[wplug] verizon evdo kpc650

[Ryan Moszynski]

A couple of months ago someone on this list asked if anyone had tried
to get one of these cards working with linux.  Well, at long last, i
finally have.  I have it working with kubuntu-dapper.  The process
involves copying a few config files others have written, and just
changing them with your verizon number.  That parts easy enough.  With
kubuntu, you also have to download the kernel sources, apply one patch
set, recompile and deploy your kernel.  Then everything is wonderful.
I've been running bandwidth tests for the last half hour or so, and
i've been getting ~850 kbps down consistently.  Upload speed are MUCH
slower than that, but consistent with what i wasa getting with this
card on windows.  It actually seems to be going slightly faster than
it does under windows, but maybe thats just my imagination.

Also, following the guides i'm about to post, I'm guessing you could
easily configure any verizon evdo card, not just the one i did it
with.  the only change would be the product id hex key, which you can
get by plugging your card in and running 'dmesg', and then just
plugging that value into your config files.

Here are the resources i used:

http://wildbill.nulldevice.net/wordpress/?p=144
---mostly for his config files, that he has conveniently tarred up for
us, only a few changes are neccessary to personalize them


 http://kenkinder.com/evdo-pc5740/
---i followed this guide pretty closely.  though, i ignored his
scripts since i used wild bills.  this site does explain the kernel
patch you must do.
WARNING!!! ken tells you to do 2 patches, however if you are working
with a 2.6.14 or later kernel, only apply this patch=>
ftp://ftp.sonic.net/pub/users/qm/PC5740/usb_bufsz_linux-2.6.14-ulmo

as it will patch both files that need patching, and it works just fine
with unbuntus 2.6.15 kernel.