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I decided to ditch my DSL connection for Ricochet Wireless. Ricochet says the service is "high-speed wire-free internet" The modem itself is identified by Linux as a "normal" serial PCMCIA interface. The serial_cs kernel module drives it just fine and says the modem is a "16550A" UART.
To get it working, I configured the phone number to dial as "3333", username as "GUEST" and password "3333". Once PPP comes up, you need to go to http://192.168.1.1 and follow the steps for setting up and account.
Once that's done, shut down ppp0 and change the username and password to whatever it should be for your account, restart ppp0 and you're good to go.
I did a few speed tests at BandwidthPlace, and I'm getting between 180 and 250 Kbits, even in my apartment which is basically a concrete bunker with a narrow west-facing view.
A trace of the PPP connection session from /var/log/messages looks like this:
Jun 1 09:55:27 localhost cardmgr[1628]: socket 1: Serial or Modem Jun 1 09:55:28 localhost cardmgr[1628]: executing: 'modprobe serial_cs' Jun 1 09:55:28 localhost kernel: ttyS3 at port 0x02e8 (irq = 3) is a 16550A Jun 1 09:55:28 localhost cardmgr[1628]: executing: './serial start ttyS3' Jun 1 09:55:30 localhost ifup-ppp: Setting up a new /etc/ppp/peers/ppp0 config file Jun 1 09:55:30 localhost ifup-ppp: pppd started for ppp0 on /dev/ttyS3 at 460800 Jun 1 09:55:30 localhost pppd[27845]: pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0 Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.53 Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: Initializing modem. Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: Sending: ATZ Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: ATZ Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: OK Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: Modem initialized. Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: Sending: ATDT3333 Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: Waiting for carrier. Jun 1 09:55:31 localhost wvdial[27868]: ATDT3333 Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost wvdial[27868]: CONNECT 460800 Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost wvdial[27868]: Carrier detected. Chatmode finished. Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost pppd[27845]: Serial connection established. Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost pppd[27845]: Using interface ppp0 Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost pppd[27845]: Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/ttyS3 Jun 1 09:55:43 localhost /etc/hotplug/net.agent: assuming ppp0 is already up Jun 1 09:55:46 localhost modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module ppp-compress-21 Jun 1 09:55:46 localhost modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module ppp-compress-21 Jun 1 09:55:56 localhost pppd[27845]: local IP address 168.253.13.100 Jun 1 09:55:56 localhost pppd[27845]: remote IP address 192.168.1.1 Jun 1 09:55:56 localhost pppd[27845]: primary DNS address 168.253.8.17 Jun 1 09:55:56 localhost pppd[27845]: secondary DNS address 168.253.8.18 |
The modem is a Novatel Wireless "Merlin For Ricochet" model NRM-R900. FCC ID is "NBZNRMR900".
All this, and service is only $30 a month. The modem was $107 with tax, and comes with a $99 rebate if you sign up for 6 months of service.
You can also play with the modem using minicom. I've not had any luck finding good documentation on the modem. Novatel's website has only a link to Ricochet's site, and their FTP server says it accepts anonymous logins, but doesn't really.
I found this document, titled "Ricochet Modem Reference Guide" and dated May 6, 1997. It seems to be more or less correct, even though it was written for the old Ricochet modems.
Here's the settings for the ricochet-specific S-registers in the modem:
| Register | Name | Value |
| 300 | Version |
Ricochet RF Modem (UP-) -- (c) 1993-2000 Metricom Inc. 109731-221.14-004.04 Nov 22 2000 @ 20:45:57 Serial #: 00.00.40.00.87.b8 Names: N:004-0003-4744 Subnet 0.0.0.0, Network 3, Radios Acquired (3, 0) 115200 Baud, RS232 Lines: DTR RTS CTS Modem Config: &D0 &K3 M1 E1 V1 Q0 &C1 W1 X4 ~B0 &L0 &N0 &O1 &S0 !! WARNING, THIS IS TEST CODE !! Registered -- Last Lookup: No Errors |
| 301 | Serial # | 00.00.40.00.87.b8 |
| 303 | PCA1 | ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ |
| 304 | Baud Rate | 115200 |
| 305 | Numeric Name | 004-0003-4744 |
| 306 | Unique Name | |
| 311 | Best Links |
Lat: 39.737634 Long: -104.983892 Color: 0 0028 -056 Lat: 39.732227 Long: -104.985008 Color: 29 0315 -090 Lat: 39.732227 Long: -104.985008 Color: 29 0464 -090 |
| 312 | Max Connect Time | 0 |
| 313 | Max Data Size | 1183 |
| 314 | ATA Timeout | 10 |
| 316 | Path Life | 3 |
| 317 | Path Cache Size | 6 |
| 318 | Net Timeout | 0 |
| 319 | Starmode Caps | 0000 |
| 320 | Active Baud Rate | 460800 |
| 321 | Ring Delay | 1 |
| 322 | Connect Password | Connect Password not set |
| 323 | User Inactivity | 0 |
| 324 | Starmode Tx Q | 0 |
| 325 | Battery Voltage | 3.50 Volts |
| 326 | System Inactivity | 10 |
| 327 | Sleep Mode | 4 |
| 328 | OOB IP Addr | 0 |
| 330 | Service Password 1 | |
| 331 | Service Password 2 | 0 |
| 340 | Connection Method | 12 |
| 360 | Status Icons | 0000c000cc00 |
| 361 | Serial Lines | 3c |
| 362 | NS Attributes | 0000 |
| 390 | Mfrg Pn | 1016970 |
| 391 | R3 Date | 0002 |
| 392 | R5 Date | 00c9 |
| 393 | Mfrg Pn Rev | 51 |
| 394 | DSP config | 0 |
| 395 | Software Version | 109731-221.14-004.04 |
| 400 | Boots | 13 |
| 800 | Modem Control | ATX4&C1&D2 |
| 802 | Bridge Config | 00 |
| 803 | Phone # Limit | 60 |
| 804 | Phone # |