Using the Blackberry 8800 as an USB Tethered Modem

Several months ago, my post on using the Blackberry 8800 wirelessly via a bluetooth modem was the first on the RIM Blackberry 8800 series of phones. With the tips in the post, you could easily get your RIM Blackberry 8800, 8820, or 8830 device working as a high-speed wireless modem for your laptop or even desktop computer. In fact the post quickly became one of the more popular posts on my blog, and the number of people that visit the post each day is in the 100's.

Recently, Matt Silverman let me know about his post in which he was able to use his Blackberry 8800 series phone as a tethered USB modem. Since I just got my new Lenovo (no IBM label interestingly) T61 laptop computer, I thought I would give it a try since I had not yet setup Bluetooth.

Matt's guide was pretty good and with a few tweaks, I was able to get my Blackberry 8800 to work. I've combined his steps and my guide here to make it as straight-forward and easy for your setup your Blackberry as the tethered USB modem.

Here are a couple of reasons why you might prefer a USB tethered solution to the Bluetooth wireless solution:
1. You laptop does not have Bluetooth setup or you are having problems configuring it.
2. You need to conserve battery usage on your Blackberry. The wireless mode consumes significantly more battery than the USB mode. If you need to use the modem for any length of time, the USB tethered modem option is preferred.

This guide should be compatible with the following Blackberry models: Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8820, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry Curve. In addition to the Blackberry device installed, you will also need the Blackberry Desktop Manager software installed (I have 4.2.2.14 installed), and AT&T wireless with unlimited data. This may work with other cell phone providers such as T-Mobile or Verizon, but has not been tested. This guide was composed using Windows XP, so other operating systems may have slight differences.

Here is the step-by-step guide:
1. First you need to configure the "Standard Modem" that is installed with your Blackberry Desktop software. Do get to it quickly, right click on "My Computer" from the desktop and select "Manage Computer".

2. Click on "Device Manager" in the left hand pane.

3. Click on the plus (+) sign next to modems to expand them.

4. Right click on "Standard Modem" and select properties.

5. Go to the Advanced tab under Extra Settings and enter the following "Extra initialization commmands" without any leading spaces: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","wap.cingular"

6. Click "Ok" to save the settings.

7. Now start the "Create a new connection" wizard from Network connections by right clicking on "My Network Places" and selecting properties. In the left pane under "Network Taks" click on "Create a new connection."

8. Click on 'Next' from the 'Welcome to the New Connection Wizard' screen.


9. Select the 'Connect to the Internet' Radio button and click 'Next'.


10. Select the 'Set up my connection manually' radio button and click 'Next'.


11. Select 'Connect using a dial-up modem' radio button and click 'Next'.


12. Select the 'Modem - Standard Modem' as device and click 'Next'.


13. Name your connection as you desire. I choose 'Blackberry Tethered USB Modem' as my name and click 'Next'.


14. For the phone number, enter the follow string without the quotes "*99***1#" and click on 'Next'.


15. Select the connection's availability for 'Anyone's use' unless you have a reason to lock it down. Then click 'Next'.


16. Enter the username and password information. For 'User name' enter "ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM" without the quotes, and for the 'Password' enter "CINGULAR1" without the quotes. Enter the password again to confirm and click on 'Next'.


17. Click on 'Finish' to complete the wizard.


18. While this configuration with very little advanced settings will work, you need to adjust a couple of the settings to optimize the connection speed. Go to the properties of your new connection by clicking the properties button. Select the modem that is being used via the USB tethered modem, and click on 'Configure'.


19. Now change the Maximum speed (bps) to 921600 from the default 115200 (EDGE can operate faster) and also select the checkboxes for 'Enable modem error control' and 'Enable modem compression' for the best results. Click on 'Ok' twice to complete.


Now you can connect your computer to the internet via the Blackberry USB tethered modem connection. To do so, make sure you Blackberry is connected via USB cable, and that the Blackberry Desktop Manager is running with you modem connected. Then connect to the AT&T/Cingular/Edge network and enjoy high-speed access!

Did this guide work for you? If so, please leave a comment and let me know!

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Blackberry: Change Push to Talk Button / Convenience Key

For some time I had been searching for a way to turn off the "Push-To-Talk" button as it is useless to me, and many others. In fact, yesterday I got a question from one reader of my other posts asking if I knew how to disable the button. Having looked before and not finding anything -- I figured it was time to have another look.

After taking another look, I almost felt silly that I missed it earlier. It is very easy to change the Push-To-Talk (PTT) button on your Blackberry to another function. The actual key is called the convenience key and here are the instructions on the easiest way to change it.

From your Blackberry device do the following:
1. Go to options.

2. Choose Screen/Keyboard.

3. Scroll down to "Convenience Key Opens"

4. Choose which function you want your Blackberry to perform when you hit the convenience button / key.

The list includes:
Nothing (!)
Address Book
Alarm
Application Switcher
Blackberry Messenger
BrickBreaker
Browser
Calculator
Callendar
Call Log
Compose
Help
Lock
Manage Connections
Media
MemoPad
Messages
Options
Password Keeper
Push to Talk
Saved Messages
Search
Send Voice Note
Setup Bluetooth
Setup Wizard
Tasks
TeleNav GPS Navigator
Voice Dialing

5. Choose your feature and exit to save the settings.

Congratulation, you have not changed your convenience button key setting on your Blackberry 8800, 8830, Pearl, and Curve devices.

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Blackberry - Search Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device with the searching for specific content in different applications. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when searching for specific text within an application:

• To search for a contact in a list of contacts, type the contact name or initials separated by a space.
• To search for text in a message or memo, press S.
• To search for text in an attachment or web page, press F.
• To search for text in a presentation attachment, verify that you are viewing the presentation in text view or in text and slide view. Press F.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Media Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device with the Media application. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when working with pictures, music and videos with the Blackberry media application:

• To pause a video or song, press the Mute key.
• To resume playing a video or song, press the Mute key.
• To rotate a picture, press R.
• To zoom in to a picture, press I.
• To zoom out from a picture, press O.
• To zoom to the original picture size, press W.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Blackbery Maps Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device with the Blackberry Maps application. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when working with and viewing attachements:

• To zoom in to a map, press I.
• To zoom out from a map, press O.
• To view the status information at the top of a map, press U.
• To hide the status information at the top of a map, press U again.
• To switch views, press the Space key.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Attachment Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of Calendar shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device. In order to make these shortcuts in the Calendar Day view, make sure to go to the Calendar Options and then set the "Enable Quick Entry" configuration to "No". This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when viewing the Calendar in the Day view mode:

• To schedule an appointment, press C.
• To change to Agenda view, press A.
• To change to Day view, press D.
• To change to Week view, press W.
• To change to Month view, press M.
• To move to the next day, week, or month, press the Space key.
• To move to the previous day, week, or month, press the Shift key and the Space key.
• To move to the current date, press T.
• To move to a specific date, press G.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Attachment Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of message attachment viewing shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device. These shortcuts work mainly when you are viewing attachements on your on your Blackberry device such as Word Documents, PDF Files, Excel Spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when working with and viewing attachements:

• To search for text in an attachment, press F.
• To move to the last cursor position after closing and reopening an attachment, press G.

The following shortcuts can be used in a spreadsheet:

• To move to a specific cell, press G.
• To view the content of a cell, press the Space key.
• To switch worksheets, press V. Highlight a worksheet. Press the Enter key.
• To view hidden columns or rows, press H.
• To hide the columns or rows again, press H.

The following shortcuts can be used in a presentation:

• To switch presentation views, press M.
• To move to the next slide, press N.
• To move to the previous slide, press P.
• To move to the last cursor position after closing and reopening a presentation attachment, verify that you are viewing the presentation in text view or in text and slide view. Press G.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Typing Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here is a list of typing shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device. These shortcuts work in the many applications when you are typing text on your Blackberry device. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used when typing:

• To insert a period, press the Space key twice. The next letter is capitalized.
• To capitalize a letter, hold the letter key until the capitalized letter appears.
• To type the alternate character on a key, press the Alt key and the character key.
• To type an accented or special character, hold the letter key and roll the trackball to the left or right. For example, to type &, hold U and roll the trackball to the left until & appears. Release the letter key when the accented or special character appears.
• To type a number in a number field, press a number key. You do not need to press the Alt key.
• To type a number in a password field, hold the Alt key and press the number key.
• To turn on NUM lock, press the Alt key and the Left Shift key.
• To turn on CAP lock, press the Alt key and the Right Shift key.
• To turn off NUM lock or CAP lock, press the Shift key.
• To switch typing input languages, on the Language screen, verify that the Use Input Language Shortcut field is set to Yes. Hold the Alt key and press the Enter key. Continue to hold the Alt key and highlight a language. Release the Alt key.
• To insert an at sign (@) or a period (.) in an email address field, press the Space key.
• To type a symbol, press the Symbol key. Type the letter that appears below the symbol.
• To highlight a line of text, press the Shift key and roll the trackball.
• To highlight text character by character, hold the Shift key and roll the trackball left or right.
• To cancel a text selection, press the Escape key.
• To cut highlighted text when typing, press the Shift key and the Backspace/Delete key.
• To copy highlighted text when typing, press the Alt key and click the trackball.
• To paste highlighted text when typing, press the Shift key and click the trackball.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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Blackberry - Message Shortcuts for your RIM Blackberry Device

Here are a list of message shortcuts that can be used with your RIM Blackberry device. These shortcuts work in the message list on your Blackberry device. This list was compiled from a number of sources including RIM.

These can be used in the actual message application:

• To reply to a message, press R.
• To reply to all, press L.
• To forward a message, press F.
• To file a highlighted email message, press I.
• To view the email address of a contact, in a message, highlight the contact. Press Q. To view the display name again, press Q.
• The following shortcuts can be used in a message list:
• To open a higlighted message, press the Enter key.
• To compose a message from the message list, press C.
• To mark a message as opened or unopened, press the Alt key and U.
• To view received messages, press the Alt key and I.
• To view sent messages, press the Alt key and O.
• To view voice mail messages, press the Alt key and V.
• To view Short Message Service (SMS) text messages, press the Alt key and S.
• To view call logs, press the Alt key and P.
• To view all your messages again, press the Escape key.
• The following shortcuts can be used to move around a message list:
• To move to the top of a screen, press the Shift key and the Space key.
• To move to the bottom of a screen, press the Space key.
• To move to the top of a message list, press T.
• To move to the bottom of a message list, press B.
• To move to the next date, press N.
• To move to the previous date, press P.
• To move to the next unopened item, press U.
• To move to the next related message, press J.
• To move to the previous related message, press K.

Note: These shortcuts are compatible with the Blackberry 8800, Blackberry 8830, Blackberry Curve, and in some cases the Blackberry Pearl.

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