How to Tether Your Palm Pre as a USB Modem!
Yesterday I showed you how you can use My Tether to turn your Palm Pre into a wireless hotspot. Well, if you don’t need wireless or simply don’t need to connect multiple devices at the same time, you can also tether your Palm Pre via USB and use your Palm Pre as a USB Modem.
Sprint has secretly took out the USB Modem function couple weeks ago but do not worry as My Tether can do this for you. I don’t think they realize that this very function of being able to use the Palm Pre as a USB Modem will help them more in the long run rather than hurt them. Personally, I think if Palm Pre allows it, they will get more favorable ratings on the phone, nevermind make all the early-adaptors like me very happy. I don’t know why they would not allow it, especially since my previous Sprint Blackberry 8830 did it too.
Another advantage to the USB Modem method is that you can recharge your phone’s battery while you use it as a USB Modem.
In my testing, the USB Tethering method seemed to be slightly faster, meaning this might be the one to use so long as you have your Palm Pre micro-USB cord in hand.
Here’s detailed step-by-steps to tethering your Palm Pre as a USB Modem:
1. First, you will need to install the My Tether Program by following Step A in my previous post on how to tether Palm Pre as a WiFi router.
2. Once you have installed the My Tether app, you can launch the My Tether app.
3. Simply turn ON the USB Tethering, then go to “Options”. USBNet, DHCP, and Disable Screen Timer should be all ON. The Disable Screen Timer keeps your phone on so your phone doesn’t goto sleep and you don’t lose the connection.
4. Connect your Palm Pre to your computer via USB cable.
5. For Windows XP, your computer should pop up a message asking if you want to install a new driver.
6. You can download usbnet-pre.inf file by “Saving As” and save it to your computer. This is the USBNet driver that will allow your computer to recognize your Palm Pre.
(For Non-WinXP USBNet drivers, refer to WebOS-Internals.org here.)
7. Go back to the Pop up message and select “Install from a list or specific location” as shown below and click “Next”.
8. Next, select “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install” and click “Next”.
9. Now, select “Network adaptors” and click “Next”.
10. Click on “Have Disk” next.
11.Next, find the USBNet driver file you downloaded earlier and click “Open” like shown here:
12.Your computer should find a network adapter called “Linux USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget” as shown below. Click “Next”.
13. Your computer will pop up with a warning message, simply keep clicking “Continue” and “Next” until you arrive at the below message after the driver has been installed.
14. Now you are ready to rock and roll! Go to Network Connections in your computer under Control Panel and you should see something like below with an extra Local Area Connection with label, “Linux USB Ethernet/RNDIS Ga…”.
15. Congratulations! You have successfully connected your Palm Pre as a USB modem! Awesome!
Make sure you don’t have interruption from other network devices by disabling them.
Go open up your favorite web browser and see that your internet is working.
I think this is a great way to maximize the potential of the Palm Pre and My Tether provides easy GUI controls so you can easily connect and disconnect your new USB Modem.
In my testing, I was able to achieve about 1.6mbps download speeds on a full bar EDVO Rev. A signal, about the same or a little bit faster than my Sprint Broadband card.
Another extra use of this feature is that you can also tether WiFi over your Palm Pre. I am sure most computers have WiFi onboard these days but you can use this method to get WiFi connection on old computers that don’t have a WiFi card.
Resources
My Tether – You can refer to My Tether for more information on My Tether and there’s also a donater-only version which is awesome! (Yes, I just got my donater-version today, thanks Raja for developing this awesome app!!!)
WebOS-Internals.Org – Here’s some additional info on USBNet usage/instructions.
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August 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
will this tether be blocked to where sprint cant see that im tethering, bc i have the treo 755p and run the program pdanet and it makes sprint think that im browsing from the phone and not using it as phone as a modem
August 13th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Yes, Sprint can't really see that you are tethering, they would need to place a filter across their network, which will cause them more revenue losses occuring from slow service.
August 14th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I have went through these steps several times, got the SDK install, got my tether installed, enabled USBnet on my tether, go through all you steps a the very last screen shot for the installition of the Linux USB ethernet adapter I keep get the error did not install. Error code 10 Device could not start. Have you run into this problem before?
Shawn
August 14th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Yes, this is what happens if you choose “Install from software automatically” instead of “Install from a specific location” in Step 7. Try following the directions carefully again from Step 7, you should have no trouble installing it. Btw, I did the exact same thing the first time I tried this so…
August 17th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Thanks for your comment, however in this case that was not the problem. I actually discovered that the driver would not install because I was running Win XP SP2. Once I upgraded to win XP SP3 the driver installed the first time and worked wonderfully. Hopefully this answer will help someone else in the future. Thanks again for the awesome instructions and great tethering program.
August 17th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I got this up and running with little problems. Only problems I had was the firewall on my end. Had to adjust some rules to get the communication to work. When I did get it working it seems the sites I could visit were limited. It would let me visit yahoo's homepage, check my yahoo mail but would fail to let me do searches. It let me visit facebook once then wouldn't resolve for me there. Several forums and chans were blocked as well. So it seems sprint knows that I'm browsing with the computer and not the phone. And when I did get to the yahoo mail page it was the mobile version not the real version. Wonder if there is a fix like only allowing 2 or 3 connections at the same time instead of allowing multiple.
August 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Hmmm…. that is really weird, nothing like that happened to me, I can browse all websites fine, did you try using another computer?
August 17th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Glad you got it working, I hope this helps others as well!
August 17th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Hmmm…. that is really weird, nothing like that happened to me, I can browse all websites fine, did you try using another computer?
August 17th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Glad you got it working, I hope this helps others as well!
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
i got everything on my tether and everything it my laptop finds my pre wireless and connects but not to the internet
August 26th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Did anyone get this to work on Vista 32 bit? HELP PLEASE!!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Try using XP, I heard Vista has many problems on many things.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
It won't let me continue.. When i plug in the device it does in fact say theres new soft ware but not thru the wizard, therefore it wont let me proceed because it keep asking for a disc… please help… btw i have vista
August 30th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Where can I find the correct usbnet-pre.inf file? I got one from http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/USBnet_netw... for Window XP 32bit. But I followed all the instructions and an error appear for the last step: “Code 10″? Therefore I think I got the wrong usbnet-pre.inf file. I also upgraded to SP3 but still have the same problem. I really need help now… Can someone help me?
August 31st, 2009 at 12:36 am
That is the correct one, did you follow the steps carefully and make sure to choose “network devices”???
August 31st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I need a way to bypass having to have a signed driver. I get the error even after accepting it as unsigned in step 12. Suggestions?
September 1st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Hi, thank for your prompt response. I did followed every step as show above but at the end instead of getting a “successful installed” message, I got the error one. I did it three time already. I hard resetted or full eased my phone and redid everything over. I did got the wifii to work. Only the usb is not successful for me. Any comment(s)?
September 1st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
What error are you getting and what computer OS are you using?
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:12 am
It's the same error as Mergula's post (2 weeks ago). The very last screen it said Linux USB adapter not installed, Error code 10. I have Window XP SP3. I upgraded to SP3 when I tried to install again after having this problem and read Mergula post but that didn't help me.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Hmmm, I would say to try it on another computer if you have another one. Sometimes Windows XP get go bad for no reason. Well, my 2 cents on the Windows XP SP3 problem.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Thank you for your help
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Sure, I hope you get it working, best wishes. At the least, just use the WiFi version, it's still FAST!
September 8th, 2009 at 2:25 am
[...] Originally Posted by markgowen this is what it says when WiFi Tethering: Enabling WiFi Tethering… Enabling Ad-Hoc WiFi Network: AoNet Tethering ON However I cannot connect You have to download the driver. follow these instructions. How to Tether Your Palm Pre as a USB Modem! | Palm Pre Hacks Blog! [...]
September 19th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Any news on whether this actually works for Mac OS X yet?
September 21st, 2009 at 7:41 pm
My company fires employees for having a wifi enabled device in the building. So, with USB tethering, the wifi piece on the pre is disabled?
September 21st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Yes, you can just use USB tethering without WiFi. That sucks though your company has such strict policy.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
um What about Mac OS X tho?
September 21st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Hmm… dunno, I don't have a Mac, I have a Powerbook but that one has Ubuntu Linux installed…
September 29th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I had the same problem… I had to disable the VirtualBox connection from the Network Connections menu (or the device manager) and then disable and re-enable the Linux USB Ethernet one…
October 5th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I'm in the processof looking at new phones and want to make sure that this will still after they send out updates.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I got the USB tethering working but no luck with the WiFi. Any thoughts?
October 11th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hey… nice work man!!! but i do have question for you if can answer.. I m not able to connect my palm pre as modem through USB cable.. I think followed ur step carefully n i do see in my network connection”local area connection” but it says unplauged. I don't know why? N also when i went to my theher app and select option it does not show me diable screen timer option to turn it on but i see other 2!!!! can u plzzzzzzzzzzzzz help me with dis??
thanks in advance
October 12th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
i have my tether on my pre but when i go to usb tether and i get to step 11 i cant find usbnet-pre where can i download it ? how do i get it ?
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
[...] 6 times in the last 3 hours.. I followed the directions EXPLICITLY AND EXACTLY, step by step. (How to Tether Your Palm Pre as a USB Modem! | Palm Pre Hacks Blog!) The phone is rooted properly When I get to the Install New Hardware wizard, I go through all [...]
October 24th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
[...] How to Tether Your Palm Pre as a USB Modem! | Palm Pre Hacks Blog! Yesterday I showed you how you can use My Tether to turn your Palm Pre into a wireless hotspot. Well, if you don’t need wireless or simply don’t need to connect multiple devices at the same time, you can also tether your Palm Pre via USB and use your Palm Pre as a USB Modem. Tags: palm pre modem [...]
October 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
so what if i try to play games on this connection. is that asking to be made an example out of?? i don't know how much bandwidth they take… old games like warcraft 3 =P maybe even wow…
November 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
can you use windows 7 to download this
November 9th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
how do you save the usbnet-pre.inf in the computer?? i dont know which one to use between the 32bit or 62bit i have vista btw. can anyone help me?
November 16th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
After I finished withall the steps I was able to use for a couple days then I turned on my computer one day and the Linux USB link on the network connections was gone! What do I do to retreive it again. My computer doesn't say it finds new hardware anymore. I'm stumped
November 17th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Alright, I think I just ran into some deep **** here and I need help. I got to step three and everything was fine, but when I set the usbnet on the pre asked me to reset (btw, I didn't see the very top and bottom options) so I did. Now my pre won't turn on
One thing I did note, though, was that at the time I was doing this I had my pre connected to my pc cuz I was charging it. I can't get it to power on or anything; is there anything I can do or is my pre done for?
November 17th, 2009 at 1:37 am
nvm, took out the battery and put it back in; now everything is fine
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Download the xp32 file, save it and then follow the same instructions. It worked for me in vista 32.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
It appears to install, but I get no icon. What do you mean by 'The Pre needs either EV or WiFi data service when you run the Installer.' in the instructions? I have the unlimited data plan, if that's what you are referring to. So far this isn't working. I am using the donate version 2.02. Did the reboot of the pre, and still no icon. Any other ideas? Thanks.
November 27th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
[...] habe hier eine englische Anleitung gefunden, wie man das Palm Pre als USB-Modem und sogar als WLAN-Router [...]
December 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am
hi….Im new at this…i love my palm…but after pay the bilss no money for internet…PLEASE..my Xmas Give will be that someone figured out how to teher a palm w web Os 1.3..whatever! + a computer w Window Vista!
December 9th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
i've been using my tether via usb cable for a month now on my netbook and I love it. I've had zero problems, the only very minor inconvienence i've had is that I have to reset my pre and restart my netbook in order for my netbook to recognize the connection. But today for the 1st time I was charging my pre via the netbook at the coffee shop and I wanted to sign onto the coffee shops wifi so I went to my connections and 'disabled'my pre connection (it says connected local area connection 2 if I have the phone charging via usb even if my tether is off) and I enabled my wifi connection… Later when I got home I disabled my wireless connection then restarted my netbook and reset my pre, I connected them via usb and turned on my tether but the local area connection 2 doesn't appear in my network connections anymore. I've restarted my netbook and reset my pre 5 times and it still won't show a connection. Please help!
December 9th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
hacked the pre and everything seems to be working fine.. but i can't get it to connect with my macbook, any other mac users out there get this to work yet? thanks! – katie
December 29th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Was hopping to see if anyone made it work for Mac before doing the work?.. Read all the comments on several other sites with no mac comments.. Let me know if it works and how difficult it is to operate, if you get it working. Thanks, Mike
December 30th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hi I finally go this to work but whenever I get the USB tether to work my wifi on my phone won't work but when I disable usbnet it works again. I'm probably doing something wrong but could someone point me in the right direction?
January 4th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Excellent walk-through! I had my USB tether up in minutes on Windows 7 thanks to this.
Much appreciated!
January 8th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
I was able to get everything installed successfully and get my Pre connected to my XP SP3 mahine via USB. Problem is it does not appear to allow internet access. My firewall asked if I wanted to allow the network and I set it as trusted, but it still does not work.
Also, the wireless won’t connect from my PC. In fact the wireless network Aonet does not even show up in my list of available wireless networks.
Any help is appreciated cause this will come in handy for my upcoming trip.
January 8th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Also, like someone else said, I only see the middle two options for the USBnet. I wonder if that is why it does not work.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Well after some more “trying things” I finally got the USBnet to work but wireless does not work at all. Palm pre is on 1.3.5.1 I think and I believe that is the issue.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Do i click Connect USB, Just Charge or Upload Media?
January 19th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
guys I keep getting this after I do all the steps….root@pal-webos-device:# I’m a newbie….run on xp downloaded everything and running on developer mode with just charge option and wifi is off…..anyone????thanks much…
January 29th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Anyone try this with Verizon’s Pre Plus yet? Concerned since Verizon is charging $40 a month to tether wirelessly and may have done a software end run around any other tethering solution. I have always used PDAnet on my Treos to satisfaction. PDAnet’s note to me is they have not designed for WebOS. I can’t get PDAnet to work in “Classic” which is running a couple of my Treo programs but not all. Thanks,
February 4th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
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February 7th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Sean….what “things” did you do? I cant get my usb to work and I dont see the “Aonet” either when trying to use the wifi.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Bin schon seit langem stiller leser deines blogs und finde deine Beitr
February 15th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Bin schon seit l
February 16th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
i did everything but cant find the usbnet driver help please
February 21st, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I have windows 7, followed the first 3 steps and my computer cant recognize the connection. what am I doing wrong?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:30 am
I don’t have the option to turn off the screen saver. Why not?
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:18 pm
i was successfull in getting my tether on my pre not see AoNet though tried all I know which isnt much plz help MAX ! 970-778-7527 purple69mod@yahoo
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:43 pm
ummm help please!!!!!!!!! web Os 1.4 out wont work anymore??
March 9th, 2010 at 1:55 am
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March 11th, 2010 at 8:26 am
I have Windows 7 32 bit. I have gone to the website to download USBnet onto my computer. When I click on “usbnet-pre windows driver (32 bit)”, nothing gets downloaded. It just shows me all the LINUX information. Im not that computer savvy. Please help.