Sierra Wireless MC5725 on Debian Linux

When I started my new job I was given an HP Compaq 6910p as a work laptop, which came with a nice embedded 1xEVDO (Sierra Wireless MC5725) card that I could use to get online anywhere where there is a Verizon signal. Over the past week or so I've been migrating from Windows XP to Debian, and this was the last bit of hardware I needed working. Here are my notes on how to get it up and running:

Requirements:
Kernel 2.6.21 or newer with sierra module compiled or latest from http://www.sierrawireless.com/faq/ShowFAQ.aspx?ID=607
Device activated in Windows and powered on (disable turning power off in preferences)

Load the modules:
sudo modprobe usbserial vendor=0x03f0 product=0x211d
sudo modprobe sierra

Setup kppp:
Uncomment noauth in /etc/ppp/peers/kppp-options
Modem device: /dev/ttyUSB0
Flow Control: Hardware
Line termination CR
Connection Speed 921600
Phone Number: #777
Authentication: PAP/CHAP
Login ID: your_device_phone_number@vzw3g.com
Password: vzw

Automatically load modules in Debian:
edit /etc/modprobe.conf/usbserial and add:
options usbserial vendor=0x03f0 product=0x211d
edit /etc/modules and add:
sierra

Refrences:
http://www.ka9q.net/5220.html
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-networking-3/motorola-e815-evdo-cant-dial-phone-592375/
http://tuxmobil.org/ibm_lenovo_thinkpad_t61_nc216ge_umts_linux.html

Some Technical Info:

lsusb -v:

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 03f0:211d Hewlett-Packard
Device Descriptor:
bLength 18
bDescriptorType 1
bcdUSB 1.10
bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
bDeviceSubClass 0
bDeviceProtocol 0
bMaxPacketSize0 64
idVendor 0x03f0 Hewlett-Packard
idProduct 0x211d
bcdDevice 0.02
iManufacturer 1 HP
iProduct 2 HP ev2210 1xEV-DO Broadband Wireless Module
iSerial 0

dmesg:

[ 1976.898309] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial
[ 1976.898435] drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for generic
[ 1976.898527] usbserial_generic 2-1:1.0: generic converter detected
[ 1976.898645] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[ 1976.898738] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[ 1976.898828] usb 2-1: generic converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[ 1976.898897] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
[ 1976.898957] drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial Driver core
[ 1982.544979] drivers/usb/serial/usb-serial.c: USB Serial support registered for Sierra USB modem
[ 1982.545685] usbcore: registered new interface driver sierra
[ 1982.545762] drivers/usb/serial/sierra.c: USB Driver for Sierra Wireless USB modems: v.1.2.8