Blackberry + Cradlepoint SUCCESS Stories

3Gstore · EVDO Addict Joined: 19 Sep 2006 Posts: 3160

Using a Blackberry with a Cradlepoint router has been extremely troublesome lately and the problems are effecting a wide variety of models/routers/firmware versions/carrier combinations.

However, some users are still able to use their Blackberry's with Cradlepoint router's successfully -- and in order to get a better idea of who is having success we are asking users to post their success stories here.

Please include the following in any post to this thread:
(your post will not be helpful without all this info!)

Blackberry model name/number you are using
which carrier you use it on
the firmware version installed on the Blackberry
Cradlepoint router model
router firmware version

Please post to this thread only if you have a SUCCESSFUL COMBINATION of BlackBerry + Cradlepoint to report

Maureen · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject:

Cradlepoint is well-aware of the compatibility issues, and the problems most users are seeing are not stemming from Cradlepoint's routers or firmware - it is the Blackberry (the software/firmware on the phone itself) that is causing the problems in most cases.

If you're currently using a Blackberry and a Cradlepoint router, we STRONGLY recommend NOT updating your phone's software or firmware as it may break the compatibility! Read more here: Don't Upgrade Your Equipment Unnecessarily

matthewkrieger · EVDO Newbie Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 2

Can anyone post the basic Blackberry/PHS configuration steps (for any Blackberry)? I can't find them to even test this.

Thanks

Smudge · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Location: CT

OK. In the spririt of this thread:

* Blackberry model name/number you are using 8830 World
* which carrier you use it on VZW
* the firmware version installed on the Blackberry v4.2.2.196 (Platform 3.0.0.84)
* Cradlepoint router model CTR500
* router firmware version 1.6.0

Now that that's out of the way:

Over the last year we purchased (from 3gstore of course!)
two CTR500s, (as well as a Tekkeon 3450i for good measure)
for evaluation as a potential remote solution
for our 8830-toting remote warriors.
We've been rotating the CTR500s to each for a few weeks each,
and the feedback and experiences has been uniformly positive.

Tethering is crucial to us, as the BlackBerries are here to stay,
and we cannot justify the additional recurring costs
of a separate USB modem or MIFI for each person.

Fortunately, all our 8830s happen to be running 4.2.2 for now,
but puts in question whether the evaluation work we've done to date
is all for nought, never mind whether we can go ahead with a
more widespread deployment of CTR500/3450i.

I have to believe that 3gstore represents a significant sales
channel for Cradlepoint, and Cradlepoint products account for
a significant percentage of 3gstore's revenue.

Bbry's are ubiquitous, and I have to believe that tethering to Cradlepoint
routers represent a significant percentage of Cradlepoint's use cases.

So I'd like to think that some of the following concerns can be addressed
in far more detail that I've seem to date from either.
I understand why 3gstore removed all trace of blackberriness from the site,
but given RIM's market share, hardly seems like a long-term business strategy.

So:

1. Is the present incompatibility of bbry 5.0 firmware
"accidental", meaning that it was unintentional on the part of RIM/VZW/Sprint/etc,
and therefore it seems reasonable that Cradlepoint,
perhaps even with the cooperation of the above,
will be able to resolve it in short order.
or
Is it deliberate on the part of RIM/VZW/Sprint/etc,
possibly involving authentication technology to prevent reverse engineering,
designed to basically prevent tethering with anything other than a PC
running their access mgr or equivalent software?
(eg. forcing a MIFI on power users...)

2. How long can a user reasonably expect to run bbry 4.x before an upgrade to 5.0
becomes essential for reasons unrelated to tethering?

3. Does Cradlepoint consider the resolution of this a priority,
and can they shed some light on the actual technical issues & progress?

I hope 3gstore can use its influence to get some answers,
and that all the testing we've done over the last year was not in vain,
that we'll be able to proceed with our planned wider CTR500 rollout...

Thanks for any insights.
-K.

Hardware · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 150

If you look at the CradlePoint PR and release notes the last couple of months, it looks like the 4G/WiMAX items have been the priority.

Hopefully that will change in the coming months for some of the 3G devices now that the 4G networks are starting to be more standardized and stable.

Michael · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject:

We are constantly in touch with CradlePoint as they are a strategic partner for 3Gstore.com.

Without going into a lot of detail, I can tell you that that BlackBerry OS 5 incompatibility was caused from changes from the 4.0 firmware to the 5.0 firmware in BlackBerries. CradlePoint is actively working on a solution and I am confident at some point in the near feature (1-3 months), they will have full BlackBerry OS 5.0 tethering support.
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visortgw · Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject:

MrSimmonsSr · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 8

I have a success story now, thank goodness. Those guys at Cradlepoint tech support are great. They could have easily told me that they wouldn't talk to me until I got the tethering option added to my AT&T account, but they didn't so I want to give them props for that. Thanks to Marcus and Mike D!

Blackberry model: Bold 9000
Carrier: AT&T (Cingular)
Blackberry OS: 5.0.0.509 (latest OS available, but not released by AT&T yet)
Cradlepoint router model: CRT350
Router firmware: 2.5.2

I don't have a formal tethering plan option on my account, so I'm stuck using the wap.cingular APN..

That said, the difference for me was removing the username and password from the Basic -> WAN page. I used to have the standard wap.cingular APN username and password in there, and would only connect about once out of every 20 attempts. I usually got a PAP Authentication timeout error of some sort in the router logs in the past, but now that I'm not using the username and password anymore it seems to be working great!

My modem init script is as follows:

MrSimmonsSr · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 8

I have a success story now, thank goodness. Those guys at Cradlepoint tech support are great. They could have easily told me that they wouldn't talk to me until I got the tethering option added to my AT&T account, but they didn't so I want to give them props for that. Thanks to Marcus and Mike D!

Blackberry model: Bold 9000
Carrier: AT&T (Cingular)
Blackberry OS: 5.0.0.509 (latest leaked OS)
Cradlepoint router model: CRT350
Router firmware: 2.5.2

I don't have a formal tethering plan option on my account, so I'm stuck using the wap.cingular APN..

That said, the difference for me was removing the username and password..

More details on my config and experience is here:

http://www.evdoforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=76973#76973

Hope this is helpful!

BryGuy · EVDO Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2010 Posts: 2

I had updated my Bold to V5 before buying the CTR500. WHen I bought it i just plugged it in and it worked after unplug/replugging it in a few times. But I noticed it seemed to take a LOT of goofing around to get it to work. Once it was up, it worked great, no disconencts, decent speeds etc.

I stumbled across this thread, tried the 1.6.9 firmware (i was even so bold (no pun intended) as to try the automatic upgrade) and it seems to be working great. I have powered down/up the router, unplugged/replugged the bold with the router still powered on etc. it seems to connect fine every time now.

MrSimmonsSr · EVDO Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 8

Unfortunately my success was short lived. Now I'm back to having to fiddle with my config to get a connection and some days it just won't connect no matter what I do..

Sad

The good news (for me at least) is that my company has agreed to get me an AirCard (Lightning) so I won't be using my Bold that much for use with my Cradlepoint router any more, so I won't have to worry about it.. Tethering through my Bold 9000 always works like a champ if I plug it directly into my laptop with USB cable and use a Dial-Up Networking config. I'm unsure why the Cradlepoint router isn't just as consistent...

Any thoughts?

I noticed I have LCP disabled when tethering directly. Maybe that has something to do with it? The router doesn't give you the option to disable LCP.

phuang · EVDO Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2010 Posts: 1

Blackberry Model: Bold 9700 (v5.0.0.593 Platform 5.1.0.147)
Carrier: Taiwan Mobile
Cradle Point Model: CTR350 with 2.5.3 firmware

Modem Init AT Command:

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet"
ATDT*99#

I also removed the username and password in the cellular modem configuration section.

Credit goes to MrSimmonsSr as I was previously using a Bold 9000 with v4.6.x.x OS and only had to set APN value to internet without any Init AT Command. When I upgraded to the 9700, I had to try another configuration and started experimenting with the posted suggestion.

Just another quick thought is the AT Command I am using matches the modem and dialer setting I have configured in Win XP to use my Blackberry as a bluetooth modem.

BryGuy · EVDO Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2010 Posts: 2

Been a few weeks since I used my bold and my cradle point 500, but Like mrsimmonssr my success was short lived. It does work, but for whatever reason it takes a lot of fiddling. I have not done any configs as far as at commands etc, but at times I just plug it in and it works, others it takes 15 mins to a half hour of jerking cords to get it to work. It could be coincidence, but it does seem to work better if I freshly reboot my blackberry before attempting, or even turning off/on the cell antena on the berry.
The last few times I have used it, i just plug in my cell thru the USB and give it a minute or two. The indicator stays yellow and of course I cannot browse through wifi. Simply turning off and on the cell antena on the bold usually makes the indicator turn green on the router, and I have no trouble for the rest of the night.