====== Huawei E1550 ======
3G/HSDPA USB modem, used by many providers - mine is 3 Mobile (UK).

===== Ubuntu =====
Install udev-extras:

<code bash>sudo apt-get install udev-extras</code>

Create a custom udev rule to override the devices initial attempts to be removable storage.

<code bash>gksu gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/15-huawei-e1550.rules</code>

Paste the following:

<code bash>
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="1446", SYSFS{idVendor}=="12d1",
RUN+="/usr/bin/modem-modeswitch --vendor 0x12d1 --product 0x1446 --type option-zerocd"
</code>

Now When the card is plugged in, Network Manager prompts to configure a new connection - choose  "3 (handset)".
===== Fedora =====
Install usb_modeswitch, do these steps as root:

<code bash>yum install usb_modeswitch</code>

You need to add a configuration to /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf:

<code bash>DefaultVendor = 0x12d1
DefaultProduct = 0x1446
MessageEndPoint = "0x01"
MessageContent = "55534243000000000000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000"</code>

Create a custom udev rule to override the devices initial attempts to be removable storage. Note this is not the same as the Ubuntu rule.

<code bash>vi /etc/udev/rules.d/15-huawei-e1550.rules</code>

Paste the following:

<code bash>
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="1446", SYSFS{idVendor}=="12d1",
RUN+="/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch --vendor 0x12d1 --product 0x1446 --type option-zerocd"
</code>

When Network Manager prompts to configure a new connection, choose  "3" then "handset".

===== Arch =====

Download and compile [[http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/#download|usb_modeswitch]]. Copy to /usr/bin and the usb_modeswitch.conf to /etc

Add the following to /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf:

<code bash>DefaultVendor = 0x12d1
DefaultProduct = 0x1446
MessageEndPoint = "0x01"
MessageContent = "55534243000000000000000000000011060000000000000000000000000000"</code>

Create the udev rule ''/etc/udev/rules.d/15-huawei-e1550.rules'':

<code bash>
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idProduct}=="1446", SYSFS{idVendor}=="12d1",
RUN+="/usr/bin/usb_modeswitch"
</code>

Network Manager is not so intuitive because the Mobile Broadband Assistant isn't packaged for Arch. Fortunately 3 hasn't any odd configuration, so will work.