new Sprint update: using 650 as a modem

[jp5er]

I now have the ability to use my Treo650 as a Bluetooth modem, as Sprint finally enabled it with their latest update.

However, I can't quite get my iBook to do it.

Bluetooth works just fine (I use a Bluetake USB Bluetooth adapter), as far as the device being recognized and being able to HotSync. I also have a dial-up account and my Bluetooth settings have been configured with help from my new ISP.

But when I use Internet Connect to dial out through my Treo, I get a message saying "Could not open the communication device."

Anyone out there with any insight to this problem? :confused:

[Katore]

I was able to get my Treo 650 to act as a bluetooth modem for my powerbook earlier today. I have a PCS Vision plan and am using that for my net access. I tested this on Mac OS 10.4.2 and 10.3.9.

This is what I did:

1. On the Treo, turn on Bluetooth, make sure Discoverable = Yes and Dial-up Networking = On
2. Run 'Set Up Bluetooth Device' from your Mac's Bluetooh menu
3. Click Continue
4. Select Mobile Phone, then click Continue
5. Select your mobile phone from found devices, click next
6. Pair Treo with Mac by entering number shown on Mac into Treo
7. On the next screen, 'Access the internet with your phone's data connection' should be checked, if so, click Continue, if not something is wrong, make sure you turned on Dial Up Networking in step 1
8. Leave the UserID and Password fields blank
9. For the Phone number, put in #777
10. Select 'Sprint PCS Vision' for modem script
11. Check or uncheck show Bluetooth status, up to you, Click Continue
12. The next screen should tell you that it is set up sucessfully, press Quit.
13. Open your Mac's System Preferences (Apple->System Preferences)
14. Click Network
15. Bluetooth should now be listed as one of your networking options.
16. Highlight Bluetooth and click Connect
17. Click Connect again when the dial window pops up.
18. If all goes well, it will connect. From here on out, treat it like a regular modem.

I hope that works for you. Remember that while you have Dial Up Networking turned on, your Treo can not pair with other Bluetooth devices and sync. So turn it back off when you are done (see step 1 for reference, DUN=Off).

Don't take this as gospel since I am a new Treo user, but so far everything seems to be working well together.

[chris]

Great post.

[rmurray]

I upgraded my Cingular Treo 650 last week (with very little problem, I might add!) and just noticed this week that the Bluetooth setup now has the DUN option. Has anyone had success getting this to work with OS X?

I am going to try the previous procedure posted here for the Sprint PCS using that modem script. There isn't any other at the moment. If that doesn't work, we'll need a Cingular script, I suppose...

Any other updates on this would be greatly appreciated!

[chris]

I noticed this too. Very interesting. That would be very awesome.

-Chris

[rmurray]

BTW - Duplication of of the Sprint method didn't work... :sad:

[chris]

Do you think they put it there to tease us?

[Katore]

Bummer about Cingular not working.

I went ahead and looked through the Cingular manual and couldn't find a DUN section at all (could be I missed it). The sprint manual has a section showing how to set up DUN on a windows box (hey, nobody is perfect :tongue: ) on page 77 and there it mentions to dial #777. It is probably a different number for your carrier.

Anyway, hope this helps someone somewhere.

[Gunner2005]

The instructions for getting the Treo 650 are spot on, with one addition. When I first tried the first posts instructions it wouldn't work, I figured out that if you go into System Preferences --> Network, then click on Bluetooth and click on Configure then click on the "Bluetooth modem" button, it will take you to a screen that offers several options. One of them is "Wait for dial tone before dialing". Be sure this is unchecked, since your phone won't ever have a dial tone... Try it some time - you'll be waiting a long time for a dial tone :-)
Gunner

[rmurray]

I caught that one too... I tried a lot of those network settings for the bt-modem and none seemed to work, although all of them made some difference! Most notably, the wait for carrier!

We need a 'keeping my (our) fingers crossed' icon...