I've just started using Kubuntu 14.04, with KDE 4.13.0, and now suddenly with my Mobile Broadband dongle inserted a popup box comes up asking for the dongle's SIM pin number. The dongle doesn't have a pin code though and this has not happened before. I'm assuming this is to do with the KDE-specific applet as it didn't happen with Ubuntu 14.04. I have altered the stored settings to say that the pin isn't required but the box still appears, with no change after several reboots and after trying to set up the mobile broadband network again after deleting it. The device will connect though, so the box is pointless. No pin is required.

Before this I used Linux Mint 16 KDE and that behaved oddly too, I would have to take the dongle out and reinsert before the device was recognised as a dongle. Before this everything worked fine.

Thanks for any help.

Hi, which Plasma NM version do you use? You can see the version number by calling the connection editor and then in menu -> help -> About Connection Editor.

Can you also send me the NetworkManager's log for when you hook up the modem to your computer?

Also, can you please send me the NetworkManager and ModemManager versions you use? Thanks.

Thanks.

The modemmanaager version is 1.0.0-2ubuntu1 and Network Manager applet is 0.9.8.8.

I just tried my other dongle and it connects automatically - but as a wired connection, which is even weirder, although with Linux Mint 16 the dongle wasn't seen despite much experimentation and googling. No pin prompt there either.

There are modems that can use either ppp or ethernet interfaces to talk to the operating system. Ethernet is usally faster, so it is becoming more and more common to see modems that use ethernet instead of ppp.

If it works ok for your other 3G modem then the original issue seems a problem with your first 3G modem.

I had another try of Ubuntu 14.04 'Gnome 3' edition though and there are no gripes when using the first dongle. It seems the KDE-specific applet is asking for this pin number unecessarily when there isn't a pin.

Also now if the connection is lost I have to reboot altogether as the dongle is then not 'seen' without doing so. And I've found the reboot process can hang so that I have to hold down the power button to switch it off and start again.

A minor thing also: in the applet the word 'connecting' remains even after it should say 'connected'.

The 'connected' vs 'connecting' label problem is already fixed. It will be available in the next Plasma NM release.

There is no Plasma NM 0.9.8.8 released yet. The latest version is 0.9.3.3. I think you sent the NetworkManager version, whose latest version is 0.9.8.10. You are probably using Plasma NM 0.9.3.3 because of the 'connected' vs 'connecting' bug above.

I have never seen Plasma NM to cause the 3G modem to hang the computer. Usually that happens because of the modem's firmware or a fault hardware. What are the manufacturer and model of your 3G modem?