHY this works, I have no idea. It appears to bypass my network manager applet altogether.

So, how does all this 'magic' take place, anyway? :)

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

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#9 of 24 Posted Nov-3 6:57 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.9 129666.7 ] (Unread)

Terry:

OK, I'm back on broadband again, as one thing just occurred to me: Am I using airtime minutes when I have a data connection going? Anyone know?

If not, I guess I'll find out when my next statement comes.

In addition, is there a way to keep track of the bandwidth that I am using up? I bought a 1 GB data plan, as it was the smallest one that allowed tethering.

I could probably use a wireless router with the Treo as a feed, but running two computers off the treo might put an unreasonable strain on its limited data handling capabilities. I can see it working with a more modern device, however.

Now I just need wait for the Motorola Android phones to become available in Canada. I'm looking forward to that!

Now to set up my little eeepc so that it will work this way as well.

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

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#10 of 24 Posted Nov-3 7:43 PM

From Karl Posts 59 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.10 129666.9 ]

Frank,

If I remember correctly, you don't use minutes when you connect with PDAnet, but I am not sure. I know that when I use the reverse DUN I use only data not minutes.

Karl

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#11 of 24 Posted Nov-3 7:45 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.11 129666.7 ]

Terry:

OK, one more thing....

I'm trying to set this up as a shell script with a desktop link so all I have to do is double-click the link to make it run. However, I'm having some issues.

I tried just putting the command line

sudo pppd /dev/ttyACM0 call ppp-script-treo

into the command line of the KDE "Create new link to application" box (see screenshots 1 and 2). It doesn't seem to read the whole line.

I then tried creating a one-line shell script that I saved as "TreoLink.sh" in my home directory, and gave it write permission. (See screenshots 3 and 4).

I uploaded one wrong file and had to delete it, so they are out of order. I had to add the .txt extension to my saved shell script so that the forum software knows how to handle it.

What am I doing wrong?

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

Attachments
	Name: Screen2.jpg	Size: 68 K
	Name: Screen3.jpg	Size: 50 K
	Name: Screen4.jpg	Size: 68 K
	Name: Screen1.jpg	Size: 46 K
	Name: TreoLink.sh.txt	Size: 1 K

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#12 of 24 Posted Nov-3 8:09 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To Karl [Msg # 129666.12 129666.10 ]

Karl:

>If I remember correctly, you don't use minutes when you connect with PDAnet, but I am not sure. <

That is the way it should be, otherwise the carrier is double-dipping. But, carriers are not above that sort of thing, so I wasn't sure.

Thanks, Karl.

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

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#13 of 24 Posted Nov-4 1:02 AM

From TerryXela Posts 1984 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.13 129666.11 ]

>What am I doing wrong?

1. If you want to use the KDE menu

In one of your picture there is a button (Advanced Options) There you can select run as a different user and write root. So the next it will ask you for the admin password before running it.
Also there is an option says <run in terminal>. If you mark boht it will open a terminal and ask you for the password. Because the terminal will stay open you can see the progress of the connection.

2. If you want to wrirte an script that you just click then you have to provide the password. It means the password has to be in the computer. This create a safety problem which I prefer not to have in a laptop which I can loose.
I do not use sudo so this may not be accurate but I think one way is to use the option -S and redirection. For example
sudo -S pppd.... < passwordfile which is a text file with the password.

Glad that you are connected. The 650 is the oldest of the Treo so it may not be as fast as the 700 or above. One way to speed it up could be to have one of the small linux like dsl-n or puppy. They are very fast. Also use a fast browser with less overhead than firefox. Well like everything else you need to spend some time with it and as you become more and more familiar you can tune the setup in such a way that becomes almost the same that the one at home.

The setup is related to the data plan and not to the voice plan. You need unlimited data otherwise you will get kill.

-=terry=-

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#14 of 24 Posted Nov-4 3:07 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To TerryXela [Msg # 129666.14 129666.13 ] (Unread)

Terry:

>In one of your picture there is a button (Advanced Options) There you can select run as a different user and write root. So the next it will ask you for the admin password before running it.
Also there is an option says <run in terminal>. If you mark boht it will open a terminal and ask you for the password. Because the terminal will stay open you can see the progress of the connection.<

OK, I tried that, but got the attached screenshot. It looks like it is not seeing the 'pppd' in the command, for some reason.

Frank.

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Single booting Linux all day, every day, at home and at work.

Attachments
	Name: Screen5.jpg	Size: 30 K

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#15 of 24 Posted Nov-4 4:46 PM

From D.F. Yriart (Sysop) Posts 524 Last Nov-24
To Frank B. (Forum Janitor) [Msg # 129666.15 129666.14 ]

Frank, check the permissions of pppd and any associated scripts. IIRC, pppd must run su root.

Doug Yriart
Linux Rocks!

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#16 of 24 Posted Nov-4 8:08 PM

From Frank B. (Forum Janitor) Posts 4689 Last Nov-24
To D.F. Yriart (Sysop) [Msg # 129666.16 129666.15 ]