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Install / Enable HUAWEI E156G on Ubuntu
As mentioned in my previous post I bought Mobitel HSPA connection. When I bought the connection, I bought a new modem too (HUAWEI E156G).
Modem is working perfectly fine on Windows with Mobile Partner software but when it comes to Ubuntu it has problems.
My previous modem E220 had almost no issues on Ubuntu. As you connect your modem everything is done on plug-and-play basis, but when it comes to E156G it was not the same case. First I thought the USB Modem is not even recognized as a device, but Ubuntu did find it but didn’t bring up any pop-up as it does for E220.
Did a googling and found out the way. Hope it’ll be helpful as many people are buying Mobitel HSPA these days.
- First right click on the Network icon and choose Edit Connections
- Now choose Mobile BroadBand tab
- Click on Add button and choose Mobitel
- Once you done with the wizard click on Mobitel and choose edit
- there make sure you have *99# as Number and Mobitel3g as APN.
Click on the image to enlarge it
That’s all now you can connect to Internet using HUAWEI E156G. If you’re using a different provider then change the Number and APN accordingly.
Mobitel HSPA Betrayed Me!
I’ve been using Dialog HSPA over last one year. In the beginning they’ve had a nice service but over the time their service became so crap! Most of the time connection hangs at 0Kbps. May be last quarter they started to give more bandwidth as I could feel the improvement in the speed.
Few months back I moved to Dehiwala and my roommate is using Mobitel. As per his openion Mobitel is cool, and they are giving more free bundle (8Gb) compare to Dialog (5Gb). I’m not intended to take Airtel into this discussion as their product got mixed reaction from different places.
Recently (may be a week) I got a promotion announcement from American Express that I’m entitled for Mobitel HSPA connection promotion where I have to pay 500 LKR per month for 12 months (which makes 6000 LKR) for modem and 1280 LKR for Zoom package.
As I bought the SIM and modem in Collupittiya the guy behind the desk told me “Sir, it’ll be activated in 10 mins time”. I was thinking “Wow, 10 mins huh? Dialog takes hours”.
I didn’t realize the pain that I’m gonna get till I came back and plugged the modem into machine. I got E156G Huwawi model HSPA modem, which doesn’t have a user manual attached to it. I had good time finding the slot where we need insert the SIM without the user manual.
I was so confident that Mobitel will work faster than Dialog so I can work at least around 2 MBps speed which I usually get in Dialog. But all went wrong when I found that it works at 0.2 MBps.
I called customer care and they’ve asked me to set the network to WCDMA Only but no luck and I again called the customer care (yeah I’m using Dialog mobile so I need to pay for the calls that I make to Mobitel customer care) and the guy who took the phone recommended me to use manual operator search in the Mobile Partner software.
For god sake I did both and still no luck.
I know it’s nothing to do with the modem as my roomie who used to have good speed also having the same issue now.
Now I’m F-uped here, can’t move away from Mobitel because I’ve a commitment of one year and can’t go back to Dialog as I can’t pay for 2 HSPA connection at a time.
Why on Earth Mobitel letting their customers down??
Dehiwala
Please read Kalinga’s blog too (in Sinhala) on same issue but comprehensive discussion.
All in all, people gonna teach Mobitel good lesson as they’ve done to Dialog. Learn it hard way!
Hassle free Rapidshare for Dialog Mobile Broadband
One of the main problems I had with Dialog Mobile broadband is the static IP given to all the users across the mobile broadband. As I remember there were only two IP addresses used. As the result we had enough with sites which block users based on IP.
For example, one dialog mobile broadband user did some automation stuff on Google Blogger and Google sensed it and started to block the IP address. In this case the blogger will be blocked to all the Dialog mobile broadband users as we all share the same IP address.
Another typical example I can think of is Rapidshare. Rapidshare limits the user downloads using IP address. When one users downloads a file from Rapidshare, all other users will be given a error message saying “you’re already downloading a file”.
Fortunately, now dialog mobile broadband is coming with dynamic IP. Every time you connect you’ll have different IP. I believe each broadband users is getting dynamic IP.
Good move from Dialog Mobile Broadband. I’m wondering whether Airtal is giving static or dynamic IP for their users.
You can check your IP at http://whatismyipaddress.com/
iPhone in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans are very unlucky fellows when it comes to iPhone. Apple has announced about a new version of their iPhone OS which will enable you to send MMS and it’ll also allow you to perform copy and paste functionality.
Meanwhile Apple has released a new model of iPhone (known as iPhone 3GS). This model got much more features such as built-in video camera etc.
You can buy iPhone with an operator contract for about $99 and iPhone 3Gs for $199. Unfortunately iPhone is not available in Sri Lanka and none of the operators are supporting it.
If you see someone with a iPhone, he is either using a iPhone like fake phone or illegally bought iPhone.
Sometime back Dialog came up with the iPhone deal and everyone was talking about it. Later they dropped the plan and the page also went missing from their site. If we can get one of our local operators to support iPhone we can get iPhone with a connection for about 11, 000 LKR, which is far way cheaper than all Nokia smart phones.
Hope to see iPhone in Sri Lankan market soon.
Holly Crap! Dialog First to Pilot HSPA+ at 21 Mbps
People were rumoring about this 21Mbps connection and it’s true and Dialog going to offer this service to Sri Lankans. This happened to be in trial phase right now and later it’ll be expanded to major cities like Colombo, Kandy etc. Most probably it’s gonna cater the demand of corporate sector, not for just you and me 
I’m not going to fall for 21Mbps story as I’ve heard about their 7.2 Mbps and later how it went down to 1Mbps.
Here an excerpt from the article in Daily mirror
Dialog Telekom PLC, Sri Lanka’s flagship telecommunications services provider, announced the pilot launch of its HSPA+ (Evolved High-Speed Packet Access also known as HSPA Evolution), technology in Sri Lanka, becoming the first mobile operator in the South Asian region to employ this next-generation technology. With HSPA+ customers can experience download speeds of up to 21Mbps, and uplink speeds of up to 5.76Mbps. HSPA + technology is currently available on a pilot basis at the Dialog Future World in Darley Road, Colombo 02 and Dialog plans to extend the pilot network across key locations in its 3.5G network over the next few months. Supun Weerasinghe – CEO Dialog Mobile said: “This pilot service is a clear indication of Dialog’s commitment to offer the best in technology to our customers, resulting in a user experience that is unparalleled. Wireless data applications that are smarter and offer greater flexibility will shape the future of broadband, which in turn has become a vital element of the mobile product.
Dialog will continue to be at the helm of this broadband innovation in Asia as we deliver upon our promise of The Future Today”.
HSPA+ offers mobile users faster response and less latency for media-rich applications, including high-definition video streaming, web surfing and other next-generation wireless applications with high bandwidth requirements.
Upon the successful completion of the proposed trial phase, Dialog will progressively expand its HSPA+ coverage across its 3.5G network spanning Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya, Trincomalee and other major towns in Sri Lanka. Dialog operates the largest and widest 3G/3.5G network in the country, offering high-speed internet access. Dialog supports a range of cutting edge services for enterprise as well as consumer segments including but not limited to mobile TV, mobile video portals, multi party video conferencing, mobile video surveillance and 3rd Generation roaming across 55 countries.
Another article from Sunday Times
Yet another article from City Hits
Four Sites for Sending Free SMS to Sri Lanka
1. Wow.lk (Whole Sri Lankan network)
This service is powered by Suntel, who is a telecom provider in Sri Lanka. The most reliable web based SMS service in Sri Lanka.
2. sms.mayuonline.com (Mobitel and Dialog only)
This site is running on the concept of email to SMS. I wrote code in PHP for this site.
3. http://sms.kaputa.com/ (Mobitel Only)
Only Mobitel service is working. Dialog service is not working.
4. http://www.iguys.org/ (Dialog, Mobitel & Suntel)
They’ve got suntel too, interesting
Another Reason Why Dialog SUCKS!!!!
Few weeks back I wrote about the innovative feature brought to My Dialog by Dialog where you can track your HSPA usage. Unfortunately it’s NOT very important to bring the feature but keep it running forever.
I wanted to check my Dialog HSPA usage and all I found was it wasn’t updated for ages. Who the hell needs a service which is not updated? Look at the figure; it was last updated on 3rd of March but today 27th of March. Next billing cycle also started but the data is not updated.
Way to go Dialog! You’re the BEST, only if we come from bottom to top.
Facebook Update and Notification via SMS
I don’t know what’s going on, but Facebook officially giving SMS update for Sri Lankan mobiles along with UK, USA, Canada and Maldives.
To start the process log-in to Facebook and go to settings and then click on Mobile tab. Dialog has come up with a complete user guide for this process, therefore I’m not going to write about it.
Just after the mobile number confirmation you can choose your own SMS options in facebook such as what type of notifications to receive etc.
Unfortunately this service is only available on Dialog and Mobitel networks. Real sorry for Huth, Tigo, Airtel users. I’m not regretting that I’m still with Dialog 
Dialog SMS charge Slashed
Hey guys!
One good news. Dialog has slashed the SMS price to 1 Rs. I hope to see more reduction in call rates.
Good move from dialog. What a simple plan?
Airtel limits the unlimited broadband with FUP
Airtel mobile broadband is stirring some interest among us and we have started to think of migrating from Dialog mobile broadband to Airtel Mobile broadband. Some people have gone one step ahead and unlocked HSPA modem which is locked by Dialog.
Today Indians are screaming that Airtel has introduced Fair user policy and they’ve cut down the speed by 50%. Oh Shit…! Yeah traitors!
Now most of the Airtel broadband users have to be careful at anytime Sri Lankan Airtel can also impose the same rule out in Sri Lanka. Applying Fair user policy and cutting the speed down. On top of all Airtel has come up with a document about FUP. 
I have decided to push back my plans of migrating to Airtel. We’ll wait and see what these Airtel people are up to.
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