Hi, I finally took the plunge and went for GPRS, and thought I'd share my linux configuration experiences in case anyone else has to go through the same pain as I did! * Why would you want to do this? - Faster connection whilst on the road (up to 5x the speed of a dialup connection over a GSM mobile connection) - The geek factor * Why wouldn't you want to do this? - On most networks a GPRS connection is more expensive per mb than a dialup connection (call charges work out less than per mb charges!) - Super high latency link: don't expect to be IRCing from it, but fine for email downloading etc. * What do you need? - A computer running linux (Debian in this example) - A mobile phone with GPRS support - A mobile phone service provider, with GPRS enabled on your account I'm on O2, using a Sony Ericsson T68i over infrared to my Debian laptop. These details should be more or less the same regardless of distribution, network or phone: the only things you need to check are the "APN" (access point name, eg "mobile.o2.co.uk"), username and password, and dial string. * How? Configuring a successful computer-phone connection is beyond the scope of this. Get that working first! Once you have a working connection to your phone (eg you can set up a normal dialup connection using it), you need to configure a new ppp connection with the following two files: - /etc/ppp/peers/o2gprs - /etc/chatscripts/gprs-connect-chat File /etc/ppp/peers/o2gprs: --- begin o2gprs --- # o2 GPRS settings debug hide-password noauth connect "/usr/sbin/chat -f /etc/chatscripts/gprs-connect-chat" # The next line is the port you talk to your phone on, and may need editing /dev/ircomm0 115200 noipdefault ipcp-accept-local ipcp-accept-remote local novj novjccomp noccp default-asyncmap nomagic # The next line is your telco's username: it may need editing depending on your provider user "web" defaultroute persist disconnect "/usr/sbin/chat -v -f /etc/chatscripts/gprs-disconnect-chat" remotename o2gprs ipparam o2gprs --- end o2gprs --- File /etc/chatscripts/gprs-connect-chat: --- begin gprs-connect-chat --- ABORT BUSY ABORT 'NO CARRIER' ABORT VOICE ABORT 'NO DIALTONE' ABORT 'NO DIAL TONE' ABORT 'NO ANSWER' ABORT DELAYED '' ATZ OK-AT-OK 'AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","MOBILE.O2.CO.UK"' OK-AT-OK 'AT+CGQREQ=1,0,0,0,0,0' OK-AT-OK 'AT+CGQMIN=1,0,0,0,0,0' OK-AT-OK 'AT+CGATT=1' # The next line is your dial string: it may need editing depending on your phone OK-AT-OK 'ATD*99#' TIMEOUT 42 CONNECT \d\c # prelogin # ispname # isppassword # postlogin --- end gprs-connect-chat --- Finally, edit /etc/ppp/options and comment-out lcp-echo-interval and lcp-echo-failure. Test the connection using pppd call o2gprs and watch /var/log/syslog for details. (eg use tail -f /var/log/syslog) * Other useful details You'll need to tweak your MTA to send outgoing mail via smtp.o2.co.uk (or similar for other providers, check with them for details). * Closing remarks I'd welcome any feedback from others trying to do this ... I'll eventually put this on a page somewhere (eg the ALUG site). And yes, this email is coming to you via GPRS (hopefully!). Andrew. -- All views are my own .... who else would want them?