Features/MoreNetworkManagerMobileBroadband

MoreNetworkManagerMobileBroadband

Summary

Extended support of mobile broadband cards in NetworkManager, including display of signal strength when connected, network scanning, network selection, etc.

Owner

• Name: DanWilliams

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora 11
• Last updated: 2008-08-06
• Percentage of completion: 0%

Detailed Description

NetworkManager has basic mobile broadband card support (including mobile phones when connected via wired serial), but lacks some more useful functionality:

• scanning for available cellular networks (GSM only)
• selection of a cellular network (GSM only)
• show signal strength of currently connected cellular network

Benefit to Fedora

These features are quite useful to users and sometimes necessary for easier roaming support when outside of your home country.

Scope

Work with hardware vendors (Novatel, Sierra, others) to release the specifications for the command protocol while the cards are connected. Also work with other projects like VMC to centralize all quirks in one place.

Test Plan

Get wide testing from the NetworkManager community of these features with as wide a hardware sample as we can find.

User Experience

Instead of a static icon while connected to a cellular network, the applet should show a signal strength meter. The applet should also allow the user to choose the GSM network that a specific connection should apply to, to facilitate easier roaming control.

Dependencies

Possibly VMC or other projects to drive the cards over D-Bus instead of manually as NM does right now.

Contingency Plan

Ship without signal strength while connected; scanning and network selection don't block on external parties.

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