Blackberry Modem

Do with this what you will – if you don’t have an unlimited data plan, this is not for you.

The following is a conglomeration of data that has proven very handy. Posting it to share with my online friends. Mine has been working great on AT&T for several months. I generally get a 128K connection. It’s not the fastest but it’s a great utility. Most carriers have this feature available but require a fee. This does not.

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Blackberry Modem
1. Introduction

A BlackBerry can usually be used as an external modem for a laptop to obtain internet access.

2. Supported BlackBerry Models
Model 710X: Success (Rogers, T-Mobile)
Model 7290: Success (Rogers, AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobile)
Model 7250: Success (Verizon)
Model 8100 Pearl: Success (T-Mobile)
Model 8300 Curve: Success (T-Mobile)
Model 8320 Curve (via BlueTooth): Success (T-Mobile)
Model 8310 Curve (via BlueTooth): Success (AT&T)
Model 8800: Success (T-Mobile)
Model 8700: Success (T-Mobile, Rogers, Cingular, Verizon)
Model 7130e: Success (Verizon, Bell Mobility)
Model 7510/7520/7230/7280/7730/7780/7100i: Use http://www.mobishark.com/
All Older Models: Use http://www.mobishark.com/
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IMPORTANT:
Other Models Than Listed Above: There is no modem built in. However, you can use thirdparty
modem software called Shark Modem at http://www.mobishark.com/
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3. Supported Carriers
Carrier AT&T: Success!
Carrier Rogers: Success!
Carrier Vodafone: Success!
Carrier T-Mobile: Success!
Carrier SwissCom: Success!
Carrier Verizon: Sometimes Successful
Carrier Cingular: Sometimes Successful
Carrier Nextel/Telus: May need to use http://www.mobishark.com/
Carrier Sprint: May need to use http://www.mobishark.com/
Carrier Bell Mobility: 7130e Confirmed, Must use http://www.mobishark.com/
otherwise
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4. 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! Note: For a
Bluetooth modem connection on new Curve devices the BlackBerry Manager does not
have to run in the background for the connection to work. You need to simply pair
your laptop and the Curve.
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5. Modem Driver Install
If you installed a recent version of BlackBerry Desktop that came with a new
Blackberry, 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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6. 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=? COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED
AT#CLS=? COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED
AT+GCI? COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED
AT+GCI=? COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED
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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7. IMPORTANT SPECIAL CONFIGURATION STEP
Click Properties -> Advanced. 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”
This is a newer string from TMO that works: +cgdcont=1,,”wap.voicestream.com”
Another alternate string (required for BlackBerry 8100 Pearl & BlackBerry 8800):
+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”wap.voicestream.com”
Cingular Blue/AT&T Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”proxy”
Cingular Orange Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”ISP.CINGULAR”
AT&T Users (Success!) _ THIS WORKED FOR ME ON AT&T
AT+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”WAP.CINGULAR”
Verizon Users (Success!) – Keep blank
Nextel/Telus iDEN Users (untested) – Keep blank
Sprint/Bell Mobility CDMA Users (untested) – Keep blank
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8. Add A New Internet Connection
Close the Phone and Modem Options and the Control Panel.
For XP: Create a new connection with Start -> Connect To -> Show all connections ->
Create a new connection.
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.
For Vista: Create a new connection with Start -> Connect To ->
1. Set up a connection or network
2. Choose a connection option: Click on “Connect to the Internet (Set up a wireless,
broadband, or dial-up connection to the Internet.”
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3. You are already connected to the Internet – Click on “Set up a new connection
anyway”
4. At “How do you want to connect?” Click on “Dial-up”
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/TMobile/SwissCom: Enter phone number *99#
If you use AT&T: Enter phone number: *99***1# _ THIS WORKED FOR
ME ON AT&T
….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 Cingular Orange, AT&T: _ THIS WORKED FOR ME ON AT&T
………Username: ISPDA@CINGULARGPRS.COM
………Password: CINGULAR1
….If you use T-Mobile:
………Username: (Your TMobile 10-digit phone number)
………Password: (Your existing TMobile.com Password)
………Note: In USA, you can leave both blank
….If you use Verizon, replace 8005551212 with your phone number:
………Username: 8005551212@vzw3g.com
………Password: 8005551212
….If you use Sprint:
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………Username: (Your existing Sprint PCS Username)
………Password: (Your existing Sprint PCS Password)
….If you use Bell Mobility, replace 8005551212 with your phone number:
………Username: 8005551212@1x.bell.ca
………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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9. Disable IP Header Compression
Make sure TCP/IP Properties (Advanced) “Use IP Header Compression” checkbox is NOT
checked. To verify this, do these steps:
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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10. 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.