dietfig.org: Using the Blackberry as a USB modem under linux

Using the Blackberry as a USB modem under linux

I managed to get my Blackberry to connect to the internet under linux and here I share my good fortune with others. This is working as of June 2010 but from past experience it won't work forever.

Hardware

Blackberry Curve 8310 on the AT&T/Cingular network

Software

pppd and chat
The Barry software suite because we need pppob

pppd peer file

Hacked from the one included with Barry, which did not work for me, and this excellent article from the Evil Empire themselves.

# pppd peer file for ATT / Cingular
# by Richard Esplin
# Licensed under the same terms as libbarry.
#
# Some of these options found documented at:
#    http://wiki.colar.net/tethering_with_blackberry_pearl_on_linux
#
# Please send all working peer files to cdfrey@foursquare.net, so we can
# build a library of peer files for different carriers.

connect "/usr/sbin/chat -f /etc/chatscripts/barry-att_cingular.chat"

# Authentication options - no need for ISP to authenticate to us, but
#                          we may need a login here: user/password/name
#noauth
user "WAP@CINGULARGRPS.COM"
password "CINGULAR1"

# Handle the default route and DNS
#nodefaultroute
defaultroute
usepeerdns

#10.0.0.1:

# Disable unsupported options
#noipdefault
nodetach
nodeflate
nobsdcomp
noaccomp
#default-asyncmap
#nocrtscts
#nopcomp
nomagic

# This is disabled by default for a Barry config, but this
# has caused connection issues in the past.  If you are unable
# to get an ip with your provider, try commenting this out.
# See:
# http://www.mail-archive.com/barry-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg01871.html
#novj

passive

#nomultilink
#ipcp-restart 7
#ipcp-accept-local
#ipcp-accept-remote
lcp-echo-interval 0
lcp-echo-failure 0

#Limit size of packets
mtu 1492

# Verbosity
#debug
debug debug debug

# Call pppob for the USB link
pty "/usr/sbin/pppob"

Chatscript

Hacked from the one included with Barry.

# Chatscript for ATT / Cingular
# by Richard Esplin
# Licensed under the same terms as libbarry.
#
# Please send all working peer files to cdfrey@foursquare.net, so we can
# build a library of peer files for different carriers.

# Google says this info is important for ATT/Cingular:
# Modem Initialization String: AT +CGDCONT=1,"IP","wap.cingular"
# Dial-up Phone Number: *99#
# Dial-up username/password: blank/blank

SAY 'Setting abort string\n'
ABORT ERROR

SAY 'Initializing modem\n'
'' AT
OK AT
OK ATZ

SAY 'Carrier Information\n'
OK AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","wap.cingular"
#OK ATI
OK ATD*99***1#

SAY 'Connecting\n'
CONNECT