Using an HSDPA Nokia handset as a USB modem

From X11Wiki

Background

Everyone knows how to setup their Nokia handset to act as a Bluetooth modem for their Mac (if you don't, see here (http://www.2nrds.com/using-your-nokia-s60-device-as-a-bluetooth-modem-in-os-x)) but what if you want to use USB instead of Bluetooth?

There are a number of reasons to use USB, namely:

• USB will use less power (on both your MacBook and your phone) than Bluetooth
• Bluetooth 2.0 can only support 2.1 Mbit/s while here in the UK mobile networks are offering speeds up to 3.6 Mbit/s and in 2008 most will upgrade to 7.3 Mbit/s and even 10.2 Mbit/s.

How To

You'll need to download and install the Nokia 3.5G (HSDPA) modem scripts from Ross Barkman's page here (http://www.taniwha.org.uk/).

Next you'll need to attach your Nokia handset to your Mac via the supplied USB cable.

A menu should appear on the phone's screen, select "PC Suite".

Now open "System Preferences" on your Mac and go to "Network".

A dialog should appear saying "New Port Detected" along with the name of your phone, click "OK" and select the device from the "Show" drop-down.

It doesn't really matter what you put in the "Service Provider", "Account Name" and "Password" fields but the "Telephone Number" should match the APN your service provider gave you.

If you don't know your APN you can look it up for most networks here (http://www.taniwha.org.uk/gprs.html).

Next, click on the Modem tab and select the "Nokia HSDPA CID1" modem script.

Tick the "Show modem status in menu bar" icon for ease of use and then click apply.

Now click the telephone icon in the menu bar and select the name that matches what you entered for "Service Provider" and click "Connect".

The icon should expand and text should say "Connecting" followed by "Authenticating" and then, once connected, you'll see a connection timer.

If you are unable to connect, check your APN settings and try the "Nokia HSDPA CID2" and "Nokia HSDPA CID2" scripts in the "Modem" tab.

That's it!

The instructions above are essentially the same as setting up a Bluetooth connection but I couldn't find any documentation that said you could just plug the phone into the Mac, select PC Suite and use it as a USB modem... it really is that simple!