What Sakis3G is?
Sakis3G is a tweaked shell script which is supposed to work out-of-the-box
for establishing a 3G connection with any combination of modem or operator.
It automagically setups your USB or Bluetooth™ modem,
and may even detect operator settings. You should try it when anything else fails!
If you are lucky enough, you may be connected 30 seconds after
downloading script.
Read more
How does it work?
Sakis3G script is a script (in the literal meaning of the term) which outlines
actions required for making a modem work. Whenever you execute it, it attempts
to identify your environment (kernel, distribution, modem, operator, desktop
environment) and take care of every little step required, for finally providing
you a data connection.
Does it really work?
While present release number (0.2) does not yield maturity, and may even sound
disappointingly low, it scores better than fully featured connection managers.
I am waiting for your results as well.
Is there a user interface?
Whether you prefer a graphical user interface,
a text mode UI
or you rely on command line powers,
Sakis3G will definitely satisfy you.
Do I need to configure it?
Sakis3G script needs no configuration at all; it attempts to autodetect whatever
possible. Information impossible to be automatically detected (e.g. PIN number)
will end up being asked from you, through user interface.
If you insist customizing anything according to your taste, there are
many things to configure.
How about dependencies?
Modern distributions should be able to satisfy all
Sakis3G dependencies
through their
default installation. However, if you really run a minimal/custom installation,
you may be missing ppp package.
If you intend compiling it from source, some additional items
are required.
Which version should I choose?
There are two versions of Sakis3G;
Full version and binary free version.
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Full version embeds
latest Usb-ModeSwitch version
along with its device database. You should choose it if your distribution does not provide a recent
Usb-ModeSwitch version, and you intend using a
switchable USB modem.
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Binary free version is architect independent but it requires
Usb-ModeSwitch
being installed on your system.
You may consult available versions' reference for more information.
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Important
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Sakis3G only works with GSM networks. Connecting with a CDMA network is not yet possible.
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Built-in settings
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Sakis3G currently embeds connection settings for major networks
across 44 countries. If your operator is listed within database, then
you only have to select/verify APN to use.
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At least one known operator exists in green coloured regions.
Guadeloupe, Martinique and Malta are invisible, still green.
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Feedback
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Version 0.2 of Sakis3G script is still new software. I would be
glad to hear about your results:
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Donate
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If you can find no other way for contributing to Sakis3G,
you may consider donating and support author's effort instead.
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Download Sakis3G
Latest Sakis3G version is 0.2.0e, released on 2010-07-09 (release notes)
and is available in English, French, German and Greek.
Consult available versions' reference if unsure about version to download.
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All architects - Binary free version
(144K) |
- Suitable for any architect sporting USB ports (i.e. PCs, ARM, IA-64, MIPS, PA-RISC, PPC, S/390, SPARC).
- Requires Usb-ModeSwitch
being installed on your system.
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Download
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Instructions
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MD5:
f60763ca65a0a9fdb2608e1734171740
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All architects - Full version's source
(180K) |
- Requires GCC compiler and development headers of libc6, libusb and/or libusb-compat.
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Download
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Instructions
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MD5:
83545e159ff36f4c1046a01212fe650c
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All architects - Binary free version's source
(142K) |
- Requires Usb-ModeSwitch
being installed on your system.
- Does not require GCC compiler or development headers.
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Download
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Instructions
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MD5:
cdfeb55b24477c490c820d8bd6465c5f
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Upgrading/Uninstalling
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Sakis3G script, is consisted by a single file. Nothing else.
Therefore:
- Upgrading is just a matter of installing new version, over the existing one, while
- uninstalling is as simple as deleting "sakis3g" file.
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Important notes
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If your PIN number is not exactly 4-digits long, you will be unable to connect.
Either:
- change your PIN number to exactly 4-digits, or
- instruct your SIM card not to require a PIN number at all.
Both actions can be performed by temporarily placing your SIM card on a cellular phone.
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While attempting to connect, you will be prompt to select/verify APN:
- Choosing correct APN is essential for connection to succeed.
- Choosing wrong APN, may even trigger additional charges.
Contact your operator if unsure about APN to use.
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On some installations/distributions, pppd and/or wvdial may need to be installed
for connection to be established.
Some distribution specific tips:
- there had been reports of wvdial being required on PCLinuxOS,
- you may need to configure/disable shorewall for ppp0 interface if running Mandriva,
- Firefox may start in offline mode, refusing to display any page. You need to uncheck File→Work offline for being able to browse the net. See 1st paragraph on this post for additional solutions.
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Should you encounter a problem, start from those links:
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Available versions' reference
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| Architect |
Precompiled versions |
Source versions |
| Embedding latest Usb-ModeSwitch1,3,7,8,9 |
Binary free1,2,3 |
Embedding latest
Usb-ModeSwitch
source code1,4,6 |
Sakis3G source
only1,2,5 |
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i386
Netbooks, Laptops,
old PCs.
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Select
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Select
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Select
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Select
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amd64
Newer Laptops and
PCs.
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Select
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armv4t 10
Embedded and small
factor systems.
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Select
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armv5t 10
Guruplug, others.
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Others
IA-64, Sparc, etc.
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Not available. Use source to generate it yourself. |
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Notes: |
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1 |
Relies on system providing bluez utilities, for utilizing Bluetooth™ devices. |
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2 |
Relies on system providing a decent Usb-ModeSwitch version and device database, for utilizing switchable USB devices. This version is architect independent.
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3 |
You can disassemble this version, back to source code used for compiling it, by using disassemble argument.
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Using this version, you can choose whether to generate full Sakis3G version, or binary free version.
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This version can only generate binary free version of Sakis3G.
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6 |
If you intend building full version of Sakis3G (which embeds Usb-ModeSwitch) then GCC compiler, libc6 development headers, libusb and/or libusb-compat development headers are required.
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7 |
Full version of Sakis3G can perfectly run on all architects, however, embedded Usb-ModeSwitch binary will be unusable, if used on an architect other than one pre-compiled for, leading into USB modems not being switched. You either need to install Usb-ModeSwitch on your system, for that one to be used instead, or recompile your already-compiled Sakis3G version; you need to install items outlined on note #6 and invoke Sakis3G script with recompile argument.
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8 |
This version might segfault on your system due to version incompatibilities (see note #9), leading into USB modems not being switched. If this is the case, you need to perform actions outlined on note #7.
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9 |
All precompiled packages of full Sakis3G version (which embeds a Usb-ModeSwitch binary) are built on Debian 5.0.5 ("Lenny") systems, using gcc 4.3.2 and are dynamically linked to libc6 2.7 and libusb 0.1.12.
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10 |
Precompiled package of full Sakis3G version (which embeds a Usb-ModeSwitch binary) is built using Debian "armel" port's GCC, which generates code for armv4t (rather than the usual default ARM target of armv5t).
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I would like to read more. Where should I start reading from?
Best place to start reading about Sakis3G is its
official Wiki.
If it looks chaotic, try using
this index instead.
If you are still unable to locate required information, don't hesitate to use
Sakis3G forum for help.
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Sakis3G script, Copyright © 2009, 2010 Sakis Dimopoulos
Sakis3G script comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details see here.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of
the License, or (at your option) any later version.
Sakis3G script's logo "Tux holding a USB modem", was created by Sakis Dimopoulos and is itself based on a pre-existing "Tux" icon.
Derivative work (Sakis3G script's logo) is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported and should not be considered a trademark.
It is instead returned to the community, where it belongs, for being used anywhere fitting.
Usb-ModeSwitch, Copyright © 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Josua Dietze
Usb-ModeSwitch can be redistributed and/or modified under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or any later version.
Full version of Sakis3G script (which is available from this site) contains an embedded
version of Usb-ModeSwitch, derived from source available at official Usb-ModeSwitch site.
You can access source code of embedded Usb-ModeSwitch version, of Sakis3G version you hold, by using instructions available here.
Binary free version of Sakis3G script does not contain any Usb-ModeSwitch source code, binary or device database elements.
Soundtrack of featured video is "Pluto" from "Organic" by Jakub Steiner and is used after his permission.
Map displaying geographical coverage of embedded operators' database is a derivative work of this image which is itself available under GNU Free Documentation License.
Derivative work is also distributed under the same license.
Icons used are part of the Tango! Desktop Project icon theme, which is itself available as public domain.
All product names, company names, brand names, distribution names, program names, trademarks and logos appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners.
Author is not related, in any way, to any of the companies, being operators, software vendors or hardware manufacturers, other than being a customer to some of them.
This page is optimized for 1024x768 and is valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional with CSS 2.1. If it does not render properly for you, it is due to your browser or your screen resolution.
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