X61s + T-Mobile UMTS

In case you're using a Lenovo X61s and wonder why you cannot connect to T-Mobile's UMTS service in Ubuntu 08.04, here's how you get there:

1. Drivers are not an issue. Run lsusb and you'll see:
   
   ID 1199:6813 Sierra Wireless, Inc.
   
   Besides, lsmod | grep sierra should show:
   
   sierra 14468 0
usbserial 35816 1 sierra
usbcore 146028 5 sierra,usbserial,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
   
   And finally, you should have /etc/ttyUSB[0..2]
   
   
   
2. Turn wireless on. First, the hardware switch (obviously). Secondly, open two consoles, run cat < /etc/ttyUSB0 on the first. Issue 'at!gstatus?' > /dev/ttyUSB0 on the second. You should see something like this:
   
   !GSTATUS:

Current Time: 1312 Temperature: 51

Bootup Time: 0 Mode: LOW POWER MODE
...
   Mode is important: If it's LOW POWER MODE, the UMTS LED on the case is off. To turn it on, issue echo 'at+cfun=1' > /dev/ttyUSB0 - the LED should turn on, Mode switches to ONLINE.
   
   
   
3. Authorize. Check the PIN status using echo 'AT+CPIN?' > /dev/ttyUSB0 - if it says READY, proceed. +CPIN: SIM PIN means: issue your PIN with echo 'AT+CPIN=1234' > /dev/ttyUSB0
   
   
   
4. Connect. Stop your cat < /etc/ttyUSB0-session beforehand. This chatscript (/etc/chatscripts/tmobile-connect) works for me:
   
   ABORT BUSY
ABORT VOICE
ABORT 'NO DIALTONE'
ABORT 'NO DIAL TONE'
ABORT 'NO ANSWER'
ABORT DELAYED
"" 'ATZ'
OK 'AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet.t-mobile"'
ABORT 'NO CARRIER'
OK 'ATD*99*1#'
CONNECT \d
   
   ... and the wvdial (pppd)-config (/etc/ppp/peers/tmobile):
   
   /dev/ttyUSB0
460800
defaultroute
usepeerdns
nodetach
crtscts
lock
noauth
local
debug
connect "/usr/sbin/chat -v -f /etc/chatscripts/tmobile-connect"
   
   Connect by typing pon tmobile
   
   
   

Would be nice to see the power & PIN management in Ubuntu's network manager some day, wouldn't it?