Does anyone use their 8130 as a modem and is it fast and worth it?

i have done tethered speed tests and get up to 1.5mbps download and 256kbps . its basically DSL anywhere you get the 1XEV

but I'm assuming batterly life is drained quickly when hooked to a laptop?

The only time it has not been worth it is when I try to use VPN to connect to my work network. Then it pretty much fails all around.

But for browsing the web, it is very nice.

Actually it will charge when connected to the laptop.

has to be a setting on your work side. I can VPN all i want with the connection software Also, if you get a phone call (that lasts under 20 minutes) your data connection will pause and resume when the call has ended.

I know this is an added service but is there software I will need to download in order for this to work?

for both sprint and verizon its the same software used for their aircards. for VZW its VzAccess Manager, Sprint i think is Sprint Connection Manager. Both available from their respective download sites.

Sure beats paying $50+ extra a month for a wireless aircard and it works just as good. I have been using mine for almost 2 years and have been pleased with it...

so if i want to browse the internet, i need to download the vzwaccess manager? is this something i have to pay extra for per month(with verizon)? i remember the sales guy telling me that if i want to tether and go online, its like $30 additionaly or something like that.

The $30/month charge is for the data services for the blackberry (internet, email, etc.). The software you download is for the feature of using your phone to connect a laptop/desktop to go online if no connection is available. That is an extra $15/month on top of your plan. Well worth it if you ask me compared to $60/month services offered with the aircards. I added this service when I switched even though I won't use it as often but I know its there incase I need it as I do run into situations at times. I am with sprint though, not sure the rate with Verizon.

You DO NOT need VZAccess software to use your Pearl tethered. For that matter, you don't need it to use an air card, either.

As proof, my hard drive in my laptop pooped out on Friday night and I spent the weekend re-formatting and reinstalling XP Pro from scratch. I did not install the VZAccess software.

I DID install the BB Desktop Manager and BB OS. Once that was installed, I connected to my BB first via a USB cable to make the initial connection, and then via Bluetooth.

Then I connected to the Internet using the BB via Bluetooth. I used the Network Setup Wizard to create the Dial-up Networking connection for that.

Once connected, I inserted my Kyocera KPC650 aircard into my laptop and ran Microsoft Update, which detected the air card and downloaded a couple of drivers for it (via the Pearl BT connection). Now, when I insert my aircard, it automatically connects and works. I don't even have to use a Dial-up Networking connection to use the aircard.

Hi, my name is alex, I am from EL Salvador, Central America. I have some questions for the Pearl 8130 and I wonder if you can clear me up!

1. I want to know if with the Pearl 8130 you can watch videos at youtube and watch TV?

2. I want to know if with the Pearl 8130 you can connect with EDGE network? which is the advantage of that "Dual-band 800/1900 Mhz CDMA2000 1X Ev-DO networks" ? what if that network doesnt work in El Salvador?

3. I want to know which blackberry pearl is better, the 8120 or the 8130?
Which are the benefits for having the latest desktop version

Thanks for your time really!!!

ALEX

1. I can only speak to Pearl 8130 on CDMA (Verizon). Yes...youtube, blueapple, m.vtap.com work for video. TV - no, unless you use Orb (Orb) on your own PC with a TV tuner - that does work.
2. Don't know.
3. 8130 = CDMA Pearl + GPS. 8120 = GSM Pearl + WiFi.

I was under the impression that 8130 were REV0 and capped regular data at 400-700 kbps. You could also get up to 2.0 mbps accessing sprints power vision apps like sprint tv. Thats the info I got from sprint. http://www2.sprint.com/mr/cmastaticf...0FactSheet.pdf

I currently use 8130 on Sprint tethered on a Mac (Leopard) via bluetooth. The modem script Im using is Sprints powervision included in leopard dialing #777. I only get around 338-687 kbps. Am I doing something wrong? How do I get past the 700? Thanks for any any help you can provide Sith Apprentice.

**Baldie-Even at the speeds I get, its worth it to me. I had TMO and used their tethering until I could not do so anymore and switched to Sprint. I browse often but mostly I am using it to send docs back and forth to work.

From the way rev0 has been explained to me is that it will peak at 1.5mbs per second, however real world speeds are between 400 and 900kbs. You should go in and change the modem settings to the highest bandwith. Since it is a serial port connection. The highest it will go is about 1Mbps with serial if I remember right and then there is overhead with the packets which is why you get lower speeds. Its like usb 2.0 through put on sdcards they always say up to 480Mbps but it really is more like 13Mbps cause that is all the cards are capable of. Can't wait for rev 2. Hope uses another type of connection other than serial port.

as to EvDO sprint is talking about their revA service if i am reading correctly. Max speeds i have seen on any tech papers is a hair over 1.5mb/sec

Does anyone know if the Blackberry 8130 can be upgraded via a software/firmware update to support the EVDO Rev. A speeds?

I know it isn't available now, but is that a possibility in the future or would it require new hardware?

it would be more than a software update. if the hardware is in place (have no idea if it is or not) then yes, a software update could do it. if the hardware is not in place, no update will allow it.

Thanks! I think I got it now. Its just from the pdf I posted and from the support guys I was told that rev0 is indeed limited to 400-700 max on data. The only way to get past that speed and even then it wont be constant just peak is to connect to any powervision app like sprint tv.