Comment 211 for bug 868034

The fixed modemmanager 0.5-1ubuntu1.1 package from oneiric-proposed which is described in comment #171 did make it into oneiric-updates. You can view this at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/modemmanager
Comment #171 also states that this fix is in modemmanager 0.5.2. modemmanager 0.5.2.0-0ubuntu2 was released in precise and is the current precise version - you can view this a the same link I gave above for the oneiric version. To check your own installation you can run dpkg -l <packagename> or look in Synaptic Package manager.

Now we just have to figure out what else is preventing the device from working normally for you. I am reluctant to take the time to provide further information given your apparent preconception that it won't work, but here it goes anyway. I can't fully explain why a firmware update would work given that the E220's worked in Maverick and Natty, other than that some of the workarounds here remind me of some of the workarounds used in the old bugs. Feel free to ignore my suggestions if you like.

I'm pretty sure that in comment #199, Mathieu meant to say "modem is not working" instead of "modem is working". He seems to have vanished since your reply though. Regarding your question about whether the updates will automatically replace the modemmanager_0.4+git.20110124t203624.00b6cce-2ubuntu1 which you downgraded to, that will depend on whether or not you used apt (or it's front-end Synaptic) to perform the downgrade or not, and whether you have locked the version or not. If necessary you can just use apt-get install (or Synaptic) to install the new version and then you will get any later update from then on. See above for how to check your current version.

Obviously if you didn't have the fixed package you should try with that before upgrading the firmware. The following steps for upgrading the firmware are taken from comments #15 and #16 in bug #449394

- it is highly recommended to work on a notebook or a PC with UPS, to be protected from power failure or you may loose your E220 dongle
- on a Windows based machine, download archive from http://www.maxis.com.my/maxisbb/download/E220SoftwareUpgrade.zip
- unpack ZIP file in a separate directory, like c:/tmp/E220
- plug-in E220 and wait about 1 minute
- close any software that may autorun when E220 is plugged
- start the exe file with Firmware inside the name and follow on-screen instructions - upgrade will take several minutes, be patient
- unplug your E220
- this is how I did it on a XP Windows!

- It may happen that deviation could appear, based on Windows you have installed. You have to deal with this by yourself .

Unfortunately there is the major inconvenience of needing a Windows or MacOS X installation/machine to perform the firmware upgrade. All of the other people who upgraded their modem's firmware seem to have used Windows to do so. I have looked hard on the internet for a Linux-based update tool, but it seems that neither Huawei nor their vendors (mobile communications companies) have released one.

Other than the download link provided in the steps above, other possible download locations are http://www.vodafone.de/hilfe-support/technischer-support/129464.html and http://www.huawei.com/pt/catalog.do?id=1626 and http://www.vodafone.com.au/help/mobilebroadband/usbmodem/index.htm

According to https://live.gnome.org/NetworkManager/MobileBroadband the minimum working firmware version for the Huawei E220 is 11.117.09.04.00. This version was confirmed to work in comment #36 of the kernel bug at https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14499
However the GNOME Network manager goes on to state "make sure you have 11.117.10.00.00 or later" - I'm not sure why that is - maybe it enables extra features or faster throughput.

Unfortunately the upstream bug at http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=14499 seems to have stalled, although perhaps that is due to the success of the firmware updates. It seems that Huawei's original firmware was not fully compliant with the USB specification set by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). There is short page on the USB-IF at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Implementers_Forum if you are interested.

After updating the modem's firmware, it might initially show up as a USB-drive. If it does, select Eject drive (not unmount) and it should show up as a modem and allow you to connect from Network Manager. However this step may no longer be necessary with usb-modeswitch 1.1.0-2 (added in Lucid) and later. Support for several Huawei modems was added to that version.

If the modem is still not working without workarounds after all this, please attach a new set of logs using the new modemmanager package on the firmware-updated modem and tell us your kernel version (uname -srm).