Ericsson G36a

From Gentoo Linux Wiki

[edit] Introduction

This is an alpha guide in how to install an Ericsson G36a unit as an USB modem, I'm using a Latin American unit with dual-band GSM850/GSM1900 (I don't know if there is another but I better clarify)

I am assuming that:

• You know your ISP username and password
• You have medium linux knowledge
• You know your ISP APN (It supposed to be preconfigured but you better know)

[edit] First steps

First of all you neek to connect your G36a unit to your computer via usb. Then with the gprs/edge chip installed you can go on.

[edit] Compile your kernel

To be able to use your G36a modem, you MUST have these things compiled in your kernel. If you have never compiled your own kernel you might want to check out the kernel configuring tutorials found on this site, it might be good to learn How to compile a kernel.

cd /usr/src/linux
make menuconfig

 Device Drivers --->
   USB support --->
     [*] USB Modem (CDC ACM) support
   Networking support --->
     [*] Networking support
     [*] Networking device support
     <*> PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
     <*> PPP support for async serial ports
     <*> PPP support for sync tty ports
     <*> PPP Deflate compression
     <*> PPP BSD-Compress compression
     <*> PPP over ATM 
     <*> PPP over Ethernet (EXPERIMENTAL)

Now you can exit make menuconfig, save the changes and,

make && make install && make modules_install

[edit] Working with wvdial

Next you must install wvdial (I like to do a lot of things in the console, but you can use gnome-ppp or kppp)

emerge wvdial

then you need to configure you wvdial.conf

nano /etc/wvdial.conf

and set this parameters (to know which device is assigned to your G36a you can do a dmesg when you connect it to your computer)

[Dialer Defaults]
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone = *98*1#
ISDN = 0
Username = ISP_username
Init1 = ATZ
Password = ISP_password
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0 
Baud = 115200

and that's about it, then you just need to run wvdial

wvdial

Any comments or corrections are welcome.