Tethering a Sanyo MM8100/8200/8300 with a PowerBook

by Matt Simerson (Feb 8, 2006)

Background: Since posting the brief review about my A900 on my site, I have been getting a lot of questions about it. Since I am far too busy to continue answering peoples questions, I have posted this page. I have no affiliation with Sprint other than being a satisfied customer. Enjoy.

Goal: Be able to connect to the internet using a Sprint mobile phone and Sprint's network.

First, there are two major options, and there are pros and cons to each. I present these choices as the OAC, and NAR choices. The NAR choice is found on the A900 tethering page.

Older, Adequate, and Cheap: Sprint offers two types of network acess on their mobile phones. The older technology (1xRTT) is sold as Vision and is available on a very large selection of phones. I used this for 3 years with my old Sanyo 8100 phone. A USB cable allowed me to tether with my PowerBook and gain mobile internet access which is incredibly useful on road trips, during commute time, etc. This still works perfectly well, basically because Sprint has no way of detecting or measuring it.

Sprint does not advertise or encourage it. Don't ask, don't tell, and don't abuse it and all will be well. I used it to check my email, SSH into servers while travelling, and book hotels via Hotwire while travelling. This is the most economical way I know of to get decent (2-3x faster than dialup) speed internet access for a laptop. If you are frugal, this is the plan for you.

How to get it.

1. Point your web browser at http://www.sprint.com/

2. Choose the wireless calling plan that suits your needs.

3. Buy a Sanyo 8300 or the PM325 (about $50).

4. Add the Vision Access Pack for $10.

5. I'm not sure if the 8300 comes with a USB cable. If there is not one in the box when it arrives, use Google to find yourself one. Radio Shack carries them as well, but the one they had when I checked would not charge the phone.

6. When the phone arrives, use the built in WAP browser to connect to the internet and get that part working. If you have any problems, call Sprint and get it worked out. Once you can use Vision, set up the laptop to tether as shown below.

7. Download BitPim and use it to download your Address Book to your Sanyo 8300 phone.

Advantages:

Cheap, cheap, cheap!

Works everywhere Sprint has coverage.

As fast as, and normally much faster than competing networks.

Disadvantages:

The USB cable: You have to carry it with you. My cable would not charge the phone as fast as the phone discharged when online. I could only be connected as long as my phone battery held out. Having a phone with bluetooth like the PM325 will allow you to have the phone charger plugged in.

Bluetooth: I use a bluetooth GPS receiver in my car for travelling. There are issues with using multiple bluetooth devices simultaneously on my PowerBook. I expect this problem to go away when my MacBook Pro arrives.

Coverage: Sprint has great coverage in cities and along freeways.

How to use it.

Follow the instructions at the bottom of the A900 page. If you use USB instead of bluetooth, then plug the phone into your computer via the USB cable and you'll get a little popup when you open the Network Preferences pane. Select your phone and follow the same instructions as for the A900.

Last modified on 2/15/06.