Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem

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Huawei E220 HSDPA USB modem

The Huawei E220 is a Huawei HSDPA access device ( 'modem' ) manufactured by Huawei and notable for using the USB interface (USB modem).

Technically it is a modem, USB and (due to the CDFS format) virtual CD-ROM device.

Launched on 21 June 2006^[1], the device is used for wireless Internet access using 3.5G, 3G, or 2G mobile telephony networks. It supports UMTS (including HSDPA), EDGE, GPRS and GSM.

E220 works well with Linux, as support for it was added in Linux kernel 2.6.20, but there are workarounds for distributions with older kernels^[2]^[3]^[4] (eg for Debian etch's 2.6.18). The card is also supported by Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux, and it is possible to monitor the signal strength through other Linux applications.^[5]

Most 3G network operators bundle the device with a contract, with some operators simlocking^[6] the device . Unlocked and unbranded modems can also be bought from independent suppliers.

1 Features
2 Hardware
3 Software
- 3.1 Operating systems
4 Compatibility Issues
5 Availability
6 Huawei E220 Internet connection sharing using WiFi router
7 Similar modems
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

Features

The device contains not only the cellular antenna but also about 22MB (10 MB on older versions) of storage memory accessible to the operating system as a USB mass storage device^[7] formatted with CDFS, thus emulating a CD-ROM drive. In this memory, E220 devices supplied by mobile operators may contain 3G dialer software written by the operator, while Huawei-branded devices contain Huawei's original firmware. Huawei's firmware and updates for it are also available for flashing from Huawei's website^[8], or the newest firmware 7.2Mbps from Mobile Broadband Rocks (in reality 'flashing' this device means writing a firmware image to its internal flash memory). Flashing the firmware of this device doesn't change the memory used for their operator's software, therefore connection settings (such as APN) will be retained. The software loaded on the device may start automatically through Windows's autostart facility, which can be bypassed by pressing the Shift key while inserting the USB cable of E220.

Hardware

E220 connects to the computer with a standard Mini USB cable. The device comes with two cables, one short and one long. The long one has two USB A interfaces, one used for data and power and the other optionally only for assistance power in case the computer is not able to provide the full 500 mA (milliamperes) required for the device to work from one USB interface only. If your connection gets disrupted often or isn't really stable, consider using the two plug usb cable and supplying secondary power.

The E220 antenna is internal; the USB cable does not act as an antenna. There is a way to connect an external antenna ^[9] even though there is no antenna connector. Together with a high gain antenna like an LPDA or an OMNI booster antenna and an adapter, signal strength can be considerably improved. There is also a way to open the modem, remove the small internal antenna, and solder a umts-antenna cable onto the board. You will invalidate the guarantee, but it can be a cheap and functional way to connect an external antenna. ^[10]

Software

Vodafone 3G USB modem

Huawei E220 includes its own Windows software in its internal memory, self-installs through the Windows's auto-start feature and can be flashed (overwritten) by the end user. The standard software by Huawei is called Mobile Partner and is indicated by the code UTPS, as it is found on the manufacturer's download site.

Some network operators selling E220, however, replace Huawei's software with their own, which often is software-locked (albeit not SIM-locked) to work only with the operator's own network. End users can use either third-party software such as MWconn (freeware) or alternative operating systems (eg Debian GNU/Linux) to circumvent this and use their E220 with any SIM, or flash their device with Huawei's original software.^{[dubious – discuss]}

The following operator(s) are known to replace Huawei's software with their own:

Vodafone puts on its E220 (Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem) its Windows Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite software, which is a lighter version of Vodafone Mobile Connect. In Windows it uses the excutable VodafoneUSBPP.exe. This device is also supported in Linux, using Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux, which can be downloaded from Vodafone Betavine.
MTS (Russia)
Orange (Austria)
T-Mobile (Austria)
Drei (Austria)
Three (UK)
Play (PL)
Optimus (PT)
Movistar (ES)
Telkomsel (Indonesia)
Nawras (Oman)

Operating systems

Microsoft Windows XP & Vista
Mac OS X v10.2.6 Jaguar or higher
Linux 2.6.20 or higher. One can use wvdial with this modem in Linux.
- Debian, Ubuntu ^[11] ^[12]and gnuLinEx
- openSUSE
- Fedora
- Arch Linux
- Ark Linux
- Gentoo Linux
- Xandros Linux
- Sabayon
- Mandriva
- PcLinuxOS

Compatibility Issues

A number of software compatibility issues are know to exist with the E220 USB modem. This is mainly related to CD Writing software, software that creates virtual CD-ROM drives Compatibility Issues with Huawei E220 USB Modem - ADSL & Broadband Forums - Internet, Gaming, Hardware, Software]</ref>and with Microsoft ActiveSync.

Availability

E220 is available in the following countries:

Algeria (ATM Mobilis)
Argentina (Claro, Movistar, Telecom Personal)
Australia (3 Mobile, Vodafone, Optus, Virgin Mobile, iPrimus, Soul)
Austria (A1, Orange, TeleRing, Drei, Yesss)
Bahrain (Batelco), (Zain)
Belgium (Proximus)
Brazil (TIM), (Claro)
Brunei (B Mobile)
Bulgaria (M-Tel)
Chile (Entel, Movistar)
Croatia (VIPnet)
Czech (Vodafone), (T-Mobile)
Denmark (3, Telia, TDC)
El Salvador (Tigo)
Estonia (EMT, Elisa, TELE2)
Egypt (Vodafone), (Vodafone-eg) Etisalat Egypt
Finland (Saunalahti, Elisa, DNA, TeliaSonera)
France (SFR, Orange (brand))
Germany (O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus, Base DE)
Guatemala(Claro,Tigo)
Greece (Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind)
Hong Kong (Smartone-Vodafone, 3-3G)
Hungary (Vodafone, T-Mobile, Pannon)
Iceland (Nova)
India (Vodafone)
Indonesia (Indosat, Telkomsel, XL)
Ireland (Vodafone, O2, 3)
Italy (Vodafone, Tim, Wind, H3G)
Japan (Emobile)
Kenya (Safaricom)
Kuwait (Zain)
Latvia (LMT, Tele2, Bite)
Lesotho (Vodacom LS)
Lithuania (Omnitel)
Luxembourg(Tele2Tango)
Malaysia (Maxis, Celcom, DiGi)
Mauritius (Emtel)
Moldova (Moldcell)
Montenegro (Promonte, T-Mobile)
Morocco (Meditel, Maroc Telecom)
New Zealand (Vodafone)
Netherlands (KPN, Vodafone, Telfort)
Norway (Netcom)
Oman (Nawras)
Pakistan (Warid Telecom)
Paraguay (Claro, Telecom Personal)
Philippines (Globe Telecom)
Poland (Era, Plus GSM, Orange Polska, Play Mobile)
Portugal (PT - TMN & Sapo, Vodafone PT, Sonaecom - Optimus& Clix)
Qatar (Qtel)
Russia (MTS, Megafon)
Romania (Orange, Vodafone)
Saudi Arabia (Mobily)
Serbia (Telenor, Telekom Serbia)
Singapore (M1, Singtel, Vodafone)
Sri Lanka(Dialog GSM, Mobitel (Sri Lanka))
Slovakia (T-Mobile, Orange)
Slovenia (Mobitel)
South Africa (Vodacom, MTN, Telkom SA)
Spain (Vodafone, Movistar, Orange, Simyo,Yoigo)
Sweden (Tele2, Telia, 3,)
Switzerland (Sunrise, Swisscom)
Syrian Arab Republic (Syriatel
Taiwan (Chunghua Telecom, FarEastone)
United Arab Emirates (Etisalat)
United Kingdom (Vodafone, 3, T-Mobile)
Ukraine (Utel)
Uruguay (Ancel, Claro)

Huawei E220 Internet connection sharing using WiFi router

Further information: Cellular router and Internet connection sharing

DOVADO USB Mobile Broadband Router (UMR) is a low-cost router supporting a wide range of USB modems, from Huawei, Novatel Wirless, Option, ZTE and others. The UMR can also handle SMS messages together with the Huawei modems, along with automatic failover to/from the WAN and USB ports.

The OSBRiDGE 3GN is a MiMO Router based on Huawei E220 modem, designed to provide secure and reliable internet access anywhere through cellular 2G/3G backhaul technologies such as GSM and UMTS.

The MobileHotspot A200 [1] is cabable of providing WiFi with hotspot authentication and billing.The A200 supports a range of USB 3G Modems including the E220 and WiFi on both 2.4/5 Ghz.The A200 is an ideal solution for trains, buses and luxury taxis.

The VigSys VD30 Wireless Docking Gateway is designed to convert the modem into a full featured WIFI Router allowing sharing of the high speed wireless broadband access amongst small group of users. The VD30 supports both wireless WIFI 802.11b/g and Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s connections and comes in 5 colours.

The D-Link DIR-451 supports sharing an E220 Internet connection over wireless 802.11g and/or wired Ethernet via a built-in 4 port switch.