Unlocking a Huawei 3G Modem, use it on multiple networks

Being able to use a locked Huawei 3G modem on another network involves two steps.

1. Unlock the modem using Simbwa Phillip steps.
2. Set the APN of the SIM Network whenever initializing the modem

Simbwa Phillip has some steps which I was able to follow to perfectly unlock my Huawei 3G modem.
I will just paste here the steps again so that you don’t have to bounce back and forth.

Unlock the modem using Simbwa Phillip steps

Two ways of unlocking your 3G modem (first– the easyway, second, the geeky way).
Prerequisites:
a). Python 2.6 or greater
b). For the easyway (huawei modems), download and install pyhumod 0.03 from here . If you choose to go the geeky way, you don’t need the pyhumod. Also if the easy way fails, go the geeky way

The easy way Huawei modem:

Paste the following code in your preferred editor (i use vim ) and save it as whatever name you choose (i use huawei_unlocker.py)

#!/usr/bin/env python

import hashlib
import humod
UNLOCK_SALT = "5e8dd316726b0335"

def show_code(imei, salt):
    digest = hashlib.md5((imei+salt).lower()).digest()
    code = 0
    for i in range(0,4):
        code += (ord(digest[i])^ord(digest[4+i])^ord(digest[8+i])^ord(digest[12+i])) << (3-i)*8
        code &= 0x1ffffff
        code |= 0x2000000
    return code

mod = humod.Modem()
imei = mod.show_imei()
status = humod.at_commands.Command(mod,'AT^CARDLOCK="'+str(show_code(imei,UNLOCK_SALT))+'"\r')
#------------------- code ends here -----------------------------

After save the file and quit your editor
Check that you have plugged in your modem and has been detected by system. (“dmesg | tail” could help. Check that you have ttyUSB0, ttyUSBx where x could be 1 or 2)
Execute the python script on commandline like so:

python huawei_unlocker.py

Thats it!

2). The geeky way

Plug in your modem
Check that its has been read by the system
Then at your terminal type:

# cat /dev/ttyUSB0 &

We then extract the IMEI serial of the modem like so:

# echo -e “ATI\r” > /dev/ttyUSB0

Make note of the IMEI serial
In your favorite editor paste the following code and save it as unlock.py

 #!/usr/bin/env python

import hashlib
UNLOCK_SALT = "5e8dd316726b0335"

def show_codes(imei, salt):
    digest = hashlib.md5((imei+salt).lower()).digest()
    code = 0
    for i in range(0,4):
        code += (ord(digest[i])^ord(digest[4+i])^ord(digest[8+i])^ord(digest[12+i])) << (3-i)*8
        code &= 0x1ffffff
        code |= 0x2000000
    return code

# PLEASE TYPE YOUR IMEI  BELOW
imei = ' '
if(imei == ' '):
    print 'Please open this script from your editor and enter your IMEI'
else:
    print "Your Modem unlock code: %s" % show_codes(imei,UNLOCK_SALT);

Execute the above script to generate your modem unlock code
Now its time to unlock the modem and we do it like so:

# echo -e 'AT^CARDLOCK="XXXXXXXX"\r' > /dev/ttyUSB0

(Please use your generated modem unlock code in place of XXXXXXXX)

You should see the modem reply with an OK
Press CTRL + C

Set the APN of the SIM Network whenever initializing the modem

For linux if your using wvdial change the wvdial.conf or add the line below which sets the APN name

Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","TelecomNetworkAPNName"

For windows users, go to the device manager -> Modems -> Open properties of the modem -> Under Advanced -> in the extra initialization commands field put the entry

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","TelecomNetworkAPNName"

The TelecomNetworkAPNName varies from Telecom, for UTL it is utweb and for Orange it is orange.ug.
So now you can create a connection with a dial number *99# or *99***1#.