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Ubuntu 16.04 does not recognize my Huawei 15ca USB modem.

How can I fix this?

You'reAGitForNotUsingGit
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Walker Rowe
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5 Answers5

11

This command worked for me. I just needed to execute it once. 

lsusb

Note down vendor and product id. In my case it is 12d1 and 1f01 respectively.

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 05c8:038f Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd (Foxlink) 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0438:7900 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0bda:b008 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 12d1:14db Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. E353/E3131
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0438:7900 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Then execute this once. 

sudo usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 1f01 -J
Amey Deshpande
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8

The instructions on how to fix this are slightly different than 14.04.

One of these steps might not be needed, but here is how I got it to work:

vi /lib/udev/rules.d/40-usb_modeswitch.rules

and add this line:

ATTR{idVendor}=="12d1", ATTR{idProduct}=="15ca", RUN+="usb_modeswitch '%b/%k'"

Then:

sudo touch /etc/usb_modeswitch.d/12d1:15ca

Run this command:

sudo usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca

Now you should see it under available network connections and under lsusb it appears with a different product number:

Bus 003 Device 008: ID 12d1:1506 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Modem/Networkcard

You might have to reboot or remove and reinsert the modem a couple of times to get it to work. Also remember to add it into edit connection/add mobile broadband connection.

jokerdino
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Walker Rowe
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  • Is there a way to automate this, e.g. execute sudo usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca everytime the modem is connected? I remember this used to work automatically before 16.04 (after applying a similar fix like yours, of course). – ov1d1u Jul 22 '16 at 18:25
  • Yes, there is a way. I am writing an answer. – Pilot6 Feb 28 '17 at 17:04
2

I had this problem today. I had 2 computers with Ubuntu 16.04 where the 12d7:1505 modem works well.

I bought another one and it does not work without the

sudo usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 1506 -J

command.

I fixed it with another udev rule.

Add /etc/udev/rules.d/huawei.rules file with this content:

ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="12d1", ATTRS{idProduct}=="1505", RUN+="/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 1506 -J"

Then reboot, or run sudo udevadm control -R and insert the modem. You need to wait about 30 seconds for modem to boot, then you can use it.

Pilot6
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0

None of these solutions works on my 16.04. (udev rules worked perfectly on 14.04).

I mean, sometimes this does work, but very rarely. I tested these manual commands

usb_modeswitch -v 12d1 -p 15ca -V 12d1 -P 1506 -M "55534243123456780000000000000011062000000100000000000000000000"

and 

/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca

and they do work, but not every time, even, if entered by hand. The device remains listed as "mass storage" in more than half cases.

:(

Therefore I had to use a very dirty solution: I added the latter one to root's crontab to run every 10 seconds. I know it's ridiculous, but I cannot think of anything better in these circumstances. The command will work if the device is listed as mass storage (if it is already turned into a modem, it just exits with a message "No devices in default mode found. Nothing to do. Bye!" so it does not interfere with a properly working modem.

This is stupid, but in case somebody would like to use it, here are my crontab entries: 

* * * * *           /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1
* * * * * sleep 10; /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1
* * * * * sleep 20; /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1
* * * * * sleep 30; /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1
* * * * * sleep 40; /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1
* * * * * sleep 50; /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -J -v 0x12d1 -p 0x15ca  > /dev/null 2>&1

The device starts working after either 10 or 20 seconds (if the command has to be run twice - which is most of the cases).

I also added this to my /etc/fstab to prevent an attempt to mount the usb mass storage shortly after inserting. This prevents the "Open files" window which normally shows up when a CD is inserted. 

/dev/sr0 on /media/username/PLAY\ ONLINE iso9660 noauto

(you have to adjust the mounting place according to what the mount command shows after the device is mounted - mine mounts in the PLAY ONLINE folder, which is the name of my mobile provider).

frytex
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0

You want to automate this? if you modem plug in you didn't setting again.

first

sudo nano /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf

copy this code

# HUAWEI E3131 DefaultVendor=0x12d1 DefaultProduct=0x15ca TargetVendor=0x12d1 TargetProduct=0x1506 MessageContent="55534243123456780000000000000a11062000000000000100000000000000"

save, and execute this on terminal

sudo usb_modeswitch -c /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf

and wait a minute, if you modem detected and you can use to connect to the internet, this setting is work.

Agus Purwantoro
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