Huawei E220

The Huawei E220 is a Huawei HSDPA access device ( 'modem' ) manufactured by Huawei and notable for using the USB interface (USB modem).

Technically it is a modem, USB and (due to the CDFS format) virtual CD-ROM device.

Launched on 21 June 2006, the device is used for wireless Internet access using 3.5G, 3G, or 2G mobile telephony networks. It supports UMTS (including HSDPA), EDGE, GPRS and GSM.

E220 works well with Linux, as support for it was added in Linux kernel 2.6.20, but there are workarounds for distributions with older kernels (eg for Debian etch's 2.6.18). The card is also supported by Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux, and it is possible to monitor the signal strength through other Linux applications.

Most 3G network operators bundle the device with a contract, with some operators simlocking the device . Unlocked and unbranded modems can also be bought from independent suppliers.

A colloquial name for the modem is 'soap on a rope'.

Features

The device contains not only the cellular antenna but also about 22MB (10 MB on older versions) of storage memory accessible to the operating system as a USB mass storage device formatted with CDFS, thus emulating a CD-ROM drive. In this memory, E220 devices supplied by mobile operators may contain 3G dialer software written by the operator, while Huawei-branded devices contain Huawei's original firmware. Huawei's firmware and updates for it are also available for flashing from Huawei's website, or the firmware for 7.2 Mbit/s from Mobile Broadband Rocks (in reality 'flashing' this device means writing a firmware image to its internal flash memory). Flashing the firmware of this device doesn't change the memory used for their operator's software, therefore connection settings (such as APN) will be retained. The software loaded on the device may start automatically through Windows's autostart facility, which can be bypassed by pressing the Shift key while inserting the USB cable of E220. Currently newest known firmware 11.117.10.03.99 for E220 can be found from MobileBroadbandRocks.com on comment a from Andrew David ( for the download. WARNING: Branded dashboard included, not locked however, and installing optional).

Hardware

E220 connects to the computer with a standard Mini USB cable. The device comes with two cables, one short and one long. The long one has two USB A interfaces, one used for data and power and the other optionally only for assistance power in case the computer is not able to provide the full 500 mA (milliamperes) required for the device to work from one USB interface only. If your connection gets disrupted often or isn't really stable, consider using the two plug usb cable and supplying secondary power.

The E220 antenna is internal; the USB cable does not act as an antenna. There is a way to connect an external antenna even though there is no antenna connector. Together with a high gain antenna like an LPDA or an OMNI booster antenna and an adapter, signal strength can be considerably improved. There is also a way to open the modem, remove the small internal antenna, and solder a umts-antenna cable onto the board. You will invalidate the guarantee, but it can be a cheap and functional way to connect an external antenna.

Software



Huawei E220 includes its own Windows software in its internal memory, self-installs through the Windows's auto-start feature and can be flashed (overwritten) by the end user. The standard software by Huawei is called Mobile Partner and is indicated by the code UTPS, as it is found on the manufacturer's download site.

Some network operators selling E220, however, replace Huawei's software with their own, which often is software-locked (albeit not SIM-locked) to work only with the operator's own network. End users can use either third-party software such as MWconn (freeware) or alternative operating systems (eg Debian GNU/Linux) to circumvent this and use their E220 with any SIM, or flash their device with Huawei's original software.

The following operator(s) are known to replace Huawei's software with their own:

* Vodafone puts on its E220 (Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem) its Windows Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite software, which is a lighter version of Vodafone Mobile Connect. In Windows it uses the excutable VodafoneUSBPP.exe. This device is also supported in Linux, using Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux, which can be downloaded from Vodafone Betavine.
* BASE eplus (Germany)
* MTS (Russia)
* Orange (Austria)
* T-Mobile (Austria)
* Mobilkom (Austria) - uses software from Austrian speicalist software vendor mquadr.at for both its brands A1 and Bob
* Drei (Austria)
* Three (Australia, UK)
* BT Business (UK)
* Play (PL)
* Optimus (PT)
* Movistar (Spain, Argentina)
* Telkomsel (Indonesia)
* Nawras (Oman)
* Dialog GSM (Sri Lanka)
* Zain (Sudan)
* Sun Cellular (Philippines)
* MTN (Uganda)
* MTN Dialog Telecom (Sri Lanka)
* MTC (Namibia)
* Mobily (Saudi Arabia)

Operating systems

* Microsoft Windows XP & Vista
* Mac OS X v10.2.6 Jaguar or higher
* Linux 2.6.20 or higher. One can use wvdial with this modem in Linux.
o Debian, Ubuntu and gnuLinEx
o openSUSE
o Fedora
o Debian Linux
o Arch Linux
o Ark Linux
o Gentoo Linux
o Xandros Linux
o Sabayon
o Mandriva
o PcLinuxOS
o Slax
o Linux Caixa Mágica

Compatibility Issues

A number of software compatibility issues are known to exist with the E220 USB modem. This is mainly related to CD Writing software, software that creates virtual CD-ROM drives and with Microsoft ActiveSync. Also early versions of the firmware and vodafone connect software are incompatible with Microsoft Windows Vista. This has been remedied in later updates.

Availability

E220 is available in the following countries:

* Afghanistan (Afghan Wireless)
* Algeria (ATM Mobilis)
* Angola (Unitel)
* Argentina (Claro, Movistar, Telecom Personal)
* Australia (3 Mobile, Vodafone, Optus, Virgin Mobile, iPrimus, Soul)
* Austria (A1, Orange, TeleRing, Drei, Yesss)
* Bahrain (Batelco), (Zain)
* Belgium (Proximus), (unofficially works with Base.be service)
* Bolivia (Tigo)
* Brazil (TIM), (Claro), (Oi)
* Brunei (B Mobile)
* Bulgaria (M-Tel)
* Chile (Entel, Movistar)
* Colombia (Tigo, Comcel, Movistar)
* Croatia (VIPnet)
* Cyprus (Cyta-Vodafone)
* Czech (Vodafone), (T-Mobile)
* Denmark (3, Telia, TDC, SkyLine)
* El Salvador (Tigo)
* Estonia (EMT, Elisa, TELE2)
* Egypt (Vodafone), (Vodafone-eg) Etisalat Egypt
* Finland (Saunalahti, Elisa, DNA, TeliaSonera)
* France (SFR, Orange (brand))
* Germany (O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus, Base DE)
* Guatemala(Claro,Tigo)
* Greece (Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind)
* Honduras(Tigo)
* Hong Kong (Smartone-Vodafone, 3-3G)
* Hungary (Vodafone, T-Mobile, Pannon)
* Iceland (Nova, Vodafone)
* India (Vodafone)
* Indonesia (Indosat, Telkomsel, XL)
* Ireland (Vodafone, O2, Meteor, 3)
* Italy (Vodafone, Tim, Wind, H3G)
* Jamaica (Claro)
* Japan (Emobile)
* Kenya (Safaricom,Zain,Orange,Econet)
* Kuwait (Zain)
* Latvia (LMT, Tele2, Bite)
* Lesotho (Vodacom LS)
* Lithuania (Omnitel)
* Luxembourg (Tango Vodafone, Vox Mobile, Luxgsm)
* Malaysia (Maxis, Celcom, DiGi)
* Mauritius (Emtel)
* Moldova (Moldcell)
* Montenegro (Promonte, T-Mobile)
* Namibia (MTC Namibia, Telecom Namibia)
* Morocco (Meditel, Maroc Telecom)
* New Zealand (Vodafone)
* Netherlands (Capestone (without sim-lock!), KPN, Vodafone, Telfort)
* Norway (Netcom)
* Nigeria (Zain, Visafone, Multi-Links Telkom, MTN, Glo)
* Oman (Nawras)
* Pakistan (Warid Telecom)
* Paraguay (Claro, Telecom Personal)
* Philippines (Sun, Globe Telecom)
* Poland (Era, Plus GSM, Orange Polska, Play Mobile)
* Portugal (PT - TMN & Sapo, Vodafone PT, Sonaecom - Optimus& Clix)
* Qatar (Qtel)
* Russia (MTS, Megafon, Beeline)
* Romania (Orange, Vodafone)
* Saudi Arabia (Mobily)
* Serbia (Telenor, Telekom Serbia)
* Singapore (M1, Singtel, Vodafone)
* Sri Lanka(Dialog GSM, Mobitel (Sri Lanka))
* Slovakia (T-Mobile, Orange)
* Slovenia (Mobitel)
* South Africa (Vodacom, MTN, Telkom SA)
* Spain (Vodafone, Movistar, Orange, Simyo,Yoigo)
* Sweden (Tele2, Telia, 3,)
* Switzerland (Sunrise, Swisscom)
* Syrian Arab Republic (Syriatel
* Taiwan (Chunghua Telecom, FarEastone)
* Tajikistan (Babilon-M)
* Tanzania (Vodacom, Zantel)
* Uganda (MTN)
* United Arab Emirates (Etisalat,du)
* United Kingdom (Vodafone, 3, T-Mobile)
* United States of America (not available; but will work on AT&T)
* Uruguay (Ancel, Claro)

Similar modems

* HSDPA:
o ZTE MF620
o VigSys VM10
* HSUPA:
o Novatel Ovation MC950D
o Huawei E270

http://en.wikipedia.org/