View Full Version : HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop


kanwalgee
26th July 2006, 09:35
HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop
Introduction
Did you know that BlackBerry can now be used just like an external modem for a laptop computer, so that a laptop can have full Internet access? This is useful when you need to do certain things that a BlackBerry cannot yet do. Increasing numbers of success reports have caused me to post this message. (Note: Mark Rejhon has not himself yet successfully used a BlackBerry as a modem; I am aggregating information). Sometimes, it is still tricky to set up a BlackBerry as a modem for a laptop, but this feature is becoming more and more common in cellphones, and BlackBerry models are following suit.
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Credits
Credit goes to Scoobydoo, bfrye, bollar, VitaminB, jmounts, webtoker, dozment for their contributions.
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Supported BlackBerry Models
Model 710X: Success (Rogers, T-Mobile)
Model 7290: Success (Rogers, AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobile)
Model 7250: Success (Verizon)
Model 8700: Success (Rogers, Cingular)
Model 7130e: Success (Verizon, Bell Mobility)
Model 7510/7520/7230/7280/7730/7780/7100i: Use [Only registered and activated users can see links]
All Older Models: Use [Only registered and activated users can see links]
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IMPORTANT:
Other Models Than Listed Above: There is no modem built in. However, you can use third-party modem software called Shark Modem at [Only registered and activated users can see links]
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Supported Carriers
Carrier AT&T: Success!
Carrier Rogers: Success!
Carrier Vodafone: Success!
Carrier T-Mobile: Success!
Carrier Verizon: Sometimes Successful
Carrier Cingular: Sometimes Successful
Carrier Nextel/Telus: May need to use [Only registered and activated users can see links]
Carrier Sprint: May need to use [Only registered and activated users can see links]
Carrier Bell Mobility: 7130e Confirmed, Must use [Only registered and activated users can see links] otherwise
Currently, Rogers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Vodafone UK are reported to work. Sometimes and Cingular works, but is much harder to setup. No confirmations for other carriers yet.
Important: If you are using a BES 4.0 server, your BES 4.0 server, you should not use the "Disable IPmodem" setting. BES hosting providers such as eOutlook/Mailstreet/BES4U/MyBlueberry must avoid setting the "Disable IPmodem" setting.
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Connect Your BlackBerry
Make sure your BlackBerry is connected by USB cable, and your BlackBerry Handheld Manager is running (just launch BlackBerry Desktop to run it.) This is necessary for using the BlackBerry as an external modem. You cannot use BlackBerry as a modem unless you have BlackBerry Handheld Manager running in the background!
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Modem Driver Install
If you installed a recent version of BlackBerry Desktop that came with a 7100t, 7290, 7250, or 7520, it should include modem drivers and already be automatically installed. In the event you need to manually install them, the modem drivers should be located in this directory:
C:\program files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Modem Drivers
However, if you are having problems with these drivers, uninstall, delete all leftover RIM files, and then reinstall the latest version of BlackBerry Desktop.
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Verify The Modem Driver Is Functioning
Go to Control Panel -> Phone & Modem Options. In the Modems tab, you should see a new Standard Modem on a new port (such as COM6 or COM11). Click Properties -> Diagnostics -> Query Modem. You should see the following:
Quote:
ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodem
AT+FCLASS=? - OK
AT#CLS=? - OK
AT+GCI? - OK
AT+GCI=? - OK
ATI1 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI2 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI3 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI4 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI5 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI6 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI7 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem

Note: This may look different on Nextel 7520, or Sprint/Verizon/Bell Mobility 7250. This is normal. Just make sure there is a response at all, rather than no response.
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IMPORTANT SPECIAL CONFIGURATION STEP
Click Properties -> Advanced and add only ONE of the following Extra initialization commands with the appropriate carrier-specific APN Setting:

TMOBILE USA Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com"

Rogers Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet.com"

Cingular Blue/AT&T Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","proxy"

Cingular Orange Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","ISP.CINGULAR"

UK Vodafone Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet"

Verizon Users (Success!) - Keep blank
Nextel/Telus iDEN Users (untested) - Keep blank
Sprint/Bell Mobility CDMA Users (untested) - Keep blank
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Add A New Internet Connection
Close the Phone and Modem Options and the Control Panel. Create a new connection with Start -> Connect To -> Show all connections -> Create a new connection.
Quote:
1. Click Next

2. Select "Connect To The Internet" then Next

3. Select "Set up my connection manually" then Next

4. Select "Connect using a dial-up modem" then Next.

5. Check only the Standard Modem (if prompted).

6. Give the connection a name such as "BlackBerry Modem", then Next.

7. On the next screen, pick one of the following phone numbers, depending on your carrier:
....If you use GSM/Cingular/AT&T/TMobile: Enter phone number *99#
....If you use iDEN/Nextel/Telus: Enter phone number S=2
....If you use CDMA/Verizon/Sprint/Bell Canada: Enter phone number #777

8. Click Next.

9. On the next screen, pick one of the following, depending on your carrier:

....If you use Cingular Blue, AT&T or Nextel:
.........Username: (blank)
.........Password: (blank)

....If you use Rogers Canada:
.........Username: wapuser1
.........Password: wap

....If you use Cingular Orange:
.........Username:
.........Password: CINGULAR1

....If you use T-Mobile:
.........Username: (Your existing TMobile.com Username)
.........Password: (Your existing TMobile.com Password)

....If you use Verizon, replace 8005551212 with your phone number:
.........Username:
.........Password: 8005551212

....If you use Sprint:
.........Username: (Your existing Sprint PCS Username)
.........Password: (Your existing Sprint PCS Password)

....If you use Bell Mobility, replace 8005551212 with your phone number:
.........Username:
.........Password: (Your Bell Mobility Voicemail PIN)

10. Clear all checkboxes ("Use...when anyone..." and "Make this the default...")

11. Click Finish

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Disable IP Header Compression
Make sure TCP/IP Properties (Advanced) "Use IP Header Compression" checkbox is NOT checked. To verify this, do these steps:
Quote:
1. Start Menu->Network Connections->"BlackBerry Modem"
2. Click Properties Button
3. Click Networking Tab
4. Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)"
5. Click Properties Button
6. Click Advanced... Button
7. Disable "Use IP header compression" checkbox
8. Click all OK buttons to close all dialogs

Also make sure you clear all these checkboxes, if you see any of these checked:
Turn off "Enable Hardware Flow Control"
Turn off "Enable Modem Error Control"
Turn off "Enable Modem Compression"
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BES Configuration
Skip this step if you are not on BES. You only need to follow this step if your company gave the BlackBerry to you. If you are at a company and you are on a BES 4.0, your Administrator must enable the "BlackBerry IPModem" setting on the BES. This is a new setting in the Version 4.0 of BES.
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Surf On The Laptop!
Connect to the Internet on the laptop by clicking the "BlackBerry Modem" icon via Start Menu->Network Connections. No username or password is needed.

hackfan
12th April 2007, 14:48
Airtel Users can use (Success)


+cgdcont=1,"IP","airtelgprs.com"

dharish
17th April 2007, 21:35
Hi
Error: TCP/IP CP Reported error 736: The remote computer terminated the control protocol..
I m using Blackberry 7130G.... did all d steps properly... Nt wrking! This is d error i got...
I hv a few doubts! Shud i also put *99#? And abt d user name n passwd, the technical ppl gave me a user name n passwd for BB alone.. do i gotta use dat? Plz lemme know!
THx
Harish
:ilove:

hackingfan
18th April 2007, 20:05
Hi
Error: TCP/IP CP Reported error 736: The remote computer terminated the control protocol..
I m using Blackberry 7130G.... did all d steps properly... Nt wrking! This is d error i got...
I hv a few doubts! Shud i also put *99#? And abt d user name n passwd, the technical ppl gave me a user name n passwd for BB alone.. do i gotta use dat? Plz lemme know!
THx
Harish
:ilove:

Can you please elaborate your issue ? Please give the detail of your Network.

dharish
18th April 2007, 22:38
I wanted to configure the blackberry with my laptop to use it as a modem! I wanna juz try what the thread says! So i followed step by step instructions in the thread... I m using Airtel as my carrier.

Now when i tried to conncet it thro the Blackberry modem, I recvd dis error.
So my question was of 2 parts.
1) The number i used to dial thro the modem was *99# for airtel(GSM), is it right?
2) Also, the user name n passwd it asked for during the configuration of the connection, I had mentioned the username n passwd given by the airtel guy. Am i right?

Hope u understood the question, if any clarifications, i would more than happy to elaborate further.
Thanks in advance
Harish

hackerzbox
21st June 2007, 19:20
guys........
does the compresion still active
i mean data transfer

C_J
21st June 2007, 22:41
for whom is interested, check this also ;-) [Only registered and activated users can see links]

hackfan
1st November 2007, 13:13
Hi,

I cannot connect to internet Using Airtel Blackberry anymore, I am getting "error: supplementry data service"

Anybody having solution??

Regards.

sirfmayur
10th May 2009, 23:37
Hey,

Can you help me with Vodafone(India) too..

Thanks Always!!

cunguk
11th May 2009, 18:47
Bold = success, XL ( Indonesia ) (other providers can used to, remember different provider different setting, used Google to search )
at+cgdcont=1,"IP","[Only registered and activated users can see links]"
number = *99#1

sirfmayur
11th May 2009, 19:38
All is fine, but I guess some problem with the number..

When I click on connect it starts dialing same number from my phone and it says You seem to have dialed wrong number.. :(

What is it??

Please help..

3com
11th May 2009, 20:33
Long time thread..kindly post at problem section
Locked!!!