Use Bb As Modem

[GaryCutri]

Connect a computer to the Internet using a GPRS, EDGE, or UMTS BlackBerry smartphone as a tethered modem

Doc ID : KB05196
Last Modified : 2008-06-16
Document Type : How To

Environment

• BlackBerry® Desktop Software 4.1 and later
• BlackBerry smartphones
• Windows® 2000 and XP

Note: Research In Motion (RIM) provides some support for the tethered modem; the installation of the Standard Modem Driver is supported. See KB05178 for more details about support for the tethered modem.

Important: Contact your service provider to obtain the user name and password you require to configure dial-up networking. Also, ask your service provider if additional charges are incorporated when connecting to the Internet using the BlackBerry smartphone as a tethered modem.


Procedure

A BlackBerry smartphone with tethered modem capabilities can be used as an external modem to connect a computer to the Internet.

Summary of Tasks

To set up a tethered modem, complete the following tasks:

1. Install BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later (one time only).
2. Set up the Internet access point name (APN) (one time only).
3. Configure dial-up networking (one time only).
4. Connect to the Internet using dial-up networking.

Task 1

Install BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later on your computer.

When you install BlackBerry Desktop Software, the drivers that allow the BlackBerry smartphone to communicate through the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and virtual communications port are installed. The standard modem, which is used by dial-up networking, is also installed.

Note: If upgrading your BlackBerry Desktop Software from version 4.0 to 4.1, the required vrtual communications port and standard modem might be removed during the upgrade process. If this is the case, re-install the BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.1 or later and choose the Repair option to re-install these components.

Task 2

Set up an Internet APN.

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Phone and Modem Options.
3. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click the Modems tab.
4. Select Standard Modem and click Properties.
5. Click Change Settings.
6. In the Standard Modem Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
7. In the Extra initialization commands field, type the following: +cgdcont=1,"IP","<your Internet APN>"
   Note: The following is applicable for Telstra customers only:
   The extra initialization command is: +cgdcont=1,"IP","telstra.internet"
   Note: If you do not know your Internet APN, or if you do not have an Internet APN, contact your service provider.
8. Click OK.
9. In the Phone and Modem Options window, click OK.

Task 3

To configure dial-up networking, complete the procedure that is appropriate to the operating system you are using:

Windows Vista™

1. Click Start.
2. Select Connect To.
3. Click Setup a connection or network.
4. Click Setup a dialup connection.
5. In the Dial-up phone number field type *99#.
6. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider.
7. In the Connection Name field type BlackBerry.
8. Click Dialing Rules.
9. Make sure the profile created in Task 2 has been selected, and then click OK.
10. Select Connect to establish an internet.

Note: For instructions on connecting a computer to the Internet using a BlackBerry smartphone with CDMA as a tethered modem, see KB04664.

Windows XP operating system

1. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections.
2. Double-click New Connection Wizard. The New Connection Wizard opens.
3. Click Next.
4. Select the Connect to the Internet option. Click Next.
5. Select Set up my connection manually. Click Next.
6. Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Click Next.
7. If the Select a Device screen appears, select the Modem - Standard Modem check box. Click Next.
8. In the ISP Name field, type a name for your connection. Click Next.
9. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
10. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
11. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider. Click Next.
12. Click Finish.
13. In the Connect window, click Properties.
14. In the Properties window, verify that Modem - Standard Modem appears beneath the Connect using heading, and then click Configure.
15. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK. In the Properties window, click OK.

Windows 2000 operating system

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network and Dial-up Connections. Note: The following is applicable for T-Mobile customers only:
   Under the networking tab in the properties window for the dial-up connection, clear the Enable LCP Extensions check box, as well as all check boxes beneath the PPP Settings window.
3. Double-click Make New Connection. The Network Connection Wizard opens.
4. Click Next.
5. Choose Dial-up to private network. Click Next.
6. In the Phone number field, type *99#. Click Next.
7. Indicate which users will have access to the connection. Click Next.
8. Type a name for your connection. Click Finish.
9. In the Connect window, click Properties.
10. In the Properties window, verify that Modem - Standard Modem is selected, then click Configure.
11. In the Modem Configuration window, clear the Enable hardware flow control check box and make sure none of the other check boxes are selected. Click OK.
12. In the Properties window, click OK.

Task 4

Connect to the Internet using dial-up networking.

Note: During this procedure, do not operate the BlackBerry® Browser or any third-party applications on the BlackBerry smartphone. An active data session might interfere with the modem connection. Also, make sure an ethernet connection is not active at the same time.

1. Connect the BlackBerry smartphone to the computer.
2. Open BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
3. Click Start > Settings > Network Connections > <name of your new connection>.
4. Type the user name and password provided by your service provider.
5. Click Dial.

[lancelot]

had to do a few things that no one on the net seems to know about!?

1. Went here to get the connection settings:
BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community - View Single Post - BlackBerry Internet - MSN/chat/web/telnet/TCPIP - No BES!

2. Also downloaded the newest desktop manager from my service provider (Rogers in Canada)

3. Noticed vista detected a "standard modem" as it hadn't before...once I put in the initialization string and followed the connection settings from one of the other sites:
BlackBerry Search Results

Still wouldn't work...so I called Rogers

4. Rogers got me to download their "connection manager" software, and I found out that some of the settings on the first site were wrong...

5. After installing the "connection manager" and running the desktop manager software, the connection manager detected the modem, and ran properly...it works 100% now! yay, I'm able to surf, did a speed test, and it seemed as though it thought the closest test hub to me was Toronto even though I'm in Calgary, it download tested out at 100kbps and the ping was around 400ms...not super fast for online gaming, but absolutly perfect for remote support, and email checking etc. yay!