[cma]

I'm curious if anyone has tried to get the 8700 acting as a modem for your PC and what speeds you get (if possible)? My thought is to use this instead of buying an EDGE or EV-DO carde for my PC.

Also, if it can be supported through Bluetooth instead of USB. I had the 7100 working through the USB cable and it was okay performance-wise for emergency purposes.

Thanks

[plisken]

I have a 7100g and was using this function just fine. When I plugged in my new 8700 I got an error when dialing up. I am going to remove the modem profile and create since I now have a new device. Stay tuned.....

[plisken]

NOPE: I am getting an Error 692: There was a hardware failure in the modem. However, I can query the modem just fine. The main reason why I got this device was to take advantage of the Edge network.

[Stinsonddog]

Not sure how, but reports in prior posts and stories on web as well as from launch events, is that they are preping this service and isn't available yet. Does this mean there is some disabled feature that will require a firmware upgrade.

[greggebhardt]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Not sure how, but reports in prior posts and stories on web as well as from launch events, is that they are preping this service and isn't available yet. Does this mean there is some disabled feature that will require a firmware upgrade.

I ahve heard these rumors, too. RIM can do alot with a software upgrade from what I have seen with past Blackberrys.

[plisken]

Guys, bad news.... I just came across this article on the BB 8700 in PC magazine.

"Though we're disappointed that Cingular will not permit this BlackBerry to be used as an EDGE modem for laptops, Cingular spokesman John Kampfe says "That might happen sometime down the road."

[DavidE]

Originally Posted by plisken

"Though we're disappointed that Cingular will not permit this BlackBerry to be used as an EDGE modem for laptops, Cingular spokesman John Kampfe says "That might happen sometime down the road."

If I remember correctly, it was mentioned at the press conference that the EDGE modem connection might be available in January for an additional fee.

DavidE
www.davidenglish.com
www.classicfilmpreview.com

[MarkARichards]

I upgraded from 7290 to 8700 and while using the usb cable, I can use the 8700 as a modem. It is not any faster than the 7290, so I would say no EDGE support, but it does work as modem.
I am ATTWS sim "blue".

[MobileRC]

I am on Rogers and I am connected right now using my 8700... using the same steps as in the guide Mark provided to do it on the 7100. It connected at 115.7 kbps

[plisken]

Originally Posted by MarkARichards

I upgraded from 7290 to 8700 and while using the usb cable, I can use the 8700 as a modem. It is not any faster than the 7290, so I would say no EDGE support, but it does work as modem.
I am ATTWS sim "blue".

Interesting because I can do it just fine with my 7100g but not the 8700. I get the error that I mentioned in a previous post.

[plisken]

Originally Posted by MobileRC

I am on Rogers and I am connected right now using my 8700... using the same steps as in the guide Mark provided to do it on the 7100. It connected at 115.7 kbps

Where is the guide that Mark provided? I am going to see if it is the same as my steps. I even launch the blackberry desktop software as I did with the 7100.

[Soapm]

Sounds like the block is on Cingular network and not with the 8700. They have always charged for teathering so maybe this is their way to make sure you won't get the surprise bill.

[plisken]

I have the unlimited BB plan and have never received a separate charge for using the tethered solution. I ran a query on the modem and there are a few places that error out. I am confident that Cingular has this blocked. I took the sim out of the 8700 and put it back in the 7100g and it connected to the network like a charm. I ran a query on the 7100g and it reported back with all successful at commands.

[plisken]

It is a block on the Cingular version of the Blackberry 8700, which is the "c". When I performed a modem query there were several 'at' lines that returned a "command not supported" error. This really blows!

[simkin9999]

Ive been using my 8700c as a modem without a problem since Wednesday - the day I got the device. It was the first time I've used a BB as a modem, too.

[plisken]

I don't understand how you could be using it as a modem, sorry.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1880155,00.asp

[MobileRC]

well im on Rogers, maybe its different. Anyhow make sure you follow marks guide and put the init string in. I had to redo this step. when I upgraded to 8700 my bb modem was still there but didnt have the init string required to access the stack to get out. for rogers it is something like +cdgcont, "IP", "internet.com"

[plisken]

Originally Posted by MobileRC

well im on Rogers, maybe its different. Anyhow make sure you follow marks guide and put the init string in. I had to redo this step. when I upgraded to 8700 my bb modem was still there but didnt have the init string required to access the stack to get out. for rogers it is something like +cdgcont, "IP", "internet.com"

OK, well that makes sense. You have an 8700r not an 8700c.

[bigred]

IT WORKED!!!
I got my 8700 on Rogers to work! The speed test from www.toast.net showed 157Kb/s. Not full EDGE speed, but certainly higher than GPRS.

At first I couldn’t get it to work. No modem other that my Laptops built-in one was in the Phone and Modem options panel.

What I did was uninstall all my existing BB software (except the BB JDE stuff), then reinstall from scratch off of the 4.1 Desktop Manager CD.

Two things to note:
- I also own a 7100 and had set it up as a modem previously, when I first tried the 8700 all the old 7100 software was still installed. I believe that was the cause for the initial failure.
- On the Modem properties page the Query test (step 7 on Marks modem FAQ http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=2019) returned "COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED" for a bunch of the tests.

Here is a copy from the logs..

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

The 8700 is about 10x faster than my 7100 in terms of Inet access. From a spec standpoint the 7100 isn't that much slower, but perhaps the new Xscale CPU helps with the connection? One page I used to visit for work would take at least 20 seconds to load on the 7100, but with the 8700 it takes around 4 seconds. Now using the BB as a modem is finally practical in terms of speed!

[plisken]

Interesting. Perhaps the issue is with existing BB's and Desktop manager. The other user reported that he got his to work on Cingular without any issues but his was a fresh install without a previous BB. I went into desktop manager and noticed that it shows drivers for the 7100. I am going to perform an uninstall just as you did. Can I assume that you did the typical uninstall from the control panel, add/remove programs? Did you keep your 8700 plugged into the USB port while you removed and reinstalled desktop manager? Thanks!