[nrcapes]

I had my Pearl working as a tethered modem from my laptop for a few days using instructions I found in another thread, then it stopped working. I called T-Mobile and they got it working again. Here's how:
Re: 8100 stopped working as tethered modem with TMO
permalink

Got to a bb rep right away. He fixed the problem as follows:


* go to Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, Phone and Modem Options. Under the Modems tab, click on Standard Modem. Click Properties. Click Advanced. Make sure nothing is entered in the "extra initialization commands."

* on the berry, go to Options, Advanced, TCP and enter "wap.voicestream.com" after APN:

* go to Control Panel, Network Connections, Create a new connection, then hit Next

*Select Connect to Internet

* Select Set up connection manually

*Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Check the box next to the modem you created above and then click Next.


* Enter T-Mobile as the ISP name

* Enter *99# as the Phone Number and then click Next

* Keep User Name and Password blank. Clear all the other check boxes.

* To create the connection, click Finish.

* right click on the dial-up connection under Network Connections, then click Properties. Below the PPP window click Settings and uncheck all boxes except "enable LCP Extensions."


* make sure the blackberry is connected to Desktop Manager on the laptop.

* Under Network Connections, right-click on the Dial-up connection for T-Mobile that we just created. Click Connect. Click Dial.

If everything works, you should be connected to the Internet.

[cp6169]

Thanks.

[iMacj]

Thanks!!!!!!

When I first set it up, from a previous thread I found as well, I wasn't sure if this was something T-Mobile even allowed as acceptable use. The information you just posted is very valuable to me. I travel constantly and MANY times just need to use my laptop briefly without paying for a daily subscription to some airport WiFi system for the 10 minutes of use I need.
Thank you!

[iMacj]

Although I am using a bluetooth connection to my mac. Slightly different setup but good to know T-Mobile is not only allowing it but offering help to get it done. :D

[Einherjer]

What is the modem speed. On the EDGE network.

[iMacj]

I honestly do not know. I have heard 56K dial up speed and some folks bragging about 2X that when using some of the speed monitoring utilities out there by going to websites that feedback your connection speed once you are connected with the modem feature.

[hurricane_06]

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~
I had it working a little while ago and now I can't get it to connect
I went thru the steps 2xs already any suggestions?

[srice13]

Make sure your modem is setup as either "Standard Modem" or "33600 Modem" if you set it to 56 or any other modem speed it most likely will not work.

As far as the speed you connect at around 115-140k

It's faster than dial-up by all means.

Also you DO need extra initialization commands. enter in
+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com" without this you'll constantly get errors when trying to connect your modem.

If you still have problems let me know.

And yes we, t-mobile, deffinatly support the device as a modem and any other device as a modem. It's a great thing to have for anyone who already has the internet plan or BB plan on their lines.

disclamer: my views and opinions do not represent T-mobile USA nor it's parent company and affiliates.

[iMacj]

Any suggestions as to why it will disconnect after a few minutes. I am a Mac user and connecting via bluetooth. Everything works great but even if I am not idle after a few minutes I see it disconnecting.

I also, have not been able to attach a file to an email and send. For instance a 50kb PDF file. I usually get a message stating, "the server on the other side is not responding.
Thanks in advance!

[piblondin]

I'm having the same problem with using my Pearl as a Bluetooth modem on T-Mobile with my Powerbook. I can stay connected for a few minutes, and then it silently drops the connection. I followed the directions listed on Fibble's follow-up post, but haven't been able to fix the problem.

Any help is appreciated.

[dwagman]

I would call Tmo support, theyre very helpful and since they allow you to use tethering, they know how to make it work well....

[mysmyrrh]

Even after 90mins on the phone with TMO, I could not get the tethered modem to work. Ever. I'd be interested to know exactly what type and brand of laptops are the most sucessful at connecting. The laptop I've tried and failed with is a Dell Inspiron notebook. Pin me if you have any suggestions. ~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

[kayos72]

Pam I run a lenovo works greatwhat errors are you getting I have probably had them all. LOL

[mysmyrrh]

Oops! Forgot I have a new pincode. pin:23e4456e I actually did update my profile online, but it's not showing up.
Anyway, Trav-i get a 777 error and the modems cannot connect 690-something error. And here's another thing- I have little or no luck connecting via DSL or wifi either. It appears to be a security software issue. I have uninstalled all the security software, and also deleted from the registry. No luck. I can connect very seldom, and when I do I can't log in to any pages that are SSL. I get a page not found error. This is all on the laptop now, not my Pearl. I never could ever get the modem working. And a friend of mine got his working, and then it pooped out. He lost the connection, and I don't think he ever got it back. I'm thinking it's an OS bug. Too many peeps are having the same probs. ~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

[iMacj]

I still can not find an answer as to why it will not hold the connection....but still looking.

[mysmyrrh]

I am still of the mindset that it's an OS issue. After everything is said and done, it always goes back to the OS. And I have deleted and reinstalled the desktop manager everytime to see if that fixes it. No luck. There has to be something missing from the drivers. Some line of code that tells the computer to keep the connection open until the user terminates it. Anyone know how to read code? Lol. Maybe some computer geekster can come up with a solution.

[iMacj]

I was wondering the same thing myself, mysmyrrh but I think it may be the provider somewhat involved here. Otherwise, we could forget and leave it signed on for hours. Therefore I am looking for something that tells the O/S, times-up! And I think your right that would be in the code.

[lux]

WORTH NOTING:
If your phone tries to use your tcp settings while you are connected to your laptop with tethering, you will lose your laptop connection...

For example, the Opera web browser uses your tcp settings to connect instead of the wap settings that the BB browser uses... if you trying browsing to a webpage in Opera on your BlackBerry, it will terminate the laptop data connection, and you will have to disconnect and reconnect....

I experienced this recently with JiveTalk, which uses TCP to connect, and will terminate the tethered connection after a few minutes.

[jenga1083]

i keep getting a "hardware failure" error or a "connection port" error. I followed the steps exactly. Is there something I'm missing like a special cord that goes from dail-up port to your phone??

Please Help

[scampbell185]

Jenga:
You can pin me if you like I set this up for customers all of the time. My pin is 23EDEAE2.

[liam.davey]

great thanks for this!

[jenga1083]

Nevermind, I figured it out. Thanks though.

MAKE SURE YOU enable your com port option on your desktop manager. I was looking around my desktop manager and saw that the bluetooth/usb was enabled and ready, but my Com port was disabled. Enable it so it be ready to be used. If you do it correctly, the status on the Com port will display "disconnected"

[absoluteevel]

I am about to go on a trip with a LOT of roaming. I think I will be primarily roaming on Dobson/Cell One in the Navajo reservation area of the 4 corners. Do I need to change the APN in the modem init string?

[iMacj]

Thank you Lux!
Perhaps that is the reason I am always disconnecting.

[avelazquez1]

Originally Posted by nrcapes I had my Pearl working as a tethered modem from my laptop for a few days using instructions I found in another thread, then it stopped working. I called T-Mobile and they got it working again. Here's how: Re: 8100 stopped working as tethered modem with TMO Got to a bb rep right away. He fixed the problem as follows: * go to Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, Phone and Modem Options. Under the Modems tab, click on Standard Modem. Click Properties. Click Advanced. Make sure nothing is entered in the "extra initialization commands." * on the berry, go to Options, Advanced, TCP and enter "wap.voicestream.com" after APN: * go to Control Panel, Network Connections, Create a new connection, then hit Next *Select Connect to Internet * Select Set up connection manually *Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Check the box next to the modem you created above and then click Next. * Enter T-Mobile as the ISP name * Enter *99# as the Phone Number and then click Next * Keep User Name and Password blank. Clear all the other check boxes. * To create the connection, click Finish. * right click on the dial-up connection under Network Connections, then click Properties. Below the PPP window click Settings and uncheck all boxes except "enable LCP Extensions." * make sure the blackberry is connected to Desktop Manager on the laptop. * Under Network Connections, right-click on the Dial-up connection for T-Mobile that we just created. Click Connect. Click Dial. If everything works, you should be connected to the Internet.

If you still are not able to connect, try changing the dial-up phone number to *99***1# ; go back into your berry and leave the TCP field blank.
After that you will need to go back to you control panel, phones and modems, click the modems tab, highlight the standard modem, click on properties, click on advanced tab, and enter at+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com" on the extra initializations commands.
This is for Tmobile customers only.

[iMacj]

For some reason this week I was able to connect and hold the connection for the longest time ever. Approximately 25 minutes. I even had emails come in to the BB while I was surfing with the PEARL tethered. Then a call came in and a few seconds in dropped the connection to the modem. I NEVER would have expected either to take place while I was using the BB as a modem. After that, I tried it again and was online for about 35 minutes. Go figure. I have not changed anything in the set up for weeks now.
However, I was in the RDU airport and instead of T-Mobile my BB read Cingular. I know NC is one place that T-Mobile is not present or at least where I go they aren't. Usually in that area I am on SunCom but at the airport it always switches to Cingular.

I have never been able to remain connected for longer than 1 - 3 minutes using the BB as a modem. While roaming on another network it worked better than ever. Downloading files was very slow but web pages were satisfactory considering the hardware and BlueTooth connection. Still beats the heck out of paying $7.00/hr for a short connection to do a few things.

A few weeks prior to this trip, same setup, same airport, practically the same area of the airport, I could not connect the modem no matter how many times I tried. It all just seems very unreliable. Hit or miss.

[ddriscoll13]

good information

[slimm]

Originally Posted by srice13 Also you DO need extra initialization commands. enter in +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com" without this you'll constantly get errors when trying to connect your modem. disclamer: my views and opinions do not represent T-mobile USA nor it's parent company and affiliates.

This is what got me connected. Thank you very much

[iMacj]

Well, here is an update on my latest experience with the tethered modem. After my most recent post, 3 up from here. I was in NYC this week and without changing anything since my recent success in Durham, NC, I could not hold s connection for more than 2 minutes again. I tried relentlessly. I had max signal and the Pearl read EDGE, so everything looked like max performance, network speaking.

I am beginning to think since I finally had success for extrended periods of time elsewhere it is more network related than anything else now.
Chicago tonight will try it here too.

[iMacj]

All:

There you have it. Works in Chicago too. Holding connection for 40 minutes. On My iBook I have made the internal modem connection completely inactive.
System Preferences, click Network, click show network port configurations, uncheck internal modem, Apply now.

The internal modem on the iBook as well as the choices does not include anything less than 56k speed, just v.32 v.34. v.90 and v.92. I did not add the extra initialization command either but that's just on an iBook. other members have reported that as being very helpful.

Also, I was able to connect to AOL on the laptop using TCP/IP connection without interruption.

I never receive an errors just 'disconnecting' and no reason as to why. It seems to have different performance as I move around the country.
Perhaps I am just mis-understanding how this really works.