Working: Hermes + Mac 10.4.8 + AKU 3.3 + USB + MissingSync = Internet!

[jmat]

OK. Like a lot of people, I was horrified to discover that my Mac could no longer use my Hermes' bluetooth connection (DUN) after I upgraded to AKU 3.3. Microsoft lovingly removed DUN and added PAN, which MacOS doesn't support yet (rumors are that 10.4.9 or 10.5.0 will).

So I suddenly was left without a way to connect to the 'net using my phone and my MacBook Pro.

Plugging it up USB didn't do anything -- the Mac had no idea what the phone was, and didn't know how to use it for anything.

Enter MarkSpace MissingSync. I installed the latest version (3.0.1) on my Mac, and plugged in my phone to sync it up. By chance, I ran an 'ifconfig -a' in a terminal window, and noticed this:

en2: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
        ether 80:00:60:0f:e8:00 
        media: 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex> status: active
        supported media: 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex>

So MissingSync is establishing a connection using a faked IP address. OK. Interesting. So I unplug the phone, and go into the all new "Internet Sharing" app on my phone, set it to USB and turned it to connect. I plug my phone back in, and MissingSync tries to start up (and fails). But the IP (en2) is still there. I turn off my Airport (wireless) connection, make sure Bluetooth is disabled (to make sure).. and do a netstat -rn, and lo and behold, my Mac has suddenly taken on my phone as a default gateway.

Destination        Gateway            Flags    Refs      Use  Netif Expire
default            192.168.0.1        UGSc        9       40    en2
127                127.0.0.1          UCS         0        0    lo0

And... I'm on the 'net. I didn't have to create any connections, I didn't have to add any routes manually. Nothing. It just worked. (Yeah, I'm amazed, too).

Everything works. DNS, SlingPlayer, Entourage w/ Exchange.

I'm getting around 900/kbps down, 600/kbps up on Cingular/AT&T. Of course I live about 2 miles from Cingular HQ, so that's probably to be expected..

In MissingSync, turn *off* USB syncing, and it won't throw as many errors -- just sync via Bluetooth, but the drivers are still there, so it still comes up with an IP address and pseudo-ethernet device.

MarkSpace needs to market this. Awesome. It's not as convenient as bluetooth, but it's a lot faster, and you have the added benefit of charging your phone at the same time.

oh.. and one more thing... you can still use your phone for voice phone calls (when you're on 3G), and data. It works just like your're not plugged into it. And you can use a bluetooth headset with your phone while you're connected.

edited: make sure "use advanced usb networking" is turned OFF in the Settings>Connections page on your phone.

[birdman666]

Wow, just tried this myself on cingular as well, 150k/sec down and 90k/sec up using EDGE. Extremely easy as well, just kinda works by itself if you have MissingSync installed. Posting using my TYTN right now actually.

I'm on the medianet unlimited plan so I connect through wap.cingular. Will I get hit for any additional data charges for tethering?

[jmat]

Originally Posted by birdman666 Wow, just tried this myself on cingular as well, 150k/sec down and 90k/sec up using EDGE. Extremely easy as well, just kinda works by itself if you have MissingSync installed. Posting using my TYTN right now actually. I'm on the medianet unlimited plan so I connect through wap.cingular. Will I get hit for any additional data charges for tethering?

Very doubtful, although I don't know for sure. My phone is set to use MediaNET, and uses wap.cingular. I have PDA Unlimited Connect. From all appearances on Cingular's billing page, a notebook hooking into your phone via this method just looks like ordinary phone data to Cingular.

Now... I wouldn't use this as a primary internet connection. I'd bet if you put several gigs through the phone, they're going to get suspicious.

I actually use around 4-5 gigs a month normally (just with ActiveSync polling for mail and normal use), and they've never said anything to me.. so.. who knows.

Unfortunately, it's so difficult to get info from Cingular/AT&T these days (I'm still trying to get my phonenumber@cingularme.com to work)..

My billing cycle is up in 7 days -- I will post back here if I see any different charges on my bill.

[kalrykh]

If this works, I'm going to hump your leg.

[kalrykh]

wow, works. time to start humping. i love you. please, bear my children.

btw, definitely worth adding to the wiki.

[cmascatello]

I am assuming that disabling the connection in Internet Sharing restores Missing Sync's normal (supported sync) functionality? Great pick-up. I already have Missing Sync and my 8525 will be here on Wednesday. Thanks.

[Izzard-UK]

Damn, I can't afford Missing Sync

[Izzard-UK]

Oh well, I bought it anyway. I'd already played with version 2.5 so I knew it was starting to get good. I can make use of some of the other features, (like importing my cameraphone snaps into iPhoto) but this internet sharing feature is why I bought it. And it works just as you said:

1) Run "Internet Sharing" on the phone with 'PC Connection' set to USB.

2) Plug into the Mac.

In fact "Missing Sync for Windows Mobile" shows up as a network interface in System Preferences / Network, too.


This is actually a lot nicer that the old way I used to do it. Before AKU 3.3 and Missing Sync 3 I was getting Internet access on my iBook over Bluetooth using Internet Connect and a lot of faffing around with modem scripts. I eventually found one that worked.. .but I always had to 'dial' 3 times before it connected and it took about 2 minutes to get a connection.

Now I can just plug in and go ... and my phone doesn't need a separate power supply to keep me connected all day. ** very happy **

(Yes, they should really advertise this!)

[mizuchi]

i'd really like my hermes to work on my Linux box, since I use it as my main system over XP.. i read a few articles regarding this, and it turns out the older version of synce worked on most HTC devices.. but for some odd reason the new ones dont seem to.. someone did mention that WM5 devices weren't supported for now.. the older WM2003 does tho..

if it makes any difference, I'm on Ubuntu Linux 6.10 32bit version..

any help is appreciated..

[bendt]

Originally Posted by mizuchi i'd really like my hermes to work on my Linux box, since I use it as my main system over XP.. i read a few articles regarding this, and it turns out the older version of synce worked on most HTC devices.. but for some odd reason the new ones dont seem to.. someone did mention that WM5 devices weren't supported for now.. the older WM2003 does tho.. if it makes any difference, I'm on Ubuntu Linux 6.10 32bit version.. any help is appreciated..

I followed the (lenghty) instructions on the synce site, and it works for me with my TyTN. I have not set up contact syncing, but I can browse/copy/run stuff from my Ubuntu 6.10 installations on my TyTN.