How to configure Vodafone Mobile Connect Card on Linux

Use your Vodafone Connect Card  with Java, and use SMS features!
Thanks to Kai Engert <kai.engert@gmx.de> and midall of the Gentoo forum
Serial Port settings
To issue AT commands through serial port I use this settings:
-port:
-Baud Rate: 460800
-Parity: none
-Data bits: 8
-Stop bits: 1
-Flow: none		 
I personally added a few addition to the original how to:
Tested on Red Hat Advanced Server 3.0 using kernel 2.4.x
- Volume settings
Certified platform from original how to:
- Kernel 2.6.x

Start your pc without the card (no card inserted)
Only once:
>tail -f  /var/log/messages
plug in the card, and don't care about any warning
example message
localhost rc: Starting pcmcia: succeeded 
localhost kernel: PCI: Enabling 
device 0000:07:00.0 
(0000 -> 0002) 
localhost kernel: ohci_hcd 
0000:07:00.0: OHCI Host 
Controller 
> 
localhost kernel: ohci_hcd 
0000:07:00.0: irq 177, 
> pci mem 42997000 
localhost kernel: ohci_hcd 
0000:07:00.0: new USB bus 
> registered, assigned bus number 6 

localhost kernel: ohci_hcd 0000:07:00.0: WARNING: 
> OPTi workarounds 
unavailable 
localhost kernel: hub 6-0:1.0: USB hub found 
localhost 
kernel: hub 6-0:1.0: 2 ports detected 
>modprobe usbserial vendor=0xaf0 product=0x5000
#Please replace the ID and Vendor code of your card from the above statement, look for this information using: >lsusb -v

 
esample message
usbserial.c: Generic converter detected 
usbserial.c: Generic converter now 
attached to ttyUSB0 (or usb/tts/0 for devfs) 
usbserial.c: Generic converter 
detected 
usbserial.c: Generic converter now attached to ttyUSB1 (or 
usb/tts/1 for devfs) 
usbserial.c: Generic converter detected 

usbserial.c: Generic converter now attached to ttyUSB2 (or usb/tts/2 for 
devfs)

>ln -sf /dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/modem

Add the line

modprobe usbserial vendor=0xaf0 product=0x5000

to enable automatic module configuration to the file:

/etc/rc.d/rc.local (Fedora,Suse e Mandrake)
/etc/rc.d/rc.modules (Slackware)
/etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6 (Gentoo)

 

Configure kppp (Italy settings)

Install kppp on Fedora Core 3
  Applications -> System Settings -> Add/Remove Applications
  In KDE (K Desktop Environment)
    - kdenetwork - K Desktop Environment - Utilities

Connection name: vodafone
Phone number(this works for Italy and Germany): *99***1#
Authentication: script
kppp arguments: novj 

DNS
139.7.30.125
139.7.30.126
Modem Configuration
-device: /dev/modem 
-Set volume to zero
-Speed: 460800 
-Flow control: hardware 
-Remove "Wait for signal" 
-Init string 1: ATZ 
Init string 2(empty): 
hungup string: AT+CGDCOUNT=1,"IP","web.omnitel.it"  
You are now ready to connect!
How to force GPRS instead of UMTS or vice versa

Start minicom and set /dev/modem your device

set 230430 you port speed

set modem init string to ATZ

start minicom, perform a quick check using AT&V.

ATI gives you information about your cardBefore you authorize with your card, you could configure your network preference. 

This makes sure the card connects to your prefered network immediately after authentication. 
You have these choices (note the unusual underscore character '_' is used in the command): 
at_opsys=0,2 (GPRS only)
at_opsys=1,2 (UMTS only)
at_opsys=2,2 (prefer GPRS)
at_opsys=3,2 (prefer UMTS). 
You can later check your setting with at_opsys?

Now look up the PIN for your SIM card and enter the following command, 
replacing xxxx with your own PIN:
  at+cpin="xxxx"
(note, it doesn't seem to matter whether you write AT commands in upper or lower letters)
After 20 seconds or so, your card should blink with the blue LED only. 
It will blink once per second as soon as it is registered with the network (your SIM is accepted).
Once your card blinks twice per second, try command AT+CSQ 
It will tell you something about the network signal strength, we care about the first value. 
I get values from 5 to 22, depending on where I'm located in my flat. 
I read that 12 is the minimum acceptable value for reliable connections.)
The next thing would be to send command:
  (Germany): AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","web.vodafone.de"
  (Italy):   AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","web.omnitel.it"
You could use the following command for testing purposes to dial in from your terminal, 
but I found it brings you into trouble, 
because it's difficult to terminate the connection with the terminal program. 
So I suggest you don't do it, but go to the next secion 
(the dial command would be ATDT*99***1# if you really want to try now).