ZTE MF622 3G GSM modem recognized and works brilliantly in Xubuntu 8.10 (amd64), but when latest updates (178MB) downloaded and pc restarted, no go, it is not recognized and won't work.

Hi,

This is probably related to following bugreport:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid/+source/linux/+bug/305968/comments/41
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid/+source/linux/+bug/305968

If the solutions in there are too complicated or not working on your pc, I suggest reinstalling Xubuntu 8.10 from a LiveCD.

Regards,

Mark

Mark
Thanks for replying so quickly.
I have solved the problem myself.
The old connection is not recognized, but a new one called 'Auto Mobile Broadband (CDMA)' appears in the taskbar. Initially it did not occur to me to edit the settings of this new connection.
I now put in the same settings as for my old working connection: Phone = *99#, user = user, password = pass.
Hey Presto it connects. I am using it to reply here.
I was asked for another password to access the ZTE modem.
Almost despairing I tried several, one of which was ATDT, whether this did the trick or not, I don't know, I will try to ascertain later.
Thanks
Kevin Dixon

For anyone that's interested, I have just connected to the internet using my ZTE MF622 usb modem (pay as you go, on 3 network in the UK) WITHOUT a user name or password (though I might be the victim here of an unseen hidden temporary file). All that was required was the phone number *99#.
Network-manager-gnome 0.7 finds this modem (give it up to 5 minutes).
Right click on the system tray icon and edit the modem settings if you need to.
I had to disconnect and reconnect once and then it worked.
Xubuntu includes network-manager-gnome.
Another 'flavor of Ubuntu' is Linux Mint (Java in Firefox works out of the box and there are a lot of other very useful features for newbies, not least Mint Update and Mint Install).
I am writing this Launchpad post from Firefox on a Live CD of Linux Mint Felicia CE (xfce) that I made using Remastersys.
This Mint distro is based on Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex, and more importantly, for this post anyway, I am using the ZTE modem, even though in this release of Mint the usb modem support was unfortunately removed.
The modem works in Xubuntu "out of the box" but not in the present version of Mint "out of the box".
I hope the Mint team will cater for the many mobile broadband usb modem users in the next release, or issue an optional update.
First step: install 32 bit Mint Felicia CE.
You will need to uninstall Wicd from Mint and install network-manager-gnome 0.7 and all it's dependencies. Now comes the tricky bit, to install the dependencies synaptic has to go on-line to get them (but there is no modem connection yet, I hear you say). The answer is of course to use a live CD of Xubuntu (Network manager included). There are 9 files required and if you like doing things the hard way, you can copy the Mint synaptic "failed to fetch" (.deb files) http addresses onto a memory stick and paste them into Firefox on your Xubuntu Live CD (connection in Xubuntu via the ZTE MF622). Firefox will download the files. Now back in Mint synaptic manager. You keep feeding Synaptic the files it needs (from your memory stick) until network-manager is installed. Restart the PC.
Wait up to 5 minutes and the network manager icon will appear in the system tray. Configure your modem network connection and that is it. Job done. You can now go and find out all about Remastersys and burn your own Live CD. Thanks Xubuntu and thanks Mint.
I hope this is helpful to someone.
Regards
Kevin Dixon

Further to my last post, I forgot to mention that Synaptic looks for .deb packages in the folder var/cache/apt/archives.
Root access is required to do anything useful (you will need to open this folder as root), but best if you don't.
To open as root: right click on the archives (folder icon) from within the folder apt, and select "Open Folder as Root".
In Linux Mint the window will go red at the top to warn you that you have ultimate power.
If you make changes to the apt folder, by adding or removing .deb packages then it is prudent to also (so I am told) delete pkgcache.bin and srcpkgcache.bin in the apt folder. They are magically regenerated with your new package details later.
Synaptic will look in the var/cache/apt/archives folder for new .deb packages.
At this point stop . . . You don't need to go rooting around in the archives folder if you can create something called an APTonCD cd.
Now the really good news is that Mint Felicia CE comes with APTonCD preinstalled "out of the box".
With it create an APTonCD with your .deb files on. The APTonCD can contain any updates, in this case they would be the .deb files required to get the ZTE modem connected (9 files, but this number might change).
Now in Mint Synaptic Package Manager specify the origin of files to be from the APTonCD.
When the CD drive has had time to spin up . . . Synaptic should find the files. Reload Synaptic if necessary.
Install from there.
Restart the PC.

Additional info: Mint comes with Mousepad installed. So regarding my last post, copy the Synaptic "failed to fetch http addresses" into Mousepad (save as .txt) to carry across (via memory stick) to your ZTE MF622 internet connected Xubuntu Live CD and paste into the Firefox address bar. The .deb packages can be saved to the memory stick for later inclusion on an APTonCD, or directly place the .deb files in the apt/archives folder.

Good Luck.

Kevin Dixon.