Francis Dipietromaria WebLog

Note: This article was written in August 2008. Although the content is essentially valid, tips reading this article where you can find some more recent information.

I decided to write some information about two of these USB modem Huawei's because I had a chance to test them entrembe.

WARNING: The information contained herein is purely theoretical and not functionality is guaranteed. Updating the firmware of a device can render the device unusable! Any operation is at your sides richio and danger!

In Italy these modems are almost sold only by telephone operators. The characteristic of these devices is that have one storage space on which is present the software and drivers for the use. Obviously, each operator shall provide only the software for the use of your SIM card. So, those who wish to insert the SIM of another operator, is unable to connect using the supplied software. The problem is that without the installation of the modem software is only recognized as a mass storage device. This function is commonly called ZeroCD.

The simplest solution is to download from the manufacturer to the dashboard with the updated firmware (the partition with the software), then installing the connection software provided by the generic Huawei:

• Software for Huawei E169
• Software for Huawei E220
• Software for Huawei E270

UPDATE: Huawei has opened a new site that updates and dashboards

As you can see there is a firmware for the E172, but looking on the internet it seems that the E172 is compatible with E270.

Updating the firmware of the device is a rather invasive and therefore we strongly advise against doing the update, because by doing so you risk losing your warranty!

If not vigliamo dashboard update for the software of our generic modems, at this point we must find some other way this software!

Internet is really an infinite resource: you can download the generic software for the E220 on this site . Unzip and install after connecting the modem (without installing the software operator) ....... et voila. From the Mobile Connect software is sufficient to configure a profile with APN phone provider and you're done.

As for the E172, it is even easier: if you try to open the zip file with the update for the E270, you'll find inside is a file in ISO format, which contains precisely what we seek : in it we find the generic software (which works with the E172). After installation, launch the software (this time is called Mobile Partner), we set up a profile with the appointing authority of our provider and we are ready to connect.

In general, some tests, it seems that the Mobile Partner software, able to work properly on both Windows XP and Windows Vista, you can manage most of the Huawei USB modem. In particular, the software present in the Mobile Partner Dashboard modem Huawei E180 is able to correctly handle even the earlier models (E220, E169, E172).

I remember once installed, the modem is recognized only if inserted in the same USB port. If you were to reinstall the modem on another USB port or use another key you can try this without having to reinstall all the software:

% PROGRAMFILES% \ Mobile Partner \ Driver \ devsetup32.exe / uninstall / debug

With these few lines I hope to help to stop selling on ebay software and / or procedures to "unlock" USB modems that are not blocked ....

Huawei Mobile Partner 11.030.01.13.03 (9.1 MiB) Huawei Mobile Partner Dashboard extracted from a USB Huawei E180 (Mobile Partner 11.030.01.13.03)