Using your 8100 Pearl for UNLIMITED Web Access
 

An overlooked feature your 8100 Pearl has is hooking it up to your notebook and using the 8100 as a modem. Once connected you can use the notebook for Internet access at the Library, Starbucks or on the road. HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!8-)

I think part of the problem is that many new Members or people new to the technology think it is difficult to set up the Pearl to act as a modem. It's quite easy and I suggest you try it.

I have rewritten some instructions on the "How To" and posted here. Hopefully you will find my rewrite easy to follow. NOTE: if you goof this up it's difficult to screw up your computer.

Bonus Tip: I also set this up on my desktop computer. Why? I plan to use it as a backup should my broadband coverage stop for some reason. While I won't be getting broadband speeds with the Pearl, 100k+ is fine for emergency use. Besides, I still remember the dial-up days of 40k connections.(n)

By the way, under T-Mobile's UNLIMITED data plan [$20 monthly] you can connect to the Net with your phone and use it all you want without extra charge.

Hopefully this is the way of the future rather than T-Mo yanking the unlimited use feature.

Oh, I also read elsewhere that T-mo says connecting through the BlackBerry is just as fast as the network card they sell [for Net access]. Interesting.

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OK, ON WITH THE "HOW TO" - below this line

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1. If you do NOT have the latest DeskTop Manager, first go to BlackBerry Upgrade and choose "get software".

2. Enter your cell number and download the latest Desktop Manager Version on to your computer. Do NOT install yet.

3. Before installing the Desktop Manager software just downloaded, completely delete your old version of Desktop Manager.

4. Reboot, then install the new version of DeskTop Manager you downloaded.
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Now for setting up your BlackBerry to work with your notebook or desktop with an UNLIMITED use Internet connection [through your T-Mobile account]. Speed about 115k!! http://www.heartinsanfrancisco.com/aniwoot.gif
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First, let's simply check and note what com ports your BlackBerry Desktop Manager installed and is using on the computer.

On your COMPUTER using XP - Go to

<Start>

<Control Panel>

<System>

<Hardware>

<Device Manager>

Scroll down to <Ports>

On having installed DeskTop Manager, there should be 2 ports listed that say "RIM".

Simply write down which com ports are listed as being used by "RIM". Most likely (COM4) and (COM5).

Now close all these windows, you just wanted to see what com ports RIM was using.

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Now on the PC, let's set up the "phone number" or settings for your desktop or notebook computer to "dial" your BlackBerry Pearl.

With your DESKTOP or NOTEBOOK computer, open Desktop Manager.

Connect your Blackberry with your USB cable.

[If the phone does NOT connect automatically, on the Desktop Manager interface click <options>, then <connection settings>, then click <detect>. This should find your BlackBerry and connect the phone to the PC].

Now with the phone and PC connected [as indicated by the Desktop Manager saying at the bottom of the DM window that they are "connected"]:

ON YOUR COMPUTER [not the Pearl] Go to:

<Start> Menu

Select <Control Panel>

Select <Network Connections>

Select <File> from the drop down menu

Select <Create a New Connection>

Select <Network Connection Wizard>

Select <Connect to the Internet>

Select <Set Up My Connection Manually>

Select <Connect Using a Dial Up Modem>

Under "Select A Device" select or check the box that is the RIM COM Port you noted from before, usually COM4 or COM5.

NOTE: Uncheck or "deselect" the other modem if that box is also checked [typically it's the phone dial up modem built in to your PC].

Click <Next>

In ISP name box name this new connection/setting anything you want, e.g., BlackBerry.

Click <Next>

In the Telephone Number box, type the below combination of numbers and characters [aka a "string"]:

*99#

So you will type in an asterisk, 99, and number symbol.

Click <Next>

Leave the User Name and Password boxes blank. Check the "use this account name and password." Check to "make this new connection your default connection" if you intend for it to be such. [most likely not].

Click <Next>

Select "Add Shortcut to Desktop" so you have the connection easy to access from the desktop of your computer.

Click <Finish>
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Almost done. Now you have to set up the modem, it's just one entry, BUT EASY TO SCREW UP, so be careful entering the number or string which is simply a combination of letters, characters, numbers and spaces..

On your desktop or notebook computer go to:

<Start> Menu

Select <Control Panel>

Click <Phones And Modems>

Click the <Modems> tab.

Select or highlight the COM Port/Modem you set up the BlackBerry with, typically COM4 or COM5. Note: may be listed as "Standard Modem"

Click <Properties>

Click the <Advanced> tab.

In the <Extra Initialization Commands:> box type this exact string [or combination of letters, characters, numbers, and NO spaces]:

+cgdcont=1,,"wap.voicestream.com"

Make sure you put the two commas, both quotation marks. Note: there are NO SPACES between the characters.

Click <OK> to save and back out of the settings menus and get back to your desktop.

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http://www.heartinsanfrancisco.com/aniupdate.gif If the above string does NOT work, try this one: +cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com"

Note that there is an "IP" in there.
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You should be able to click on your new Blackberry network connection shortcut on the desktop and connect to the Net.

NOTE: To use this modem connection:

The Pearl must be connected to your PC via the USB cable;

DESKTOP MANAGER MUST BE OPEN;

And Desktop Manager must indicate or say that the Pearl is "connected" to the PC.

The most common error made when trying to connect and it does not work is that people have failed to have Desktop Manager open and the phone connected through it.

Bonus Tip: Again.... if the above string doesn't work then try this one:

+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com"

Errors doing this on Cingular
 

I know a part of my problem might be carrier related, but I am also getting some errors below when I query the modem. Do you understand some of these errors? (Command Not Supported)...

Thanks for your help,

Sanjeev


ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - BlackBerry IP Modem
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 IP Modem
ATI2 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem
ATI3 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem
ATI4 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem
ATI5 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem
ATI6 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem
ATI7 - Research in Motion / BlackBerry IP Modem

Good instructions. There are other instructions that have been posted for some time.

Using BlackBerry As Modem - BlackBerryFAQ
-or-
http://www.blackberryforums.com/blac...em-laptop.html

I get these also, and it does not affect my ability to use the 8100 as a tethered modem.

Don't worry about the command not supported lines, they aren't errors, they are commands not supported by the modem. The modem queries and gets a response so it is fine, it just looks different from those directions posted here on the site. I got the same response from mine as you got above and it works fine.

I know, I simply rewrote them and tried to put in terms that noobs like me would understand.:smile:

I get those too, but I do NOT believe those are errors, simply saying certain functions not supported.

Followed directions and got this:

Supplementary service error: Unexpected data value


Any ideas?

Does this work via Bluetooth too?

Same here (and to add to the post i quote, that error is on the phone, not the computer)

btw, i noticed a few things different on the FAQ linked to d_fisher above:

first and foremost is the line about BES users

"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"

i'll have to check on that in the morning....... as i am on BES and i doubt that setting has ever been messed with

also that FAQ says it needs one's T-Mobile username and password, maybe that changed since that was posted and now just allows blank passwords

I also forgot to add that I did not add the period to the end of the phone number like it says. It wouldn't work. When I took the period off the end, worked great.

Agreed - no username and password.

This is so cool!

Mac and Modem?
 

My laptop is a Mac, I wondered if there is a tethering process for the powerbook G4?

that is so cool. i'm tethered right now by bluetooth to my pearl from my powerbook g4. amazing.

Excellent instructions! I just want to share my experience at setting it up. The first time, I entered *99#. and received the error message that a few people mentioned - Supplementary service error: Unexpected data value. I added the <> and I would get the "connecting" screen, and then immediately would get "Call Failed." I had to call TMO (and I must say, their CSR is terrific) and the problem was with the "phone" number. I changed it to *99# (no <> and no period) and it immediately connected. Hope this helps some folks! Btw, great Forum everybody!

I had to take the . off the end of the number, but it works great speakeasy speedtest: 119kbps down and 29 kbps up :) not bad for a cell phone.

I was thinking about that recently I got to art school for web design and our internet connection is so slow. If I ever get a laptop I might get HotSpot and have superfast access.
Thanks for teaching us how to set it up.

Same here, took the . off the phone number and it connected right away.

115kbps... not bad at all for a call phone... :)

So just out of curiousity... How does this affect your phone plan? It just uses data right, not anytime minutes or anything silly like that, right?

Awesome! removing the . did the trick

And right now i am also connected via Bluetooth, as i shut down Desktop Manager, unplugged the phone, made is discoverable and then my Sony laptop here tried to pair right up with it and when it did, it (Sony's bluetooth manager) even walked me through modem setup and voila, i'm connected :-)

also not sure if it mattered or not, but i used the modem string with the "IP" from the other topic