what cell phones are you using for tethered internet? 2008

[D. Hayes]

I just signed up with alltel and got a Palm Treo 700wx. I had it 1 days and I'm shipping it back tomorrow because it locks up into 10 minute session of internet use. I found out that's a wide spread problem with this model phone so avoid this phone at all cost. The phone I'm replacing it with is a Blackberry 8830 with built in GPS. I'm hoping it will relay the GPS information to the laptop and back. Anyways I wish I would of asked this before... what phones are you using and how do you like them?

 

[Jody Radzik]

I'm either going with a Verizon or Sprint broadband card. I can't quite decide which will be better for NM/W TX/CO/W OK/W KS.

 

[Steve Miller]

I know the T-mobile Blackberry products will allow tethering with the Blackberry service package. T-mobile doesn't seem to mind much about it either.
AT&T Blackberry products can be tethered with some careful instructions although I have yet to make mine work. AT&T does mind and I've heard they will flag your account if they come across data usage that is more than that the Blackberry would use under very heavy usage - in other words, if it's obvious you're using it for data external from the device.

It would be very cool if you could pull off data and GPS though - let us know how that works out for you!

 

[David Drummond]

I'm either going with a Verizon or Sprint broadband card. I can't quite decide which will be better for NM/W TX/CO/W OK/W KS.

Absolutely Sprint man. I have had connection in all of these areas this past year 90% of the time. Sometimes it roams data, in these areas, usually on Alltel, and on the old CellularOne network.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

Still using a RAZR tethered via Alltel. Costs me $20 a month for unlimited use.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

I love my HTC TyTN (Cingular 8528). This phone is available from almost all of the GSM carriers and now Verizon and Sprint as well. The TyTN II and the TyTN (pronounced titian) are excellent PDA phones that served me remarkably well in 2006 and 2007. I accidentally destroyed my first one due to a tear in my pocket and have since replaced it with a used one that I unlocked and installed Windows Mobile 6 onto which I have found makes for an eseir connection when teathering to my pc. I also made it so that if I ever leave AT&T mine will work on any GSM network in the world as long as I have their SIM card. HTC is a wonderful company that has nothing but an outstanding history is the only company I will buy a phone from for now on. They also aren't so critical of their customers that have unlocked devices as apple was with the iPhone bricking incident.
The TyTN has 3G and wifi capability and can tether to your pc via a usb cable, bluetooth, and IR and stacking it up against a Cingular Edge card in the feild last year, my TyTN's connection was more stable and reliable and seamed to also pick up a better signal and would have less trouble when hopping between towers. If you upgrade to WM6 like I have it is simply a plug and play deal when tethering to your system, but the WM5 way was also very simple and user friendly. I have also found that when in an area that offers a 3G connection it works about as fast as a DSL connection.

The phone will still be able to make calls and receive them while still connected without requiring you to reconnect after each call.

Here is the Data plan with AT&T I have that is available exclusively to the PDA phones.

PDA Enterprise (for BlackBerry Connect, Good & Microsoft Direct Push)
monthly charge = $45.00 (Prices reflect a $5/month discount for voice and require that an eligible wireless voice plan be activated and maintained on the same device. Stand-alone versions of these data plans are also available for an additional $5/month.)
Domestic Included Data Limit = unlimited (including sms, mms, and im and emails.)
Cellular Video = $10.00

I have had several pda phones ranging from the first Treo (a so-so to alright phone) to the Treo 650 (worst mistake I've ever made, i had to send 6 back and finally said screw it and got my HTC) and several smart phones and out of ever phone I've ever owned, including the old Nokia's back before the day of color lcd displays on phones, this phone is not only the best pda, but the best phone I've ever owned. There are a plethora of these phones on eBay for a decent price and even some that come pre-unlocked.
A word of caution.... vista hates the world it was born into and thus I have had some problems but a few simple downloads from HTC's site will fix any problems with syncing and tethering your device to your vista powered pc.

 

[Bill Tabor]

Currently using a Motorola V120e phone dongled with Verizon Wirelss at AMPS & 1XRTT digital speeds. This phone setup supports both Dial Up Networking Ositech King of Hearts and USB Mobile Office Broadband connects. This setup has been reliable and consistent for years but I realize speedwise it is getting old tech compared to EVDO Rev 0 and Rev A that Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel now support. So, I'll probably upgrade either to a faster Verizon phone, or I may switch to Sprint whose supposedly working towards 4G.

 

[Tim Stoecklein]

Still using a RAZR tethered via Alltel. Costs me $20 a month for unlimited use.

Ryan, do you have a lead on getting the driver needed to use the RAZR? I checked out the thread from last year, but it seems that forum has removed the ability to get the driver. I'm not keen on paying the $70 for the data kit.

 

[Jody Radzik]

Absolutely Sprint man.

Thanks for helping me with that decision, David.

 

[Jay Cazel]

Palm treo 700p...Sprint, used Sprint for 8 years now, and this will be my second year with tethering the treo. BTW I know the 700wx has a update out for it that might help your problem.

 

[Scott Roberts]

Last two years I cabled to an LG VX6100...switched mid-year to Motorola E815 via Bluetooth (on the Alltel $25 a month plan). I keep the 6100 as a backup for those few times I'm in an Alltel 1X area...running enough data to need both going at the same time in that instance.

 

[Dick McGowan]

Ryan, do you have a lead on getting the driver needed to use the RAZR? I checked out the thread from last year, but it seems that forum has removed the ability to get the driver. I'm not keen on paying the $70 for the data kit.

Here you go, Tim...I had to get this in a download off of their site (which they emailed me and was only good for 72 hours btw), on a chase back on 4/21, when mine had problems.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y4D7TRMA

If anyone needs the software for the tethering with Alltel, pm me and I can get that for you.

 

[cedwards]

I have been using Verizon via an aircard, but I have had problems with the software not recognizing my card. I got around their connection software and used windows dialup networking. It worked ok, but I didn't get the speed I should have.

I am testing out my Alltel Phone with internet. I have connected it via bluetooth. The problem is, It won't stay connected longer than a few seconds. Can anybody help out with this?

I did manage to stay connected just long enough to get a speed test completed.
It actually shows a better download speed than my home DSL.

 

[Dick McGowan]

I have been using Verizon via an aircard, but I have had problems with the software not recognizing my card. I got around their connection software and used windows dialup networking. It worked ok, but I didn't get the speed I should have.

I am testing out my Alltel Phone with internet. I have connected it via bluetooth. The problem is, It won't stay connected longer than a few seconds. Can anybody help out with this?

I did manage to stay connected just long enough to get a speed test completed.
It actually shows a better download speed than my home DSL.

Charles,

I think it's because of your bluetooth...what type of phone do you have?

In the Alltel thread that is buried a few pages back here on Stormtrack, Ryan McGinnis posted this:

Just thought I'd add an addendum -- I've discovered that, while it's still possible to use my USB cable to connect my phone to my laptop and use internet at ISDN speeds (soon to be DSL speeds, once the EVDO rollout is done), it is not possible to use bluetooth wireless with your laptop to get to the internet through your phone. It's disabled for some reason. The OBEX file transfer stuff works, but the internet requires an actual USB cable to be connected to your phone and computer. Not the end of the world (since the phone charges continuously through USB when it's plugged in), but before I'd mentioned that one could put the phone somewhere inconspicuous in the car and use the bluetooth to connect to it... this isn't the case.

 

[cedwards]

I am using the LG Wave (AX380) The only way to connect is through bluetooth.
The bluetooth stays connected, but the phoned hangs up.