Notices

Is there a way to make the N900's 3G internet connection available to a Linux/Ubuntu PC via the USB cable connection? I have Joikuspot and mobile hotspot on my phone, but WLAN is not the way to go for me here, and afaik there is no Nokia PC Suite-like application for linux? Thanks, Ben

Edit: SOLUTION if you run power kernel on N900:

- So, the way I've made it work now is using Mobile Hotspot on the N900 in USB mode (which was not yet a feature of Mob.Hotspot at the time of starting this thread). Qt Mobile Hostpot also has USB mode, but I haven't tried that one yet.
If you want to use this solution, keep in mind both Mobile Hotspot apps require power kernel on N900.

- Still, it should work with some version of some Linux distro (if it happens to be not hampered by a BUGGY ****ing network manager, a thing I'm starting to doubt exists...).
- Or, if you know what it is and how to do it,
fix the configuration of your ppp on N900

Last time I connected my phone in Kubuntu, I was prompted to set up a connection with 3G Mobile Broadband. In regular Ubuntu, I think you can do the same by clicking on the Network Manager icon in the upper panel and select something like "New Mobile Broadband connection..."

I'm not exactly sure what it's named, but I have done it before with success.

networkmanager and modemmmanager.
plug n900 in, select pc suite mode -> add the phone on the mobile broadband page.
you may want to use modemmanager from maverick, since the most recent ione is too fats for the n900 (it needs apparently more time when initializing and the old modemmanager waits long enough).

I did that using bluetooth before (not sure if it works better for you than WLAN).

When u connect using Ubuntu 9.1 , the cable and Nokia N900, it should automatic recognise your phone and, you only need to put the APN. and confirm works.

It works absolutely no problem, it's perfect!

Sadly I have to take that back - it stopped working again.
Ubuntu says "GSM disconnected", but N900 shows 3G Connection up and working...
Same result when I disconnect ethernet from Ubuntu first...

bump.
Can someone please give me a hint to help me diagnose the problem?

Really, any Nokia smart phone, since at least the Nokia 6600 (or before) have been relatively easy to use for this (and one of the reasons I have taken Nokia phones over others in the past, when tethering was restricted on other devices).

You have been able to do it on any Linux distro, either using straight ppp, or the distro-provided conneciton management, or a desktop-oriented dialer (e.g. kppp).

For various reasons, I use my N900 via kppp most of the time.

Here are relevant portions of my ~/.kde4/share/config/kppprc:

[General]
AutomaticRedial=1
DefaultAccount=3G
DefaultModem=Nokia
DockIntoPanel=1
NumberOfAccounts=1
NumberOfModems=2
PPPDebug=0
RedialOnNoCarrier=1
ShowLogWindow=1

[Account0]
AccountingEnabled=0
Authentication=4
AutoDNS=1
AutoName=0
DefaultRoute=1
ExDNSDisabled=1
Gateway=0.0.0.0
IPAddr=0.0.0.0
Name=3G
Password=\s
Phonenumber=*99#
StorePassword=1
SubnetMask=0.0.0.0
Username=\s
VolumeAccountingEnabled=0
pppdArguments=multipledefaultroutes

[Modem0]
AnswerResponse=CONNECT
AnswerString=ATA
BusyResponse=BUSY
BusyWait=0
ConnectResponse=CONNECT
DLPResponse=DIGITAL LINE DETECTED
Device=/dev/ttyACM0
DialString=ATDT
Enter=CR
EscapeGuardTime=50
EscapeResponse=OK
EscapeString=+++
FlowControl=Hardware [CRTSCTS]
HangUpResponse=OK
HangupString=+++ATH
InitDelay=50
InitResponse=OK
InitString=ATZ
InitString1=AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"
Name=Nokia
NoCarrierResponse=NO CARRIER
NoDialToneDetection=ATX3
NoDialToneResp=NO DIALTONE
PreInitDelay=50
RingResponse=RING
Speed=57600
Timeout=60
ToneDuration=70
UseLockFile=1
Volume=1
VolumeHigh=M1L3
VolumeMedium=M1L1
VolumeOff=M0L0
WaitForDialTone=1

[Modem1]
AnswerResponse=CONNECT
AnswerString=ATA
BusyResponse=BUSY
BusyWait=0
ConnectResponse=CONNECT
DLPResponse=DIGITAL LINE DETECTED
Device=/dev/rfcomm0
DialString=ATDT
Enter=CR
EscapeGuardTime=50
EscapeResponse=OK
EscapeString=+++
FlowControl=Hardware [CRTSCTS]
HangUpResponse=OK
HangupString=+++ATH
InitDelay=50
InitResponse=OK
InitString=ATZ
InitString1=AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"
Name=Bluetooth
NoCarrierResponse=NO CARRIER
NoDialToneDetection=ATX3
NoDialToneResp=NO DIALTONE
PreInitDelay=50
RingResponse=RING
Speed=460800
Timeout=60
ToneDuration=70
UseLockFile=1
Volume=1
VolumeHigh=M1L3
VolumeMedium=M1L1
VolumeOff=M0L0
WaitForDialTone=1

on ubuntu at least, this is a known bug with the natty narwhal release (11.x) roll back to maverick meerkat (10.x) and it tethers out of the box