A useful connectivity tip, to be used sparingly when WiFi and dialup are not available but EDGE/GPRS is.
Did you know that your Blackberry (the more contemporary models at any rate) contains an IP modem that you can use to gain IP connectivity to your laptop over GPRS?
We have here a mixture of 7100 and 8700 devices both of which work as documented below. Other models may also work similarly, but I have not tried them.
Some pre-requisites:- Windows - I have no idea whether this can work on a Mac or any Linux, but I suspect not
- A Blackberry device that includes an IP modem (look at the specifications provided by RIM, or consult your provider)
- At least version 4.0 of the Blackberry desktop software (I have version 4.1)
- A suitable connection from the laptop to the BB - I use USB though I think Bluetooth may work (I have not tried this)
- If using BES, a BES policy that does not have "disable IP modem" enabled
Start the Blackberry desktop software and connect the BB. Go to Control Panel, Phone and Modem Options. Click the Modems tab. You should see an additional standard modem on a COM port you didn't know you had.
Click Properties, then the Diagnostics tab and click Query Modem. You should see something a little like this (from my 8300):
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
To use this modem, you will need some additional information that should be available from your network provider: - An extra initialization command to be entered in the Advanced tab of the Standard Modem Properties dialog
- A telephone number to dial when creating the dialup connection
- A username and password to be used in the dialup connection
- Optionally, IP address and/or DNS server address information if not assigned automatically on connecting
In Control Panel, Phone and Modem Options, select the Modems tab then the Standard Modem. Click Properties, then the Advanced tab. Enter the extra initialization command provided by your network provider and click OK.
Next, create a new dialup connection using the wizard.
In the Wizard, select Connect to the Internet and click Next.
Choose Set up my connection manually and click Next.
Select Connect using a dial-up modem and click Next.
Pick the Standard Modem (actually your BB IP modem) and click Next.
For ISP name, you can use anything, for example "Blackberry IP Modem". Click Next.
For phone number, use the number provided by your network provider. Typically these numbers are something like *99#. Click Next.
You can decide whether to make the connection available for anyone or just you. Click Next.
Enter the username and password provided by your network provider. Confirm the password. If sharing the connection, leave the "Use this account name and password when anyone connects..." box checked. You probably don't want it to be the default Internet connection. Click Next
Finally, click Finish.
If your provider gave you any additional settings, such as IP address or DNS server settings, you need to edit the new connection and add them now before you connect for the first time.
Right click the new connection and select Properties. Select the Networking tab and select TCP/IP, then click Properties and enter any specific IP address or DNS server information there.
That's it. You should now be able to connect a dial-up session via your Blackberry IP modem and use it as you would use any other Internet connection. You must have the Blackberry desktop software running and the BlackBerry device connected, obviously. |
