Huawei E220
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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] (e.g. 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.
A colloquial name for the modem is 'soap on a rope'. [citation needed] This product is discontinued now.
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 dialing software, also referred as dashboard.. Huawei's dashboard and updates for it are also available for updating from Huawei's website[8], or the 11.313.02.00.01 firmware for 7.2 Mbit/s from NetCom (in reality 'flashing' this device means writing a firmware image to its internal flash memory, which is different from "updating the dashboard", which is simply writing a new CDFS disc image to the USB mass storage device exposed by windows). Flashing the firmware of this device doesn't change the USB Mass Storage 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. It is possible to remove the operator branding by flashing the device with Huawei's Mobile Partner software, also available from Mobile Broadband Rocks.
Huawei company does not publicly release firmware updates for its devices, only dashboard updates. The standard way of obtaining firmware updates is through your service provider, however some firmware updates are publicly available over the internet and some users have crossflashed (i.e. using a firmware provided by service provider "X" with modem supplied by service provider "Y") their modems without troubles.
Updating the modem's dashboard does not remove or affect the network-lock (that may be in effect with modems purchased subsidized from a service provider) that prevents you from using the modem with any service provider. However updating the modem's firmware may remove this network-lock or even the opposite, turn a network-lock free modem into a locked one.
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 do this, open the modem, remove the small internal antenna, and solder a unts-antenna cable onto the board. You will invalidate the warranty, but it can be a cheap and functional way to connect an external antenna. [10]
Software
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 (e.g. Linux) to circumvent this and use their E220 with any SIM, or flash their device with Huawei's original software. [dubious – discuss]
Since the Release of Windows 7 a number of issues have been reported that require a firmware upgrade to the modem. Huawei have released new firmware to the Operators who have generally made it available on their websites. The Firmware upgrade must be carried out from a machine running Windows XP or Windows Vista and which can see the modem. Once this is complete Windows 7 is able to see and use the modem.
The following operator(s) are known to replace Huawei's software with their own:
- BT Business (UK)
- BASE eplus (Germany)
- Claro (Americas)
- Dialog GSM (Sri Lanka)
- Drei (Austria)
- Mobilkom (Austria) - uses software from Austrian speicalist software vendor mquadr.at [1] for both its brands A1[2] and Bob[3]
- Movistar (Spain, Argentina)
- Mobily (Saudi Arabia)
- MTN (Uganda)
- MTC (Namibia)
- MTS (Russia)
- Nawras (Oman)
- Optimus (PT)
- Orange (Austria)
- Play (PL)
- Sun Cellular (Philippines)
- T-Mobile (Austria)
- Telkomsel & Axis (Indonesia) (but not sim-locked)
- Three (Australia, UK, Sweden)
- Vodafone - 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.
- Zain (Sudan)
Operating systems
- Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and 7
- Mac OS X v10.2.6 Jaguar or higher
- Linux 2.6.20 or higher. One can use wvdial or NetworkManager with this modem in Linux.
- FreeBSD
- OpenSolaris
Compatibility Issues
A number of software compatibility issues are known to exist with the E220 USB modem. This is mainly related to CD Writing software, software that creates virtual CD-ROM drives [13] and with Microsoft ActiveSync. Also early versions of the firmware and vodafone connect software are incompatible with Microsoft Windows Vista. This has been remedied in later updates.
Similar modems
- HSDPA:
- ZTE MF620
- VigSys VM10
- Huawei E160
- Huawei E160E
- Huawei E160G
- HSUPA:
See also
- Cellular broadband
- Cellular coverage
- Ethernet over USB
- Gammu
- Mobile Internet
- Mobile Broadband Configuration Assistant (MBCA) for NetworkManager.
- NetworkManager
- Nexus Hawk
- SMA connector
- SIM cloning
- udev
- wvdial
- WiFi
- WiMAX
References
- ^ Huawei Terminal
- ^ Template:Pl icon HUAWEI E220 HSDPA USB 3G MODEM in Linux
- ^ Huawei E220 working on Linux!!! : Java Addict
- ^ Index of /pub/linux/kernel/people/gregkh/usb/2.6/2.6.20-rc1
- ^ Huawei E620 - pppd dies after disconnecting monitor on /dev/ttyUSB2 [Archive] - ADSL & Broadband Forums - Internet, Gaming, Hardware, Software
- ^ Vodafone Huawei E220 USB Modem - first impressions - Page 4 - ADSL & Broadband Forums - Internet, Gaming, Hardware, Software
- ^ Using Huawei E220 with Debian/Linux
- ^ Huawei Terminal
- ^ http://www.poyntingdirect.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=ADPT-024 and http://www.poynting-europe.com/
- ^ http://gniza.org/e220/DSCF0931.JPG
- ^ help.ubuntu.com Huawei E220
- ^ Huawei E220
- ^ Compatibility Issues with Huawei E220 USB Modem - ADSL & Broadband Forums - Internet, Gaming, Hardware, Software