Tethering the bold- how?

**Melinda Musil** · 04-28-2009, 03:06 PM

I need to set up my Bold and desktop so that I can use the bold as a desktop modem. I have AT&T/Cingular service on my Bold and Windows XP on my desktop. I do NOT want to pay the additional AT&T fees for tethering- this would just be an occasional thing and not worth the additional $30 or $60 USD a month. But in all my research, it seems that it is still possible to tether the Bold by sorta going "around" the network.

I've found several threads (listed below) discussing this issue but I'm still confused. How do I set up the tethering without paying for tethering service from AT&T? Help!

How to use your Bold as a modem
Blackberry Bold as a modem with AT&T service
Blackberry Bold: My successful AT&T Tether settings

**craig.f.powers.sr** · 04-28-2009, 03:45 PM

OMG, just pay for it. If your on the road and need access for your laptop 30 bucks a month should pay for itself.

**my240sx88** · 04-28-2009, 04:00 PM

that $30 a doesn't, i repeat DOES NOT cover tethering it as a modem. ask anyone at at&t and they will tell u the same thing. i thought it did, and when i got a bill i was charged $92 just for 16 mb of data. u have to purchase a tethering plan on top of the data plan for it to work, or i think u can purchase a tethering plan and not have a data plan i don't know exactly how it works but the bottom line is, tethering is not covered under the data plan

**Melinda Musil** · 04-28-2009, 04:12 PM

Exactly...
I am already paying $30 a month for unlimited data, plus more money for texting, voice, etc. However I don't have the tether plan and that is what I would like to avoid.
Mr. Craig Powers Sr., I'm glad that you apparently have an extra $30 a month for this plan. I don't have that extra money. Would you like to pay for my plan?

**my240sx88** · 04-28-2009, 04:18 PM

lol i think tethering is somewhere around $50, at least it was when i last looked into it. and i know i don't have the extra $$ so i avoid it all together. plus if i need it bad enough i use the bold browser

**Melinda Musil** · 04-28-2009, 04:23 PM

From what I've found, it is at least an extra $30 and maybe $60 on top of the $30 unlimited data plan. Which I think is just so stupid, but that's another story.

The unlimited data plan has been great and usually is enough for me- I use my blackberry to check email, read the news, update my website, etc. But I recently agreed to design a website for a non-profit organization, pro bono. It would be extremely helpful if I could tether for this particular project. But given that I am doing this FOR FREE and that I barely have enough money to pay for my blackberry as is, I don't want to pay extra money for it.

**my240sx88** · 04-28-2009, 04:27 PM

true that. at&t gotta make thier money too tho

**Melinda Musil** · 04-28-2009, 04:31 PM

Baloney. It doesn't make any sense that for $30 a month I can have "unlimited data" but no tethering! If the data is truly unlimited, than AT&T needs to remove all these limits or they are just lying to us!

**centerfield** · 04-28-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Melinda Musil

I need to set up my Bold and desktop so that I can use the bold as a desktop modem. I have AT&T/Cingular service on my Bold and Windows XP on my desktop. I do NOT want to pay the additional AT&T fees for tethering- this would just be an occasional thing and not worth the additional $30 or $60 USD a month. But in all my research, it seems that it is still possible to tether the Bold by sorta going "around" the network.

I've found several threads (listed below) discussing this issue but I'm still confused. How do I set up the tethering without paying for tethering service from AT&T? Help!

How to use your Bold as a modem
Blackberry Bold as a modem with AT&T service
Blackberry Bold: My successful AT&T Tether settings

Whether or not you are willing to spend $30 per month on tethering is irrelevant. You agreed not to use your phone for tethering without paying the $30 when you agreed to the terms of service.

**leroypinto123** · 04-28-2009, 06:50 PM

i have a bold unlocked for tmobile, so i dont have 3G speeds. I went through countless hours of research and found a way to tether the bold to my xp laptop to find out i'd rather use opera mini browser on my phone at these speeds. Might be different for you since ur getting blazing fast 3G!

**my240sx88** · 04-29-2009, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by Melinda Musil

Baloney. It doesn't make any sense that for $30 a month I can have "unlimited data" but no tethering! If the data is truly unlimited, than AT&T needs to remove all these limits or they are just lying to us!

I asked that same question at an at&t store. They told me when the device is tetherd, data, the little bits and bytes, don't got through at&t the same way it does if you use the bold browser. they also said you lose speed when tethered. Say it caps off at 125kb/s anyhow i do think its gay. but what they are doing is suckering all those people who think and don't research before hand. its silly but at least u were one of those people who asked. I wasn't and bit the bullet for it

**infomax** · 04-29-2009, 12:56 AM

Hey, I am with Rogers. I got the $30 6G promotional data plan when Bold first came out. It included use Bold as Modem. Speed is fast. Down site, I need to pay $399 for my Bold plus a 3 year contract. Which you preferred? There aren't any free lunch.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**digitalb0y** · 04-29-2009, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by my240sx88

true that. at&t gotta make thier money too tho

Yeah, they're pretty hard up, what with nobody using them, and the way they practically give their service away. Paying for unlimited data should NOT mean that you get to use as much data as you want! That's totally not what they meant by that.

If you want to use your phone as a modem, you gotta pay extra to have a few settings changed that you could easily have done yourself on both the phone and computer! Thieves, the lot of you! Won't somebody think of poor AT&T?

**JasW** · 04-29-2009, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Melinda Musil

I need to set up my Bold and desktop so that I can use the bold as a desktop modem. I have AT&T/Cingular service on my Bold and Windows XP on my desktop. I do NOT want to pay the additional AT&T fees for tethering- this would just be an occasional thing and not worth the additional $30 or $60 USD a month. But in all my research, it seems that it is still possible to tether the Bold by sorta going "around" the network.

I've found several threads (listed below) discussing this issue but I'm still confused. How do I set up the tethering without paying for tethering service from AT&T? Help!

How to use your Bold as a modem
Blackberry Bold as a modem with AT&T service
Blackberry Bold: My successful AT&T Tether settings

You set up the Bold under the Standard Modem in Device Manager in Windows with an extra initialization string and let 'er rip. No need to get AT&T's Communication Manager and to pay, at least if you have an unlimited data plan (although the tip is to keep the tethering usage under 5 and probably even 2-3 GB a month.) Read the second thread you linked to carefully.

**giantfan30** · 04-29-2009, 08:12 AM

and for the OP to get tethering on ATT it is an ADDITIONAL $10 a month added to the $30 a month you pay for data
or if you have unlimited messaging and unlimited BIS which is $50 your BIS would be $60 with tethering added

i tether with the "free" method once or twice a month with no ramifications from ATT...

**JasW** · 04-29-2009, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by giantfan30

and for the OP to get tethering on ATT it is an ADDITIONAL $10 a month added to the $30 a month you pay for data
or if you have unlimited messaging and unlimited BIS which is $50 your BIS would be $60 with tethering added

i tether with the "free" method once or twice a month with no ramifications from ATT...

But note that if you get the BB plan with tethering, it's no longer an unlimited data plan, but rather a 5GB a month plan (regardless of whether you are tethering or not).

**giantfan30** · 04-29-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by JasW

But note that if you get the BB plan with tethering, it's no longer an unlimited data plan, but rather a 5GB a month plan (regardless of whether you are tethering or not).

none of it is unlimited with or without tethering..read the fine print of your contract the 5GB cap is there even if you dont sign up for tethering

**centerfield** · 04-29-2009, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by giantfan30

none of it is unlimited with or without tethering..read the fine print of your contract the 5GB cap is there even if you dont sign up for tethering

I have ATT and the only 5gb limit in the WSA is with respect to a tethering plan.

Where in the WSA do you see a 5gb limit for other than tethering?

You can check it here:

Wireless Service Agreement | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular

**JasW** · 04-29-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by centerfield

I have ATT and the only 5gb limit in the WSA is with respect to a tethering plan.

Where in the WSA do you see a 5gb limit for other than tethering?

You can check it here:

Wireless Service Agreement | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular

Yup, that's exactly where I'd read it early. More direct link to the relevant TOS here.

Note this from the clause applicable to BB plans without tethering: "Data Services sold for use with AT&T RIM BlackBerry devices, and PDAs may not be used with other devices, including but not limited to, Personal Computers, PC Data Cards and the like, either by tethering devices together, by SIM card transfer or any other means."

**centerfield** · 04-29-2009, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by JasW

Yup, that's exactly where I'd read it early. More direct link to the relevant TOS here.

Note this from the clause applicable to BB plans without tethering: "Data Services sold for use with AT&T RIM BlackBerry devices, and PDAs may not be used with other devices, including but not limited to, Personal Computers, PC Data Cards and the like, either by tethering devices together, by SIM card transfer or any other means."

???

My statement was simple - there is no 5gb limit for a data plan for the Bold with ATT.

Yes, there is a prohibition on using your phone's data plan for tethering, but there is no specified limit on the phone's data plan. If you want to tether, then you need to purchase a tethering plan, and tethering plans are limit to 5gb.

To make it simple:

1. The ATT data plan for a Bold has no specfied limit.

2. ATT prohibits use of a phone data plan for tethering.

3. ATT sells a tethering plan for the Bold for $30/mo.

**Erandhawa** · 04-29-2009, 03:14 PM

Ok so after all the discussion only one person attempted helping the guy, at&t only cares if you are using it as a primary tether device with that said here is what to do:

I found the easiest way for beginners to tether their device is use PDAnet go to PdaNet -- Use your BlackBerry as a USB Modem they have software that does it an no AT&T doesn't find out.
If you are a little more experienced you can take the route that doesn't require software but will still achieve the same end result, tethered phone and laptop and no extra cost from at&t, just search the forum there are atleast 4 or 5 guides for the manual technique.

If you need help PM me and i will help you out

**JasW** · 04-29-2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by centerfield

???

My statement was simple - there is no 5gb limit for a data plan for the Bold with ATT.

Yes, there is a prohibition on using your phone's data plan for tethering, but there is no specified limit on the phone's data plan. If you want to tether, then you need to purchase a tethering plan, and tethering plans are limit to 5gb.

To make it simple:

1. The ATT data plan for a Bold has no specfied limit.

2. ATT prohibits use of a phone data plan for tethering.

3. ATT sells a tethering plan for the Bold for $30/mo.

I was actually agreeing with you and just added the related point about AT&T's TOS prohibiting tethering on regular data plan.

**centerfield** · 04-29-2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by erandhawa

Ok so after all the discussion only one person attempted helping the guy, at&t only cares if you are using it as a primary tether device with that said here is what to do:

maybe the rest of us have some integrity and believe that an agreement is an agreement - you are only worth your word - and if your word is worthless so are you.

And why would anyone buy PDAnet to steal services from ATT? Just steal PDAnet too. then it won't cost you anything (but your integrity.)

Geezzz, why not go all the way and steal a phone that already has a paid for version of PDAnet or Tetherberry on it? That way it won't cost you anything.

**JasW** · 04-29-2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by erandhawa

Ok so after all the discussion only one person attempted helping the guy, at&t only cares if you are using it as a primary tether device with that said here is what to do:

I found the easiest way for beginners to tether their device is use PDAnet go to PdaNet -- Use your BlackBerry as a USB Modem they have software that does it an no AT&T doesn't find out.
If you are a little more experienced you can take the route that doesn't require software but will still achieve the same end result, tethered phone and laptop and no extra cost from at&t, just search the forum there are atleast 4 or 5 guides for the manual technique.

If you need help PM me and i will help you out

You still have to pay $30 for PDAnet. Cheaper than TetherBerry, but it's not free. The following steps are not that difficult to follow, and allow you to tether without paying for software:

1. Go to the Windows Device manager. Quickest way: Start > Run > devmgmt.msc
2. Click + button next to Modems, double click “Standard Modem”
3. Click the Advanced tab
4. Enter this into the empty box (no leading space):
AT+cgdcont=1,"IP","WAP.CINGULAR"
5. Hit Okay, and close device manager.

Also, then
1. From your computer, click Start, Control Panel, then Network and Sharing Center.
2. Set up a connection or a net work then Next.
3. Select Set up dial up connection.
4. Select the Standard Modem, then Next.
5. Enter this as the phone number: *99# –> Next
6. Enter user name (ALL CAPS): ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
7. Enter and confirm password (ALL CAPS): CINGULAR1 –> Next/Finish
8. Open Desktop Manager and plug in your Blackberry via the USB cable. Make sure it detects the Blackberry as connected.
9. Go back to your network connections window (step 7), and double click the new ATT Dialup icon.
10. Your password, username, and dialup number should already be saved. If it’s not, just follow lines 6 and 7 above again. Then just click “Dial.”

**giantfan30** · 04-29-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by centerfield

maybe the rest of us have some integrity and believe that an agreement is an agreement - you are only worth your word - and if your word is worthless so are you.

And why would anyone buy PDAnet to steal services from ATT? Just steal PDAnet too. then it won't cost you anything (but your integrity.)

Geezzz, why not go all the way and steal a phone that already has a paid for version of PDAnet or Tetherberry on it? That way it won't cost you anything.

give it a rest already geeeez...cmon get off your soapbox
funny how Tmobile allows you to do it free of charge but ATT and VZW want you to pay for it.....i say tether away ..just dont get caught

if you honestly think that ATT isnt aware that people are tethering without a tethering Plan you are delusional