Tethering - "Under the hood"

SlyFerret · EVDO User Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 70

Hi guys,
I have had great success with my trusty old PC5220 and Linux. It works well because "under the hood" the air card, to the system, looks just like an old school serial modem.

Is this also the case with tethering a cell phone handset to a computer? I'm looking into upgrading my 3 year old handset to one that supports tethering, and I want to make sure that the handset will work the same way.

Any of you tech-heads out there know?

Thanks!
-SF

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1068

Not a tech head so to speak but tests pretty much support that data card devices are faster than phone as modem. Probably due to the phone's processing speed.

My data card for instance, a KPC680 on Alltel's network, gives me speeds in excess of 2Mb down and 130ishkbps up but my PPC6800 only sees about 1Mb downloads.

The best I've gotten my PPC6800 to do even when connected via Wifi to a wireless DSL network that was running 20Mb down was about 1.5Mb downloads. Phone processor is apparently the bottleneck.

Torrey · Site Admin Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 229 Location: USA

Well it's possible that you can use a handset like the BB 8830 with Linux (with the correct vendor/product ID's of course)...but your kind of on your own trying to figure out how to make it work properly...but the CDU-680 on the sprint network makes it VERY easy to setup & connect in linux! It comes with a connection script on the CDU-680 flash drive!

It's as simple as running the following commands in the terminal, after you copy the script to your HDD:

Run "cd Desktop/Linux_Ubuntu"
Run "sudo ./connect"

Then you will be prompted to enter your root (administrator) password
The device will then switch to modem mode and connect to Sprint's network.

Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1068

Duh. I totally overlooked the whole Linux aspect of the OP. Pardon the interruption!! Embarassed

SlyFerret · EVDO User Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 70

I'm going to continue using the PC5220 in my desktop PC at home. It's the only way I can get broadband (besides satellite) where I live.

The speed that a tethered handset can offer should be just fine for my intended usage.

Here is the rest of the story:

I was planning to buy a Mogul. My brother has the AT&T 8525, and my dad has a Verizon phone (don't know the model) that is very very simlar to the Mogul and 8525. I really liked their phones and thought it would be a great mobile device.

Then I saw the Asus EEE PC (A new inexpensive ultra portable low power laptop). It will actually work better for what I need it for than a smart phone. Now, my plan is to buy an EEE PC, which means I won't need a smart phone. If I don't need a smart phone, I can simply buy an inexpensive handset that allows tethering and use that why my EEE PC.

My plan is to get rid of the stock EEE PC operating system and install EEEubuntu (an Ubuntu variant that is tailored for the EEE PC).

So... what is the verdict? Do tethered handsets look like simple serial modems to the computer?

-SF

(BTW... yes I know, the PC5220 is on Verizon's network and the Mogul is a Sprint phone. Our cell phones are with sprint, and my EVDO internet plan for my desktop PC is with Verizon because they rolled out EVDO first in my area)

Rangerw · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

I had my old VZW V325 'tricked' and it did ok in a bind but nothing like a std Rev0 card would do. I have a butt ugly PN-820 now and I'm starting to like it. UP/down are fair but it's no fun just to 'teather up out of the box and surf' Wink

_________________
A simple man.

friarzen · EVDO Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

So, I've got Debian Gutsy installed on my desktop, and my current DSL provider is starting to flake out on me. So, in a desperate attempt to maintain my net addiction, I grabbed my PN-820 and started digging to see what I needed to do to make them work together.

Plugging in the USB cable automatically creates an eth1 device that lists as up and running, but without an IP address...

From here I assume I need to do something fancy with pppoe and pppd to get it to connect, but I'm not seeming to get any response from a PPPoE host.

(*SIGH* I wish Verizon would discover this newfangled concept from the early 90's called DHCP and simple MAC address filtering, instead of this elaborate/lame RADIUS phone number PPP auth system Rolling Eyes

)

I'm starting to wonder if I have to register the PN-820 using some kind of Winblows craplet first.

Any suggestions?

deparson · EVDO Junkie Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 248

If you have never used the device you need to activate it on the network using supported software first.

As for using MAC addresses for authenticating a device keep in mind that a MAC address can be spoofed with ease. That said, for Sprint you just need to 'dial' the correct # number to connect to the network.

Better yet, use an EVDO to WiFi router for no hassle surfing!