Using the 7100t as a laptop modem? - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

ff72 · **Using the 7100t as a laptop modem? -** 10-05-2004, 03:26 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if the 7100t can be used as a laptop modem (over a USB cable, since Bluetooth seems limited to headsets)...

Thanks,
Annie

Tom · 10-05-2004, 03:32 PM

Not yet. Chances are no.

jeffmcclan · 10-05-2004, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guess

Not yet. Chances are no.

An user on another forum has reported that he successfully connected to the Internet using the 7100t's modem via USB. I cannot confirm as I will not receive my 7100t until Friday.
http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/show...threadid=49756
(See Oct 4 post @ 9:54PM post near bottom of first page)

It seems plausible that the 7100t could be used as a modem via USB (a feature on alot of recent cellphones). The limitation of not being able to connect via Bluetooth seems due to BB's security concern of not implementing a DUN Bluetooth software profile.

My Nokia 3650 has a Bluetooth DUN profile and has worked well as a Bluetooth modem for the past 1 1/2 years. Giving up notebook wireless connectivity is not a big deal for me as long as the 7100t's USB modem interface really works).

On a separate note, it would be good to see BB implement a HID Bluetooth profile to enable external keyboard support. The ThinkOutside folding Bluetooth keyboard would be a great BB accessory for long emails - otherwise I'll lug my notebook along as usual.

jumpmonger23 · 10-06-2004, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffmcclan

An user on another forum has reported that he successfully connected to the Internet using the 7100t's modem via USB.

If this is indeed possible on the 7100t, is it now possible (with this "new" software) on the 72xx series models as well, or is the hardware intrinsically different?

Mark Rejhon · 10-07-2004, 03:56 PM

Very interesting from RIMROAD:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmounts

first off,

i want to comment on the BES server. i have 2 installs of it. randomly they both lead to the same thing, memory leak, auto restart. RIM/ATT ( att where i bought it from ) says they dont know whats wrong and basically refuses to help. i have gone over the entire system, and it still wont go away.....

as for the modem support , its NOT through the bluetooth support, its through USB. when you first install the software then plug in the phone it installs drivers for your phone/rim device. if you look under your modems youll see "Standard modem" listed under the devices. open and query the modem, it will look like this:

ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodem
AT+FCLASS=? - OK
AT#CLS=? - OK
AT+GCI? - OK
AT+GCI=? - OK

"Blackberry IPmodem"

i have used the modem 2 ways, through t-mo's IP network, and through a local dialup provider i somtimes use. both work 100%, through windows default dialup protocol.

SO, you CAN use the modem like you would use those laptop mobile cards. i "asume" if you got a BT adapter for your notebook it would work the same, will test it once i get approval for testing from the company.
( how i wish 7100's had IrDA. )

I have NOT been able to do this with prior RIm's inculding the 6270's and below ( we mainly used 6270's from ATT before switching to 7100's from t-mo )

I am immediately re-testing on my 4.0.0.124 to find out.

Edit: No dice so far. Can't get my Rogers 7280 to act as a modem with BlackBerryOS 4.0.0.124 .... Any suggestions?

barjohn · 10-07-2004, 04:41 PM

If you connect your 7100 via USB you will find that under the device manager, modems you have a standard modem and under ports you have a virtual Blackberry com port. If you leave the phone connected and open up the standard modem and run diagnostics you will see the modem responses from the 7100. You can then create a dial up connection using this standard modem.

What I am not sure is what number to have it dial and the user name/password to go ahead and use it as a modem. If anyone has that info I will test it further and report the results.

John

Mark Rejhon · 10-08-2004, 12:32 PM

The most common dial string is *99***1#
Leave username and password blank to initiate GPRS connection.

Some useful Internet resources about modems on GPRS:

http://www.woggledog.com/index.asp?subject=GPRS
http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/20...1205022950.htm

bfrye · 10-08-2004, 12:43 PM

I don't get any such modem on 4.0.0.100

Mark Rejhon · 10-08-2004, 12:46 PM

True. It's limited to 7100 series so far. I haven't been able to get modem working on 4.x on non-7100 models, no.

But it appears 3.8 on the 7100 series, once you install the RIM Virtual Serial Driver, starts blabbing to the computer like a modem (when you do diagnostics -- it uses the "Hayes AT command" language, a language unique to modems!). And at least one Internet connection test was successful.

Quacked like a duck, looked like a duck, and is indeed a duck.

7100 confirmed yes;
Other models no confirmation so far;

bfrye · 10-08-2004, 12:49 PM

Well, I'm still playing with 3.8 on a 7210... so maybe something will pop up on it. Unfortunately I don't get service here at work so testing will have to wait until I get home...

rcg · 10-08-2004, 12:52 PM

mark what are the modem parameters you have chosen? port speed, compression etc....

I cannot get the connection to work. It pauses at verifying user name and password then complains the the PPP control protocol was dropped.

Mark Rejhon · 10-08-2004, 02:11 PM

rcg, I am assuming
(1) Your 7100 is successfully in diagnostics like a modem

This is a symptom of working modem but misconfigured or lack of Internet; perhaps a certain data plan is needed (SIM card issue), or that you need to fill in the APN information in Options->TCP.

rcg · 10-08-2004, 02:17 PM

The SIM is newly activated with the T-Mob Minutes and Mail....

The modem part is working.. it acts like a log in problem.

What are the APN settings I should use?

sempai · 10-08-2004, 03:01 PM

I'd imagine wap.voicestream.com is the APN to use.

This will give you HTTP, SMTP, IMAP, and POP access.

rcg · 10-08-2004, 03:09 PM

still no joy...

I will call Tmo and see what they have to say.

wwoolard · 10-09-2004, 06:50 PM

Anyone having any more luck here? I have been trying to use my 7100t as a laptop modem through the usb connection and have gotten as far as having it try to actually establish the connection before it disconnects and throws up the following: "Could not negotiate a connection with the remote PPP server. Please verify your settings and try again." It seems so close but...... BTW I used the Hayes Accura 56k modem profile and the Null profile.

wwoolard · 10-09-2004, 07:04 PM

I forgot to mention that I am using a Powerbook in conjunction with my Blackberry FWIW. I think with the proper APN/Username/Password settings it might fully connect. I am just not sure how willing Tech support would be in helping in this matter.

bollar · **7100 Can be used as a GPRS Modem! -** 10-10-2004, 10:47 AM

Thanks for VitaminB and jmounts for finding the pieces to this puzzle!

It turns out that the 7100 can be used on T-Mobile as a GPRS modem for a computer by using the USB cable. Here's how to configure it:

1. The 7100 must be connected to the computer by USB cable and the BB desktop manager must be turned on.

2. Verify the modem settings. In the Control Panel open the Phone & Modem Options. On the modems tab, you should see a new Standard Modem on a new port (mine is COM11). Click Properties: Diagnostics: Query Modem. You should see the following:

Quote:

ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodem
AT+FCLASS=? - OK
AT#CLS=? - OK
AT+GCI? - OK
AT+GCI=? - OK
ATI1 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI2 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI3 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI4 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI5 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI6 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI7 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem

3. Click Properties: Advanced and add the following Extra initialization commands:

Quote:

AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.voicestream.com","",0,0

4. Close the Phone and Modem Options and the Control Panel. Create a new connection with Start: Connect To: Show all connections: Create a new connection.

Quote:

1. Connect to the Internet
2. Set up my connection manually
3. Connect using a dial-up modem
4. Check only the Standard Modem
5. Give the connection a name such as "T-Mobile GPRS via BB7100 USB"
6. The phone number is *99#
7. Connection for Anyone's use, or not.
8. Leave the username and passwords blank. Uncheck make this the default Internet connection.
9. Click Finish

5. Give it a try. It should dial and connect in just a couple of seconds.

If these instructions don't work for you, or could be improved, let me know.

StevenT · 10-10-2004, 11:52 AM

Bollar,
Thanks for the how to. It works great (albeit slow, but what should we expect for a modem connection over wireless). Question, does your computer report a connection of 115.2k?

Steven

bollar · 10-10-2004, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenT

Bollar,
Thanks for the how to. It works great (albeit slow, but what should we expect for a modem connection over wireless). Question, does your computer report a connection of 115.2k?

Steven

115.2 is the connection speed between the computer and BlackBerry.

I expect datarates over GPRS to be in the 30 to 50kbps range. Just a hair slower than a dialup modem.

Belfast · **Thanks! -** 10-10-2004, 12:35 PM

Thanks for posting the initilization strings - it was the missing link that I needed.

ScOObydoo · 10-10-2004, 01:29 PM

Posting through my 7100t off T-mobile GPRS connected over USB

rcg · 10-10-2004, 04:32 PM

The int string was it!

posted from my PC via 7100t gprs!

acnst · 10-10-2004, 04:42 PM

Did anyone try this with another Blackberry (72xx or 77xx and OS4)?

bfrye · 10-10-2004, 04:44 PM

Won't work with OS4 yet... I've been trying to get 3.8 to run on my 7210 with no luck yet.

acnst · 10-10-2004, 05:28 PM

I have just tested it with my 7230 and 3.8 from 7100 and it does not work. I think the reason is that the rim7200g.bin is not a version 1.8 :(

wwoolard · 10-10-2004, 11:50 PM

Do you actually have to have the desktop manager turned on to use the Blackberry as a modem or do you only need it to add the init string/configure the modem. I guess my underlying question is can it work with a Mac? If so, how would I need to go about doing this? Make a copy of the altered modem script and add it to my library of modem scripts available for internet connections? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Skive · 10-11-2004, 06:08 AM

The desktop manager does need to be on for the blackberry to work as a modem.

ScOObydoo · 10-11-2004, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skive

The desktop manager does need to be on for the blackberry to work as a modem.

And it has to be the most recent one that has the 4.0 updates in it. You'll know it's the correct one when you have TWO icons in the system tray for the Berry; Handheld Manager and Desktop Manager.

wwoolard · 10-11-2004, 08:26 AM

Thanks, that is what I feared. Hopefully there will be a solution when the 4.0 client is released.

bollar · 10-11-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScOObydoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skive

The desktop manager does need to be on for the blackberry to work as a modem.

And it has to be the most recent one that has the 4.0 updates in it. You'll know it's the correct one when you have TWO icons in the system tray for the Berry; Handheld Manager and Desktop Manager.

Perhaps that will be the case in 4.0, but with the 7100, I only have one icon & I'm using Desktop Manager 3.6.3.11

barjohn · 10-11-2004, 09:34 AM

It is working fine with mine and I have Desktop Manager 3.6.3.10 running.

pvr2pvr · 11-06-2004, 06:47 PM

marvmiller · 11-07-2004, 10:29 PM

ac190 · 11-08-2004, 04:18 PM

HomeTownHockeyFan · 11-08-2004, 07:48 PM

Mark Rejhon · 11-09-2004, 01:28 AM

slay · 11-12-2004, 08:26 AM

slay · 11-12-2004, 10:10 AM

Mark Rejhon · 11-12-2004, 01:46 PM