HOWTO: Use BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop

[Mark Rejhon]

HOWTO: BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop

Original BlackBerryForums.com Post
(may be newer than this HowardForums post)

SUCCESS: 7100 model (T-Mobile success)
SUCCESS: 7290 model (AT&T success)

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 Scoobydoo, bfrye, bollar, VitaminB, jmounts, webtoker, for their contributions.
   
3. Supported BlackBerry Models
   You must have a BlackBerry model 7100 or a model 7290. At this time, no successes are yet possible on older BlackBerry models, and may not ever be. This may change with a release of BlackBerryOS 4.0, but there are no guarantees.
   
4. Supported Carriers
   Currently, T-Mobile and AT&T are reported to work. No confirmations for other carriers yet.
   
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.
   
6. Modem Driver Install
   If you installed a recent version of BlackBerry Desktop that came with a 7100t or 7290, 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
   
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:

   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

8. 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 (tested)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com","",0,0
   
   AT&T Users (tested)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","proxy"
   
   Rogers and Cingular Users (untested)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","blackberry.net"
   
   Cingular Users (untested)
   +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.cingular"
   
   
9. 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.

   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. The phone number is star followed by two nines followed by pound: *99#
   8. Click Next.
   9. Leave the username and passwords blank.
   10. Clear all checkboxes ("Use...when anyone..." and "Make this the default...")
   11. Click Finish

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.

[Mark Rejhon]

Frequently Asked Questions:

Original BlackBerryForums.com Post
(may be newer than this HowardForums post)

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 the BlackBerry, which is accessed by simply dialing *99# .... You can probably access your ISP email normally, regardless, though.

Q: What Data Charges Will I Incur?
A: You can stay connected 24/7 without any airtime charges. It's the amount of data you download that matters. The data charges will come out of your existing BlackBerry plan. If you are on an unlimited data plan, be very careful! For example, Rogers Unlimited has a hidden 25 megabyte softcap on the Unlimited plan. Some carriers are very generous with their unlimited plans; so you may never run into trouble. Other carriers will hit you with 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: Why Use A Laptop?
A: A laptop is still useful for occasional untethered use for things BlackBerry cannot easily do inexpensively for the average user, such as grabbing a forgotten PowerPoint presentation from your home desktop computer via remote control, or running a proprietary application. Chatting via instant messaging is a lot more fun on a regular laptop keyboard if you're parked at a Starbucks or sitting on a 3-hour train trip. You can also write your occasional 2-hour-long supersized email reply by laptop keyboard instead of BlackBerry thumb keyboard. You can easily send Microsoft Office attachments directly from your laptop. Even from hotel while travelling. Some web pages will not load on the BlackBerry itself. Online banking. Etc.

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.

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

If you need to add a username, add it between the two quotes in the empty quotes (last set of quotes).

Q: I use Cingular. It doesn't work!
A: Give your carrier some time. Some carriers are a bit slow at deploying TCP/IP on BlackBerries. Test some Internet applications on your BlackBerry first, such as Verichat. Your carrier needs to support TCP/IP without need for MDS. If other applications such as Verichat or WebMessenger do not yet work on your BlackBerry, you won't be able to use your BlackBerry as a modem for laptop.

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 string is unknown. Please feel free to experiment...

Q: Where Did This Information Come From
A: This is a listing of all known original posts:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2266
http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1092
http://www.blackberryforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=124

[d123456]

Thankyou very much, one more reason to get the 7290, now cingular has to fix their side of the equation.



.

[crimp]

I don't have the modem drivers. Anyone know where I could find them. I would like to try this with my 7280.

[Mark Rejhon]

This won't work with a 7280. I have a 7280 and can confirm that it does not work. You must have a 7290.

There may be chances that future upgrades to the 7280 may make it modem-capable. But I doubt RIM wants to do it.

[hillstrubl]

I've tested it on my 7100t and it works great, thanks for the tip!

[Mark Rejhon]

Good news. There is possibly a modem for 7280 after all. Multiple sources have now confirmed that older RIM devices are modem-capable. It's 100% software.

Hopefully they will release this as part of BlackBerryOS 4.0 .... However, I am not holding my breath. I am crossing my fingers though.

[AgouraCAGuy]

Mark,

I'm trying to connect my desktop to work through my 7100T. I went through all of the setup twice and had the same problem. There was an error message that when I dialed, it could not locate my modem. I noticed when I added a new internet connection (Standard Modem) and then verified the modem is functioning, it did not display query string as you posted above. Do I need to add them manually, or what? I have the most up to date desktop manager and version 128 on my 7100T.

Thanks

[Mark Rejhon]

Try deleting the modem and then getting the modem re-detected again.

[AgouraCAGuy]

I've tried 3 times, I the modem is not recognized. Any suggestions

[Mark Rejhon]

Are you using the BlackBerry Desktop that came with your 7100t, or did you upgrade the BlackBerry Desktop to 4.0.0.30? Other people reported it stopped working when they did that.

[AgouraCAGuy]

Originally posted by Mark Rejhon
Are you using the BlackBerry Desktop that came with your 7100t, or did you upgrade the BlackBerry Desktop to 4.0.0.30? Other people reported it stopped working when they did that.

I'm using Desktop version 3.6.3.10. I think that the problem is that the Modem Drivers (query) is not properly programed. Would you know how to change the string?

[AgouraCAGuy]

Is there any problem using my desktop that already has a DSL line. I'm trying to have a backup if my DSL fails.

[xxhiyanxx]

not sure if i missed this.. is there a way to tether using the bluetooth?

[Mark Rejhon]

AgouraCAGuy,
Yes, you can use BlackBerryModem with a desktop. Be careful of data charges! It's not unlimited even if you have an unlimited plan.

xxhiyanxx,
No, there is no way to do so.