How to get Reliance ZTE MG880 working with Ubuntu Linux 7.04

I tried searching on Google but couldn't find all the information in one place as a simple TODO. So here's my contribution back to the Linux user's out there:

1. I've been successful in configuring Reliance ZTE MG880 modem/data card over the USB bus. I'm not sure whether this model is available as a PCMCIA card, but I don't know whether it'll work for it.


2. Plug in the smart looking black little thingie in a USB slot. dmesg should give weird message like this:

   [37246.516000] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 15
   [37246.640000] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
   [37246.864000] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
   [37247.080000] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 16
   [37247.200000] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
   [37247.424000] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
   [37247.640000] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 17
   [37248.048000] usb 2-1: device not accepting address 17, error -71
   [37248.536000] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 19
   [37248.760000] usb 2-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

   
   


3. Don't worry. Just execute the following command and look for ZTE in the output:

   $ cat/proc/bus/usb/devices
   [...]
   T:  Bus=02 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=00 Cnt=01 Dev#= 19 Spd=12  MxCh= 0
   D:  Ver= 1.01 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=16 #Cfgs=  1
   P:  Vendor=19d2 ProdID=fffd Rev= 0.00
   S:  Manufacturer=ZTE, Incorporated
   S:  Product=ZTE CDMA Tech
   [...]



4. Look for the Vendor ID and Product ID (in bold above). Issue the following command:
   

   $ sudo modprobe usbserial vendor=0x19d2 product=0xfffd

   
   A dmesg should give you similar looking output at the end:
   

   [38360.764000] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
   [38360.764000] drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for generic
   [38360.940000] usbserial_generic 2-1:1.0: generic converter detected
   [38360.940000] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB0
   [38360.940000] usbserial_generic 2-1:1.1: generic converter detected
   [38360.940000] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB1
   [38360.940000] usbserial_generic 2-1:1.2: generic converter detected
   [38360.940000] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB2
   [38360.940000] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
   [38360.940000] drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial Driver core

   
   
5. Now run a wvdialconf:
   

   $ sudo wvdialconf
   Editing `/etc/wvdial.conf'.
   
   Scanning your serial ports for a modem.
   
   Modem Port Scan<*1>: S0   S1   S2   S3   
   WvModem<*1>: Cannot get information for serial port.
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 Z -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Modem Identifier: ATI -- ZTEiT, Incorporated
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 4800: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 9600: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 19200: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 38400: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 57600: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 115200: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 230400: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Speed 460800: AT -- OK
   ttyUSB0<*1>: Max speed is 460800; that should be safe.
   ttyUSB0<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0 -- OK
   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: 115200 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 -- failed with 2400 baud, next try: 9600 baud
   ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- failed with 9600 baud, next try: 115200 baud
   ttyUSB2<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- and failed too at 115200, giving up.
   
   Found a modem on /dev/ttyUSB0.
   Modem configuration written to /etc/wvdial.conf.
   ttyUSB0: Speed 460800; init "ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0"
   



6. Finally edit /etc/wvdial.conf to make sure it looks like the following. I've added emphasis to the stuff which I had to edit. I'm not sure the "Stupid Mode = 1" line is need or not. It was required for the older Reliance data cards so I just put it in there:
   

   
   [Dialer zte]
   Init1 = ATZ
   Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
   Modem Type = Analog Modem
   Phone = #777
   Username = 9324979856
   Password = 9324979856
   ISDN = 0
   SetVolume = 0
   FlowControl = Hardware (CRTSCTS)
   Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
   Dial Command = ATDT
   Baud = 460800
   Stupid Mode = 1

Just in case this did not work for you and you had to tweak the process, please post it in the comments section and I'll update the post accordingly.

Update: I noticed that if I do the modprobe with the modem inserted in the USB slot, the /dev/ttyUSB* devices are not created. So, first modprobe, and then insert the modem.

Times Of India - Male fertility and email

Following up on my interesting tidbits around the Internet thread, here's another TODO off my list :-)

The Times of India has an Ajaxified (ooh!) widget on the right side of its homepage. Clicking on the "Most emailed" tab comes up with very amusing results. Check out what I found:



I wonder how many men would be using it to sway it in their favour. "But darling, it is a scientific fact that if we don't do it now, we won't have that baby 3 years later!"

And no, you won't find that link there -- it's gone :-) Here it is, by the way.

Facebook - Interesting Screenshots

Every now and then I keep coming across interesting tidbits on the Internet (or Mumbai's streets) which I keep tagging as "must-blog" and stashing away in my mental archive. This post is about getting one of those items off my TODO list :-)

I'm not much of a fan of social networks, but for what it's worth, I've recently started Facebooking more than Orkutting. Specially because of the granularity you can assign to various "friends" on Facebook. I was sick of getting friend requests from random people on Orkut and having to choose between the slightly rude "acquaintance" and the slightly more-warm-that-I'd-like-it-to-be "friend". On the other hand, on Facebook, I can exactly specify how I know the person. So, someone I've interviewed is also on my contact list but with the complete context. And 6 months down the line if I get a scrap ("writing on the wall" in Facebook-speak) I can remind myself of how I know the person. (I know, a little rude to be saying this, but it happens to all of us -- especially me!)

But what simply takes the cake is the way they've phrased the options for the "We dated" section. Apt and to the point. I think it covers almost all the situations in a relationship. Especially the catch-all "It's complicated" bit :-) Take a look for yourself -- click for larger pics.

75% usability experts think that Cleartrip.com is the best!

From the Usability Professionals Association - Bangalore Chapter's Blog:

What is your favorite Indian website from a usability perspective? What aspect of it do you like?

• Sridhar Marri: I am yet to see a great Indian website on the Internet. However in the Intranet space, our Sparsh – the Infosys Intranet is my favorite. Its telescopic information architecture and flexible design for growth are two aspects that I like most. And it is full of life!


• Muthukumar: http://www.cleartrip.com/ I like it because the overall ticketing process is easy to use, defect free and fast.


• Param: www.cleartrip.com It is not cluttered. The user interface is simple. Implementation is slick and consistent (like immediate page refreshes, etc.).


• Amit Pande: The last one I liked was http://www.cleartrip.com – it made bookings easier by providing a lot of relevant information upfront, making trip price calculations easy, and keeping the credit card payment process straightforward. I also like some of the UI components used in the site, including the collapsible panes.

:-)

I guess the almost obsessive focus on user experience and the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is paying off. Recently, we had also been chosen as the best Indian travel website (and there are quite a few of them out there) by PC World.

Kudos to the entire design, tech, and product team at Cleartrip for consistently kicking ass!

PS: And I beat Hrush to this post :-)

Loins of Punjab on YouTube

I was was searching YouTube for a clip of Khoon Karaba (from Loins of Punjab) and I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the movie trailers on YouTube have been put up by Manish Acharya himself (actually it could've been anyone from the production company with an account in his name, but what the heck!). Here's Manish Acharya's account page.

It's good to see the web being used to connect directly with the audience.

Do watch the Loins of Punjab Music Video.
And finally:

I'm the galactic jedi life force of bhangra!

ROFL! You just have to watch this film!

Cross blog promotion... three new posts at Foodie For Life:

• Clubs and Burgers at Cafe Mocambo, Fort, Mumbai


• Amazing Indian food at Food Inn, Colaba, Mumbai


• Mini meals at Mocha, Marine Lines, Mumbai

Movielicious Weekend

Watched three movies last weekend. The perks of living bang next to a multiplex... heh :-) I saw "Loins of Punjab" and "Manorama - Six Feet Under" back-to-back. And I mean back-to-back. 1:30 to 3:15 was Loins of Punjab and 3:15 to 5:30 was Manorama.

Both the movies simply rocked!

Watched Dhol the next day. Or couldn't watch it for that matter - left it midway at the interval.

Loins of Punjab is a laugh riot. It's about a "Desi Idol" contest which apparently is _not_ a rip-off of hundreds of music contests out there today. The only catch being that it's open for all the South-East Asian in America. Amazing bunch of characters the script writer has cooked up. I just loved the hip-hop/bhangra surd duo and their "Khoon-karaba" number. Loins of Punjab is a must-must watch.

Manorama-Six Feet Under is also an amazing movie. Short and sweet. Very different script. Lovely cinematography. The director has paid attention to small details like the kind of clothes the actors are wearing. The decor inside the houses. The kind of vehicles people are traveling in. Everything. Abhay Deol is a surprisingly good actor. I liked him in "Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local" as well. Ditto for Gul Panag in Manorama and Dor. This too, is a must watch.

Dhol was a piece of shit. No other way to describe it. I mean, how many times can someone make the same thing over and over again. This time the gags didn't even elicit a tiny giggle. Had to leave it during the interval. Couldn't sit through the entire ordeal.

And the sad part was that Dhol was almost house full, whereas, Loins of Punjab and Manorama were almost house empty. Sad. Really sad.

Shit floats AND sells.

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The GMail Video...

...is finally out. It's probably been out for a while, it's just that I happened to notice the "Watch our video" link in GMail today. Go watch it at http://mail.google.com/mvideo. And watch my submission titled God, Adam, and GMail, which sadly didn't get selected :-(

Interestingly, no clip from India was selected and there were only a couple of submissions from thsi side of the world. Check out the map. The pin on Mumbai will lead to my submission again :-)

I made the video using GAP - The Gimp Animation Package. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I'll probably write a small tutorial some day I find the time.

Orkut and India - A Love-Hate Relationship

Well, I hope this time the bigots don't go around chasing Orkut for dishonoring the national colours! I won't be surprised if there's a law hidden in some obscure act somewhere!

Enjoy your freedom while it lasts!