Blackberry 7130e, Mac USB Drivers, Bluetooth, tethered modem

Michael

The Blackberry 7130e is the first Verizon phone that offers a tethered modem option. While we don't have one to test (yet). We have some information for Mac users...

According to Verizon, only Windows drivers come with the Blackberry 7130e. So, until we get one to test, we are unsure if this will work via USB. Without drivers, it probably will not work.

Next, this leaves BlueTooth. According to Verizon's web site, it looks like the Dial Up Networking (DUN) is disabled. So that rules out BlueTooth. Most likely, there will be some hack somewhere that enables this functionality. Also, Bluetooth will severely limit the speed of EVDO, to about 143K, even if you are in a EVDO area that can get 400K - 700K - you will be stuck at around 143K Mac. If you are in a 1xRTT area, you will get the maximum speeds (50K - 100K).

So, for now, it looks like the Blackberry 7130e is not compatible with PowerBooks or iBooks.

Keep in mind, if you have a PC, drivers come with the 7130e that allow tethered modem use (if you have the correct plan).

If anyone has additional information on this topic, please post it here. If/when we get a 7130e to test, we will confirm the USB functionality for Mac users.
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envirochemi · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

I have the 7130e connected via USB on my Mac with PocketMac for Blackberry installed. When I open the Network Prefrences it shows a new Blackberry Device and gives me all the settings to configure a dial-up account.

I have no idea what the dail up network script should be so I keep getting a script error when I attempt to dial. I am hoping the same trick used elsewhere to get other EvDO devices working will work with this also. Where would one go to find the Vendor and Device IDs? If someone can come up with this information I would be more than happy to test. Smile

Michael · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:42 pm Post subject:

Well, that is excellent news. It sounds like it probably will work, there are 4 things you need to configure and use a EVDO device tethered as a modem on your Mac.

These are the settings for PPP to allow the Mac to talk with the device:

User Name: xxxxxxxxxx@vzw3g.com (replace xxx's with your Verizon Phone Number)
Password: vzw (that has to be lowercase)
Phone: #777
Modem Script: First try the one called "Verizon Support (PC 5220)". If that doesn't work, I have a variety of ones, one will probably work.

If the one called "Verizon Support (PC 5220)" doesn't work, contact me privately and I can send you a few other modem scripts to try (one can be written too).

Please post your results here.
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jodell · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

My mac can only see the BB over BlueTooth . When I try to connect the LED turns blue at first and then it crashes. the device and it does a full reboot. Is there anyway you could post some of the other modem scripts you mentioned?
thanks
FYI...
the services supported by BT on this phone are:
headset
handsfree
desktop connectivity
and wireless bypass

envirochemi · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

I tried the PC5220 script to no avail. However I wanted to post the log files of what I saw to see if anything stands out.

When I use the PC 5220 script I get the following in the Connection Log:

Sat Dec 3 22:12:58 2005 : Starting Apple Verizon Support CCL
Sat Dec 3 22:12:58 2005 : CCLWrite : AT\13
Sat Dec 3 22:13:02 2005 : CCLWrite : AT\13
Sat Dec 3 22:13:05 2005 : CCLWrite : AT\13
Sat Dec 3 22:13:08 2005 : Connect script failed

The next thing I did was try to establish a null modem connection to see if I could get any type of response and to see what the device file was:

Here is what I get:

Sat Dec 3 22:18:07 2005 : Serial connection established.
Sat Dec 3 22:18:07 2005 : using link 0
Sat Dec 3 22:18:07 2005 : Using interface ppp0
Sat Dec 3 22:18:07 2005 : Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/cu.Blackberry
Sat Dec 3 22:18:08 2005 : sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <asyncmap 0x0> <magic 0x8a16f783> <pcomp> <accomp>]
...
Sat Dec 3 22:18:38 2005 : LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests
Sat Dec 3 22:18:38 2005 : Connection terminated.
Sat Dec 3 22:18:39 2005 : Serial link disconnected.

I believe the good thing is that there is a serial connection being established? Is there anyway to test if the device is responding? Whenever I try any of the connection scripts there is no change on the blackberry.

Has anyone successfully connected this with a Windows machine and seen if the screen changes in any way?

I tried several of the pre-loaded scripts including the Sprint Vision, but with the exception of different log entries, everything worked pretty much the same.

Thank you for the quick response Michael. I will contact you soon to try and get the scripts. If you want to send something to me, my email is my username at gmail.com.

watchdog · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

I own a powerbook running 10.4 and I'm seriously considering getting the 7130e. I'm going to hate losing the connectivity with my SE t616, but evdo wireless and a sweet blackberry is just too tempting.

Please post successes or failures.

jodell · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 2

hello,
I have connected a cable to my device and I am getting similar results to envirochemi above.
I tried dialing #777 manually and I get a voice message that says "your call can't be completed as dialed" is that normal?
I found this note in the verizon manual:

When you turn on the Blackberry 7250 and 7130e they attempt to connect to the Blackberry E-mail relay for e-mail services upon power up. If the device already has an active data connection, a "the remote computer did not respond" error message appears. For the tethered modem to operate, the device must not already have an active data connection. When a modem call is active, "Modem Mode Enabled" appears on the device.

So it looks like to me that a way needs to found to disconnect from the email relay before the PPP connection can be established. Maybe as simple as a command in the modem script. Is there a way to turn off email?
thanks
jason

Michael · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:13 pm Post subject:

I may be getting my wife a 7130e for xmas, so if this issue remains unresolved, I will be able to try to get things working and document them here to this thread and at EVDOinfo.com.

I bet that it will be resolved before then Smile

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wjmcl · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

Similar to envirochemi and jodell, i have attached the USB cable to the 7130e and powerbook and have "Blackberry" in System Preferences > Network > Network Port Configurations and "Network Status". The latter appears after completing the PPP information as described by Michael, above.

Whoever finishes the puzzle is going to make several people, including Michael's wife, very happy.

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wjmcl

mgibson80 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

I have the Blackberry 7250 with EVDO enabled on Verizon. I was able to connect with a friends Windows laptop and VZWAccess, so I know my setup works.

I'd like to get this working on my Powerbook.

I have the Blackberry connected and available as a network port. That might be because I am using the PocketMac to sync the BB.

Anyway, let me know if I can help out with testing a modem script... which I know very little about. I have also tried Verizon Support (PC 5220) with no luck.

Thanks!
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matt gibson

envirochemi · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

I found this at this link:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=2019

ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - BlackBerry IPmodem
AT+FCLASS=? - OK
AT#CLS=? - OK
AT+GCI? - OK
AT+GCI=? - OK
ATI1 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI2 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI3 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI4 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI5 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI6 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem
ATI7 - Research In Motion / BlackBerry IPmodem

Anyone have any idea of how to test this on a Mac? I would assume one would need to know baud rate, stop bits and the like to test it. Would someone test this on a 7130e on a Windows machine?

I am beginning to wonder if the PocketMac driver contains all of the necessary pieces to properly support the modem functionality so it would be nice to test if the two pieces are actually communicating.

Michael · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 7:29 pm Post subject:

Can anyone with a 7130e confirm it shows up as a Network port (under Dydtem Preferences -> Network) WITHOUT PocketMac installed?
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envirochemi · EVDO Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 4

It does not show up.

Michael · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject:

The 7130e is not going to work with the Mac without a Mac USB driver Sad

I am in the same boat with the PPC6700. Sprint provides Windows modem drivers and it can be tethered to a Windows computer via USB. I have successfully done this with a Sony Vaio. On the Mac, without drivers, the PPC6700 isn't recognized and cannot be used. However, it does support Dial-up Network (DUN) via Bluetooth and I was able to get the Mac to use the PPC6700 as a Bluetooth modem and connect (Yep, it did work, See PPC6700 Review). The only problem, is that BlueTooth will max out at 143K, so even if you are in a 400K - 700K area, you will only get 143K via Bluetooth. Does the 7130e support DUN via BlueTooth? Can anyone confirm if it is BlueTooth 1.x or BlueTooth 2.0.

I am in the process of investigating writing a Mac USB driver for the PPC6700, and I would bet it wouldn't require too much work to get it to work with the 7130e (especially after my wife gets one, I can then tinker).
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MrMike · EVDO Newbie Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

I've not been able to find any drivers for USB interfaces to allow modem use for the Blackberry devices to even start tinkering in that realm, but obviously someone needs to start focusing on that since I think that's the only route to get this problem solved -- what's worse... I'm on a PB12" so no PCMCIA route either... Ouch!

To the best of my knowledge there is no DUN profile on the BlueTooth Capabilities list from the Blackberry 7130e. Here are the profiles it shows (one of which is a serial port, but I haven't been able to get it to connect and I've tinkered for three days now)...

Device Name: BlackBerry 7130e

Device Address: 00-0f-86-2d-f0-82
Device Type: Phone
Device Services: AUDIO Gateway, Voice Gateway, BlackBerry Desktop Service P:0x300E780F R:0x04 V:0x20004, BlackBerry Bypass Service P:0x300E780F R:0x04 V:0x20003

Paired: Yes
Configured: Yes
Favorite: Yes
Connected: No
Serial Port: Yes

I believe the Bluetooth built into the Blackberry is v1.1 Unless I post otherwise (and I'll sniff the connection to check the version capabilities), assume v1.1 sorry to say... so even if there was a DUN profile, we'd be rate limited by the Bluetooth protocol.