When I got my BlackJack I was able to use it as a modem to my laptop. Their tech support said that was no problem and it worked great. At that point, I think I was on the $20 smartphone plan, but could have been on the $40 PDA plan. 99% sure it was smartphone. At some point, my tethering ability stopped. I figured it was a computer setup problem. I tried everything I could think of with no luck.

I talked to Cingular today and the rep informed me that tethering is not allowed on the $20 or $40 plan and only on the $60 plan.

I have read that any data package will allow you to tether.

When I setup my tether I followed the cingular instructions for creating a connection. This involves switching the phone from activesync to modem. I'm sure that once you do this, Cingular knows you are tethering and it seems to me can shut that off.

Is there any other way to get this done? I am looking in PDANet. Not sure if it will work right or not. Can someone help point to the right place to figure this out. I'm sure I'm not the first.

The goal is to keep the $20 plan and be able to tether at those times that I need it.

Thanks,
Rob

It looks like PDANet doesn't support it so I'm looking for another solution.

For anyone that cares, I did get it working as a modem and at this point I am still on the $20 plan. Cingular may make me change later. The CS guy was a bit rude (unusual from my experience) and may flag my account for audit. Seems computer plans use ISP, and device only plans use WAP. Cingulars instrustions tell you to use ISP in the modem setup and the connection setup. I changed that to WAP in those 2 places and it started working. I hope it continues to work.

Good info... and it makes sense. Thanks!

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John

PDAPhoneHome Forum Moderator

If you guys run the internet sharing application that's in the windows directory you can make the blackjack either a bluetooth PAN access point or via USB a RNDIS adapter(which, btw, works natively in Vista(32 and 64 bit) but requires a driver for XP)

Advantages of the USB solution is that it essentially is just a usb ethernet adapter with a built in router(you get an internal IP address).

The dialup modem is really a massive choke point for the blackjack especially on 3G since the fastest you'll get in your virtual serial connection is like 320kbit/s or something rediculous like that.

You can also set it up as a bluetooth PAN AP, but there are issues with bluetooth support on Vista so it's not quite as seamless.

Also!!

As a modem, the phone doesn't trickle charge, but when used as a USB RNDIS Adapter it will charge.

Good luck!

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Modding your children since 1997

I would really like some more info on the RNDIS solution. Can you point me somewhere that has some explaination. The phone not charging while being a modem is an annoying point. I noticed it the first time I connected it as a modem. Not having the phone in modem mode would also guarantee (I would think) that Cingular couldn't tell that is wasn't the device requesting the information.

The internet connection sharing app is in your Windows folder.
It is "IntShrUI.exe" or the "internet sharing" shortcut.
You can create a shortcut to it and place it in your Start menu so it will be easier to find

Check to ensure that the USB connection on your phone is set to "ActiveSync".
Then connect the USB to your phone and let it sync.
Make sure it doesn't disconnect after synching.
Finally, open up the internet connection sharing app on the phone and set it to "USB" and click on connect.
Thats all

Well some of this worked.

I need a lesson on a few things and I'm sure I can get the rest to work.

I found the "internet sharing" shortcut in the windows directory of the device using file manager. I opened it and it came up with a screen like you said and I hit connect. My computer found a new device and did it's install. I then had a new device in my network connections list.

I would think this means it's working.

How do I put the shortcut in my start menu list of the phone? I tried to copy it but it said access denied.

I tried to use firefox (IE on my laptop is configured to use the company proxy and I don't really want to change that) but it doesn't find the internet. Not sure what I need to change. Help?

Is this designed to use your computers internet connection and share it to your phone, or your phone's internet connection and share it to you computer? I want to do the latter.

No need to over complicate it. No activesync relationship is required for this to work RNDIS is just a usb ethernet adapter.

Once you start the internet sharing app and hit connect(with it set to USB) it overrides any USB setting in the connections area of the phone. I have mine set to mass storage device, as soon as you hit connect it hijacks the usb and it turns into a RNDIS device, nothing more.

While you're doing this, Cingular can't tell that you're tethering unless they can check on the phone to see if the app is running. I've never had any issues. Technically speaking, the phone is still the device requesting the data because the outside cingular ip address still belongs to the phone and not your computer like when you "dial-up". So by virtue of networking alone, they cannot tell unless they analyze the traffic which isn't kosher these days.

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Modding your children since 1997

You should be able to copy the shortcut from the windows to the start menu. you might need to unlock device -(another subject)

You definitely need to use a browser that is not using your companies proxy settings. Either use IE or modify firefox settings for this connection.

This is designed to allow your computer to use your phones intenet connection when there is no wifi, etc available. Like at the beach.

You'll have to forgive my inexperience. This is my first windows mobile device. I really like it and the things it can do are amazing.

I can't edit anything in the windows/start menu folder of the device, so I guess it is still "locked". Can you point to a spot that explains how to "unlock" it?

I would like to try this internet sharing you are talking about. I think I have the phone setup right, since it did the auto USB install on me. I get that it doesn't matter how it's connected USB because it takes over the USB channel when you start it. I have the device in my network connections list, so I'm pretty sure that all is good.

That bring me to the firefox setup. I can change anything I need to here, I just don't understand what it is I need to change. I guess I need to tell it what device it uses to connect to the internet. How is that done?

Thanks,
Rob

Do I have to have internet connection sharing enabled on my laptop?

Do I have to have internet connection sharing enabled on my laptop?

You do not need to do anything to the laptops connection.
In firefox you need to disable the firewall while using the phone.

I believe if you go into activesynce aand press explore, you should be able to copy the shortcut, if not you will need to search for an unlocking app ( just do a google search on (blackjack app unlock) and you should find an application that you can run on the bj to unlock it.)

Its really quite easy. the internet sharing utility on the BJ makes tethering very simple.

Firewall says it is off, but it's all greyed out. At the bottom, it says Windows Firewall is using you domain settings.

I guess that means I'm stuck. I will try it on my computer at home later.

Maybe I can change it when I'm not logged onto the domain.

I will look for the unlocker.
Thanks,
Rob

Denied. Denied. Denied
Dang. All I want to do now is edit the start menu. Organize it like I want. How do I do that?

I downloaded surreal networks application unlock, but that doesn't seem to do anything. I'm sure the next time I try to install some program with a virus or something, I will get in trouble.

I tried going through activesync, but no luck there either.

Anyone know how to do this?

I tried the sharing on my home computer and it worked like a champ.

Thanks for all the help.

No problem - to make it work from your workplace , you need to disconnect or temporary disable your work network conection(your domain will not be available) . Then connect using the BJ. Unfortunately, if you are logged into your domain, you will be controlled by your work firewall.
I am in the same boat. If I want to see something restricted from my work firewall ( such as sports or forums) I need to disconnect my work connection and use the BJ.

That worked great. Firewall setting were the issue. I like that mode best since it not only connects, it also charges. It also shouldn't matter if I use my blackjack of my wife's 3125. I should be able to have multiple ways get there now.

Rob,
Out of curiosity, how much data usage was there before you got flagged? I have used about 900mb tethering on the monthly planned and I never got flagged yet.

rbond83,
I have not been flagged for excessive usage. The original change was a change I made. I switched sim cards in my phones in hopes to get my BlackJack on the $20 plan. Thus putting my 3125 on the $40 plan. Then I called to switch my 3125 to the $20 plan. Now I have both on $20 plans. My worry is that the rep noticed that the BlackJack was on a $20 plan while I was on the phone with him. I figured he would change it immediately to the $40 plan, but to my surprise he did not. What I don't know is if he marked my account to be audited in the near future. I am unsure if I should change my account to show that I have a 3125 on that number or not. I'm not sure what will get me audited and forced to go to the $40 plan. I don't use enough data to justify $40 a month. I'm hoping that, since I told the guy I wouldn't pay $60 for the tethering option, he felt I wouldn't figure out how to do it on the $20 plan and just dropped it and went to his next call. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Right now I have exactly what I want and I hope it stays that way.