Using BJ as a tethered modem

[Guest Disker]

Hi Everyone,

I'm having trouble setting my BJ II up as a modem. I'm usingthe USB connection at the moment and have it set under connections as a modem instead of ActiveSync. I installed the drivers from the CD and the modem does appear under Device Manager. Everything seems to be set to work but I can't get my laptop to use the connection. Running XP Pro by the way. I imagine there is one small step missing here but I can't find it.

I would appreciate some help here getting this working if someone else has accomplised this. Also steps for using as a bluetooth modem as well as that might come in handy if I need to place the BJ on a window sill somewhere for a better signal.

Thanks for the help!

Bob

[Guest Smokey J Bluntz]

you need to goto http://att.com/communicationmanager and download the communication manager. you will also need a tethering plan. i tryed to set it up like i use to my mda, but i guess it wont work like that

and im almost thinking it isnt worth it. for the same price as my tethering plan i could just get a stand alone usb modem plan... still debating

[Guest tamanaco]

You can spend more money on an AT&T tethering plan or read this thread

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php...p;highlight=ICS

[Guest WearTheFoxHat]

Wow, I didn't realise that ICS wasn't included on the BJ's.

[Guest Smokey J Bluntz]

You can spend more money on an AT&T tethering plan or read this thread

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php...p;highlight=ICS

ill have to check that out, maybe save 60 a month.

[Guest tamanaco]

ill have to check that out, maybe save 60 a month.

Well, maybe half of those $60. I'd recommend the $30 unlimitted data plan. I have been using it for quite some time and my bill has remained the same. There is no way AT&T can check where the traffic is comming from as all it sees is the BJII address. ICS basically transforms the BJII into a USB or Bluetooth router. I've been taking my laptop running on battery to the Park and can keep a connection on for a considerable period of time with the BJII USB cable. Just don't go Multimedia crazy if you want the laptop battery to last. Using the USB cable actually helps keep the BJII battery charged.

Edited July 1, 2008 by tamanaco

[Guest oplix]

Well, maybe half of those $60. I'd recommend the $30 unlimitted data plan. I have been using it for quite some time and my bill has remained the same. There is no way AT&T can check where the traffic is comming from as all it sees is the BJII address. ICS basically transforms the BJII into a USB or Bluetooth router. I've been taking my laptop running on battery to the Park and can keep a connection on for a considerable period of time with the BJII USB cable. Just don't go Multimedia crazy if you want the laptop battery to last. Using the USB cable actually helps keep the BJII battery charged.

im on the $15 unlimited data plan and I can tether just fine. I just downloaded the modem drivers from the samsung website and loaded my laptop with them. I get really good speeds at my work..around 1mbps.

[Guest tamanaco]

im on the $15 unlimited data plan and I can tether just fine. I just downloaded the modem drivers from the samsung website and loaded my laptop with them. I get really good speeds at my work..around 1mbps.

Can you post the link to the $15 AT&T "Unlimited" data plan and to the Samsung website with the drivers that you mentioned? The application/drivers for tethering that are in the thread that I metioned need to be installed in the BJII not on a laptop/PC.

[Guest dshosu]

Can you post the link to the $15 AT&T "Unlimited" data plan that you mentioned?

Let me explain what he's talking about:

AT&T offers 3 "unlimited data plans":

• PDA Personal ($30) - This is the unlimited data add-on for PDA phones.
  
• BlackBerry ($30) - This is the unlimited data add-on for BBs. Apparently BBs get their own EVERYTHING.
  
• Media Net Unlimited ($15) - This is the unlimited data add-on for "phone-phones". Basically this is for phones that have internet browsing capabillities but it isn't really designed for "browsing". Most of this data useage would be for Cellular Video (CV) and MediaNet type stuff.
  

*and if that's not confusing enough apparently the LG Vu qualifies for the Media Net Unlimited plan because it's not a "PDA"

The reason Media Net Unlimited is cheaper is because these customer will on be using a fraction of the bandwidth of say a PDA/BB user (they are assuming half I suppose).

The only way you'd be able to get the $15 package would be to have a friend at AT&T (who doesn't like his job) make the change directly in their system.

[Guest tamanaco]

The only way you'd be able to get the $15 package would be to have a friend at AT&T (who doesn't like his job) make the change directly in their system.

So, what you're saying is that the $15 MediaNet "unlimited" data plan/add-on is either not sold at all anymore or is it still sold with certain phones?. I'm going to "assume" that these phone that you mentioned are not 3G. Otherwise what stops me from buying one of these phones with a 3G MediaNet plan, taking the SIM out placing it in my app and net unlocked BJII? I'm a bit disappointed here because I had what I thought was the cheapest data plan $19.99 mMode (Not NediaNet or 3G... it was Edge) from AT&T before the Cingular days. I carried that plan over to Cingular and to the now new at&t without a contract. I used it with a Qtek 8310, but Edge sucked wind specially when tethered. I bit the bullet a few months back because I needed 3G . I got a new contract with a $30 unlimited data and got the BJII for $19.99 after some long negociation. (My first AT&T cell phone was Motorola Dyna TAC... it only weighted 30 ounces) If I can cut the price of my data plan in half, even if I have to pay a fee to break my current contract, it would be worth it as I would recover the cost of the fee in a few months .

[Guest hagan92]

AT&T bases data plans on whether the phone has a standard numeric keypad, or a QWERTY keyboard.

For a regular phone, (numeric keypad) you would get the MEdia Net package and pay $15/mo., which is pretty reasonable.

For the smartphones, pocket pc's, iPhones...or other phones with a QWERTY keypad, they want to charge you $30/mo...which gets outrageous!

AT&T looks at the regular phones and says, "hey...people with normal phones (numeric keypads) probably won't access the internet as much, so we'll be nice and charge them half." "But as for those smart people with their pocket pc's and smartphones, we practically know their gonna get on the internet...so why not charge them for it??" And that's where we get charged the 30/mo.

Yes, it is possible to "trick" AT&T and tell them you switched phones, and you want the MEdia Net package, (you may can even do it online)...and you can switch plans and options on your account without getting a termination fee.

Now, I DON'T know if the MEdia Net service has 3G capabilities but I would ASSUME that it does...(can anyone confirm..?)

This is just a little way of sticking it to the man. :D

Hagie92

[Guest dshosu]

Yes, it is possible to "trick" AT&T and tell them you switched phones, and you want the MEdia Net package, (you may can even do it online)...and you can switch plans and options on your account without getting a termination fee.

That is clever and probably will work. I'd recommend getting your phone unlocked though so they can't "review" your account when you call customer service one day for something else and they see that you're using a BJII. Since they probably get a bonus for catching stuff like that and adding the $30 one.

A warning to this though is that if you got a rebate on your phone that was dependent on you getting the $30 data plan and you remove the $30 data plan before getting your rebate, your rebate will get declined.

Now, I DON'T know if the MEdia Net service has 3G capabilities but I would ASSUME that it does...(can anyone confirm..?)

I think it does because CellularVideo should really only be used with 3G and CV is a big part of the "Media Net" feature, does that make sense?

[Guest Disker]

im on the $15 unlimited data plan and I can tether just fine. I just downloaded the modem drivers from the samsung website and loaded my laptop with them. I get really good speeds at my work..around 1mbps.

So give me some pointers here. I installed the Samsung drivers from the Samsung website. I see the Samsung Modem under Device Manager. I have the phone connected via USB and have the USB connection setting on the BJ II set to modem. After this I have no idea how to get this working as you did.

I'm running XP Pro SP3 and have been successful running Active Sync so I know there is a good connection between the PC and the phone.

I did try using a bluetooth connection but my bluetooth app only detects the Push feature and not the ability of the BJ to act as a modem. Does the BJ II have the ability to work as a bluetooth modem? I would prefer this option to eliminate the cable but USB might be faster if I can get it to work.

Thanks for the help in advance.

[Guest Disker]

you need to goto http://att.com/communicationmanager and download the communication manager. you will also need a tethering plan. i tryed to set it up like i use to my mda, but i guess it wont work like that

and im almost thinking it isnt worth it. for the same price as my tethering plan i could just get a stand alone usb modem plan... still debating

If you use Communication Mgr. would they know whether or not you were on a tethered plan? Does it use a specific port that an unlimited data plan wouldn't use?

Thanks

[Guest dshosu]

So give me some pointers here. I installed the Samsung drivers from the Samsung website. I see the Samsung Modem under Device Manager. I have the phone connected via USB and have the USB connection setting on the BJ II set to modem. After this I have no idea how to get this working as you did.

I'm running XP Pro SP3 and have been successful running Active Sync so I know there is a good connection between the PC and the phone.

I did try using a bluetooth connection but my bluetooth app only detects the Push feature and not the ability of the BJ to act as a modem. Does the BJ II have the ability to work as a bluetooth modem? I would prefer this option to eliminate the cable but USB might be faster if I can get it to work.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Just do this:

http://verizonwireless.howardforums.com/sh...mp;postcount=23

[Guest Disker]

Just do this:

http://verizonwireless.howardforums.com/sh...mp;postcount=23

Thanks for the help!

I redownloaded the ICS directly from my BJ and got it to install.

Now when I activate ICS I get a screen that says Internet Sharing. Below that it says

Status: Disconnected.

Below that

PC Connection: USB (BT an option)

Below that

Network Connection: Media Net ( the dropdown shows no other options)

So I press the softkey for Connect and nothing happens. It is connected via USB to my laptop running XP Pro.

IS there some other setting I need to change?

I just tried this with BT and can't get that going either. My BT on the laptop sets up a PAN with an IP of 192.168.50.1. It sees the BJ and the two are paired but it will not allow the BJ to connect via the PAN for sharing if that makes sense. Any help with getting this going instead of the USB connections would be appreciated too. I have to get one of these working at some point soon before I hit hte road.

Thanks again!

Edited July 12, 2008 by Disker

[Guest Disker]

Thanks for the help!

The trick here (for me) seems to be downloading the cab files with the BJ and not the PC and then moving them over. I did it the PC way at first and nothing worked. I DL the files directly from the BJ and then followed the steps with a reboot between each and it worked.

My DL speeds as measured through Speakeasy have been consistent between 1.5 and 3 DL and 200-250 UL. Pretty darn good if you ask me. This is with the USB connection. The BT connection worked but was slower on the DL at 600 and the same up at 250. Both of these are with a firewall and virus protection running.

One question here: In the settings screen for ICS you can select USB vs. BT and then below that is;

Network Connection: Media Net ( the dropdown shows no other options)

According to the AT&T network support people I talked to a few weeks ago, there is a difference between the connections used by people with a Media Net connection and those with PDA connections. I found this out because I had a Media Net package at first as a carry-over from another phone and then got the BJ. After about a week I couldn't access any sites. I called in and they informed me that it was because I now had the BJ which requires a PDA plan (more money). Supposedly the network access is different. I actually got the BJ from a non AT&T store so it wasn't in their records yet so who knows how they figured it out. I digress though - is it significant that the Network Connection says Media Net or is it irrelevant? Is it taking you in to the AT&T network through the Media Net circuitry which could trigger a MEdia Net bill or is this only a categorical name used for the app?

Thanks again!

Edited July 13, 2008 by Disker

[Guest dshosu]

I was having this problem too.

What I think is happening is that you PC first tries to connect to it via ActiveSync and then when you hit "connect" it disengages it from ActiveSync (usually mid way through) and then tries to connect as a modem. Which messes something up.

Anyway what I do is I unplug my BJII from my USB cable and then hit "connect" in ICS. Then it should read "Check USB cable connection" (or something like that). Then I plug it into my USB cable and it works almost instantly.

[Guest Disker]

I was having this problem too.

What I think is happening is that you PC first tries to connect to it via ActiveSync and then when you hit "connect" it disengages it from ActiveSync (usually mid way through) and then tries to connect as a modem. Which messes something up.

Anyway what I do is I unplug my BJII from my USB cable and then hit "connect" in ICS. Then it should read "Check USB cable connection" (or something like that). Then I plug it into my USB cable and it works almost instantly.

Now I've got a new problem in that it does the Check USB cable, then it connects but I'm not pulling in any traffic. I get a little going out but nothing coming in, 0 packets.

Who knows what is going on now.

Thoughts?

[Guest Disker]

Now I've got a new problem in that it does the Check USB cable, then it connects but I'm not pulling in any traffic. I get a little going out but nothing coming in, 0 packets.

Who knows what is going on now.

Thoughts?

Cancel this post - i reinstalled everything and now it works again!