Even after all the drivers for the ROOTing process are installed, and the phone detected as a modem in Device Manager, I was surprised and disappointed that I was unable to connect to the net.
I was previously using a Nokia 6230 as a dialup modem for the job, and was expecting to using the A5 similarly. So, on seeing that the phone was recognised as a modem, I was assured that there would not be any further issues to get the A5 working as a modem.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
RNDIS
You see, when the phone is connected, it shows up as a modem. But, to use it as a modem, the USB Tethering function has to be activated in the phone. This can be done from the Settings menu - Wireless.... -> Tethering.... - USB Tethering. Once this is enabled, the modem entry disappears from the Device Manager, and instead a new device is detected called RNDIS.
Google it for more info. What matters is that you need another set of drivers to overcome this impediment.
DRIVERS
The solution which I have found involves some classic Indian jugaad. While RNDIS drivers can be downloaded, you will be hard pressed to find the one suitable for Karbonn.. probably because no one uses it for the purpose.
THE JUGAAD
The jugaad involves slightly modifying the RNDIS drivers for some other more popular smartphone that are easily available.
1. I downloaded the driver for Acer smartphones (http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/NETWORK-CARD/OTHER-NETWORK-CARDS/ACER-USB-Ethernet-RNDIS-Driver-4000.shtml ).
2. Unzipped the package, and opened the file tether.inf.
3. There among the list of devices the drivers were meant for, are listed hardware ids, like " USB\VID_24E3&PID_7102&MI_00".
4. Here, I just replaced the part after "USB\" to match the id of the A5. This value can be accessed from the Device Manager. Right click on the RNDIS entry (that doesn't have the driver yet), choose Properties and under that, the Details tab.
5. Just enter the same values as seen in the Details tab, into the line in the tether.inf file and save it.Voila!
MANUAL INSTALLATION
As always, driver installation is manual. So right click on RNDIS entry in device manager and select update driver, and browse to the folder containing the tether.inf file. The drivers are all installed, but, as expected, appear as Acer devices.
Once the drivers are installed, if you look in Device Manager a new entry under Network Adapters appears, NOT Modems.(surpise surprise). Correspondingly, under Network Connections, you will see a New LAN connection. So there is no dial up involved, just enable Data transfers in the phone, and USB tethering and you are online.
HAPPENED TO ME
Compared to Wireless Hotspot / Tethering, USB tethering is a bit unreliable. It breaks down when used continuously for an hour or so.
And while we are on the topic of continuous use: How many A5 users have noticed that if the phone is used to download a large file, the SIM not being used for the connection is disconnected? So much for Dual Standby!
I was previously using a Nokia 6230 as a dialup modem for the job, and was expecting to using the A5 similarly. So, on seeing that the phone was recognised as a modem, I was assured that there would not be any further issues to get the A5 working as a modem.
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
RNDIS
You see, when the phone is connected, it shows up as a modem. But, to use it as a modem, the USB Tethering function has to be activated in the phone. This can be done from the Settings menu - Wireless.... -> Tethering.... - USB Tethering. Once this is enabled, the modem entry disappears from the Device Manager, and instead a new device is detected called RNDIS.
Google it for more info. What matters is that you need another set of drivers to overcome this impediment.
DRIVERS
The solution which I have found involves some classic Indian jugaad. While RNDIS drivers can be downloaded, you will be hard pressed to find the one suitable for Karbonn.. probably because no one uses it for the purpose.
THE JUGAAD
The jugaad involves slightly modifying the RNDIS drivers for some other more popular smartphone that are easily available.
1. I downloaded the driver for Acer smartphones (http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/NETWORK-CARD/OTHER-NETWORK-CARDS/ACER-USB-Ethernet-RNDIS-Driver-4000.shtml ).
2. Unzipped the package, and opened the file tether.inf.
3. There among the list of devices the drivers were meant for, are listed hardware ids, like " USB\VID_24E3&PID_7102&MI_00".
MANUAL INSTALLATION
As always, driver installation is manual. So right click on RNDIS entry in device manager and select update driver, and browse to the folder containing the tether.inf file. The drivers are all installed, but, as expected, appear as Acer devices.
Once the drivers are installed, if you look in Device Manager a new entry under Network Adapters appears, NOT Modems.(surpise surprise). Correspondingly, under Network Connections, you will see a New LAN connection. So there is no dial up involved, just enable Data transfers in the phone, and USB tethering and you are online.
HAPPENED TO ME
Compared to Wireless Hotspot / Tethering, USB tethering is a bit unreliable. It breaks down when used continuously for an hour or so.
And while we are on the topic of continuous use: How many A5 users have noticed that if the phone is used to download a large file, the SIM not being used for the connection is disconnected? So much for Dual Standby!
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