How To Enable EVDO BroadbandAccess on Verizon BlackBerry 7250 or 7130
(DRAFT VERSION 4)

A BlackBerryForums.com Exclusive: Thanks to posters at BlackBerryForums.com, this is the Internet's first properly bulleted FAQ on activating Verizon BroadbandAccess EVDO on a BlackBerry 7250:

Important Note: This is confirmed working for Verizon business users at this time. However, Verizon consumer users may have to wait until early next year.

1. Call Verizon 866-788-9387
   Select Option 2, Option 2, Option 2
   .
2. Configure Your BlackBerry Account With Verizon
   When somebody answers, say that you want to add BroadbandAccess Connect to your account. The feature code is 71764. There is no additional charge. This feature code replaces the standard BlackBerry Unlimited plan.
   Important Note: This code may not work in all states, try code MNAI3 or 71904 if code 71764 does not work. It is reported by some users that you don't pay extra, while in certain states you need to pay $15 extra per month for some codes.
   .
3. Download And Install BlackBerryOS 4.0.2.41 or later.
   The web address is http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/vzw402. Download to your laptop or desktop PC, and install this OS while your BlackBerry is connected to your computer by USB cable.
   Note: This step might not be necessary for 7130 or newer 7250's sold in 2006. You can verify by going to Options->About on your BlackBerry to check your BlackBerryOS version number.
   .
4. Boot Your BlackBerry - It May Take 30 Minutes
   After installing the BlackBerryOS upgrade, it may take 30 minutes to boot. After you install the newest BlackBerryOS, your BlackBerry will say "Data Connection Refused". Follow the next step to fix this.
   .
5. Enable EVDO on Your BlackBerry
   Dial the telephone number *22899 including the asterik before the five numbers. This automatically tells your BlackBerry to download the new feature.
   .
6. Re-Register Your BlackBerry
   On your BlackBerry, go to Options->Host Routing Table->Register Now
   .
7. You Now Have EVDO on Your BlackBerry
   In your home screen, you will have "1XEV" instead of "1X" at the top if you are inside a major urban center covered with Verizon BroadbandAccess EVDO reception.
   .
8. Using BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop
   Download VZAccess from http://vzw.smithmicro.com/download/ and install on your laptop. This allows you to use your BlackBerry 7250 as a wireless highspeed modem! The modem feature will still work on 1X even if you are not in an EVDO reception area.
   .
9. Alternative Modem Feature
   If you do not want to run VZAccess, there are alternative, more complicated instructions, that can be found at HOWTO: Use BlackBerry As Modem For Laptop. It is not absolutely necessary to use VZAccess, as a user reported it also works without VZAccess on both the 1X and 1XEVDO networks.
   .
10. Warning: This is DRAFT VERSION 4
    These are draft instructions based on BlackBerryForums success stories. Corrections will be made to these instructions on an ongoing basis at BlackBerryForums.
    These instructions WILL NOT work on any 7750.
    These instructions PROBABLY WILL work on a Verizon 7130.
    These instructions DO NOT YET work on Sprint or Bell Mobility 7250.

Note: By the time you read this, this FAQ may be out of date. The latest version of this FAQ will always be at BlackBerryForums:
How To Enable EVDO BroadbandAccess on Verizon BlackBerry 7250 or 7130
Many success stories are also listed at this URL.

Very nice! Now, if only we had something similar on Bell - I've got a new IBM laptop that's just begging for me to take it online whilst oot and aboot.

Can anyone provide an update to this post? A lot of these links are dead. We've got a 7250 that we're trying to setup EVDO with. Thanks for your help.

not too much too it

make sure the device is >= 4.1 OS
if not download handheld os here http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/

you can get vz access manager at www.vzam.net

i personally dont like vzam so i prefer the DUN method
these instructions are good ones : http://www.blackberryforums.com/bla...dem-laptop.html

but to put in simply you create a stanard modem and use the driver located in c:\program files\common files\reaserch in motion\modem drivers\ if there not there you may need to update your BBDM

and create a DUN that dails #777 and uses mdn@vzw3g.com and pw : vzw

again, the link above is more complete

Thanks so much Allen, I appreciate it!

Ok, maybe I spoke too soon, still need some assistance...

I setup everything as called for in the instructions and it seems to dial-up okay then craps out when it goes to verify the username & password. I've tried the following with no success:

MyCellNumber@vzw3g.com
MyCellNumber

MyCellNumber@vzw3g.com
vzw

mdn@vzw3g.com
vzw

I've also gone in and changed the phones SIP Password to "vzw" and it said it successfully took the changes, but when the phone rebooted I went back it and the password was blank again, not sure what's up with that.

I've seen on another forum that there's just no way to get free EVDO if you have the 4.1 OS (Click here for link). I thought about trying to revert back to 4.0.2, but then this whole process probably won't work, correct?

I haven't tried VZ Access Manager, just the link provided at the beginning of this post. If I try that, isn't that a different process altogether as described in this original thread? Anything else I can possibly try or am I just out of luck and have to pay out the $15 to Verizon to enable service?

be happy to help as much as can but i warn you im rusty....



mdn = mobile directory number
so basically your phone number
so if your number is 88855512334
then username is 88855512334@vzw3g.com
password is : vzw

it is normal for the SIP password to be blank when you go to the NAM params screen so no worries there
if your programming was wrong there you would not have a 1XEV connection on the device

about the 4.1/4.0 thing...
pre 4.1 the 7250s only gave you a 1X connection
after 4.1 was deemed stable they released a copy of it for the 7250 that let it utilize an EV connection
plus os 4.1 is smoother
so i suggest using it


back to why you cant connect

you mentioned that you are not paying $15 for the tethering feature
this is probably the issue
i havent supportd VZW in a while but back when i was i know they made attempts to restrict tethering from working when the feature was not present

not sure how they are pulling it off
but i remembered when it first came in to existance they were using handset crippling
for example the moto e815 would not tether without the feautre unless you punched in ##DIALUP and enabled it, then it worked fine
but if you added the feature and OTA'd it (*22899) it would unlock it's self and work fine

back to the blackberry
i remember when blackberry tethering first started being supported
if you tried to tether without a tethering feature it would disable mobile ip on the device
this would kill the device's connection (data connection refused)
im pretty sure they fixed this with later revisions of the OS
you could still check it out if you want but i think it would be a waste of time
through hypter terminal or Ctrl + T in vzam type :
AT$QCMIP=?
should return a number, 0 = MIP disabled, 1 = preferred (should be here), and 2 is MIP only
and can be set with the same command
if using HT, you need to enable passthrough first
again i dont think this is your resolution


its been a long time since i messed with verizon and tethering
but maybe someone else here could shed some additonal light

but the easiest solution would be to cough up the $15