ATT Internet Connection Settings

[ponch92]

Ok... I don't think I have found a definitive answer on this so I am going to open up another forum.

Personally I have ATT (old Cingular) with the unlimited data plan. Some people say to connect with isp.cingular and some people say to use wap.cingular. Which one is better and why? What DNS settings are better and why? What are the actual connection settings we should be using? :)

This only applies to US ATT users.

Thanks!

[RemE]

I know that media net wap.cingular is the ap that you are normally assigned when you get an unlimited data plan on the phone.

isp.cingular is supposed to be for tethering plans that cost more.

I have tested both using my Kaiser with internet sharing to a laptop and speedtest.net isp.cingular was just a little faster and it is said that it is supposed to be faster for data customers and supposedly has a higher traffic priority.

What was interesting was that from my location in California Speedtest.net reported isp.cingular as originating in Los Angeles and it reported wap.cingular as originating in Florida.

I've experienced recently myself, that MMS/SMS won't work thru isp.cingular and cingular video as well (I don't use it but read that). So I keep both ap's set up on my phone but have wap.cingular in use most of the time as it seems fine for most all streaming Slingbox video/email/MMS etc. I only use internet sharing occasionally on the road with a laptop and would possibly take the time to re-engage isp.cingular for more speed, but it wouldn't be a huge difference really.

AT&T tech support told me that they were going to really shut down isp.cingular on most phones very soon.

Settings;

Connects to: The Internet
Access point: wap.cingular
Username: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1
Primary DNS: 0.0.0.0
Secondary DNS: 0.0.0.0
IP address: (blank)


Connects to: The Internet
Access point: ISP.CINGULAR
User name: ISP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1
Primary DNS: 0.0.0.0
Secondary DNS: 0.0.0.0
IP address: (blank)

[ponch92]

Thanks! I appreciate the input.

[mfrazzz]

Thanks! I appreciate the input.

One thing I would add is you should modify your DNS settings to use the OpenDNS.org servers. It really makes things snappier (doesn't help overall performance, but I've found the initial connection to websites is definetly faster than when you use the Cingular/AT&T DNS servers).

I personally use Kaiser Tweak to disable the isp.cingular entry, and only use the MEdiaNet access and have had no issues. As stated though, if you tether then be careful doing that on MEdiaNet as they may charge you (but I've tethered for short periods of time when I'm in a pinch with no issues). I also downgraded from the PDAConnect plan ($40 per month) to the unlimited MEdiaNet plan ($20 per month).

[pkapadia]

With the Wap.Cingular you cannot send recieve mail using imap service. You have to use isp.cingular. There are other services that are blocked through the wap.cingular but that arent used that often.

[ecltech]

pkapadia,
I don't think that's true. I only have 1 connection enabled on my device and it's using wap.cingular and I can send/receive mail via IMAP. I haven't run into any services that's blocked as yet using wap.

[margatenj]

so... what are the AT&T settings?

if AT&T is planning on ending the cingular settings, it would be good to have the new settings from AT&T

[evolved303]

One thing I would add is you should modify your DNS settings to use the OpenDNS.org servers. It really makes things snappier (doesn't help overall performance, but I've found the initial connection to websites is definetly faster than when you use the Cingular/AT&T DNS servers).

I personally use Kaiser Tweak to disable the isp.cingular entry, and only use the MEdiaNet access and have had no issues. As stated though, if you tether then be careful doing that on MEdiaNet as they may charge you (but I've tethered for short periods of time when I'm in a pinch with no issues). I also downgraded from the PDAConnect plan ($40 per month) to the unlimited MEdiaNet plan ($20 per month).

I am currently in my AT&T trial, likely switching over to this carrier from verizon because of the Kaiser. I currently have a 40$/mo phone plan and a 40$/mo data plan.

What is this 20$/mo plan you speak of with MEdiaNet, could you expand on this please, I'm new to AT&T's pricing plans, I think that 80$/mo is pretty ridiculous, so if you could fill me in on any tips or tricks you know about re: waps and networks, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm sorry if I'm coming across as noobish, I'm really not, but I know squat about pricing plans and such.

[stpete111]

With the Wap.Cingular you cannot send recieve mail using imap service. You have to use isp.cingular. There are other services that are blocked through the wap.cingular but that arent used that often.

That's 100% false. I use imap mail over wap.cingular daily.

[mfrazzz]

What is this 20$/mo plan you speak of with MEdiaNet, could you expand on this please, I'm new to AT&T's pricing plans, I think that 80$/mo is pretty ridiculous, so if you could fill me in on any tips or tricks you know about re: waps and networks, I'd really appreciate it.
Cingular / AT&T change the names of the plans all the time. But what I'm talking about is when you buy a Tilt, AT&T will tell you that you HAVE to have the PDA Connect plan if you want data. This plan is $40 per month (actually $39.95 or thats what it was a year ago and I've seen people still quote that price). What this does give you is access to isp.cingular which is supposed to be a better network connection (and not going through their proxy stuff).

But if you have a "simple" phone like a Razr or similar, you can get the Unlimited MEdiaNet package (At one time it was called MEdiaMax, but now I think that is something else) for $20 (ok, $19.95) per month. Its a full unlimited internet package, but its only wap.cingular (You can actually use isp.cingular, but I've heard some have gotten caught and they charge you for the usage). In my experience (almost a full year now) I've had NO (none, nada, zero, zilch) issues running on MEdiaNet alone. Now taht I'm on a Tilt, 3G works just fine (and with the reg tweak I'm getting the H icon now even and nice speeds from it). If connections settings runs where it sets up both MEdiaNet and ISP, then I go into Kaiser Tweak and I turn off the ISP side and only use MEdiaNet. I then also modify the DNS servers to use the OpenDNS ones and page lookups are noticeably faster.

There is an entire thread about Cingular settings and plans in the Wizard forum (Here's the link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=280993&highlight=MEdiaNet). I haven't looked at this thread in awhile, so some of the info may be dated (as it was when things were Cingular and not AT&T a year+ ago) but there are posts there from just a few months ago.

Good luck! Shopping for Cellular plans is like the old days of shopping for Long Distance plans with Long Distance companies. Very confusing and its all Apples to Pears in the comparisons (ie: they are similar but they aren't the same).