Sierra MC8780 not working

[corrector]

Ever since my fresh install of 9.04, my Sierra Wireless MC8780 stopped working.
The card is detected properly and here is the output of lsusb:

Bus 001 Device 008: ID 048d:8903 Integrated Technology Express, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 046d:09b2 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 0c24:000f Taiyo Yuden Bluetooth Driver (V2.0+EDR)
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 005: ID 1199:6832 Sierra Wireless, Inc. MC8780 Device
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 08ff:2580 AuthenTec, Inc. AES2501 Fingerprint Sensor
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

As you see, it's detected--> Bus 004 Device 005: ID 1199:6832 Sierra Wireless, Inc. MC8780 Device

"modinfo sierra" shows:
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/sierra.ko
license: GPL
version: v.1.3.2
description: USB Driver for Sierra Wireless USB modems
author: Kevin Lloyd <email address hidden>
srcversion: 849FEAD771651BE184C5E16
alias: usb:v0F3Dp0112d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0112d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6892d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p6891d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p6890d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p6880d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p685Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6859d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6856d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6855d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6853d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6852d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6851d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6850d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p683Ed*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p683Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p683Cd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p683Bd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p683Ad*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6833d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6832d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6821d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6820d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v03F0p1E1Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6815d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6813d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6812d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6803d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6804d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p6802d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0028d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0027d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0026d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0025d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p0023d*dc*dsc*dp*icFFiscFFipFF*
alias: usb:v1199p0120d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0021d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0019d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0220d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0024d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0020d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v03F0p1B1Dd*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0218d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0018d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
alias: usb:v1199p0017d*dc*dsc*dp*ic*isc*ip*
depends:
vermagic: 2.6.28-11-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 586
parm: nmea:NMEA streaming (bool)
parm: debug:Debug messages (bool)

Back to the prob..
WHen I tell NM to connect, the icon starts spinning round for like 5 sec, then it stops and tells me that "GSM network disconnected"

I've had this problem before in 8.04 and 8.10. But like magic in 8.10 after a NM update in mid January, it just worked!!

Now, where do I go from here?

[Bruce Wolfe (wolfedu)]

I have the same device and exactly the same problem on my laptop - a Fujitsu T2010.

Applies to 9.04 & 9.10 (just updated). I also used the latest driver from Sierra (1.7.12) to make sure that I was not suffering from the wrong driver (installed by default 1.3.x).

Only used 8.10 briefly, but I too was able to use the modem after the NM was updated.

I am seriously thinking that I will have to reinstall a Windows partition to allow me to use the device as I am paying a monthly plan on Virgin Mobile (Australia)

I have attached the files showing the syslog, lsusb & modinfo details.

[Bruce Wolfe (wolfedu)]

I have recompiled the sierra driver with DEBUG turned on and can post this if it helps.

Likewise I am happy to test and/or provide any other help in fixing this.

This is a major issue for me and really do not want to revert to a Windows XP partition - haven't had one on this machine for 3 years now and don't really want to go back again.

[Tommy_R (t-rauch1)]

Hi Bruce,

Is the problem solved?

I had the same problem with version 9.04 and I think the the problem is the driver.You need the newest driver for 8780 and 9.o4 does not has it,
I waited for 9.10 but unfortunately it is the same.
So I need to bring the newest driver version intoi the kernal.

Regards

Toml.

[Bruce Wolfe (wolfedu)]

Hi Tommy,

I am running 9.10 and the driver is still out of date. I manually updated the driver - but it still didn't fix the problem.

It is a problem with Modem Manager (or associated) choosing ttyUSB2 to connect through instead of ttyUSB0. Can see this happening via the logs.

I am able to manually launch the Sierra MC8780 with pppd (per instructions on Sierra site) ... and because of the last kernel update I realise I am also using the 9.10 shipped driver - 1.3.7 instead of 1.7.12 per the Sierra web site ... further confirmation that the driver is actually OK.

I am not sure how to make Network/Modem manager choose ttyUSB0 instead of ttyUSB2 ... haven't had time to investigate and because I have been able to manually use the modem it has been lower on my priority list to chase :)

Cheers,
Bruce

[Tommy_R (t-rauch1)]

Hello Mates,

the problem is still not yet solved.

does anybody knows where i can get the newest driver version ?

Cheers

tom

[Bruce Wolfe (wolfedu)]

Hi Tommy

The default driver in Ubuntu 9.10 is 1.3.7 - the latest driver on the Sierra site is 1.7.30 (with a warning that it does not work in 9.10) - link: http://www.sierrawireless.com/Support/knowledgebase.aspx (search for linux driver) or this link was valid ...
https://sierrawireless.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/500/session/L3NpZC91WmpsTHdYag%3D%3D

HOWEVER: The default driver DOES actually work in 9.10!

As I noted above it is purely that either NM or MM is selecting the wrong device (ttyUSB2 instead of ttyUSB0) so you must connect using pppd - broadly the instructions are on the same link although they didn't work without fault for me.

The problems I encountered are...
1. Even though the ip-up and ip-down.local files were moved and made executable they didn't actually result in the resolv.conf file being set correctly. I have a script that I run after connection that automatically updates /etc/resolv.conf -- you will probably need to find out the ip address of your ISP's DNS servers or use public ones.
2. On rare occasions I find that the 'route' is not set correctly as well - gateway is either missing or set wrong. I use the following to fix the gateway...
    sudo route add default gw {ip address of modem 10.64.64.64 in my case}
If necessary delete the original default entry first

I am hoping 10.04 fixes all this - planning on downloading the Beta later to see if it does.

Good luck

[vak (khamenya)]

As for system update from yesterday (July 04, 2010) my MC8780 is still not working.

As a tester I've did my best to help figure out why MC8780 doesn't work in 9.x. Developers did their great successful efforts to make MC8780 working in Ubuntu 9.x. It worked. To be honest, I was hoping that all these efforts have been incorporated in Ubuntu 10.04, but... I've upgraded to Ubuntu 10.04 and MC8780 stopped working, quite frustrating.

Can I help somehow again?..

[Andreas Schulte (spears-britney)]

I have the same problem like you guys. I did already install the newes build of networkmanager and the 1.7.x driver for the Sierra Card from the Sierra page.

I have also installed Ubuntu 10.04 and it still doesnt work. I get the message "GSM Netzwerk Verbindung getrennt" .

If anyone needs a tester, i would be very glad to be the test person.

[Bruce Wolfe (wolfedu)]

Hi Valery,

Sorry I clear this email only about once a week.

I haven't looked closely at this for a while now as I have been using pppd to connect when I need to. Every now and then I check NM and find it still doesn't work.

There is nothing wrong with the driver - otherwise pppd would not work. pppd has to use the driver to communicate and pppd works for me so, therefore the driver is fine.

Network Manager calls Modem Manager to talk to the device and my suspicion is Modem Manager is at fault here.

It is not a problem solely of Ubuntu though, I have recently been using Fedora and the issue is the same. So it is an issue upstream of Ubuntu/Fedora. It involves the mechanism used for probing the device and as such deciding which device is the Data device. For this device it chooses the wrong one.

Not sure how we go about progressing the issue - probably be logging a bug with the Modem Manager or Node Manager teams directly.

Regards,
Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: vak <email address hidden>
To: Bruce Wolfe <email address hidden>
Sent: Sat, Jul 10, 2010 8:44 pm
Subject: Re "Sierra MC8780 not working"

Hi Bruce,

regarding the bug:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-
manager/+bug/376361/comments/8

it doesn't seem that project owners are going to react any soon :(

Q1. Is it clear for you if it is a bug in driver or in nm?

Q2. Could we make them moving somehow?

regards
Valery
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[Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue that you reported is one that should be reproducible with the live environment of the Desktop CD of the development release - Natty Narwhal. It would help us greatly if you could test with it so we can work on getting it fixed in the next release of Ubuntu. You can find out more about the development release at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/ . Thanks again and we appreciate your help.

This issue looks like an old problem with Sierra devices badly responding to some initialization strings for the modems. AFAIK, it should have been fixed in Lucid and later releases, but it would be good if you could confirm. Thanks!

[Gerd Bavendiek (gerd-bavendiek)]

I just installed Natty with all available patches as of today.

Still MC8780 is not working.

Rebooting and choosing Karmic 9.10 MC8780 works just fine.

This is the main reason I cannot use newer Ubuntu versions than Karmic.

I really would help to debug the issue, but I already spent a lot of time in googling, so without someone who really knows what's going on this issue seems not be to resolvable ...

Really sad and frustrating ...

Gerd

[Aleksander Morgado (aleksander-m)]

Assuming the issue is probably the same as in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/modemmanager/+bug/459052

Fix was commited upstream already.

[Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox)]

Let's mark this as a duplicate of bug 459052; I'm preparing the upload of 0.5 which would fix this. It will then need testing in the Oneiric Live CD to see if things work properly for you (I don't have those devices) and file a new bug if it's not the case (using 'ubuntu-bug modemmanager', from the LiveCD session, so we can have all the necessary debugging information).