stevenf has posted a great how-to for using a Merlin GPRS modem card for wireless Internet access using a PowerBook with T-Mobile. He also happens to be involved with Panic, developers of the Transmit FTP client I use every day.
The most useful part for me was was a tip regarding Merlin GPRS modem cards being sold for $30 on E-bay. These same cards cost a few hundred dollars not long ago.
Ordering something on E-bay gave me feelings of trepidation similar to the first time I entered an adult video store (I needed change for a parking meter!) Turns out my E-bay purchase was uneventful, and I soon had a used GPRS modem with which to play.
stevenf’s settings are for using the card with T-Mobile’s $20/month unlimited Internet plan, which is not necessary any more for basic web & e-mail access. A quick visit to HowardForums will explain how any T-Mobile customer can now get free, unlimited GPRS Internet access.
I popped the card into my PowerBook and set up a Location for the newly-discovered modem, using *99# as the phone number – no other settings are necessary.
Works great, with DSLReport’s Mobile Speed Test indicating that my throughput was around 56k.
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January 15, 2004 at 5:29 pm |
I searched over at Howard forums and could not really find an answer about using the free, unlimited GPRS access. Could you possibly point me to a link. I would just like to get the $19 plan if possible.
Thanks!
January 16, 2004 at 4:13 pm |
Ask T-Mobile to provision your account for “Free WAP Access”, which I think you can do with any voice plan. This will allow you to use your phone’s browser to access T-Zones for ringtones, etc. and other WAP sites (”Open Link” on Nokia).
You can also remove the SIM from your phone and put it into the Merlin card, then call *99# using Internet Connect to get web and e-mail access from your PowerBook.
Let me know how it goes!
February 17, 2004 at 10:30 pm |
OK, so even though T-Mobile is an old network and much slower than ATT or Verizon (I used to have Unlimited Express Network, which was nice), for $20 it’s worth it for wide area access. But I have a 12″ PowerBook and it doesn’t seem that there are any BlueTooth or USB phones that can access their network and passthrough the data to my PowerBook (which has no PC Card slots). Is there anything that I can do? I don’t want to pay $80/month.
February 18, 2004 at 10:47 am |
Sure – any phone offered by T-Mobile which supports T-Zones (GPRS data) will work. No special setup is required; as long as the phone can connect to the computer (Bluetooth, IR, USB) your PowerBook will see it as a modem.
May 27, 2004 at 4:57 am |
i really nice place.
October 16, 2004 at 2:06 am |
Send some documents with basic info of GPRS modem like working, cost etc.