Before I start, don't launch into "get another mobile service" because we just re-upped with T-Mobile and don't say "get a Blackberry" because that isn't an option either. Ok, that out of the way... I found out today that T Mobile doesn't offer a USB modem in the US. Does anyone else have any experience with this? I don't have PCI slot on my iBook, but I really want to get wireless internet before going on a couple of road trips in the next few months. I know there are some ways to connect your phone via Bluetooth as well and I am getting a good connection between my phone (Nokia 5310 by the way) and my Mac, but I want to get onto the internet. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
Also, if you are going on the road, look into a mobile broadband router. I have one here at home. You can plug PCMCIA cards into them and then broadcast the signal to your laptop. Here is the one I use: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=9873239789B01
Hard to find mobile broadband routers for USB cards, but here is one: http://www.nexaira.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=NEXUSB07
This is a very cool idea. Unfortunately, this particular router only works with Sprint cards. I wonder if they make one I could use with TMobile because this would be a cool solution. I also wonder if I could find an adapter to use the car power to run it will on the road. Hmmm...
I've also been reading up on tethering your wireless phone to your computer using Bluetooth and USB. Has anyone done this? How are the download speeds? I tried mine last night, but I ran into some issues. When I did a little research, most suggest calling T Mobile's tech support people about it. Oh, and the irony is that in the UK, they have a KILLER USB modem for T Mobile but not in the US. WTF?
Jeff, Make sure that your data plan allows tethering, or you could find yourself with a very large bill. I have a T-Mobile Blackberry plan with unlimited data, and I'm pretty sure it allows tethering. Not all plans do. The charges can be absurd if they decide to charge you for the data (hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on usage), so be careful.
Jeff, Can't you just get a mobile Edge card? You would think that Apple would have had an answer for this, they are usually on top of these things. DD
My Samsung phone under Sprint has a USB cable that I can connect to my laptop. The laptop recognizes it as a modem. I have to change a setting on my phone which switches it from data mode to modem mode. The speed was remarkably acceptable. I wouldn't use it to watch videos, but it was sufficient to view sites. See if you have a setting where you need to tell the phone it's being used as a modem.
Thanks for this. I think I'm going to call T-Mobile's tech support people today and ask about this. I've been reading some that say you can enable T Zones for like $6 per month and get internet that way. Others say you need the unlimited web (I think it is $30). I'm pretty sure this will work either Bluetooth or via the USB conection. Thanks for all the suggestions.
It's quite true. And I'll be going there at the end of September, Jeff, so if you don't find any solutions and you still want that router... Let me know.
This is true I have been doing that for years now. It isn't super fast but it is workable. Look at Internet and Networking Tweaks at this webpage: http://www.htcwiki.com/page/The+Dash+FAQ
Get a 3G Phone with T-mobile and use the phone as modem. "Tether,Piggyback" whatever you call it but there are ways to use your phone as a modem.
This one works with T-Mobile http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/GWirelessRouters/MBR814XUC.aspx Since its not high wattage, you can use a car ac/dc adapter and use it there.
i tethered my t-mobile phone (blackberry) to my computer and used it as a modem a few weeks ago to see if it works. it does. definitely doable, just look up your mobile model and search for how to turn it into a modem via usb, just make sure you have some sort of data plan.
