BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

I finally got my ATT BlackBerry Pearl 8100 to reliably tether with N810. The connection works every single time, and I get ~20KB/sec transfer speeds.

The trick, as has already been mentioned on this site, is to downgrade Pearl's firmware to version 4.2.1.66. Even though this is an older version, it works fine. I can't tell any difference between 4.2.1.66 and the version that came preinstalled on my Pearl.

Here is how to downgrade:

1) Download the firmware installer here

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...87676E90D45F84

(Never mind that the page says v4.2.1.102 and is for Italy, it actually installs 4.2.1.66 on your phone and preserves the US ATT theme).

2) Run the installer

3) Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader and delete the Vendor.xml file.

3) In the same folder, run the Loader binary. Follow the prompts. The upgrade takes 30-45 minutes. Don't be alarmed if the phone takes a very long time to reboot.

4) Only problem for me was that the browser icon disappeared after the downgrade. To restore it, go to Settings -> Options -> Advanced Options -> Host Routing Table. Find the highlighted entry, bring up the menu (button to the left of the scrollwheel) and click "Register Now".

5) To pair with your internet tablet in OS2008, just use the phone wizard. No need to enter WAP, usernames, or passwords.

Hope this helps.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

great work ag2, i just got my n800 and have had my pearl for a few months, and now they'll play together. i wonder why the n800 doesn't like the newer os...

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

Anyone know if this works for BB8830 and verizon? If not, how would we get the similiar version for this device?

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

I am a bit confused I downloaded the program, ran the installer on my desktop, went and deleted the file. I dont see a loader binary file. The loader.exe file, I ran and it only asked about installing things on my device? By the way my version is cureently 4.2.2.66

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

hmm 20 kbps isnt alot .... its capable of much more ...

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

I said 20KB/s (kilobytes / second), not 20 kbps.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

loader.exe is the right binary to run.

What do you mean 'it only asked about installing'?

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

there was no opportunity to upgrade the software. All it did was allow me to reinstall programs I had on the blackberry. Nothing about upgrade or downgrade

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

Did it again...No opportunity to downgrade, it just says do you want yahoo.go on your BB or remove. Seems like this is the destop manager but does nothing for the device? AM I doing anything wrong

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

What blackberry do you have? 4.2.2.66 firmware doesn't sound right for a Pearl 8100. If you have 4.2.1.66, that's already the correct version.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

See above, I had mentioned that I have the bb 8830 and I wanted to see if this software worked or there was another downgrade for mine. I tried on BB site as well and there is a newer version for mine but .379 or something like that. I am hoping that will install and fix the issue.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

Ok so call me crazy but maybe we're going about this all wrong. The .66 blackberry firmware was upgraded for a few reasons. 1. The firmware had a problem multi-tasking. It would drop calls incessantly because of something to do with the CPU getting busy doing other things than keeping the call connected. 2. The built in web browser on the BB is way better in the .102+ firmware’s. (I know it’s a mute point when you've got your N810 but sometimes you don't want to carry both devices)
Here's my thinking. How do you tether a blackberry in linux? You can't just use the USB modem drivers like you can with other phones because if you remember in windows you can't tether your blackberry unless the desktop manager is open. Hmm... So to get around this several clever Linux programmers created a program to tether the BB to Linux. See: http://wiki.colar.net/tethering_with...pearl_on_linux Now I'm no programmer but I'm pretty sure these libs can be compiled to work on maemo pretty easy. Has anyone tried this to get the tether to work on the BB with the latest firmware? I'd sure hate to give up my BB, or my N810. But ultimately its going to have to be one or the other.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

I am pretty happy with .66. Haven't noticed any dropped calls, and the browser works reasonably well.

Another option to what you proposed is to ask BB to fix their firmware. They know how to do it right, as demonstrated by .66.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

i remember when i had .66 on my bb pearl... i remember all the dropped calls that caused a battery pull every time i needed to make a call... which was why i was so relieved when the next update came out.

but in my desperation to tether the bb to my n800... i downgraded my firmware back to .66 ... oh the horror.... and in addition to that.. i could not get the tethering to work either. after a week i re updated my bb.



getting the tethering to work would be an absolute dream come true.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

Hey my 810 finally came guess what? I can occasionally tether the bb and load one whole page and then nothing. So I guess I'll be looking for a new phone? breaks my heart, the bb has some really neat features and the 810 doesnt do MMS yet and the sms app blows and only can send one message at a time. Oh and it doesnt recieve messages. So I'm caught between two worlds. That is unless someone ports the linux bb apps to maemo. Any recomendations?

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

:cool: hai,is this method can be used in my b/b pearl 8100,which iam using in canada?my firmware version is 4.2.1.94-rogers is the service provider.us and canada b/b pearl 8100,are the same? i bought my n800,three days ago,when i try to connect with my pearl 8100,says remote saver error,on n800.this method will work for n800? i am not a pro like you.in case if it didnt work how do i go back to previous version of firmware?thanks

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

I have been testing release 28 of the 4.5 OS for the 8100 and the tethering problems I had are gone.

I just followed the instructions in the first post of this thread http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ighlight=pearl and my teathering on TMO with my pearl is working very nicely.

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

Where did you get the 4.5 OS?!!

I just went to t-mobile.com/bbupgrade and all they have is 4.2.1.XXX

Re: BB Pearl 8100 tethering FINALLY WORKS
 

It's still in beta, so not released to the general public just yet. I have O.S. 4.5 on my blackberry 8310, and I can confirm that tethering works flawlessly with the new firmware.