tethered data connectivity troubles

I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth on
a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
noticed that it was not working and has not worked since. Nothing has
changed on the phone or Pocket PC, but its like the network is refusing the
connection. I'm dialing *99# . I've tried [email protected] and
[email protected] for usernames (along with blank username, which I had
been using). I'm using CINGULAR1 for the password.

I've also noticed that data availability has been up and down in my area,
Memphis, which is unusual. It has been showing up when I have tried to
connect and I am able to connect to Media NET features on the phone when
data is available. But, the Pocket PC Bluetooth connection fails after
trying to dial *99#.

Is anyone else started having trouble recently?

I'd very much appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,
Michael

---

› See More: tethered data connectivity troubles

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:32:46
-0600, "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth on
>a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
>noticed that it was not working and has not worked since. Nothing has
>changed on the phone or Pocket PC, but its like the network is refusing the

Obviously something has changed since you're mucking with your settings.

>connection. I'm dialing *99# . I've tried [email protected] and

That's only for Data Connect. Won't work with MEdia Net.

>[email protected] for usernames

That's for MEdia Net.

>(along with blank username, which I had
>been using).

That doesn't make sense -- the correct username is required.

>I'm using CINGULAR1 for the password.

OK.

>I've also noticed that data availability has been up and down in my area,
>Memphis, which is unusual.

Perhaps that's the problem.

>It has been showing up when I have tried to
>connect and I am able to connect to Media NET features on the phone when
>data is available.

Then you need to stick to MEdia Net settings on the Pocket PC.

>But, the Pocket PC Bluetooth connection fails after
>trying to dial *99#.

How exactly? Have you tried dialing other profiles?

>Is anyone else started having trouble recently?

MEdia Net with a V551 tethered to a computer over Bluetooth is working fine
for me here in Northern California.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

Hi John,

Thanks for your response.

>> Obviously something has changed since you're mucking with your settings.

I've never changed the original connection settings, but created a new
connections on the Pocket PC to try the methods described on the wiki.

> > That doesn't make sense -- the correct username is required.

Confirmed that the username is blank in my old connection that worked for
many months. Not sure where I found those instructions, but I never had a
problem with it working until the last few days.

I can understand a suspicion that something has changed on my end, but my
wife has identical equipment and settings. She doesn't know _how_ to change
anything. Hers stopped working at the same time mine did. Which also
coincided with GPRS being unavailable for short periods. My coworkers
reported that their phones were not receiving text messages and showed
incorrect time on the clock over the weekend. Makes me wonder if they were
working on the network.

> > Perhaps that's the problem.

I would agree, except that when the phone indicator shows GPRS/EDGE
available (most of the time), I am able to get data on the phone itself.
However, the Pocket PC connection still fails.

> How exactly? Have you tried dialing other profiles?

The Pocket PC connects to the phone via BT and dials *99#. After several
seconds of waiting, it says the connection failed. I have created other
connections on the Pocket PC with settings described in the Wiki, but none
of them are working.


FWIW, my account has unlimited data. I believe it is true data, not Media
..NET.

Thanks again,
Michael






"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:32:46
> -0600, "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth
>>on
>>a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
>>noticed that it was not working and has not worked since. Nothing has
>>changed on the phone or Pocket PC, but its like the network is refusing
>>the
>
> Obviously something has changed since you're mucking with your settings.
>
>>connection. I'm dialing *99# . I've tried [email protected] and
>
> That's only for Data Connect. Won't work with MEdia Net.
>
>>[email protected] for usernames
>
> That's for MEdia Net.
>
>>(along with blank username, which I had
>>been using).
>
> That doesn't make sense -- the correct username is required.
>
>>I'm using CINGULAR1 for the password.
>
> OK.
>
>>I've also noticed that data availability has been up and down in my area,
>>Memphis, which is unusual.
>
> Perhaps that's the problem.
>
>>It has been showing up when I have tried to
>>connect and I am able to connect to Media NET features on the phone when
>>data is available.
>
> Then you need to stick to MEdia Net settings on the Pocket PC.
>
>>But, the Pocket PC Bluetooth connection fails after
>>trying to dial *99#.
>
> How exactly? Have you tried dialing other profiles?
>
>>Is anyone else started having trouble recently?
>
> MEdia Net with a V551 tethered to a computer over Bluetooth is working
> fine
> for me here in Northern California.
>
> --
> Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
> John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:29:09
-0600, "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote:

>>> Obviously something has changed since you're mucking with your settings.
>
>I've never changed the original connection settings, but created a new
>connections on the Pocket PC to try the methods described on the wiki.

Unfortunately, your original settings don't make sense.

>> > That doesn't make sense -- the correct username is required.
>
>Confirmed that the username is blank in my old connection that worked for
>many months. Not sure where I found those instructions, but I never had a
>problem with it working until the last few days.

My guess is that you don't understand completely what's going on (no offense
intended), because the correct username is almost certainly required, and
there are other inconsistencies in what you've been saying.

>I can understand a suspicion that something has changed on my end, but my
>wife has identical equipment and settings. She doesn't know _how_ to change
>anything. Hers stopped working at the same time mine did. Which also
>coincided with GPRS being unavailable for short periods. My coworkers
>reported that their phones were not receiving text messages and showed
>incorrect time on the clock over the weekend. Makes me wonder if they were
>working on the network.

Sounds like serious network problems.

>> > Perhaps that's the problem.
>
>I would agree, except that when the phone indicator shows GPRS/EDGE
>available (most of the time), I am able to get data on the phone itself.

Data Connect or MEdia Net? They are different!

>However, the Pocket PC connection still fails.

If you have DUN support, it should work the same way. Have you tried it with
a regular (full Windows) computer?

>> How exactly? Have you tried dialing other profiles?
>
>The Pocket PC connects to the phone via BT and dials *99#. After several
>seconds of waiting, it says the connection failed. I have created other
>connections on the Pocket PC with settings described in the Wiki, but none
>of them are working.

Is there some sort of logging you can turn on and check. That might be easier
with a full Windows PC.

>FWIW, my account has unlimited data. I believe it is true data, not Media
>.NET.

Then why did you previously say MEdia Net?! By "true data" do you mean Data
Connect? Data Connect Unlimited is at least $60 month! And is entitled to
support for tethering from Cingular. Look up the exact feature on your
account on-line. MEdia Net is also "true data", just different. And that's
what I'm betting you actually have.


>"John Navas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> In <[email protected]> on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:32:46
>> -0600, "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth
>>>on
>>>a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
>>>noticed that it was not working and has not worked since. Nothing has
>>>changed on the phone or Pocket PC, but its like the network is refusing
>>>the
>>
>> Obviously something has changed since you're mucking with your settings.
>>
>>>connection. I'm dialing *99# . I've tried [email protected] and
>>
>> That's only for Data Connect. Won't work with MEdia Net.
>>
>>>[email protected] for usernames
>>
>> That's for MEdia Net.
>>
>>>(along with blank username, which I had
>>>been using).
>>
>> That doesn't make sense -- the correct username is required.
>>
>>>I'm using CINGULAR1 for the password.
>>
>> OK.
>>
>>>I've also noticed that data availability has been up and down in my area,
>>>Memphis, which is unusual.
>>
>> Perhaps that's the problem.
>>
>>>It has been showing up when I have tried to
>>>connect and I am able to connect to Media NET features on the phone when
>>>data is available.
>>
>> Then you need to stick to MEdia Net settings on the Pocket PC.
>>
>>>But, the Pocket PC Bluetooth connection fails after
>>>trying to dial *99#.
>>
>> How exactly? Have you tried dialing other profiles?
>>
>>>Is anyone else started having trouble recently?
>>
>> MEdia Net with a V551 tethered to a computer over Bluetooth is working
>> fine
>> for me here in Northern California.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

Michael wrote:
> I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth on
> a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
> noticed that it was not working and has not worked since.

I agree with John, since data availability has been up and down in you
area, that would be the first thing to suspect. Just because you have
the E for Edge icon showing does not guarantee that other network
components are working.

On the other hand, if there have NOT been any network issues in your
area, there is the possibility you are experience what three other users
in my market have experienced. Their "virtual" password (for lack of a
better term) was disabled for excessive data usage (for lack of a better
term to describe using a tethered connection without using the
appropriate data connection plan). Once they had the $59.95/mo unlimited
data plan added to their account, they had to use the following user
name/passwords for the tethered connection:

[email protected] - CINGUALR1
[email protected] - CINGUALR1

[email protected] - CINGULAR1 Will not work for them now.

Call Customer Support to try to get to the bottom of your problem.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006
14:04:41 GMT, DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:

>Call Customer Support to try to get to the bottom of your problem.

Probably not a good idea, since the OP is probably on a MEdia package, and
Cingular doesn't support tethering of MEdia.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006
14:04:41 GMT, DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:

>Michael wrote:
>> I've had a Pocket PC configured to connect to the internet via Bluetooth on
>> a Motorola V557. This has worked fine for a long time. This weekend, I
>> noticed that it was not working and has not worked since.
>
>I agree with John, since data availability has been up and down in you
>area, that would be the first thing to suspect. Just because you have
>the E for Edge icon showing does not guarantee that other network
>components are working.
>
>On the other hand, if there have NOT been any network issues in your
>area, there is the possibility you are experience what three other users
>in my market have experienced. Their "virtual" password (for lack of a
>better term) was disabled for excessive data usage (for lack of a better
>term to describe using a tethered connection without using the
>appropriate data connection plan). ...

That's just your theory, and it's inconsistent with these facts. If the
feature had been disabled by Cingular, then the phone browser wouldn't work.
It does reportedly work, so your theory can't be the reason.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

> That's just your theory, and it's inconsistent with these facts. If the
> feature had been disabled by Cingular, then the phone browser wouldn't work.
> It does reportedly work, so your theory can't be the reason.

My v551, and presumably other devices, do track internal usage separately
from external (tethered) usage. This could, potentially, be used to block
tethering but allow phone-based MediaNet access.

A test of some blocking, perhaps limiting one to a browser that starts at
the MediaNet home page (as your phone is "required" to do, according to the
user agreement), might be a step along this path. Maybe just in a test
market, like, say, Atlanta.



I would be perfectly happy with a 5MB per month data plan, maybe even a 1MB
per month plan, if it had rollover. My usage fluctuates widely, depending
on whether I am travelling or not, using google maps and such. Other
times, I use very little MediaNet access. I pay for unlimited because the
unused and wasted MB don't yet approach the cost of the one month I went
into pay-per-use inadvertently.

A more realistic pay-per-use rate might be a good alternative, similar to
the old CSD voice-based rate, maybe voice*slots.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006 18:25:45 +0000 (UTC),
[email protected] wrote:

>John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> That's just your theory, and it's inconsistent with these facts. If the
>> feature had been disabled by Cingular, then the phone browser wouldn't work.
>> It does reportedly work, so your theory can't be the reason.
>
>My v551, and presumably other devices, do track internal usage separately
>from external (tethered) usage. This could, potentially, be used to block
>tethering but allow phone-based MediaNet access.

How? The phone (mobile device) obviously knows the difference, but it's all
the same to the network. Short of modified firmware (which could easily be
defeated with flashing or by using an unbranded unlocked mobile device),
Cingular could only be able to infer tethered use, and doing so would be
difficult, since most tethered things can also be done with the mobile device
alone (e.g., with a J2ME client like Opera Mini, Google Local, or Email
Viewer).

>A test of some blocking, perhaps limiting one to a browser that starts at
>the MediaNet home page (as your phone is "required" to do, according to the
>user agreement), might be a step along this path. Maybe just in a test
>market, like, say, Atlanta.

Cingular could indeed limit (cripple) MEdia to its own WAP site, and possibly
a limited selection of additional WAP pages, but thus far I've seen no
evidence that it's actually doing that, in any market. Have you? I would
think that would probably result in a large outcry from untethered users.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006
19:35:36 GMT, John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:

>[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
>In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006 18:25:45 +0000 (UTC),
>[email protected] wrote:
>
>>John Navas <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> That's just your theory, and it's inconsistent with these facts. If the
>>> feature had been disabled by Cingular, then the phone browser wouldn't work.
>>> It does reportedly work, so your theory can't be the reason.
>>
>>My v551, and presumably other devices, do track internal usage separately
>>from external (tethered) usage. This could, potentially, be used to block
>>tethering but allow phone-based MediaNet access.
>
>How? The phone (mobile device) obviously knows the difference, but it's all
>the same to the network. Short of modified firmware (which could easily be
>defeated with flashing or by using an unbranded unlocked mobile device),
>Cingular could only be able to infer tethered use, and doing so would be
>difficult, since most tethered things can also be done with the mobile device
>alone (e.g., with a J2ME client like Opera Mini, Google Local, or Email
>Viewer).

For example, when tethered to a mobile device, such things as email and
newsgroups could (can) be accessed over SSL (e.g., using stunnel on a
computer). In that case it's essentially impossible for Cingular to tell
what's going on. Tracking the amount of data sent and received is pretty much
it, short of blocking SSL altogether, which (as explained in my prior posting)
might well cause more problems for Cingular than it would solve.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas wrote:
> Tracking the amount of data sent and received is pretty much it

Under 100 MB per month(or pick any reasonable number a power user might
browse from the handset) versus hundreds or even thousands of MB (or any
number someone might pull using it for hours a day as their internet
connection to a computer) would be good clue as to what the user is doing.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Fri, 17 Mar 2006
20:35:54 GMT, DecaturTxCowboy <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:

>> Tracking the amount of data sent and received is pretty much it
>
>Under 100 MB per month(or pick any reasonable number a power user might
>browse from the handset) versus hundreds or even thousands of MB (or any
>number someone might pull using it for hours a day as their internet
>connection to a computer) would be good clue as to what the user is doing.

Not necessarily -- there are mobile device applications (e.g., Google Local)
that pull a considerable amount of data. My own mobile device applications
are well over your 100 MB per month. Then there's the fact that the package
is "unlimited", which makes setting any sort of cap a problem for Cingular.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>

John Navas wrote:
> Then there's the fact that the package
> is "unlimited", which makes setting any sort of cap a problem for Cingular.

How would that be a problem for Cingualr?

i think that it would be a problem for cingular if it came down to someone
in court and they had papers showing that the service is in fact
"unlimited,"

I don't think that Cingular would have papers proving otherwise.

btw, I have used, err I mean I know someone who has used almost 3 gigs of
transfer every month for a while now and has have never been flagged as a
tetherer, so none of this probably matters anyway



"DecaturTxCowboy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John Navas wrote:
> > Then there's the fact that the package
> > is "unlimited", which makes setting any sort of cap a problem for
Cingular.
>
> How would that be a problem for Cingualr?

"jay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>i think that it would be a problem for cingular if it came down to someone
> in court and they had papers showing that the service is in fact
> "unlimited,"

Tell that to the broadband providers who also provide 'unlimited' service
but do restrict or throttle customers who use more than the average amount
of bandwidth. They've been doing it for years and NOBODY has been able to
change it. This is no different.