Configuring Reliance NetConnect on Ubuntu 9.04

Important: This post is for people living in India , using Reliance Netconnect and Huawei CDMA modem only.

Finally after spending close to six months in University, am back home. Now, at home my dad uses Reliance Netconnect ISP for Internet. It is extremely simple to configure Reliance Netconnect on Windows, as Reliance provides a very simple installer for modem as well as dialer which configures the connection, but it is bit tricky to do so if you are using one of the variants of Linux.

Now, in this tutorial I have tried explaining how to configure Reliance Netconnect on Ubuntu 9.04(though with slight modifications you should be able to configure Reliance Netconnect on any Linux distro by following these steps).

Installing wvdial

wvdial is dialer that allows you to connect to internet through a modem establishing a point to point link. Now for some strange reason( or perhaps because few people actually use dial up based internet connection) wvdial is not bundled with Ubuntu 9.04.

If you have access to internet, you can install wvdial by issuing this command in the terminal window:
sudo apt-get install wvdial
However, if you don't have access to internet on the machine you want to configure Reliance Netconnect on, download these packages from machine that has access to internet and install them by issuing the following command.

1. http://packages.debian.org/lenny/i386/libxplc0.3.13/download
2. http://packages.debian.org/lenny/i386/libwvstreams4.4-base/download
3. http://packages.debian.org/lenny/i386/libwvstreams4.4-extras/download
4. http://packages.debian.org/lenny/i386/libuniconf4.4/download
5. http://packages.debian.org/lenny/i386/wvdial/download

or you could download a zip file containing all these packages (has been hosted by some user , so download at your own risk) from this site.

Put all these packages in a folder (or extract the zip file , if you happen to download zip file instead) and issue the following command in that directory to install.
sudo dpkg -i *

Configuring wvdial

Now , we need to configure wvdial to connect to Reliance Netconnect; to do so open gedit or any other editor you like and modify the wvdial.conf file.

sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf
it should have default settings and section, don't modify them and instead add the following section:

[Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Baud = 9600
New PPPD = yes
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
ISDN = 0

[Dialer netconnect]
Username = ( Add your Phone Number here)
Password = ( Add your phone number here)
Phone = #777
Stupid Mode = 1
Inherits = Modem0
Replace your Phone number with your actual phone number , like 93102xxxx for me and save the configuration file.

Now, once you are done configuring wvdial, connect by issuing the following command:
sudo wvdial netconnect and wait for pppd to start, once connection has been successful you should see local ip address , remote IP address and address of DNS servers on the screen. To disconnect , press Ctrl+C in the terminal window where you had connected.


Article Written by : Ambuj Varshney (blogambuj@gmail.com)
For Linux on Desktop Blog , http://linuxondesktop.blogspot.com
(C) 2009 , Ambuj Varshney

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:51 AM

    Dear Ambuj,

    This is a great by an Indian and for an Indian interested in Linux. We need people like you to make Linux a popular option on Indian desktops. You are doing a great job here, sir and thanks a lot from me and many of my friends.

    I also use a pathetic TATA Indicom USM so called broadband with only 256 kbps speed and it is hell to say the least.

    You explain everything with an image and that makes it very easy to undertstand and learn things. This is the best way to write self help tutorials on the net. You are a great instructor my dear friend and I truly appreicated the hard work you are doing here.

    Many of my own friends like your blog a lot and think that you should cover some other Linux distros as well such as SUSE and Red Hat Fedora if time permits.

    Thanks a million and please reply to me at jamesmacin@gmail.com

    Regards

    James Desouza

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sudhir12:11 PM

    Hi Ambuj,

    thanks to the post I was able to use my Reliance Netconnect on Kubuntu.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:30 PM

    hi frnd,

    i am getting error like sudo: gedit/etc/wvdial.conf: command not found wen i am trying the cmd sudo gedit/etc/wvdial.conf...

    i opened the wvdial.conf with gedit did modifications but i am not able to save.... I getting information box like...

    Could not save the file /etc/wvdial.conf.
    You do not have the permissions necessary to save the file. Please check that you typed the location correctly and try again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. vijay8:45 PM

    sir, i followed your instructions but this time i used ZTE MG880+ modem on UBUNTU 9.04
    It worked first time and i surfed net at good speed even downloaded some data.

    But second day wen i tried to connect using the same command:

    sudo wvdial netconnect

    i was unable to connect and message on terminal was something like: modem0 not in wvdial.conf etc etc.

    Then i issued the command "sudo wvdialconf" and it outputed like:

    -------------------------------------------------
    ---
    ---
    Modem Port Scan<*1>: S1 S2 S3


    Sorry, no modem was detected! Is it in use by another program?
    Did you configure it properly with setserial?
    --
    --
    --
    -------------------------------------------------

    Plz suggest me wat to do. Hoping for your early reply on my email id vijaypant@ibibo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12:35 PM

    sir, iam using ubuntu latst version. i have reliance data card ZTE MG 880+ MODEM. how to insatll this plz tell me

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7:09 PM

    sudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf
    .................
    there should be a space between gedit and /etc

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous11:52 AM

    Awsome friend 'Ambuj Varshney'. It really worked. Thanks . Im able to access internet in my Ubuntu.. fantastic.. cant stop appreciating u..

    regards
    Santosh (Bangalore)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:41 PM

    i found this very useful why dont you keep a channel in youtube regarding this

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:50 PM

    hi... i followed the steps you outlined and am getting the following error..
    --> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60
    --> Warning: inherited section [Modem0] does not exist in wvdial.conf
    --> Cannot get information for serial port.
    --> Initializing modem.
    --> Sending: ATZ
    ATZ
    OK
    --> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
    ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
    OK
    --> Modem initialized.
    --> Sending: ATDT9394636156
    --> Waiting for carrier.
    ATDT9394636156
    ERROR
    --> Invalid dial command.
    --> Disconnecting at Tue Mar 16 12:46:32 2010

    Can you help me with this?

    ReplyDelete
  10. RVS11:27 PM

    Hello,

    Thank you for the tutorial. I also found another tutorial for this... check it out...

    http://www.linuxforums.org/articles/installing-reliance-netconnect-usb-broad-band-modem-in-ubuntu-linux-9-1-karmic-koala-_516.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Arko2:07 AM

    Hello,
    I tried the above procedure, and after configuring wvdial.conf as directed above, when I ran "sudo wvdial netconnect", I got the message that the file "ttyUSB0" was missing.

    So, I tried installing the device by running MAKEDEV, but kept getting one error or another. I am new to Linux, and a bit out of ideas as to what to do now. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you all.

    ReplyDelete
  12. vijay9:21 PM

    linux can never beat windows in ease of use

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous2:27 PM

    Thank you, I havent tried this out but am going to do soon as I am going to get Reliance NC. Was looking for it and will be great if it works. Thank you in advance. hope it works on my 8.04 Hardy too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous1:30 AM

    Click SYSTEM > Administration > Network

    On the network connection menu u get

    1. Wireless Connection
    2. Wired Connection
    3. Is what you want connection.

    Click on the third and click " Properties "

    Fill out the stuff on the General Tab.
    Connection type ( Serial Modem )
    Phone Number : 777
    Dial Prefix :#

    Account Data :

    Username= Your Phone Number
    Password= Your Phone Number
    on Modem Tab.

    Modem Port = "/dev/ttyUSB0 "
    Dial type = Tones
    Volume = off

    On the third (Options )tab choose what you like.

    I chose all three options as mine is a unlimited reliance netconnect connection so the download limits don't really matter. and moreover I just like to get my system online whenever i switch in On.

    So I just boot and I just open firefox. and start to use.

    Now open firefox and type in what ever domain and check if the internet is working ... and if it's not working still now check for the information that you have filled I mean the number and password stuff.

    And if still doens't work well open the System > Administration > Network again
    and click on wired connection and click on properties for that selection and when the properties dialog open check the " Roaming Mode Enabled " Tab. and close and try again that should do it .

    Guys I don't know why everyone goes for that wvdial.conf method but I have used this one right after basic ubuntu install. and this thing has worked for me before the gutsy gibbon times.

    Works on

    1. Fedora
    2. Saboyan
    3. Mandriva
    4. Linux Mint
    5. Ubuntu ( All )

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown1:56 PM

    hey thnx dude it worked nicely :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. vaibhav6:20 PM

    Thanks..it works well on Ubuntu.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous4:02 PM

    thank you for the much needed support.... reliance shud learn from you

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gagan Bansal7:25 PM

    Dear Ambuj,

    Your this blog was quite helpful to me. I have configured my reliance netconnect on my ubuntu machine.

    Thanks a lot. Keep writing such blogs, very helpful for linux community.

    Regards
    Gagan

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous2:06 PM

    Good work! Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Newbie4:42 PM

    thanks sir.....its a nice post....

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:56 PM

    Simple way to insall Reliance netconnect in ubuntu 9.04
    System->Preference->Network connection->Mobile broadband->Click add->Select country as India->select operator as Tata indicom plug to surf ->give ur user name & password that it...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous11:17 PM

    Hi i am zishan. i wish to use ubuntu 10.10 but when i connect the usb modem to the computer, theres nothing happening. when contacted they sai it supports only till ubuntu 8. is this true?

    plz help me as m not able to use Ubuntu completely without installing the packages.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:25 PM

    Thanks a lot. It easy to perform with little effort. I appreciate how people share knowledge leading to more and more people to appreciate the power of knowledge and that of linux.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous7:57 PM

    Easiest way as

    Anonymous said...

    Simple way to insall Reliance netconnect in ubuntu 9.04
    System->Preference->Network connection->Mobile broadband->Click add->Select country as India->select operator as Tata indicom plug to surf ->give ur user name & password that it...

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous12:02 AM

    hey does this also works for other netconnect modems?? I am using a Airtel netconnect..

    ReplyDelete

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