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Connect to the Internet with your laptop, Tablet or palmtop anytime.
Think of this as having your own Internet wifi access point with you everywhere you go.Need to check your auctions, list items, respond to messages from buyers or sellers anytime anywhere?
Tired of paying hotels $10 bucks a day to use their stinking wifi?
No wifi available where ever you hang out?
When traveling in your car, do you want to let your SO or kids surf the web?
ya?... then you need to know about this.
It's called "tethering".
You basically connect your palmtop or laptop to your ATT cell phone using bluetooth technology, then, pass through the cell phone to allow your laptop/palmtop computer to access the Internet.
Forget using some phone's little tiny screen to get online, but instead use your own laptop, palmtop, or even desktop.
I use a Nokia770 model of Internet tablet mostly (.. really nice and compact.) , and carry my laptop occasionally*
The problem with the wireless phone company products they force on us is this:
I need a phone that acts like a phone, and I need a computer that acts like a computer.
I DONT need some device that trys to act like both, and ends up being neither in the process.
ie, A clunky device WAY to big to be a phone, and also far too small for any real computer work...see what I mean?
I have a bunch of friends that all have these big clunky devices...they all hate em!
Should we name them.....uhmm..... how bout "Foneputers".
Down with foneputers!!
This guide is not intended to be a keystroke for keystroke instruction, but more of a guideline.
A little bit of prior computer experience goes a long ways to help you out, along with this guide.
What you need:
Some kind of Computer: (could be laptop, desktop, tablet, palmtop, etc), like a:Nokia 770 Linux Internet computer. (or Nokia800 or the new Nokia810 VERY COOL little box) or
Laptop ( I have a Compaq Evo N800v) , Tablet or palmtop with Bluetooth capability, running a current Operating system. (But not too current..forget Vista)
Operating systems I will discuss include Windows XP, and Ubuntu Linux 7.10, and Maemo/Debian for my Nokia770 Internet tablet, which goes everywhere with me now! Note, the Nokia800 and Nokia 810 are similar.
Bluetooth can be built in, or get a Bluetooth USB device and plug that in to your laptop.
I bought this one for a few bucks, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190162762632&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009
The little Nokia770 (and800 and 810) has EVERYTHING you need already built in. You can get them on Ebay for a steal of a price, EVERYONE NEEDS ONE of THESE!
AT&T (formerly Cingular) Cell phone service (with a data plan, otherwise they charge by the amount of traffic and its kind of expensive!)
To my knowledge, none of the other phone companies allow this method of connection as of yet. I had to switch to ATT just for this capability
Picking the right data plan is important. I took my Nokia into the ATT store and told them what I wanted to do,
they suggested a plan and I went with it.
A Cell phone with G3 and bluetooth DUN or Dial up networking capability, I will cover the Razr V3xx model. (but some others will work also)
*Note, some advanced models of phones, including iPhone will not work*
Update 11/29/07 ATT and Apple announce the iPhone will do G3 sometime next year, but you gotta ask if it will "tether" to your laptop or not for dial-up-network....just doing G3 and bluetooth doesnt mean it will tether to your laptop.
Update 6/9/08 ** This just in, Apple announces the new G3 iPhone but it does NOT include Bluetooth tethering features..sorry folks, have to wait for the next version I suppose, I have been waiting for one of these, but cannot and will not give up my tether feature.!
Thats about it.
What you do:
If using Windows XP.
Using Google (naturally), find and download a free program from Cingular (now AT&T), it is called SetupCCM5.3.18.4DL.exe It is the Cingular connection manager.**note, since ATT took over Cingular, they reintroduced this connection manager program as their own and the new one no longer worked for me**
** the CCM5 program is still online if you Google around, but the ATT site only has the ATT version Setup-ACM-6.6.exe ..dont waste your time on that one**
Once you have the CCM5 program, install this on your laptop.
The install will instruct you to turn on your bluetooth phone, when you turn it on, make the bluetooth "findable", with the razr, its options-->bluetooth-->FindMe (it stays in findme mode for 3 minutes)
The CCM5 program should find your phone, select it and it will prompt you for a passcode, enter the same passcode in the laptop and the cell phone when asked. This is called "Pairing". Both sides will remember the pairing, and you only need to do this part once as long as you use the same bluetooth dongle or device with your phone.
Add/edit a profile in the connection settings.
Enter Access point name wap.cingular
enter dial up number *99***1#
enter user name WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
password is CINGULAR1
**note the case sensitive parts **
Once that is done, the CCM program will allow you to hit Connect. Once it's connected, you can open your browser and surf the web.
One oddity was it told me my "license" for the free CCM program was expired. Well, I found out that you must connect to the Internet with the CCM tool and do updates at least once every 120 days, this revalidates the license. So, if you have a regular Wifi connection for the laptop, use this while you are setting up the CCM software for the first time.
I also think it doesn't actually give you 120 days, but if it complains in the future, connect through normal methods (not through your cellphone) and do the updates again.
Update 8/30/08, I have been extremely displeased with the XP strategy here, and I no longer recommend it due to continual problems with connection quality once connected, and the horrible effort it takes to make this work consistently. I no longer travel with my Windows Laptop, opting for my Linux machine instead.
See Linux sections below..NONE of these problems..just works great, all the time, no surprises.
Next, Ubuntu Linux. Using 7.10 version (Same for Debian).
Haven't tried Debian or Ubuntu yet? (Let me tell you..you're missing out!) Very stable, (no more blue screen of death) and high functionality. Recently, my Ubuntu laptop was rebooted after my power cable came loose and the batteries ran down. It had been running for over 7 months without needing a reboot until then!!
This works great on my desktop Linux machine also, just move your bluetooth dongle around as needed.
1st create a file called /etc/ppp/peers/gprs-script
using your favorite editor, put these commands in that file.
####### start of gprs-script #####
115200
user WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
password CINGULAR1
debug
connect '/usr/sbin/chat -f /etc/ppp/chat-gprs-v3 -r /dev/console'
crtscts
noipdefault
modem
usepeerdns
defaultroute
connect-delay 5000
#### end of file ####
Next create a file called /etc/ppp/chat-gprs-v3
using your favorite editor, put these commands in that file.
##### start of chat-gprs-v3 file ####
TIMEOUT 5
ECHO ON
ABORT '\nBUSY\r'
ABORT '\nERROR\r'
ABORT '\nNO ANSWER\r'
ABORT '\nNO CARRIER\r'
ABORT '\nNO DIALTONE\r'
ABORT '\nRINGING\r\n\r\nRINGING\r'
' ' \rAT
TIMEOUT 12
OK ATE1
OK 'AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","wap.cingular"'
OK ATD*99***1#
## end of file ####
Punctuation is important ' ' this is a single quote with a space then another single quote.
Case is important. D <-- this is a capitol Dee, a small Dee looks like this --> d
In case you didn't realize, they are completely different to a computer. Well, to most computers anyway.
Slash is important / <-- is a forward slash located near the period, Linux and Unix and most other operating systems use it, (but not Windows)
This is a backslash, --> \ (think "backwards" thinking) :-)
Next Pair up your laptop and phone.
Make sure your phone is on findme mode.
from a command window enter hcitool scan and note the mac address of your phone, you will use that in the next command.
The MAC is a unique code assigned only to your phone. It is unique in the entire universe. If you help a friend perform these steps...using your mac address will not work for his or her phone.
From a command window enter rfcomm bind /dev/rfcomm0 <your mac from above> then a space and a 1 on the end. example
rfcomm bind /dev/rfcomm0 00:1D:BE:03:F3:14 1
then enter cat /dev/rfcomm0 this will make a paring request, enter the same pin number into your laptop and phone where requested
Both sides will remember the pairing, only need to do this part once if you dont swap or change out your bluetooth device.
To connect, issue the next 2 commands from command window.
from a command window, type in rfcomm connect /dev/rfcomm0 <your phones mac> and hit enter.
from a 2nd command window type in pppd rfcomm0 call gprs-script and hit enter.
wait a few seconds and the connection should be made.
You can check your connection by entering route and checking that you have a entry for pppd.
Note, recently, the 2nd command above started not connecting, no reason why, just strange behavior.
So I loaded the gnome ppp dialer , apt-get install gnome-ppp and this works great again.
So my new method is rfcomm connect /dev/rfcomm0 <your phones mac> then hit enter
and then run the gnome-ppp dialer and after putting in phone number from above 99***1# it works great again.
Open a browser and you should be online.
Since the 800 and 810 came out, you can find a 770 for a real deal, around $100 if you check Ebay.
And no, I am not selling mine..I actually want to buy a SPARE!
OK, enough advertising, lets get started:
from a command window, type in rfcomm connect /dev/rfcomm0 <your phones mac> and hit enter.
from a 2nd command window type in pppd rfcomm0 call gprs-script and hit enter.
wait a few seconds and the connection should be made.
You can check your connection by entering route and checking that you have a entry for pppd.
Note, recently, the 2nd command above started not connecting, no reason why, just strange behavior.
So I loaded the gnome ppp dialer , apt-get install gnome-ppp and this works great again.
So my new method is rfcomm connect /dev/rfcomm0 <your phones mac> then hit enter
and then run the gnome-ppp dialer and after putting in phone number from above 99***1# it works great again.
Open a browser and you should be online.
Now, lets look at my favorite, the Nokia770 Internet tablet.
Everything you need, software, hardware is included when you buy it.
Maemo distro based loosely on Debian Linux
Fits easily in shirt pock or pants pocket, runs a long time on the battery charge.
Touch screen, music and video player, easy ZOOM screen, gui'd apt-get pkg mgr, etc etc
Cool flip cover that gives Instant on, and Instant off.
Similar to the iPhone interface and size, but 3 years earlier.
I cant say enough good things about the value of this little box.. It's creators, Nokia and the Linux community should be recognized.Everything you need, software, hardware is included when you buy it.
Maemo distro based loosely on Debian Linux
Fits easily in shirt pock or pants pocket, runs a long time on the battery charge.
Touch screen, music and video player, easy ZOOM screen, gui'd apt-get pkg mgr, etc etc
Cool flip cover that gives Instant on, and Instant off.
Similar to the iPhone interface and size, but 3 years earlier.
Since the 800 and 810 came out, you can find a 770 for a real deal, around $100 if you check Ebay.
And no, I am not selling mine..I actually want to buy a SPARE!
OK, enough advertising, lets get started:
Turn on your phone bluetooth FindMe mode, (good for 3 minutes on the razr)
on the 770 Go to tools, -->control panel -->phone and new, select your phone and pair them via entering passcodes both sides.
Once paired, this step does not need to be repeated.
Go to Tools, connection manager -->tools-->connectivity settings
select connections -->new --> next-->
Enter a name for the connection, such as gprs, freddys phone or whatever you want.
tap packet data
Enter Access point name wap.cingular
enter dial up number *99***1#
enter user name WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
password is CINGULAR1
**note the case sensitive parts **
tap finish
Connect er' up.
on the 770 Go to tools, -->control panel -->phone and new, select your phone and pair them via entering passcodes both sides.
Once paired, this step does not need to be repeated.
Go to Tools, connection manager -->tools-->connectivity settings
select connections -->new --> next-->
Enter a name for the connection, such as gprs, freddys phone or whatever you want.
tap packet data
Enter Access point name wap.cingular
enter dial up number *99***1#
enter user name WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
password is CINGULAR1
**note the case sensitive parts **
tap finish
Connect er' up.
Hit the connection icon at the top and select your phone from the list, hit connect and wait for the connected msg.
next open a browser and try it out.
Summary:
I have been able to pair every computer in my possession to my phone...not that I use it for surfing at home, but
consider it a backup to the DSL or cable modem setup you already have.
Those of us in areas with only dial up...well, if your cell phone works in your house, I suspect you will like this connection much
better than a plain dialup.
I usually see about 120k-300k transfer rates, depending on where I am,
using www.2wire.com, dslreports or any other speed tester that is online.
At this time, I am only aware of ATT/cingular that offers this G3 type of service and Tethering. I had to switch from my old 3 syllable phone company
because of the response to my question:
Q "I want to tether my palmtop and laptop to my phone for the Internet",
A "sorry sir, we do not offer that yet"
next open a browser and try it out.
Summary:
I have been able to pair every computer in my possession to my phone...not that I use it for surfing at home, but
consider it a backup to the DSL or cable modem setup you already have.
Those of us in areas with only dial up...well, if your cell phone works in your house, I suspect you will like this connection much
better than a plain dialup.
I usually see about 120k-300k transfer rates, depending on where I am,
using www.2wire.com, dslreports or any other speed tester that is online.
At this time, I am only aware of ATT/cingular that offers this G3 type of service and Tethering. I had to switch from my old 3 syllable phone company
because of the response to my question:
Q "I want to tether my palmtop and laptop to my phone for the Internet",
A "sorry sir, we do not offer that yet"
A "Sorry, cant do it"
Q "ok, when ?"
A "cant say"
Again, only certain phones allow this tethering, and the iPhone ISNT ONE OF THEM yet, or I would have bought one for sure.
the Razr V3xx works, and at least one Samsung phone also does, my son has it working great also.
* Update:
Now that I have been using this tethering technique, I have found it quite funny to go into a Starbucks near my house, that has NO WIFI available. Now... some of you are probably way ahead of me here... :-)
Natch, I take my laptop with me, and connect up and start surfing the web while enjoying my Venti Cafe Mocha.
All around me are people with laptops, trying and trying to connect..but no WIFI shows up in their list and they
keep staring at me, walking slowly past, pointing....trying to figure out how in the heck I can connect... HILARITY!!
Sometimes I let people off the hook when they ask how I am able to connect, and explain how this works..other times, I just say..."hmm..works fine for my linux Laptop here see!"
If you found this helpful, please click Yes below..if not, accept my apologies and please don't punish me with a "no", thanks!!
JS
More and more I'm using Linux exclusively..
This should be the Linux Mantra, First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. Gandhi
Guide created: 11/28/07 (updated 10/11/08)
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