How to setup Cricket Wireless A600 Broadband Modem in Ubuntu

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This tutorial will explain how to setup latest Cricket Wireless 3g Modem working under Ubuntu

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Download the .tar.gz file from here and extract the contents to your preferred directory using the following command

Open up terminal and enter the following command

tar xzvf Cricket_Mode_Switch.tar.gz

and use cd to change into the directory of the extracted files.

32 bit Users -- Install usb_modeswitch with the following command:

sudo make install

64 bit Users -- We need to recompile modeswitch to work on the 64bit platform. Run the following commands in terminal to do so

sudo apt-get install build-essential

sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

rm usb_modeswitch

make

sudo make install

Plug in your Cricket A600 to an open USB port, wait a moment for it to be detected as a CD drive/the auto play menu to pop up. Now we just need to execute the flipflop.sh, it is in the directory of files you extracted, by running the following command

sudo ./flipflop.sh

Please note you need to first make this file executable by running the following command

chmod +x flipflop.sh

After running the flipflop.sh you need to wait about 12 seconds and then poof! Your Cricket device should now appear in your network manager as a connection option.

Useful Notes

You will need to

sudo flipflop.sh

each time you attach the device for it to work.

Before this guide will work for you, you do need to load the device on a Windows/Mac system and install the software for the device and activate it.

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31 Responses

  1. MDMullins says:

    Hi,

    I have tried this, and while usb_modeswitch seems to switch over the modem, it never appears in the Network Manager. A google search reveals that this is a common problem. One solution seems to be to call usb_modeswitch directly, thus:

    usb_modeswitch -v 0x1f28 -p 0x0020 -R1

    …but I’ve yet to try it. I’m actually using Mint, which as I understand it is Ubuntu at core. Has anyone else successful resolved this issue?

    Thank you,

    MDMullins

  2. Todd Andrae says:

    A neat trick I just found. Instead of flipflopping yourself everytime, you can set up a device rule for the device. The rule I have:

    /etc/udev/rules.d/85-cricket_wireless.rules

    ACTION==”add”, ATTRS{idVendor}==”1f28″, ATTRS{idProduct}==”0021″, RUN+=”/usr/local/flipflop.sh”

  3. I ended up doing a similar thing with udev. You will want to modify that to be just ATTR though, not ATTRS, otherwise your rule will get run twice. Mine reads:

    SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ATTRS{idVendor}==”1f28″, ATTRS{idProduct}==”0021″, ACTION==”add”\
    RUN=”/usr/bin/run-flipflop.sh”

    run-flipflop.sh is a little script that calls flipflop.sh in the background and saves the output to a log, in case you need it, like so:

    #!/bin/sh
    /usr/bin/flipflop.sh > /tmp/flipflop.log 2>&1 &

  4. Dan says:

    I just tried this after getting cricket wireless today. After activating in windows, I followed these directions EXACTLY and it works perfectly.

    I’m on the internet right now on ubuntu 9.04 with cricket.

    So far so good. 🙂

  5. Jeff Hoogland says:

    Hey There so I can’t quiet seem to get the udev rule setup properly… I have a copy of the flipflop.sh located in /usr/bin/flipflop.sh and I created:

    /etc/udev/rules.d/85-cricket_wireless.rules

    SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ACTION==”add”, ATTRS{idVendor}==”1f28?, ATTRS{idProduct}==”0021?, RUN==”/usr/bin/flipflop.sh”SUBSYSTEM==”usb”, ACTION==”add”, ATTRS{idVendor}==”1f28?, ATTRS{idProduct}==”0021?, RUN==”/usr/bin/flipflop.sh”

    But when I plug in the Cricket Device it fails to auto “flip” for me. Is there something more I need to add to get the udev working properly?

    Thanks,
    ~Jeff

  6. SoBeLife says:

    the problem that I’m having is the the Cricket A600 USB device does not appear in the network manager as a connection option and still shows up in

    “Computer – File Browser” mounted as a “2.0 GB Media” (while a 2.0 micro SD

    card is in the device) even after I have successfully completed all of the

    following steps

    Step 1:

    Download the archive attached to this post and extract the contents to your

    preferred directory.

    Step 2:

    Open up terminal and use cd to change into the directory of the extracted

    files.

    32 bit Users – Install usb_modeswitch with the following command:
    Code:

    sudo make install

    Step 3:

    I plug in my Cricket A600 to an open USB port, and wait a moment for it to

    be detected as “2.0 GB Media” (while a 2.0 micro SD card is in the device)

    and the auto play menu pops up

    I execute the flipflop.sh with the following

    code:
    chmod +x flipflop.sh

    code:
    sudo ./flipflop.sh

    and I receive the following results in GNOME Terminal:
    :~> cd Desktop/whatever_dir
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> sudo make install
    root’s password:
    mkdir -p /usr/sbin
    install ./usb_modeswitch /usr/sbin
    mkdir -p /etc
    install ./usb_modeswitch.conf /etc
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> chmod +x flipflop.sh
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> sudo ./flipflop.sh

    * usb_modeswitch: tool for controlling “flip flop” mode USB devices
    * Version 0.9.7 (C) Josua Dietze 2009
    * Works with libusb 0.1.12 and probably other versions

    Looking for target devices …
    Found devices in target mode or class (1)
    Looking for default devices …
    Found default devices (1)
    Found a default device NOT in target class mode
    Prepare switching, accessing device 004 on bus 002 …
    Looking for active driver …
    OK, driver found (“usb-storage”)
    OK, driver “usb-storage” detached
    Setting up communication with interface 0 …
    Trying to send the message to endpoint 0x08 …
    OK, message successfully sent
    -> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye

    * usb_modeswitch: tool for controlling “flip flop” mode USB devices
    * Version 0.9.7 (C) Josua Dietze 2009
    * Works with libusb 0.1.12 and probably other versions

    Looking for default devices …
    Found default devices (1)
    Prepare switching, accessing device 005 on bus 002 …
    Resetting usb device .
    OK, device was reset
    -> Run lsusb to note any changes. Bye
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> lsusb
    Bus 002 Device 005: ID 1f28:0020
    Bus 002 Device 003: ID 058f:9360 Alcor Micro Corp. 8-in-1 Media Card Reader
    Bus 002 Device 002: ID 05fe:1010 Chic Technology Corp. Optical Wireless
    Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
    Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    but if I repete the exact same steps (while a 2.0 micro SD card is NOT in

    the device) the Cricket USB device still does not appear in the network

    manager as a connection option, the auto play menu does NOT pop up as soon

    as the Cricket USB device is detected but it does show up as an unmounted

    USB Drive

    and I receive the following results in GNOME Terminal:
    :~> cd Desktop/whatever_dir
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> sudo make install
    root’s password:
    mkdir -p /usr/sbin
    install ./usb_modeswitch /usr/sbin
    mkdir -p /etc
    install ./usb_modeswitch.conf /etc
    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> chmod +x flipflop.sh

    :~/Desktop/whatever_dir> sudo ./flipflop.sh
    * usb_modeswitch: tool for controlling “flip flop” mode USB devices
    * Version 0.9.7 (C) Josua Dietze 2009
    * Works with libusb 0.1.12 and

    probably other versions
    Looking for target devices …
    Found devices in target mode or class (1)
    Looking for default devices …
    Found default devices (1)
    Found a default device NOT in target class mode
    Prepare switching,

    accessing device 004 on bus 002 …
    Looking for active driver …
    OK, driver found (“usb-storage”)
    | <–then the GNOME Terminal insertion point just sits there indefinitely and flashes…

  7. Jeff Hoogland says:

    Open the flipflop.sh in your favorite text editor and try adjusting the sleep time from 10 to 20, on some systems it needs a longer time.

    ~Jeff

  8. diego says:

    hi guys i need help im noob and i wanna know how to do this step……………………………. Open up terminal and enter the following command

    tar xzvf Cricket_Mode_Switch.tar.gz

    and use cd to change into the directory of the extracted files.

  9. Jeff Hoogland says:

    You can extract the files using the GUI, just right click on the tar file and select “extract here” then for example if the files are on your desktop open terminal and go “cd ~/Desktop” then use “ls” to find the name of the cricket folder and again use “cd” to change into the folder, then just follow the directions above.

    ~Jeff

  10. Jeff Hoogland says:

    Hey,

    For any reading this over who are not too keen on compiling things/installing from source I’ve created deb installers and posted them here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=7197740#post7197740

    ~Jeff

  11. Kevin says:

    Im having a no show in the Network manager as well after the other steps worked flawlessly, its lit up and shows a signal just as if it were plugged into my Mac or Windows machines, but still nothing in network manager 🙁

  12. Jeff Hoogland says:

    Open the flipflop.sh file in your favorite text editor and try increasing the sleep time from 10 to 20 seconds – it sounds like the forced reset is not firing (which is what allows network manager to see it)

    ~JEff

  13. Adrian says:

    i have a cricket modem but it dont work on my acer computer it has windows 7 i down load it an it on it
    but it says cant find device it works on my other lab top but my acer has a web cam on it i would like
    to use that one why dont it work on my acer can get it to work some how i have A600 broad band

  14. John M. says:

    Hi,
    I followed the tutorial running Kubuntu 9.1 but I am not connecting. I first tried setting the A600 up under Windows, but ran into corrupted Cab files. I had to have it reflashed at the Cricket store. Apparently, this is a common problem particularly with Windows 7. I was able to get the device working under Vista (never tried 7).
    After following the tutorial I got all the expected output from flipflop.sh and lsusb. The Network Manager told me that the device is attached, but I still can’t ping out. I edited the connection under Mobile wireless tab in Network Manager to include number and password but still no dice. I also edited flipflop to have a delay of twenty seconds instead of ten, without luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated as Cricket will not support linux OS 🙁
    Thanks,
    JohnM

  15. @John – try using the Gnome network manager (it loads fine under KDE) to connect with the modem. I know it has always worked fine for me (never used the KDE one before).

    Cheers,
    ~Jeff

  16. John M. says:

    @Jeff – I believe that the gnome network manager is used by default under Kubuntu Karmic 9.1. I tried installing GNM but the current version is already loaded.
    I followed the debugging instructions from the Ubuntu wiki page here.

    The ModemManager debug showed the following after I had mounted the A600 and then started up ./flipflop.sh:

    ** Message: Loaded plugin Huawei
    ** Message: Loaded plugin ZTE
    ** Message: (ttyACM0) opening serial device…
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): probe requested by plugin ‘Generic’
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): –> ‘AT+GCAP’
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– 'A'
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– 'T+'
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– 'GC'
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– 'AP’
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– '+GCAP: +CIS707-A, CIS-856, +MS, +ES, +DS, +FCLASS, CIS-856AOK’
    ** Message: (ttyACM0) closing serial device…
    ** Message: (Generic): CDMA modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1 claimed port ttyACM0
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: Added modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: Exported modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1 as /org/freedesktop/ModemManager/Modems/0
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: Removed modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1
    ** Message: (ttyACM0) opening serial device…
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): probe requested by plugin ‘Generic’
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): –> ‘AT+GCAP’
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: (ttyACM0): <– 'AT+GCAP+GCAP: +CIS707-A, CIS-856, +MS, +ES, +DS, +FCLASS, CIS-856AOK’
    ** Message: (ttyACM0) closing serial device…
    ** Message: (Generic): CDMA modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1 claimed port ttyACM0
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: Added modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1
    ** (modem-manager:3932): DEBUG: Exported modem /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1 as /org/freedesktop/ModemManager/Modems/1

    The NetworkManager debug showed the following (again, this output is after starting flipflop):

    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): new CDMA device (driver: ‘cdc_acm’)
    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): exported as /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/2
    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): now managed
    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): device state change: 1 -> 2 (reason 2)
    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): deactivating device (reason: 2).
    NetworkManager: flush_routes: assertion `iface_idx >= 0′ failed
    NetworkManager: flush_addresses: assertion `iface_idx >= 0′ failed
    NetworkManager: (ttyACM0): device state change: 2 -> 3 (reason 0)

    In case you’re wondering, yes this is the Xmas toy I purchased for myself, and of course I understand some assembly will be required. I’m going to try to update on bug fixes in the hopes that someone has already figured this out, but I can see that I’m not alone when it comes to people having problems with usb modems under the new release. May have to get a patch and recompile, we’ll see. I’ll try to keep this forum updated.
    Thanks,
    John M.

  17. Have you activate the modem on a Windows/OSX operating system? This needs to be done before it will work.

    ~Jeff

  18. John M. says:

    Thanks,
    Yes I did activate the Modem on a Windows XP system. Like I said I had to take it back to the cricket store and have them flash it just to get it working on a Windows box. It seems like it’s timing out after being recognized by NM. Perhaps I need a pin number in addition to the username and password?
    John M.

  19. No, you do not need a pin number and what ever the default username/password are in the Gnome NM is fine – don’t edit them. It should just connect for you :-/

    Does the device connect properly on a Windows/OSX machine?

    ~Jeff

  20. New_Ubuntu says:

    I just bought a new DELL Latitiude 2100 mini with Unbuntu 9.04 and have not been able to install the Cricket Wireless. I tried using your code as follows but it didn’t work. Can you take a look?
    I think the error lies in the required steps in between those listed in your intial listing.

    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$ dir
    Cricket_Mode_Switch.tar.gz examples.desktop Public Videos
    Desktop Music Templates
    Documents Pictures usb_modeswitch-0.9.7
    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$ tar xzvf Cricket_Mode_Switch.tar.gz
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/usb_modeswitch.conf
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/flipflop.sh
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/flipflop.sh~
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/usb_modeswitch.h
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/usb_modeswitch.conf~
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/Makefile
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/usb_modeswitch
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/README
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/COPYING
    usb_modeswitch-0.9.7/usb_modeswitch.c
    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$ sudo make install
    [sudo] password for computer1234:
    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$ sudo ./flipflop.sh
    [sudo] password for computer1234:
    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$ chmod +x flipflop.sh
    chmod: cannot access `flipflop.sh’: No such file or directory
    computer1234@dell-desktop:~$

  21. New_Ubuntu says:

    In addition to the post above, I should mention that I have the Cricket Wireless working fine on a second Windows computer. It’s activated.

    Using Ubuntu, I tried using the GUI “Network Connections” and was able to get Cricket Communicatons to display in the Mobile Broadband list, where it has a status display of “never”, but was unable to get it to list in the GUI list of available wireless networks.

    I don’t use a password for Cricket in my Windows computer. When prompted for a password after typing “sudo make install”, do I have to enter the username/password for my Ubuntu laptop? Or just hit “Enter”? Similarly I didn’t enter a username/password using “Edit” with “Network Connections”.

  22. SKULLYARD says:

    jumpin’ jesus on a pogo stick!

    worked perfect man.

    Thanks a ton.

  23. Briscoe says:

    It hangs after
    * usb_modeswitch: tool for controlling “flip flop” mode USB devices
    * Version 0.9.7 (C) Josua Dietze 2009
    * Works with libusb 0.1.12 and probably other versions

    Looking for target devices …
    Found devices in target mode or class (1)
    Looking for default devices …
    Found default devices (1)
    Found a default device NOT in target class mode
    Prepare switching, accessing device 002 on bus 002 …
    Looking for active driver …
    OK, driver found (“usb-storage”)

  24. @New_Ubuntu – I know it’s been awhile (I forget to check the thread here) but if you are still checking back here go to here – http://jeffhoogland.blogspot.com/2009/10/howto-cricket-a600-modem-ubuntu.html

    And use the .deb installer, it is much easier than installing it form source as you appear to be having issues with that.

    @Briscoe – Try increasing the wait time in the flipflop.sh from 10 to 20 and then run it.

    Regards,
    ~Jeff

  25. Briscoe says:

    Thank you

  26. 007 says:

    FAILED TO MOUNT CRICKET USB, IT APPEARS IN NAUTILUS AS CD, BUT A WINDOW APPEARS AND TELLS ME THE NEXT…

    Error mounting: mount exited with exit code 32: mount: block device /dev/sr1 is write-protected, mounting read-only
    mount: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblock on /dev/sr1,
    missing codepage or helper program, or other error
    In some cases useful info is found in syslog – try
    dmesg | tail or so

  27. 007 says:

    so what should I do?,.. can someone help me pls! thanks!!!

  28. “Plug in your Cricket A600 to an open USB port, wait a moment for it to be detected as a CD drive/the auto play menu to pop up” Thats fine. Close out the “cd drive” window it appears as and run the flipflop.sh

    ~Jeff

  29. Dennis K says:

    Works on Fedora 12 x86_64 Used gui add software to pull in libusb-dev. Thanks!

  30. surfgrommett says:

    I read through all the comments here and I am not seeing the same problem I’m having! I rechecked and made sure iI did everything right but this is what im getting when i do sudo ./flipflop.sh

    tpup@ubuntu:~/Cricket/usb_modeswitch-0.9.7$ sudo ./flipflop.sh
    ./flipflop.sh: 1: /usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch: not found
    ./flipflop.sh: 3: usb_modeswitch: not found
    tpup@ubuntu:~/Cricket/usb_modeswitch-0.9.7$

    I checked and usb_modeswitch IS in the /usr/sbin directory …. what the problem? Thanks for your help in advance!

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