Frustrating hang ups...

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Fri, 04/16/2010 - 10:30

smorloc

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Last seen: 1 year 28 weeks ago

Joined: 09/22/2009

Please forgive me if this has been covered in other
postings. My time connected is frustratingly short
with Tether. I am encountering very frequent stoppages
in connectivity and was hoping for could give me some
suggestions on what to try. Here is a my story in bullet form:

- Blackberry Tour, Verizon, latest v5.x software pushed by Verizon
- Dell Windows 7 64-bit notebook
- iogear Bluetooth adapter
- Latest Tether was installed on phone 2 days ago.
- Computer's Tether version is 1.1.02
- I have a good cell phone signal.
- When the software works, it works well. Packet count on
the host count up faster than you can read.
- When I encounter connectivity problems, the sent packet
count on the my computer continues to rise (~2-4/sec), but
nothing is received. On the phone, it appears that there is
pretty steady bi-directional communications going on.
- It never recovers. The only way to recover is to restart
Tether on both devices. It will stay in this broken state
for hours without recovering or exiting.
- Tether never reports an error
- The frequency of the problem can be as low as 2 minutes
It seems to be dependent on the amount of traffic.
- I was having similar problems when tethering via
the USB port. Unfortunately, it didn't appear that
phone would charge if I used it this way, so I went
the Bluetooth option.

Any suggestions? Are there any hardware/software
incompatibilities I should be aware of?

Regards,
Steve

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 10:52

hhzhao

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Joined: 01/06/2010

Your issues seemed pointed to Bluetooth stack on your PC. I assumed that you ahve no problem connecting with USB. Try remove the current bluetooth driver, and using Microsoft Bluetooth driver (assume your bluetooth interface is compatible with the Microsoft bluetooth device driver. Then try again.

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 12:27

smorloc

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Last seen: 1 year 28 weeks ago

Joined: 09/22/2009

Thanks for the reply.

I have your suggestion a shot and it didn't help. Tether still stops receiving on the computer. As I mentioned in my list. I believe this same problem was happening when I hooked the phone to the computer using a USB cable. It got to the point where I had given up on the product. Well, I am on the road again so necessity dictates I give it another try... As I said, when it works, it works very well... unfortunately it tends to be only for as couple of minutes.

If it is indeed a Bluetooth problem, shouldn't someone (Tether, phone, computer) display an error? Everything is strangely silent.... The products has a frustratingly sparse interface when you are having problems.

Does anyone know why I would see so much bi-directional activity on the phone?

Thanks,
Steve

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 13:33

hhzhao

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If you experienced same with both USB and Bluetooth, it would be a different situation.

You have mentioned that in times when it's good, it works no problem. Can you be more specific of those good times?

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 14:12

smorloc

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Last seen: 1 year 28 weeks ago

Joined: 09/22/2009

Tether works well for anywhere from several minutes, up to (approx) 15 minutes. It does what it's suppose to do. During that time, I can browse the web, receive email, etc. At some point it suddenly stops receiving (based on the packet counts in the Tether screen). The sent packet count continues to rise however no new packets come in. There is nothing specific that happens prior to it stopping working. The system could be idle, or I could be browsing the web...

Regards,
Steve

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 14:44

hhzhao

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One thing to try, is to remove the tether network interface, then reinstalled the tether application on the PC. It is definitely a system configuration related issue that causes network stacks to malfunction.

I don't have specific experiences in Win7 64bit environment. You could also try to run Tether in XP compatibility mode, to see if it helps to remedy the issue.

From what I have been ready here, there were some successful cases in 64bit, so as some difficulties too.....

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 19:45

autobot

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Have you noticed if this happens after you get an email, mms, sms message?

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 20:21

smorloc

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Last seen: 1 year 28 weeks ago

Joined: 09/22/2009

Thanks for the reply.

I have not carefully monitored this however I did suspect on several occasions. I need to assign ringtones to these events so I can be more positive.

Is there a known issue when these events occur??

Regards,
Steve

Fri, 04/16/2010 - 21:51

hhzhao

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Last seen: 13 weeks 1 day ago

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Depends on the carriers, if you are with Verizon or Sprint, or any one that is on CDMA network, SMS, MMS, will momentary interrupt the data service as CDMA network does not support Voice and Data channel at same time, SMS and MMS are using the voice channel. As for the incoming calls, as long as you are not answering, it will only interrupt the data service during "ring" (the ring here means the notification to your phone there is a voice call even when you have actually ringer off). Normally, those interruption are very short, and data connection should be resume after those event. I have had on the call for several minutes, and data resumed after call ended.

If you are with AT&T, T-Mobile, or any carriers that utilize the GSM network (usually phone needs the SIM card), there will be no interruption with those events as voice and data are shared the channels.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 12:07

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

Joined: 10/09/2009

I have the exact same problem:

- Blackberry Tour, Bell Mobility - 5.0.0.419
- Mac OSX
- Computer Tether version is 1.1.02
- Blackberry Tether version is 1.1.03

This was working well at one point where it did not hang / freeze.

Need assistance.

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 20:15

#10

autobot

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What carrier are your on? Over Bluetooth or USB?

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 22:56

#11

joshlee

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- Bell Mobility
- USB

Mon, 04/19/2010 - 23:51

#12

autobot

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I was on my tiny BlackBerry screen and didn't see your full post at once, sorry about that.

What does the Tether log say on your BlackBerry after the packets stop flowing?

Does the PC client say anything other than "Connected to BlackBerry" when this issue occurs?

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 00:19

#13

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

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Everytime it hangs - or stops sending, nothing else is shown in the log.

I am actually tether now to see how it goes - I have uninstalled an reinstall both the client and desktop several times.

I am trying it now to see - if anything will keep you posted.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 00:32

#14

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

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My connection just stopped at approximately 12:26AM EST -

Desktop Client is still showing packets sent and received -

Data Sent (mb) 2.019 still sent
Data Received (mb) 23.300 still receiving

Blackberry - Tether is running

Are you able to check on your server to see when I registered and unregistered? You can verify.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 01:24

#15

autobot

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The issue would not be visible since it emulates from your BlackBerry or PC.

Does the network icon in the system tray have a yellow triangle on it when this happens?

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 01:35

#16

joshlee

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No - all appears to be normal - I tried disabling google sync - to see if tether would improve - but it did not - I'm trying different things on my end.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 08:48

#17

hhzhao

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Last seen: 13 weeks 1 day ago

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From your description, your issue seems related to your device and/or carrier.

What is your Blackberry device, and if you have updated device software (either by yourself or pushed by your carrier)?

Have you tried to re-install the Tether on the device?

For reference, I am using Mac (OSX 10.6.3), with Tether 1.1.0.3 on Storm2, Verizon service, Mac Tether client 1.1.0.2 (I am actually posting the message via Tether right now).

I am not familiar with Bell Mobile, could not give me too much of help on their specific network setup and if any special requirement.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 13:23

#18

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

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- Bell Mobility is Canadian base carrier - www.bell.ca - I believe they are CDMA

- I have a Blackberry 9630 Tour.
- Software was installed by myself (I have been running this OS longer and have had no issues until recently)

- Yes I have tried re-install the software several times.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 08:19

#19

bwanadik

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Last seen: 29 weeks 3 days ago

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I have been having same problem for about 2 months:

- Blackberry Storm- 5.0.0.328
- Mac OSX 10.6.2
- Computer Tether version is 1.1.02
- Blackberry Tether version is 1.1.03

Happens on both USB and Bluetooth.

I was told in my previous posts this is a known problem and the support staff were working on it.

Thanks.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 10:00

#20

jay621gee

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Last seen: 18 weeks 23 hours ago

Joined: 10/09/2009

I have tether
- Computer Tether version is 1.1.02
- Blackberry Tether version is 1.1.03
- Blackberry Bold
- Win 7
- Att

I am getting speeds in 500 -800 kbs
help

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 10:55

#21

natereid

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Last seen: 13 weeks 2 days ago

Joined: 03/10/2009

Hello,

I can confirm that I am having the same issues with the connection hanging. As the others have said, everything appears fine from a signal strength, tether on BB, tether on laptop, networking perspective but no packets are received.

I am running Windows XP, and a bold 9700 on Bell in Ontario and I am tethering with bluetooth.

I have have re-installed tether on my laptop, and have installed the latest version of tether on the BB which was released just the other day by you guys. Not sure what else may have changed but the connection certainly isn't as stable as it used to be.

-- Update --
The problem actually just happened while I was writing this post. As I went to send I realized the connection has hung. As per my usual troubleshooting, I disabled bluetooth on my phone, re-enabled, restarted tether on both phone & laptop and still nothing. Then I tried restarted the tether service on the laptop (which often hangs upon restart) and now the laptop says it can't find tether running on the device. At this point my only way to resolve the problem is always a full PC restart. Then it will work again for maybe only for 1 mb or sometimes even up to 10 mb. It dosen't seem to be the amount of data which kills it, more of a timing thing.

Hopefully this information will help you guys. I also want to say that you guys are doing a great job. As a fellow (now ex) bluenoser, I'm proud of the work your doing!

Nate

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 11:40

#22

hhzhao

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Last seen: 13 weeks 1 day ago

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Reading through the posts, am I safe to say, the "hanging" issue seems isolated to Bell Mobile service? Since we have users experienced EXACTLY same issue with various BB devices and different desktop clients, ranging from Windows, Mac, etc., and the issues seems appeared recently...

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 13:26

#23

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

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- Is the carrier able to block the Tether service?
- I thought the Tether application was designed to circumvent and used the device blackberry data services.

Can you fix this?

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 15:12

#24

hhzhao

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Last seen: 13 weeks 1 day ago

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Tether is an alternative for what carriers are providing. However, as any carrier, they have every rights to control their network and user/application access. If a carrier felt a particular application and/or specific access that may interfer with their means of "operation", they could implement such restriction to specific IP and/or port access.

Using my line of of work, as every organization to have an secure controlled network infrastructure, using the tools like network sniffer, I can identify specific network traffic, and analys the information, then determine if the specific traffic should be blocked in order to have a healthy network environment.

Another possibility, depends on Tether application, if they have their own registered port range, or just any open public ports, Bell Mobile could have a specific needs and assigned same port for their own use, which could have impacted Tether function.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 15:49

#25

bwanadik

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No. I am using Verizon.

Thanks.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 15:53

#26

hhzhao

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What is saying under "View Logs" on your BlackBerry? version 1.1.0.3 supposed to provide more detail information (for dianose purpose).

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 16:05

#27

joshlee

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The Log does not show anything when it stops working - If it did I would have shared it with you.

hhzhao - your comments / suggestions on the possibility as to why this is not working is possible - but we do connect and it does work for 5 to 10 minutes before it stops. If it is a port issue - it would not connect at all as those ports would be occupied.

- In the past I believe the version before 1.1.0 do you still have that - could we try that version?

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 16:50

#28

hhzhao

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First of all, I am not working for Tether, I am just a typical Tether user like any of you. Unfortunately, I don't have the old version of Tether to share.

There are many ways to control the port access. Not saying this is a case of that. Other than hard up or down, you can always control it by packets counts too.

Without actually be able to see and experience in person, it is very hard to guess the root cause of the issue.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 18:18

#29

autobot

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Your information is always valuable hhzhao, thank you for your help.

Your knowledge of networking seems substantial, is this what business your in?

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 18:31

#30

hhzhao

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I am a Network Engineer for 20+ year, used to work for a US carrier (CDMA). For the past 10+ year, working for a fortune "2" US company, primary in responsible of network security and disaster recover process.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 20:50

#31

autobot

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Like I said, substantial :)

I always enjoy your posts.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 21:34

#32

hhzhao

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Thanks for the compliment. I enjoy very much being part of this community, and makes me feel good if I can help someone along the way.

Tue, 04/20/2010 - 20:53

#33

joshlee

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Nice -

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 00:32

#34

joshlee

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Just downloaded the 1.1.0.4 - testing it out now.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 01:03

#35

joshlee

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So far so good - what is different from 1.1.0.4 and 1.1.0.3.

Spoke too soon - I got an error on the computer client side - "Driver Thread has exited".

I have restarted it and seems to be running again - much longer then before.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 01:55

#36

joshlee

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Application failed.

No error on the desktop client.
Following errors were logged on blackberry:

net.rim.device.api.io.IOClosedException:
Connection closed
Trying UDP
udpConnection was null!
udpConnection was null!
udpConnection was null!
udpConnection was null!
udpConnection was null!
udpConnection was null!

- have to do a battery pull as app hung on blackberry - was not able to reconnect afterwards.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 14:22

#37

natereid

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Well I thought maybe the problem was resolved with version 1.1.0.4. The connection lasted for 1.5 hours then died again. Same symptoms as before.

During the 1.5 hours I was streaming slacker radio, sending and receiving emails and txts on the blackberry and tether remained happy. No other events happened which should have broke the connection.

Nate

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 15:02

#38

natereid

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My opinion is that it is related to something on the laptop. I have restarted the blackberry (soft reset), turned on & off the bluetooth and network on the blackberry to force a reconnection and then of course restarted tether where applicable. None of these steps in any order resolved the problem.

It was not until I restarted the laptop did tether connect and receive data.

Nate

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 15:13

#39

bwanadik

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I would be very happy to be connected for 1.5 hours before losing the connection. Where did you get the 1.1.0.4 version?

Thanks.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 15:23

#40

natereid

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I was prompted when running Tether version 1.1.03 on my Blackberry to download the new version.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:06

#41

autobot

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You can download 1.1.0.4 from the normal address if you didn't get the update notification on your BlackBerry.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:17

#42

joshlee

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What ever changes you did, my tether lasted longer -

- natereid - which carrier are you with? just wanted to compare notes -

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:18

#43

natereid

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JoshLee - I am with Bell.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:20

#44

joshlee

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same here - blackberry? OS? Computer?

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:25

#45

natereid

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Blackberry: Bold 9700
Blackberry OS: v5.0.0.344
Laptop OS: Windows XP SP3

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:38

#46

joshlee

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Natereid - when you started to have connection issue - was it shortly upgrading tether on your blackberry to 1.1.0.2

I was wondering if support could send us a link with 1.1.0.1 or 1.1.0.0 - to try - the interface was slower but it worked -

Do you recall?

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:50

#47

natereid

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joshlee - I feel it has degraded over the past month or two, so yes it probably started with version 1.1.0.2.

I would definitely be willing to try 1.1.0.1 again to help isolate the problem. I use tether a minimum of 1 hour per day and usually 2 - 3 hours a day so resolving this issue is pretty important to me.

Nate

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 18:02

#48

bwanadik

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I cannot find 1.1.04. Can you please provide the address to get it.

Thanks.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 23:13

#49

joshlee

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from your blackberry when you go start Tether, it should inform you that there is an update - and you can choose to download it.

Wed, 04/21/2010 - 17:11

#50

joshlee

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Last seen: 1 year 26 weeks ago

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Tether Support

Would you be able to provide us with a link to 1.1.0.1 - I agree with natereid - I usually use this on night shifts - and I can put 15GB of data using tether.

Please advise.

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