Martin Fleming » Linux http://martin-fleming.co.uk Sharing my experiences and knowledge Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:08:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Transcode/Convert Videos for Cowon J3/S9 using Mencoder on Command Line http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2011/02/transcodeconvert-videos-for-cowon-j3s9-using-mencoder-on-command-line/ http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2011/02/transcodeconvert-videos-for-cowon-j3s9-using-mencoder-on-command-line/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:09:40 +0000 Marty (admin) http://martin-fleming.co.uk/?p=253 http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2011/02/transcodeconvert-videos-for-cowon-j3s9-using-mencoder-on-command-line/feed/ 6 SOLVED: Top Up T-mobile PAYG mobile broadband with Linux or router http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2010/03/solved-top-up-t-mobile-payg-mobile-broadband-with-linux-or-router/ http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2010/03/solved-top-up-t-mobile-payg-mobile-broadband-with-linux-or-router/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:52:49 +0000 Marty (admin) http://martin-fleming.co.uk/?p=109 Pay as you go mobile broadband data is normally the same price as the contract options with T-mobile and O2.  However, a non Windows or Mac user (or if dongle is connected to a router) can easily top up online.

T-mobile is a little more difficult than O2.  You get a swipe card to top up with but you still need to select the usage you wish to use to deduct from your credit (daily, weekly or monthly).  This is easy with the connection manager software that comes with the dongles but all the software does is take you here www.t-zones.co.uk/apps/ebdc/en/purchase-redirect.

So its simple, get your dongle, use the swipe card and then visit the web address above and your good to go.  Your dongle will not be activated until you top up and after top up it could take up to 1 hour.

T-mobile also let you know that you can top up by using “my T-mobile” online.  However, this involves getting a pin sent to you by sms so you will have to use a Windows or Mac machine to receive this or put your sim card in a phone that will accept it.

This is slightly more hassle that the fantastic way O2 PAYG mobile broadband works as you just need to visit the website https://mobilebroadbandaccess.o2.co.uk pay and go.  No content locks or hassle involved.  With T-mobile though, you get a much better fair use policy on internet usage and you do not get charged for going over your usage, instead they may block video sites and downloads between he hours of 4pm and midnight, whereas every other provider will charge you stupid amounts or stop your usage.

Just as a re-cap, the connection deatils for T-mobile PAYG mobile broadband are

APN: general.t-mobile.uk
Number: *99#
Username: user
Password: pass

]]> http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2010/03/solved-top-up-t-mobile-payg-mobile-broadband-with-linux-or-router/feed/ 1 SOLVED: O2 Pay & Go Mobile Broadband on Ubuntu Karmic http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2009/10/o2-pay-and-go-mobile-broadband-on-ubuntu-karmic/ http://martin-fleming.co.uk/2009/10/o2-pay-and-go-mobile-broadband-on-ubuntu-karmic/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:09:56 +0000 Marty (admin) http://martin-fleming.co.uk/?p=3 I don’t know about other distro’s but the mobile broadband data in Ubuntu is inaccurate for O2 Pay and Go broadband.  In Jaunty I could just use the Network Manager to correct the APN to m-bb.o2.co.uk.  However, after upgrading to Karmic Beta, Network Manager seems to have a bug and does not save any edited connection data.  This bug may be fixed in the final release but for now there is an easy solution to this problem.

Fire up your text editor

$ sudo gedit /usr/share/mobile-broadband-provider-info/serviceproviders.xml

On line 1877 (or around if this file has been updated since I wrote this post) change the APN to m-bb.o2.co.uk from payandgo.o2.co.uk

<apn value="m-bb.o2.co.uk">
 <name>Prepaid</name>
 <username>payandgo</username>
 <password>payandgo</password>
</apn>

If you currently have a connection set in your Network Manager you will need to delete it and add a new mobile broadband connection.  Selecting O2 prepaid will now set you up with a working connection.

If you have no credit, don’t forget the only website you can visit will be O2′s Top Up Website.

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