Setting up usb modem for ubuntu 10.10

If you want to setup the drivers for your usb modem, firstly check out this link. It shows the list of 3G hardware and the test result along with the necessary information.
In my case, I have Option Wireless iCON 225 (HSDPA) and I'm quite lucky to have mine listed as working and there's enough information for preparing the drivers.

Here's the summary of how I prepare the drivers:
1. Download and compile ozerocdoff --> udev.tar.gz (http://www.pharscape.org/ozerocdoff.html)
2. Skip installing hso driver kernel module since my kernel version is 2.6.35 (which is above or equal 2.6.31) --> http://www.pharscape.org/hso.html
3. Install HSOConnect (http://www.pharscape.org/hsoconnect.html) which requires hsolinkcontrol (http://www.peck.org.uk/hsolinkcontrol.html). And it turns out it just didn't work for me and I opt to use the default Network Manager.
4. Check if all works fine:
- Make sure hso module is already installed
find /lib/modules/`uname -r` -name 'hso.ko'
- Plug in the usb modem device and execute command below
lsmod | grep hso
If you see that hso is listed that's a good sign for you
- Check if the ports have been created
ls /dev/ttyHS*
My output is: /dev/ttyHS0 /dev/ttyHS1 /dev/ttyHS2
If you can see the output that also means ozerocdoff is already working
5. Go to my Network Manager, edit connections and add a new Mobile broadband connection.

6. Go online with my new broadband connection :)


References:

1. Network Manager - Hardware 3G (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NetworkManager/Hardware/3G)
2. PHARscape iCon 255 (http://www.pharscape.org/icon225.html)
3. ozerocdoff (http://www.pharscape.org/forum/index.php?topic=545.0)
4. HSOConnect (http://www.pharscape.org/forum/index.php/topic,743.0.html)
5. Using Network Manager (http://www.pharscape.org/networkmanager-0.7.0-and-3g-wwan-modems.html)
   

Aspire 4741z battery is not charging

If a battery is not charging then the cause is either the battery is broken or the charging module needs replacement or could be BIOS problem. In my case the cause is neither above, apparently after taking out my battery I just realized that somehow I left the lock switch to unlock position. And indeed that's the cause of the battery is not charging.

Configuring mic in aspire 4741z - ubuntu 10.10

Luckily for me, my installed alsa is already the latest one. All that is needed is just to add 2 lines below to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel
options snd-hda-intel model=acer


My mic works now but it seems a bit quiet. Hopefully I can find the way to boost the mic.

A nice tool that might help is alsamixer, run it from a terminal.