how to use blackberry as a modem

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Mark Rejhon OfflineRetired BBF Moderator

Posts: 4,840Join Date: Aug 2004Location: Ottawa, Ontario,CanadaModel: BoldCarrier: Rogers

[User] Use BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop! [NEW VERSION 2.0] - 01-03-2005, 02:43 AM

HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For LaptopIntroductionDid you know that BlackBerry can now be used just like an external modem for a laptopcomputer, so that a laptop can have full Internet access? This is useful when you need to docertain things that a BlackBerry cannot yet do. Increasing numbers of success reports havecaused me to post this message. (Note: Mark Rejhon has not himself yet successfully used aBlackBerry as a modem; I am aggregating information). Sometimes, it is still tricky to set up aBlackBerry as a modem for a laptop, but this feature is becoming more and more common incellphones, and BlackBerry models are following suit..

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CreditsCredit goes to Scoobydoo, bfrye, bollar, VitaminB, jmounts, webtoker, dozment and countlessothers for their contributions..

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Supported BlackBerry ModelsModel 710X: Success (Rogers, T-Mobile)Model 7290: Success (Rogers, AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobile)Model 7250: Success (Verizon)Model 8100: Success (T-Mobile)

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[User] HOWTO: Use BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop! - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Numb... http://www.blackberryforums.com/blackberry-guides/2019-user-howto-use-blackberry-modem-l...

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Model 8700: Success (Rogers, Cingular)Model 7130e: Success (Verizon, Bell Mobility)Model 7510/7520/7230/7280/7730/7780/7100i: Use www.mobishark.comAll Older Models: Use www.mobishark.com.

IMPORTANT:Other Models Than Listed Above: There is no modem built in.However, you can use third-party modem software called SharkModem at MobiShark Online Blackberry Store: Home of Shark Modem.Supported CarriersCarrier AT&T: Success!Carrier Rogers: Success!Carrier Vodafone: Success!Carrier T-Mobile: Success!Carrier Verizon: Sometimes SuccessfulCarrier Cingular: Sometimes SuccessfulCarrier Nextel/Telus: May need to use www.mobishark.comCarrier Sprint: May need to use www.mobishark.comCarrier Bell Mobility: 7130e Confirmed, Must use www.mobishark.com otherwiseCurrently, Rogers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Vodafone UK are reported to work. Sometimes andCingular 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 BlackBerryMake sure your BlackBerry is connected by USB cable, and your BlackBerry Handheld Manager isrunning (just launch BlackBerry Desktop to run it.) This is necessary for using the BlackBerry asan external modem. You cannot use BlackBerry as a modem unless you have BlackBerryHandheld Manager running in the background!.

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Modem Driver InstallIf you installed a recent version of BlackBerry Desktop that came with a 7100t, 7290, 7250, or7520, it should include modem drivers and already be automatically installed. In the event youneed to manually install them, the modem drivers should be located in this directory:C:\program files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Modem DriversHowever, 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 ExistsGo 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). If you do, jump to the next step.However, if your modem is missing:If this modem entry is missing and cannot be found using Plug n Play, you may have to manuallyadd it. Verify you have "RIM Virtual Serial Port" drivers installed. Find out which COM ports theRIM Virtual Serial Ports are, go to Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager ->Ports (COM & LPT) ... This will tell you which COM ports your BlackBerry Modem is on. Next, goto Control Panel -> Phone and Modem and Remove the modem. Re-add the modem by clickingon Add. You MUST select the "Standard 33600 bps Modem" (correct) INSTEAD OF "Standard56000 bps Modem" (wrong). Click Next. You will be asked for the ports to add this modem to.Add this modem to all COM ports that the RIM Virtual Serial Port is on. You must choose the"Standard 33600 bps Modem" because of incompatible AT commands that result in an Error 628.Don't worry, the speed won't be slower..

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Verify The Modem Driver Is FunctioningGo to Control Panel -> Phone & Modem Options. In the Modems tab, you should see a newStandard Modem on a new port (such as COM6 or COM11). Click Properties -> Diagnostics ->Query Modem. You should see the following:

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ATQ0V1E0 - OKAT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodemAT+FCLASS=? - OKAT#CLS=? - OKAT+GCI? - OKAT+GCI=? - OKATI1 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI2 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI3 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI4 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI5 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI6 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodemATI7 - 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 STEPClick Properties -> Advanced and add only ONE of the following Extra initialization commandswith the appropriate carrier-specific APN Setting:

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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 blankNextel/Telus iDEN Users (untested) - Keep blankSprint/Bell Mobility CDMA Users (untested) - Keep blank.Add A New Internet ConnectionClose the Phone and Modem Options and the Control Panel. Create a new connection with Start-> Connect To -> Show all connections -> Create a new connection.

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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 yourcarrier:....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

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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

.Disable IP Header CompressionMake sure TCP/IP Properties (Advanced) "Use IP Header Compression" checkbox is NOT checked.To verify this, do these steps:

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1. Start Menu->Network Connections->"BlackBerry Modem"2. Click Properties Button3. Click Networking Tab4. Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)"5. Click Properties Button6. Click Advanced... Button7. Disable "Use IP header compression" checkbox8. 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".BES ConfigurationSkip this step if you are not on BES. You only need to follow this step if your company gave theBlackBerry to you. If you are at a company and you are on a BES 4.0, your Administrator mustenable the "BlackBerry IPModem" setting on the BES. This is a new setting in the Version 4.0 ofBES..

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Surf On The Laptop!Connect to the Internet on the laptop by clicking the "BlackBerry Modem" icon via StartMenu->Network Connections. No username or password is needed.

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Quote:

This is a "Mark Rejhon BlackBerry FAQ" article.Copyright (C) 2005 by Mark Rejhon, All Rights Reserved. Some portions may be Copyright (C)by respective forum members.Mark Rejhon grants permission to use this article only for private use. For all other uses, pleaseask Mark Rejhon at Mark Rejhon - aka Marky - Home Page of Mark D. Rejhon to ask for permission touse this article. If any content of this article also contains content by other forum members,please ask them for permission too as well. This includes commercial use, public use, repostingin full/part anywhere on the Internet, publication in magazine/book or any other media, or anyother use than private use. This copyright notice may not be edited or removed in any manner.Mark Rejhon reserves exclusive right to edit, remove, or restore this article, and this articlemay not be edited, removed, or restored by any other individual or organizations.

Thanks,


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Mark Rejhon

Last edited by Mark Rejhon : 06-12-2007 at 02:49 PM.

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Mark Rejhon OfflineRetired BBF Moderator

Posts: 4,840Join Date: Aug 2004Location: Ottawa, Ontario,CanadaModel: BoldCarrier: Rogers

01-03-2005, 01:48 AM

Frequently Asked Questions:Q: Can I Dial My ISP?A: No, you cannot and you should not. You should use the existing Internet connection that is built into theBlackBerry, which is accessed by simply dialing *99# .... You can probably access your ISP email normally,regardless, though.

Q: Will It Cost Money To Stay Connected?A: You can stay connected 24/7 without any airtime charges. It's the amount of data you download that matters.BlackBerry is always-on and it costs nothing to simply idle in a connected manner, if you're not running anysoftware. Make sure Windows Updates are disabled for dialup connections, as you don't want Windows to gobble upbandwidth.

Q: What Data Download Charges Will I Incur?For some carriers such as Rogers, the data charges will come out of the same existing BlackBerry plan that is usedfor email and web browsing. If you are on an unlimited data plan, be very careful! For example, Rogers Unlimitedhas a hidden 25 megabyte softcap on the Unlimited plan. AT&T charges separately for data. Some carriers arevery generous with their unlimited plans; so you may never run into trouble. T-Mobile charges $29.99 extra fortruly unlimited data. Other carriers may charge more (up to $150 for unlimited data). Other carriers will hit youwith extra charges even on an unlimited plan. Surfing through the laptop will no doubt consume data more quickly.Instant message chats do not take much bandwidth, while heavy web surfing will gobble a lot of your data.

Q: I have BES. Can I use data over my BES connection instead of carrier data?A: You can do this by using Shark Modem instead, at MobiShark Online Blackberry Store: Blackberry as a modem.This is third party modem software that can bypass several limitations of the modem software built into theBlackBerry.

Q: Why Use A Laptop?A: A laptop is still useful for occasional untethered use for things BlackBerry cannot easily do inexpensively for theaverage user, such as grabbing a forgotten PowerPoint presentation from your home desktop computer via remote


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control, or running a proprietary application. Chatting via instant messaging is a lot more fun on a regular laptopkeyboard if you're parked at a Starbucks or sitting on a 3-hour train trip. You can also write your occasional2-hour-long supersized email reply by laptop keyboard instead of BlackBerry thumb keyboard. You can easily sendMicrosoft Office attachments directly from your laptop. Even from hotel while travelling. Some web pages will notload on the BlackBerry itself. Online banking. Etc.

Q: I use Cingular. It doesn't work!A: It works now, but it is tricky to set up at first. You have to telephone Cingular and ask for these line items to beadded to your Cingular bill, if it does not already show up on your Cingular bill, called "Wireless Internet Express"and "Wireless Internet Express Data Connect":

Quote:

WIX EXTENDED INTERNET $0.00WIX DATA CONNECT $0.00WRLSS INTRNT XPRS PAY PER USE $0.00

Next, you need to use the proper APN username and APN password as follows, in all uppercase, when you start the"BlackBerry Modem" connection when using Cingular:

Quote:

Username: Password: CINGULAR1

It is very important to make sure that all the WIX lineitems are already on your bill, including "Wireless InternetExpress DATA CONNECT". This is required for tethered modem operation with Cingular. Once this is done, thenthere is no more port blocking anymore! Sometimes these items are removed from your account occasionally (suchas on January 1st start of year), so you may have to call them to get them re-added. Occasionally, you may needto override the nameservers and specify your own DNS nameservers. Please see the below for more information.As an alternative, if you use BES, you can use modem over MDS instead by using Shark Modem.

Q: I get an Error 692 when I try to connect!A: This problem is because the BlackBerry is not visible as a modem to the computer. Please make sure that theinstructions are followed correctly. If necessary, upgrade your handheld OS to 4.2 and your BlackBerry Desktop to4.2. This will increase your chances of full modem functionality.

Q: I get an Error 628 when I try to connect!A: Several causes exist, but the most common cause is when the BlackBerry is manually added as a "Standard56000 Modem". Re-add it as a "Standard 33600 Modem" instead. For more information, seeSolving Error 628 and 692.

Q: I get an Error 718 when I try to connect!A: This problem happens most often on Cingular and T-Mobile. It looks like you may have a DNS server issue. Youmay need to manually configure your DNS servers. To configure, follow these steps:

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1. Go to Start->Network Connections->Show All Connections2. Right-click your BlackBerry Internet icon, select Properties.3. A window will open. Click the Server Types tab.4. Click TCP/IP Settings.5. Select "Use the following DNS server addresses:"6a. If you use Cingular, enter: 66.209.10.201 and 66.209.10.2026b. If you use T-Mobile, enter: 216.155.175.105 and 216.155.175.1066c. If you use another carrier, enter: 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2 (or recommended DNS)

Further information can also be found in this thread.

Q: I use ACMEMobility Inc. What Special Config String Do I need In Step 8?A: In order to create a custom initialization string, you need to read this APN Settings link. For Step 8, replace the"XXX" in this string with the APN listed in the APN Settings document.

Quote:

+cgdcont=1,"IP","XXX","",0,0

If an APN username or password is required, you can enter them when you start the "BlackBerry Modem"connection from Start Menu->Network Connections.

Q: I tried that on another carrier. It doesn't work!Test some non-web Internet applications on your BlackBerry first, such as Verichat. Configure your Options->TCPsettings. Your carrier needs to support TCP/IP without need for MDS. If other applications such as Verichat orWebMessenger do not yet work on your BlackBerry, you will have to look at other alternatives such as getting BEShosting.

Q: I use Vodafone, which is supposed to work. It doesn't!A: Your carrier may have APN disabled for your phone. You may need to give them a phone call and ask them toadd the Access Point Name (APN) to your phone number for Internet access on your cellphone. Please look up theAPN Settings and then call your carrier and tell them the APN you want added for Internet access on your cellphone.If they don't know what you are talking about, ask to be escalated to Level 2 or ask them to transfer to anothercustomer service representative that knows what the three-letter acronym APN stands for.

Q: Why is web browsing the only thing I can do? Nothing else works, not even MSN, ICQ, telnet, FTP.A: This is carrier-dependant. Some people can use telnet and FTP over BlackBerryModem just fine. However, youcannot do so with certian carriers. For example, by default T-Mobile and Cingular blocks all ports on their APNexcept for port 80, which prevents you from doing anything except web browsing. You have to telephone yourcarrier to add the appropriate data service to your plan (which may cost extra). You may need to manuallyoverride your DNS server.

Q: What is the download performance of the BlackBerry modem?A: For GPRS BlackBerries such as 7290, speeds go up to about 5 to 5.5 kilobytes per second in good coverageareas. Most of the time, downloads range between 1 and 4 kilobytes per second. The experience should be similiarto a 56k dial-up modem. Be noted, pings are fairly high at >500ms, so BlackBerry Modem is not usually suitable for


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fast-paced online videogames.

Q: I use a BES. Can I use BlackBerryModem through my BES/MDS instead?A: There is likely a special initialization string needed in order to do this. At this time, this special initialization stringis unknown. Please feel free to experiment...

Q: I use a BlackBerry 7510 or 7280. Can I use BlackBerryModem?A: There is no modem built into these devices. To use these devices as a modem for laptop, you have to usethird-party software such as Shark Modem.

Q: Who Succeeded With BlackBerry Modem?A: There is a list of success reports found in this thread, as well as another thread that lists successful systemconfigurations:http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2463

Q: BlackBerry Modem still doesn't work for me!A: ....Older BlackBerries that were designed before October do not have any handheld-side modem driversavailable at this time, are you sure you are using a 7100, 7290, 7520, or newer BlackBerry?...If you are getting no modem initialization at all, remove your Windows-side modem drivers and let them bedetected again....Use only the Desktop that came on the CDROM included with a BlackBerry 7100 or 7290. If not, try downloadingBlackBerry Desktop 4.0 only if you did not get a disc....Also, disable IP header compression in the new Step 10 added to this post....Test other software such as Verichat on your BlackBerry to make sure they work, before trying BlackBerryModem....Finally, if your company is using a BES (4.0 or later), make sure they have the "BlackBerry IPModem" settingturned on....Try telephoning your carrier to get the Access Point Name added (See this list of APN by carrier), even T-Mobilesometimes forgets to add "wap.voicestream.com" to your BlackBerry. A phone call may be necessary beforeBlackBerry Modem works!...If all else fails, try third party modem software, such as Shark Modem.

Q: Can I do Bluetooth tethering?A: As of BlackBerryOS 4.0 and 4.1, you cannot. However, Shark Modem is mentioned to have the Bluetoothtethering capability, probably by the time you read this.

Q: What is the difference between Shark Modem and this?A: This FAQ mainly covers the modem capability built into BlackBerry by RIM. However, not all BlackBerry modelscan be tethered to a laptop, and many carriers disable this modem feature. Most BlackBerries, however, willfunction with Shark Modem, especially if you are using BES. Also, Shark Modem will support Bluetooth tethering,where BlackBerryOS 4.0 and 4.1 does not. Shark Modem can be found at MobiShark Online Blackberry Store:Blackberry as a modem.

Q: Where Did This Information Come From?A: This is a listing of all known original posts:http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1092http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=124


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how to use blackberry as a modem

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