Use your Android Froyo as a mobile modem

by Koree Monteloyola

January 19, 2011 23:32

The USB tethering feature of Android Froyo allows you to share your phone's mobile network with a laptop or desktop computer, which is similar to the concept of using a usb modem (stick) or dongle.

The 3 major telcos in the Philippines today thar offer mobile broadband services are Globe, Smart and Sun cellular. In the image below, I have Globe Tattoo and Smart Bro USB modems, as you can see I don't have a Sun Cellular USB modem, however, what I do have is a Sun cellular prepaid sim card and an Android Froyo powered HTC Desire. I will use USB tethering to complement what I lack.

Below are the details on how to use this feature:

The essentials:

Configure the correct Access Point Name (APN) for your mobile phone. If you have no idea how to do this, contact your telco's customer service. (for prepaid Globe subscribers in the Philippines check my previous post about APN config)
Android version 2.2 (codename: Froyo) should be installed on your phone
HTC Micro USB data cable
Install HTC Sync on your computer.

HTC Sync

HTC Sync serves as a device content manager for your phone using a computer and also installs the required device drivers. By default, the file for this software is already on your phone's SD card, if ever you accidentally deleted this file on your phone, you can go to this link (HTC Sync for all HTC Android Phones) to download the file.

After dowloading and installing HTC Sync, connect your phone to the computer via the micro USB data cable then proceed to HTC Sync device setup. Make sure that 'HTC Sync' is selected in your 'Connect to PC' screen.

You don't really need to sync all of the contents of your phone to the PC at this time, we just have to make sure that HTC Sync can detect your phone and has a saved profile for it.

Just to make sure that everything is working, disconnect your phone from the PC, restart your computer, reconnect your phone to the PC (make sure that 'HTC Sync' is selected in your 'Connect to PC' screen); check if HTC Sync can already detect your phone automatically.

This is a one time setup, you don't need to open this software everytime you want to use USB tethering.

USB Tethering

Turn on 'Mobile Network'. There are 2 ways to do this:
- Do a long press on the power button, on the "Phone options" screen, tap on "Mobile Network" to turn it on (or off).
- Go to "Settings" > "Wireless & Networks" > Tap on the checkbox to turn it on
Connect your phone to the PC using the micro USB data cable
This time in the "Connect to PC" screen, select USB tethering
On the taskbar, click on the network connection icon, you would see that a new active network is added on the list. You might get a different name for the new connection. Select the new network and start browsing. Yippee!

Here's the the "Local Area Connection Properties" for the new network connection:

I guess this answers a friend's question, 'no? :)

Category: Android, Internet, Smartphones, Software, Technology, Telecommunication, Tutorials, USB Modem

Globe Broadband Tattoo

by Koree Monteloyola

June 8, 2010 15:42

The Globe Broadband Tattoo is a USB wireless modem that they say has a speed of up to 2Mbps.

Globe Tattoo

I decided to buy one as a back-up ISP, if ever my primary ISP, which is PLDTmyDSL, had some temporary technical diffculties. Ideally, I just have to plug the usb modem to my laptop and I'm supposed to be connected to the internet again. Right?

But, no.

I am actually one of Globe Broadband Tattoo's very unsatisfied users.

Below is a screenshot of a live statistics from the installed Globe Broadband application, the software is or should be installed when you first use the usb modem. Users of this product can always check the bandwidth through this software.