HOW-TO: Use your CDMA cellphone as a USB modem

Travel plans about to take you beyond the land of broadband? Venturing far afield from the great kingdom of WiFi? You may have been born with 802.11b in your mouth, but you're going to want to get prepared for that next trip to the sticks. This How-To will show you how to get a decent Internet connection for no cost other than the phone minutes you use while connected. It should also come in handy for you folks not located on the left or right coasts, and for those of us non-urbanites when the coffee shops are closed (stay tuned next week for Phillip Torrone's USB coffee maker How-To...). And remember, the Motel 6 does not offer WiFi. Get prepared, scout!

Gather ye materials while ye may:

1. Laptop running Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.2 or higher
2. CDMA phone (If you have a GSM phone, see GSM USB modem for OS X on the Mac. Windows users, first configure your phone as a modem, then use a separate dial-up ISP or paid GPRS connection.)
3. Phone plan: You need to have Sprint PCS Vision enabled to access their 3G network, which gives you access speeds typically somewhere between a 56K modem and DSL/cable. If your carrier is Verizon, you don't need to pay any extra fee for data transmission, and you have two connection options: the Quick Connect Network, zipping along at 14.4K but dead easy to set up, or the Express Network, which gets you into the same speed range as Sprint PCS but can be funkier to set up.
   
4. USB data cable for your phone model (Usually pretty cheap. More on this later.)
5. Possibly, drivers for your phone (Under OS X, you probably have a built-in driver already. Windows users, we'll help you track yours down in a bit.)

First, let's find your data cable. You can order a USB "data kit" for your phone from Verizon, Sprint, or from your phone manufacturer, but it comes with some extra junk you probably don't need. If you want to save a few quid you can just get an OEM data cable (sometimes called a 'replacement data cable' because they really want to sucker you into buying that "data kit."). One end is standard USB, and the other end will fit the data port on your phone.

Check 3gcables.com or Cellular Factory for OEM cables for a wide range of phones, or just do a Google search for "your phone+usb modem." FutureDial also sells OEM cables; their web site claims they are for use with FutureDial software only, but this is pure marketing shinola.

For most phones, you can score a cable for between $15-$30. You also might have luck at Radio Shack - note that if you do find your cable there, and you are on OS X, they may tell you the cable 'won't work with Macs.' Disregard them. Or, they may try and tell you that you need special, lucrative drivers to use the cable with OS X. Again, this is total bunk that you can safely disregard. Feel free to chuckle at them on your way out the door with your cable.

If you're running Windows XP, you most likely will need a driver for your phone. Your OEM cable may have come with a driver disk, in which case we recommend that you pause for a moment to do the dance of joy, then skip the rest of this paragraph. If it didn't, fear not - a little poking around should uncover a driver specifically for your phone or a generic driver that will do the trick. Start with a Google search for "your phone+USB modem driver" to try and find the driver that is specifically for your phone model. This is often faster than going direct to the phone manufacturer's web site, which is what you should try second. If both of these fail, there are some generic drivers that may work if you have a Sanyo or Samsung phone: try the USB-Serial.exe driver package from Supplynet. If you still haven't found your driver, please see the "Good places to track down obscure drivers" section at the end of this how-to.

Setting up your CDMA phone modem, Windows XP

Find your driver as per above, download it and unpack it. Or, insert the CD that came with your cable. Next, plug the data cable into your phone, and plug the USB end into your PC. The ever-lovable Hardware Wizard should appear:



You can let Window Update search for a compatible driver if you had trouble locating yours, but otherwise select "No, not this time" and we'll go ahead and select the driver since we already know where it is. Click Next.

The Wizard will now want to know if you will let it try and install the device drivers automagically:



It is my experience that the Wizard is not terribly wizardly in this regard, so we're going to live dangerously and choose the 'Advanced' route, "Install from a list or specific location." Click Next. The Wizard will try once again to take over, so in the next dialogue select "Don't search, I will choose the driver to install" and click Next.

Now we choose what type of device we're installing: Modems.

The next dialog box will tell you that Windows didn't find any drivers, but we're not surprised because we wisely never let it search for any. Just click 'Have disk.' You'll get the familiar 'browse to find your file' dialogue. Click Browse, find the driver for your phone, then click 'OK.' You should now be presented with an 'Install New Modem' dialogue:



Your phone modem should show up in the 'Models' pane. You may get a warning message that "This driver is not digitally signed!" and, when you click next, you get another warning that says installing the software can impair or destabilize the operating system, make you prematurely bald, cause irreversible blindness, under no circumstances should you continue, blah blah blah. Don't panic.



Microsoft is just trying to cover its own arse, and the worst than can happen is likely the driver won't work. Live life on the edge and click 'Continue Anyway.' You'll get a 'Please wait' dialogue while Windows installs the driver. The Wizard will announce when it is done installing the new hardware; just click 'Finish.'

Now we're ready to establish our connection. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet Connections. Click "Set up or change your internet connection." Click the "Connections" tab.



Click the Setup button, which will bring up another Wizard. Click Next.

Select "Connect to the Internet." Click Next.

Select "Set up my connection manually." Click Next.

Select "Connect using a dial-up modem." Click Next.

It's likely you already have an internal modem in your laptop, so you'll see a dialogue asking you to choose which modem to use:



Select your phone modem and click Next. The next dialogue will ask you to name the connection. Do so; click Next.

For phone number, enter #777 and click Next.

Next, we enter our account details:



If you're on Sprint PCS Vision, your username/password combination is web/web. If you're on Verizon, you can connect to the 14.4K QNC network with qnc/qnc. To connect to the Express network, your username will be your 10-digit phone number followed by the string @vzw3g.com, e.g. [e-mail], with the password vzw. If you can't get the Express Network running and you just want something that works without hassle, do the QNC network. Remember 300 baud? 14.4K ain't so bad.

You'll probably want to uncheck both "Use this account name and password when anyone connects to the Internet from this computer" and "Make this the default Internet connection." Click Next, check "Add a shortcut to this connection..." to create a shortcut on the Desktop, then click Finish to exit the Wizard.

Double-click the shortcut to the connection on the Desktop (you can also go to Start > Connect To > Your connection name). The following connection window will appear:



Click Dial to dial the phone modem. Without too much fanfare, you should shortly be connected. The Network icon in your system tray should reflect this. If not, you can try resetting the chip in your phone. Keep all cables connected and turn off your phone. Wait at least five seconds, then turn the phone back on. Try dialing again. Good luck!

Setting up your CDMA phone modem, Mac OS X

Mac users, rejoice, for ye don't have too much in the way of setup, nor do ye have to visit the Wizard. Sprint users will not need any additional drivers. Verizon users can use the generic Verizon Wireless Standard Driver, available here. If that mirror ever goes down, the Yahoo Maccellphone users group has a copy of it in their Files section. Plunk this driver down in your /Library/Modem Scripts folder. Then, let's dig in!

First, plug the data cable end into your phone, then the USB end into your Mac. Your computer will 'discover' your phone and you will see a new hardware dialogue:



Click OK. Then, open the System Preferences Network panel. Let's create a new location so you can easily switch back and forth between the modem and your other configurations. In the Location pop-up menu, select "New Location..." and give the location some sort of meaningful name.



Next, click the Show drop-down menu and select "Network Port Configurations."



Your phone should be in the list of port configurations:



If it isn't, try resetting the chip in your phone. Quit System Preferences, keep the cables connected, and power down your phone for at least five seconds. Power up the phone and relaunch Network Preferences and resume.

Click the Show drop-down again and select your phone modem port. Click the Modem tab:



You will now need to select the proper modem from the Modem drop-down menu. If you are a Sprint user, your choice is Sprint PCS Vision. If you are a Verizon user, your choice is Verizon_Wireless_STD_Driver. Be sure to check "Show modem status in menu bar" so you can have a handy way to connect from anywhere (you can also always use the Internet Connect program in your Applications folder).



Supposedly you should uncheck "wait for dial tone before dialing," but it still works for me if I leave it checked. If it's not working for you, try unchecking it.

Click the PPP tab:



For Sprint, you ought to be able to get a connection by merely filling in the Telephone Number as #777, and nothing else: no account name, no password, zip, zilch, nada. Verizon users: to connect to the Express network, your username will be your 10-digit phone number followed by the string @vzw3g.com, e.g. [e-mail], with the password vzw. If you have trouble connecting this way, try connecting to the Quick Connect Network by entering in the Account name and Password both as qnc. Click Apply Now.

It's time to roll. Click on the phone icon in your menu bar and make sure that your phone modem is checked instead of the Internal Modem. Select Connect.



You'll see a "Dialing..." message ticker across the menu bar, followed by a "Connecting..." ticker, and then voila! For those about to browse, we salute you. To disconnect, simply choose Disconnect from the same menu.

Checking email

If you use webmail, no further instruction needed on the email front. If you use pop mail, just launch your client of choice and you shouldn't have any trouble receiving mail, and chances are good that outgoing mail will work swimmingly, as well. If anything, you may run into a snag trying to send outgoing mail, in which case you might want to try changing the outgoing SMTP server to smtp.sprintpcs.com. If you're still having trouble sending out, it could quite possibly involve some voodoo to make it work. If you've gotten this far and all you needed to do was send a single freakin' email, just remember that there are far more important things in life to be shedding tears over, such as why the Japanese get all the cool phones. Stay strong, pardner. Remember that there was life long before Al Gore invented the internet.

Good places to track down obscure drivers, or to ask for help if you get stuck with your particular phone/driver/operating system conglomeration:

• Howard Forums
• SprintUsers.com forums
• Cellphoneforums.net
• Mac users: Maccellphone Yahoo group

There you have it, folks. The next time you find yourself saying "Where the Fi is my WiFi?!" you can think of Engadget, and kick yourself for not having printed out this How-to.

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!! THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!!

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

So is this functionally equivalent to AT&T's mMode? (You're not sneaking bandwidth past the noses of The Man, are you?)

[Michael Thompson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Been doing it this way for years.

Everyone should know how. It's very very useful.

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I have a regular Verizon plan. I have no internet/WAP of any sort in my plan. Are you sure this won't waste anything more than minutes? Is it true that it doesn't waste any minutes for both Quick Connect Network and Express Network?

[pat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

it'll just waste your minutes. I use it with my verizon kyocera slider. works great.

[Aaron Junod @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

This is fantastic. I used to do this with my sprint phone but after I upgraded thinkpads I realized they pulled the driver. Hopefully this will work as a replacement. Thanks!

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Even better, if your cellphone provider doesn't charge you for 1800/toll-free numbers(most don't), you can use SIMPLE.NET to access the internet through your cellphone, virtually from ANYWHERE your cellphone works!

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

re: above comment--
To explain further: www.simple.net offers a number of toll-free 56k dialup numbers with their internet access, for no additional charge. I use it where Wi-Fi doesn't, with my cellphone, and have been for over 2 years.

[Baz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Yeah, what's the story with AT&T Wireless/Cingular? Is it still free? And is the setup similar?

[barb dybwad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

matt and baz and other cingular-types - try these deets:

for username: [e-mail]
password: cingular1

dial: *99##2

Setup is similar, yes. Note also this will work just as easily via bluetooth connections. Same exact setup, sans cable.

[skoobz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

aw man, this is so simple and so old school, i've been using it since i first had the sanyo 5000 with sprint. if i've known that this was widespread, i've would submitted this to engadget years ago.

[Ryan gardner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

If you are a T-Mobile user, check out:

http://us.t-mobile.mywds.com/

They hide it really well, but it is a great resource to figure out how to get your devices to talk together.

I used it to help setup my Clie to get to the internet via BT through my T610. Nothing beats the thrill of connecting to the internet via myriad handheld gadgets to get restaurant reviews for sites you see coming up on your GPS unit. Ahh... the life of a gadget freak.

[jogurt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

what's the deal with free minutes on nights and weekends? does that mean i can stay connected forever?

[j-zone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

be careful, sprint users. the general wisdom at sprintusers.com (read the forums there, specifically sprint underground for a lot more info, including on different phones) is that sprint will look the other way for casual #777 usage, but some people have actually gotten billed for it, and that goes out at some very high prices.

[Handsome Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'm on Verizon's Express Network, just uses my minutes. I'm on the road a lot, and having mapquest all the time is great!

Oh - Any one else using Express Network? If I let it sit, it'll still say it's connected, but the two-computer icon in the system tray stops lighting up, and I have to disconnect/reconnect for it to work... any one?

[Bloohey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Will this also work for NEXTEL which uses TDMA technology.

[OffTopic Man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

This might seem off topic but does anyone know where I can get that lovely background image on the laptop picture that is on the left?

Is it digital bla?

[dlxw @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Even better, if you have bluetooth, you can use it to do away with the USB wire. People freak out when they realize that you're using your phone as a modem while it's in your pocket.

[Danny @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I recieved an error "there was a hardware failure with your modem" if some one can help me e-mail me at [e-mail]

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I've been using this service from Verizon for two years. This is old news... I've had steady 115k CDMA connections - it's been a lifesaver.

[mtruong @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'm using a verizon wireless with an ibook.

I'm constantly getting an authentication failure. anyone getting the same?

[DRG @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

there a way to do this w/ a treo 600 on osX.. i tried that wireless modem proggy which craps out after 5min of use.. been reading that many people have had the problem.. but havn't figured out a way to get the machine working as a modem w/o it...

[Linds @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I was able to set my phone up with verizon express and I do not have a data plan. Unless maybe they automatically started charging me. The only thing it said I conncected at 230kps but when I did a internet speed test I came up with 79. But it is better than my dial up.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I tried this using my bluetooth phone and my powerbook with Cingcular. I'm not sure if I didn't have it set up right or I didn't have the right dial-up number (I used #99***1 or somethin' like that) and I got charged under their data plan....NOT JUST MY USUAL MINUTES. I connected a few times and not even that long and it cost me around $90 tacked onto my normal bill.

Does anyone know how to set it all up so its just a regular dial-up call and not a chargeable "data" call??? Thanks in advance...

[Kin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

What if my laptop is running Windows 2000?

[Ian Argent @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Sprint doesn't require any kind of a password - I leave my username/password fields blank when making a connection.

Note: technically this violates the ToS of your vision agreement (Vision packs don't cover tethered usage, you're supposed to pay $.01/kb or some such nonsense. In practice, if you don't use it as your primary ISP or otherwise push a lot of data a month; they'll let it slide.

Side note: With Verizon, if you buy a mobile office kit, you get support from verizon on this - at least to do QNC, and very likely to use their express network. If you have an OEM cable, or a driver that's not the Verizon one, you're on your own.

[Terry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'd be interested if there is a way to do this with NEXTEL phones as well as poster #16.

[VideoScrCpt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Yes you can use Verizon's NationalAccess all night and weekends and not be charged anything.
NationalAccess is three (3) times faster than dialup and six (6) times faster than quick2net. Here is my videoscreencapture of using it.

http://www.geocities.com/phrentec/nationalaccess.htm
http://www.geocities.com/phrentec/nationalaccess.avi

note: geocities sometimes prevents direct linking of the avi so use the .htm
note: you need the tscc codec to view the video.

If you have the cables and drivers you can download the VZAccess software from Verizon although you should really purchase it if you like it.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobileoptions/nationalaccess/index.jsp

[Scott M @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Hey Guys,

Anyone know how to get on using suncom? I've called in the past and they said this feature was not available. Anyone know if they are avoiding the truth?

[Scott M @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Hey Guys,

Anyone know how to get on using suncom? I've called in the past and they said this feature was not available. Anyone know if they are avoiding the truth?

[atmarosi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Anybody ever find modem drivers for the Verizon Blackberry 7750? TIA

[Africano @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

What is the story with AT&T/Cingular wireless? Is it the same procedure? Do I get to use my free Nights & weekend minutes for free or do I get charged??

Someone please help.

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Africano....ATT CINGULAR uses data pricing not minutes....you get charged a penny per kilobyte....it adds up quick......on a different note......how do i get the vx7000 to work? my powerbook wont detect it

[Tyson Conrad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Are we sure this is free for both options for Verizon? I want to do this, but if it will cost me something other than minutes than i do not want to.

[Terry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'd be interested if there is a way to do this with NEXTEL phones as well as poster #16.

[Stephan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I'm using Mac OX 10.3.7 and I also have that constant "Authentication failed" message.

Did somebody have any clue?

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Ok, I went ahead and bought the data cable and tried this with my powerbook running osx 10.2 with a samsung a670/verizon service.
It connects for exactly 1 second then disconnects? What the hell!!!
Easy my ass

[Stephan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Jon,

Is it an authentication failure? Because if so, I have the save problem. I've been trying to find out how to fix that by searching the web, calling Verizon, Apple... but nothing. Good luck

[Kathleen Sipher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I've used verizon express network using my minutes only for several years. No problems with authenication failure - ever. Are you dialing #777 and using [e-mail] as your userid (nnnnnnnnnn is your 10 digit cell phone number) and vzw as your password.

If you cannot connect this way, then perhaps you do not have high speed national access turned on. It used to be called Express Network, now NationalAccess, I believe. A couple years ago I called Verizon to have it turned on. After being told many times (on different calls) by customer support that I needed to pay an extra $80 (at that time) I finally asked for tech support and they turned it on, no questions asked. No extra money. No charge except using my minutes - with my unlimited weekends and nights.

[Rodger Ramjet @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

SLIDER WITH VERIZON - POST #5 - i have done everything to get it to work for me. any chance you can break it down for me?

[Mr. Moustache @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I have a G4 PowerBook with OS X 10.3.7, a LG VX6000 phone, a cable from 3gcables.com, and service from Verizon Wireless. I installed the Verizon modem script per above instruction. When I connect the phone to the PowerBook, I never see the "New Port Detected" notice. This suggests (to me) that I'm missing some other driver.

Can anyone point me at whatever I'm missing?

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Stephan, I had been getting the authentication failure too until I followed Kathleen's directions, post #40 (Thanks Kathleen=) Also, I sent an e-mail to Verizon requesting the Quick Net Connect be actiivated(Not sure if this was one the whole time or if they activated it? Bottom line, it's working!!! The speed of the connection is about half that of regular dial up-still cool though.

Mr Moustache, It was only after I opened up System Preferences, then clicked on Network did I see "New Port Detected"

Hope this is helpful,
Jon

[Mr. Moustache @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Jon-- I should have mentioned that I tried that, as well. System Profiler shows that the phone is there as a USB device, but for some reason I cannot create a "network port" for it... I'll ping Verizon and see what I can turn up.

[barb dybwad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Verizon Mac users - I owe you a huge apology. The Verizon Express Network settings that Kathleen helpfully (thanks, Kathleen!) pointed out in comment 40 were included in the Win version of the how-to and didn't get replicated in the OS X version. That is my bad as an author for glossing over the fact that the Mac peeps have no need/interest in reading the Win side of the story!! :) I've corrected the article.

Note also that, as a Verizon representative noted in the comments, whereas there used to be loopholes around connecting to the Express Network, you may in fact have to call Verizon to enable your phone to connect now. Good luck!

[cha_cha_mia @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

What about for PDAs (specifically an IPAQ 4350)? I have bluetooth on this PDA so I was looking forward to using a bluetooth connection for using my Sprint phone as a modem. But, because sprint has barely any bluetooth phones, it looks like I'm going to have to use another way to get online. I know I can get a Treo 650, but buying a PDA-phone to use my PDA kind of kills the point...

[cha_cha_mia @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

What about for PDAs (specifically an IPAQ 4350)? I have bluetooth on this PDA so I was looking forward to using a bluetooth connection for using my Sprint phone as a modem. But, because sprint has barely any bluetooth phones, it looks like I'm going to have to use another way to get online. I know I can get a Treo 650, but buying a PDA-phone to use my PDA kind of kills the point...

[barb dybwad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Yes, this should work to connect your PDA as well, via bluetooth. Sprint is not big on Bluetooth phones but there is the LG PM325:
http://cellphones.engadget.com/entry/1234000533022363/

[cha_cha_mia @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Thanks for the info barb. I've been hearing mixed things on the bluetooth actually working for sure so that's why I was preparing myself to just use a cable instead of relying on bluetooth. Plus, the LG isn't really an attractive phone. I was just curious though on how I would link a PDA to my cell phone? Carrying the data cable around is going to be annoying enough - but carrying the cradle to my PDA as well? Is there a better 2nd plan to use my cell phone as a DUN for my PDA if bluetooth isn't an option? Thanks again.

[cha_cha_mia @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Thanks for the info barb. I've been hearing mixed things on the bluetooth actually working for sure so that's why I was preparing myself to just use a cable instead of relying on bluetooth. Plus, the LG isn't really an attractive phone. I was just curious though on how I would link a PDA to my cell phone? Carrying the data cable around is going to be annoying enough - but carrying the cradle to my PDA as well? Is there a better 2nd plan to use my cell phone as a DUN for my PDA if bluetooth isn't an option? Thanks again.

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Have tried to get XP to recognize the phone as a modem (have Verizon LG VX10), but can't get it to despite installing the USB drivers.