Three Mobile Broadband + Huawei E160G
I went to the post office and got my hands on the Huawei E160G with my reduced contract, and so far I am very pleased with it. The modem itself is a large USB stick, very comparable in size to a cigarette lighter. What is interesting is that the electronics can now be packaged in such a small kit, why ain’t they producing mobile phones of this size?
My first step was to get it working on Windows, I plugged in the modem on my old Windows PC and followed the numerous (and strange) online prompts to setup the software. After a lot of beeping, detecting new hardware and other jiggery pokery, I was presented with the Three Modem Manager application. The modem manager is a simple too that enables you to run the “dialup” connection through the modem. I whipped open the setup manual which informed me that no other setup was required bar setting up the software. So I clicked “Connect”…
… and it failed?
According to the tool I had to check my settings to see if they’re correct. This is a fresh setup of the tool, why would I need to check the settings when Three’s own guide mentions theres no setup needed. After 10-15 minutes poking around in the settings menu I finally threw in the towel. Sod it, I wanted to run this thing on Linux anyway so why am I putting myself through the pain?
Linux is, well, the way it was supposed to happen. I plugged in the stick and straight away I had numerous devices available, the “CD-ROM drive” for the drivers, the MicroSD reader, and the “tty” ports for the actual GSM modem. At this time I could of gone the route of setting up Gnome PPP and related tools to dialout to the provider and start using my new fancy net connection, but I’d heard that Network Manager 0.7 had the features to use 3G/GPRS built in without any extra settings. I decided to investigate the new version of Network Manager.
After much digging around on the ‘tubes, I finally found a Debian repository containing a build of the lastest Network Manager SVN. A little apt pinning and installation later I had the new version of the tool install. I browsed the existing menu and found a new option: “Auto connection to 3G/GPRS” , I selected the option and it connected.
I have to have a little moment to reflect here, “Mobile Broadband” is a new fad at the moment for most telecoms providers worldwide, so you would expect the Linux software support to be a little sketchy and buggy, but as it turns out the Linux method is alot simplier and easier to use. I’m not sure if I was missing anything obvious in Windows, but isn’t this stuff just supposed to work?
So, signed on to 3G I decided to give it a run for it’s money. I’m running these tests at 1:08am so it maybe a little bias, as I doubt many people would be actually using the APs at this time. I seem to be getting a variable speed of about 1-2mbps, and 150kbps upstream, not bad at all for a mobile provider. The documentation mentions that you should expect up to 2.5mbps, not the 7.2mbps advertised on some sites, all in all Three do a good job of pre-warning you that the speed on the box is not always what you get.
So far I’m happy with it, I’ve had a few minor issues with the stick not registering on the network but I’m not sure if this was down to my settings or just a small outage. I’ll post a guide in the next few days on configuring Debian up for Network Manager 0.7 and setting it up to work with the E160G.
Hi,
Have you tested Skype on this? Any idea if the SIM works on a normal 3G HSDPA phone?
Thanks
James
James
3 Aug 08 at 6:26 pm
Not tested the SIM in a normal handset (my N95 is locked to Orange), but others have reported that it does work fine.
As for Skype, I dont see why not, the bandwidth is more than enough. Unless they’ve got some specific blocking in place it should work.
Time to give it a test…
Andrew Williams
3 Aug 08 at 6:43 pm
A quick test, yes, Skype works perfectly.
Andrew Williams
3 Aug 08 at 6:47 pm
Thanks Andrew.
Even I placed an order for the same modem. It will be delivered in next few days. There are mixed reviews on the net about 3’s broadband. Was thinking whether to wait for it or cancel the order.. Now that you confirmed, I’ll wait… Thanks once again.
James
3 Aug 08 at 9:47 pm
Interesting. I can get it to work on Vista but it tries to reinstall drivers everytime. Once up and running it tells me to install a critical 3 build update. If I try to download and install that it only gets as far as uninstalling everything. Fail.
I’m interested that it might work on Linux. Although a rank amateur (as you might guess) I’d like to get it up and running on my Eee
Waveydavey001
6 Aug 08 at 7:55 pm
Waveydavey001,
Same is the case with me too. I got my modem yesterday. It keeps asking for a download of driver.
Also, the connection is really slow. Its about 110k download and 40 to 50K upload speed.
John
James
9 Aug 08 at 3:23 pm
@James: I’ve been using 3’s broadband using an E220 (the older model) and it works great! I even managed to be online on the train between London and Chesterfield with virtually no drop in connection (apart from the tunnels of course). That was on a work Windows XP laptop on which the drivers installed faultlessly.
I just got a brand new E160G through the post to replace the E220 that was in a bag that I got stolen a couple of days ago. The plan is to get it to work on a Win XP laptop, an Ubuntu one and an Eee PC. Considering both Linux boxes have Debian derived distros, it should work. I’ll keep you posted as to the results of my experiments.
Bruno
Bruno Girin
14 Aug 08 at 7:50 pm
Andrew,
Cheers, I was debating whether to buy one of these, as only 3 do sensible PAYG mobile broadband.
So now I know:
Does it work with Linux? Yes.
Does it work with Windoze? Who cares.
Thanks!
Andy
Andy
18 Aug 08 at 12:25 am
Got an E160G on 3 (in Australia). It worked hapily for one day (on Vista Home Pro). Next day it would work for a few minutes, then stop. Have to unplug, plug in, re-install, then works for a few minutes again…
Marius
19 Aug 08 at 11:44 am
I bought one of these a couple of days ago and have only just managed to get it working. I was a righ pain to install on Windows XP.
It kept hanging while trying to install the modem drvers.
After doing some digging and much banging head against brick wall, found that this modem has trouble when there is cerain software installed, on the 3 website under the troubleshooting section, I had to uninstall Roxio CD creator before it would work.
Now it is installed, I don’t seem to be having any trouble, I’ve put some credit on it and the signal doesn’t seem to be too bad in my house, biggest test will be what its like when I travel with it
Catch ya later,
Emma.
Emma
19 Aug 08 at 10:19 pm
Buoyed by this posting, I’m going to sign up with 3 and use this as a Broadband fall-back. I guess I’ll be setting it up and an alternative router.
Too bad they don’t have appliances to do this – using mobile as a fall-back when the ADSL drops out.
Rob Staveley
2 Sep 08 at 2:29 pm
For people looking for a setup guide, I’ve done some small documentation on getting this to work with Debian, the instructions will work for Ubuntu also:
http://tensixtyone.com/perma/howto-debian-lenny-huawei-e160g
Andrew Williams
17 Sep 08 at 2:49 pm
Tinkered for a while, couldn’t get the E160G to work on my EeePC 900. The ttyUSB devices are created when the modem is plugged in, but there doesn’t seem to be useful communications taking place.
On a whim, I plugged the E160G into my trusty Fedora Core 5 laptop (this will actually be the machine I want to use 99% of the time as a backup router). I expected to have to use usb_modeswitch on this box, because the kernel is relatively old. However, on plugging the modem in, I got all of the ttyUSB devices. I had a script which I used for my old Merlin UMTS card on 3. As I have just replaced that account with the 3G modem, I took a punt and modified the script to use /dev/ttyUSB0, instead of /dev/ttyS0, and it worked first try, even with the same chat script (it’s a simple script that calls pppd (which uses chat to setup and dial the modem). So the E160G is going to be able to work where I want it.
Tony
22 Oct 08 at 5:45 am
Yes, i’ve experienced similar recently and i’m not even sure if you need usb_modeswitch as the kernel seems to pickup all endpoint devices quite easily.
/dev/ttyUSB0 is the main “AT style” port, where as I think USB1 is a pure data port. Not sure what the difference is but the majority of tools seem to use USB0 quite easily without any major modification.
Andrew Williams
22 Oct 08 at 10:52 am
When my E160g modem is connected to one of my PCs (XP, 2.1GHZ, 512MB RAM) Windows will not boot up past the POST BIOS stage. It will, however, boot up normally if the modem is unplugged. After starting XP, I can then plug in the modem, wait for it to be recognised, and carry on as normal. I have no such problems with any of my other 3 PCs (varying from 450GHz to 2.8GHz) in this freezing of XP startup with the modem connected. Does any one else have this problem and can they suggest a cure.
csj
9 Nov 08 at 11:30 pm
Check the BIOS boot order, the E160G has a inbuilt MicroSD reader so your machine could be trying to boot from that instead of your hard drive.
Andrew Williams
9 Nov 08 at 11:44 pm
sounds like this is a nifty little way of getting connected to the net. as much as i loathe “australia’s largest phone company”, unfortunately they do have the fastest and best coverage. i’m thinking of getting the modem through three, and most of the time use their account, but for times when network connectivity is limited on three, then getting a “T” (i hate using their full name) pre-paid or similar (even if if it ridiculously expensive). three told me that it costs about $100 to unlock the modem (or i’m sure there’s some other method)…..but my question is, will the E160G modem work (and give better speed) on the faster 7.2 network?
pete willis
18 Nov 08 at 10:18 pm
I keep getting please check your settings but what settings do i check
jason
20 Nov 08 at 9:34 am
Just to let people know that if u really want to unlock the 3 modem u can use the sim devil in it, it cost me a tenner an goes into almost anything even my 3 modem and its really simple to use! Better than payin 100 to unlock it! Darren
Dazz
18 Jan 09 at 3:21 am
Can you explain in more detail how to unlock the E160G model.
My 3G sim will not work for me in South Africa so I want to use this stick with a local service provider.
Thanks
Angus
19 May 09 at 12:42 pm
Sorry, I have no idea how to unlock a E160G. A quick check of Google shows a few sites who can help you.
Andrew Williams
19 May 09 at 4:21 pm
I bought this new 3g E160g Modem for my laptops and i use a broadband to go and everytime i use the internet the 3g modem Light keep knocking off on me and i wonder why and i hope 3g Make it better and do something with the coverages might if knock it the internet and the light goes off and i keep on clicking connect over and over again it drives me mad and it is a nuisance wuth the 160G Broadband to go modem so i need some help with this
Linda Higgins
25 May 09 at 5:23 pm
I would like to know how to unlock the E160G Modem that I purchased outright. It works fine in most capital cities but is no good in North Queensland Australia unless you want to pay .50c mb roaming on the ‘T’ network. I should work with other sim cards. Can anyone enlighten me?
Gordon Todd
4 Oct 09 at 1:29 pm
Can someone who can get the 160 to work, please explain how to open/forward ports using this device.
I’m trying to download BT stuff and its agonizingly slow, the problem seems to be port mapping?
Many thanks!
Bernard Chan
18 Nov 09 at 5:00 am
Hi,
I Just using Huawei E160G model. That modem registered as 3.6mbps. But my laptop XP pro Sp3 detected only 53.6kbps. How to increase the speed ?
Any driver issue ?
I’m in GPRS caverage.
Thanks.
Yohan
Yohan
20 Dec 09 at 5:12 pm