Reliance R-Connect Sierra Wireless Aircard555 on Debian GNU/Linux - Articles

Reliance provides wireless internet over it's CDMA network all across India with Sierra Wireless Aircard555. It is a PCMCIA device for which Sierra Wireless provides drivers and software (Aircard Watcher) for Windows but there is no official support on GNU/Linux from either of them.

Despite all this, it is possible to make the card run on GNU/Linux with a few hacks and it takes no more than 10 minutes to be up and running. Although, all the features doesn't work, 1x-RTT data connection and outgoing calls can be made very easily.Simply follow these steps:

Activate the card on a Windows machine using the software provided in the CD alongwith the card. This card can be activated only on Windows.
Debian installs PCMCIA support by default. To check, say cardinfo on a terminal in the X-session. It will open a graphical interface. If it fails, you need to install the package. Simply do apt-get install pcmcia-cs.
Download these files and copy them to the corresponding locations:
- /etc/pcmcia/aircard555.conf
- /etc/pcmcia/cis/aircard555.cis
Run following commands on a root shell:

# cd /etc/pcmcia/cis
# pack_cis -o aircard555.dat aircard.cis
# /etc/init.d/pcmcia reload

Insert the card. You should hear two high beeps on insertion and syslog should say something like:

Jun 4 17:55:58 cardmgr[3502]: socket 0: Sierra Wireless AirCard 555
Jun 4 17:55:58 localhost cardmgr[3502]: executing: 'modprobe serial_cs'
Jun 4 17:55:58 localhost cardmgr[3502]: executing: './serial start ttyS1'
Jun 4 17:55:58 localhost kernel: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3) is a 16550A

Your card is identified as a serial device on ttyS1. Now, you've to configure your pppd to dialout to ISP using this modem. If you prefer wvdial, you would like to skip to step 9 below. Again, on a root shell say:
# pppconfig
You'll get a blue UI for configuration which is very easy to use. Following are the values/selections for various fields:
- Main Menu: Create a connection
- Provider Name: aircard
- Configure Nameservers (DNS): Dynamic
- Authentication Method for aircard: PAP
- User Name: xxxxxxxxxx (10 digit Reliance R-Connect Phone Number)
- Password: xxxxxxxxxx (10 digit Reliance R-Connect Phone Number)
- Speed: 115200
- Pulse or Tone: Tone
- Phone Number: #777 (I use #19788 to force 1x-RTT data connection)
- Choose Modem Config Method: Manually enter modem port as /dev/ttyS1
Save and exit.

To connect to internet say:

# pon aircard

The syslog should say something like:

Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: pppd[18686]: pppd 2.4.2 started by root, uid 0
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (BUSY)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (NO CARRIER)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (VOICE)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (NO DIALTONE)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (NO DIAL TONE)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (NO ANSWER)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: abort on (DELAYED)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: send (ATZ^M)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: expect (OK)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: ATZ^M^M
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: OK
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: -- got it
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: send (ATDT#19788^M)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: expect (CONNECT)
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: ^M
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: ATDT#19788^M^M
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: CONNECT
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: -- got it
Jun 4 18:08:26 localhost chat[18687]: send (d)
Jun 4 18:08:27 localhost pppd[18686]: Serial connection established.
Jun 4 18:08:27 localhost pppd[18686]: using channel 5
Jun 4 18:08:27 localhost pppd[18686]: Using interface ppp0
Jun 4 18:08:27 localhost pppd[18686]: Connect: ppp0 /dev/ttyS1
Jun 4 18:08:32 localhost pppd[18686]: sent [PAP AuthReq id=0x1 user="xxxxxxxxxx" password=]
Jun 4 18:08:32 localhost pppd[18686]: PAP authentication succeeded

You can take your laptop outside now and browse the internet sitting under a tree or in a balcony using GNU/Linux

To disconnect:
# poff aircard

If you wisht to use wvdial then your /etc/wvdial.conf should have entry as:

[Dialer Defaults]
Modem = /dev/ttyS1
Baud = 115200
Init1 = ATZ
ISDN = 0
Carrier Check = no
Stupid Mode = yes
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone = #777
Username = xxxxxxxxxx (10 digit card phone no.)
Password = xxxxxxxxxx (10 digit card phone no.)

To connect:
# wvdial

--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
--> Sending: ATQ0
ATQ0
OK
--> Re-Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
--> Sending: ATQ0
ATQ0
OK
--> Re-Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT
--> Carrier detected.  Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Fri Aug 26 01:25:40 2005
--> pid of pppd: 6727
--> Using interface ppp0
--> local  IP address 220.22x.xx.xx
--> remote IP address 97.233.2.xx
--> primary   DNS address 202.138.97.193
--> secondary DNS address 202.138.96.2

And to disconnect, simply say CTRL-C

You also want to make a voice call? It's only possible when the card is not in use as a modem i.e. no data connection exists. You need to install minicom or any other serial console package, again on a root shell:
# apt-get install minicom
Fire the serial console:
# minicom
You will get a Command Line Console once it has scanned serial ports. To make outgoing voice call, on the console type:
AT+CDVnnnnnnnnnn (nnnnnnnnnn is the number you want to place call to)
To disconnect the call:
AT+CHV
To answer incoming call:
AT$QCCAV
On incoming call, only a click is heard in the earpiece. Some daemon is required to monitor this and sound a ringer, which is not available. Also, there should be some way to send SMS of which I'm not aware of

Advanced: How did I generate aircard555.cis?

While searching through Sierra-Wireless' website, I found that they have provided a dat file for GNU/Linux users. You can get it from here. To decode the file:

# dump_cis -i SW_555_SER.dat > aircard555.cis

And the file is generated :-). In the same way you could try with other PC Cards too.

For feedback / comments: nishantsharma [dot] in [at] gmail [dot] com