How do i tether my storm?

[cigarbuffray]

How do i tether my blackberry storm to my laptop so i can use it as a modem?

[LukeTech]

First, call customer service to add the tethering feature to your line, there is an extra charge.

Download the VZAccessManager specifically for the BB Storm from www.vzam.net. The drivers are included in that package, I believe. After you install it, you can either set it up to dial from Windows (if you are brave, and if that is the OS which you are using) or use VZAccessManager to handle the dialing duties. After instlaling VZAM, connect the Storm with a USB cable, and your PC should install drivers automatically.. The Storm will show up as a modem in the device manager (agian, assuming you are using Windows).

VZAM should now be able to dial out through the BB Storm.

[KerryR]

I've done everything and I still cannot get connected to use my Storm as a modem.  It will just not recognize my Storm as a modem.   How can I tell if the software even recognizes my BB Storm?  I run "Detect Devices" but nothing.

[LOWFLYER]

Hey Kerry, how are you connecting your Storm to your computer?  Bluetooth or USB?

[KerryR]

Justin,

I appreciate your reply, but I have to confess that I finally broke down and took my laptop & BB Storm into a Verizon Wireless store last night to address the problems I was having.

Even then, it took almost two hours to troubleshoot the problem and we aren't sure the original cause. 

The approach the technician took was to have me uninstall the 'VZAccess Manager' software (which subsequently caused my BlackBerry Desktop software to be uninstalled - don't ask me why that happened?) and then re-install both software packages.  I had done this several times prior to their help, but to no avail.   However, we also deleted the standard dial-up modem from the Device Manager (under the Control Panel) and did a hard re-boot of my BB Storm (ie. we removed the battery for 10 seconds). 

Then, once I restarted the VZ Access Manager and reconnected the USB cable and my BB Storm, the software finally recognized my BB Storm as a dialup modem and loaded everything automatically.   Voila!  I was finally connected and could open my browser software.

Subsequently, I later disconnected everything and re-established another connection using Bluetooth between my laptop and my BB Storm.  All I had to do for this was pair my laptop to my BB Storm, and then select a Bluetooth connection in the VZ Access Manager software to get it to detect the Bluetooth connection. 

I write this solution in the hope that someone else who might be sufferring from a similar issue might benefit from my pain.  Technology is a wonderful thing (when it works!!) but, why can't anything ever be straight forward and easy?

[LukeTech]

I'm glad you got it working.

A note about Bluetooth, EVDO downlink speeds are faster than Bluetooth can accomodate. It is convenient, rather a USB cable will be faster.

I'll be performing the same setup on a spare laptop today, so I hope everything goes smoothly with it...

[LOWFLYER]

Kerry, thank you very much for coming back and explaining the solution so others might benefit.  If someone else runs into this issue, we'll know which thread to point them to or what solutions to possibly offer.  Positive contribution here is always a plus.  Let us know if you have any more issues.  +1 ^^^ about the Bluetooth link and USB cable.  Not only is Bluetooth slower than your USB cable, you're chewing up precious battery time with all the data transfer.  USB is the way to go if you can.  Cheers.