HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop
This is an article that was originally written by Mark Rejhon on
BlackBerryForums.com
1. 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.
.
2. Credits
Credit goes to (BBForums Usernames) Mark
Rejhon, Scoobydoo, bfrye, bollar, VitaminB,
jmounts, webtoker, dozment for their
contributions. Thanks for user Wobly specifically
for the Vista instructions.
.
3. 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/
.
IMPORTANT:
Other Models Than Listed Above: There is no
modem built in. However, you can use third-party
modem software called Shark Modem at
http://www.mobishark.com/
.
4. 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/</a>
Carrier Sprint: May need to use
http://www.mobishark.com/
Carrier Bell Mobility: 7130e Confirmed, Must use
http://www.mobishark.com/ 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.
.
5. 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.
.
6. 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.
.
7. 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.
8. IMPORTANT SPECIAL CONFIGURATION STEP
Click Properties -> Advanced. Add only ONE of
the following Extra initialization commands with
the appropriate carrier-specific APN Setting:
o For Vista users only: Under Control
Panel>Phone and Modem>Properties on the
General Tab, click "Change Settings". After
giving Administrator approval, click the
Advanced tab. There, enter the appropriate
APN settings for your carrier as noted below.
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"
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"
at&t Users (Success!)
AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","WAP.CINGULAR"
UK Vodafone Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","internet"
SwissCom Users (Success!)
+cgdcont=1,"IP","gprs.swisscom.ch"
Verizon Users (Success!) - Keep blank
Nextel/Telus iDEN Users (untested) - Keep blank
Sprint/Bell Mobility CDMA Users (untested) -
Keep blank
.
9. 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."
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/AT&T/TMobile/Swis
sCom: 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:
[email protected].........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:
[email protected].........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:
[email protected].........Password: (Your Bell
Mobility Voicemail PIN)
....If you use Swisscom:
.......The connection can be
established anonymously, however
some devices need data in those
fields, if that's the case, use:
.........Username: gprs
.........Password: gprs
10. Clear all checkboxes
("Use...when anyone..." and "Make
this the default...")
11. Click Finish
10. Disable IP Header Compression
(*Vista users, see the note below)
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"
o For Vista users only: Under the
Network and Sharing Center, click "Manage
Network Connections". When the Network
Connections screen is visible, you should
have the Blackberry Modem connection you
created. Right click the Blackberry Modem
and select "Properties". Under the Properties
screen on the General tab, select the
"Configure" button. Ensure that ALL check
boxes are unchecked. Select "OK" to exit the
screen. Under the Networking tab, select the
properties for the Internet Protocol Version 4
(IPV4). On the Properties screen, select the
"Advanced" button. Ensure that "Use IP
Header Compression" is unchecked. Select OK
to exit the screen.
11. 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.
.
12. 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.
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