Plugging USB 3G modems into Android 10" Honeycomb 3.1 tablets.

[AndroidChangedMyLife]

Hi All

I have a Acer Iconia A500 Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet and I am loving it. One of it's massive advantages is the usable USB port which can connect to FAT32 formatted stuff such as my flashdrives and my cellphone. It alloys me to transfer music and other files and also provides power to charge my phone when connected.

Other similar Android 3.1 Honeycomb 10" tablets such as the Toshiba Thrive, Samsung Galaxy 10", Motorola Xoom etc all have USB ports as above but the majority of models are Wifi only.

I have heard that plugging in a USB 3g modem, such as the Cell C speed stick, in order to get internet connectivity through the stick is a possibility but have no idea how to accomplish this. Just plugging the USB 3g modem into the Tablet device results in the normal flashing light of the USB 3g modem but no internet connection & no asscoiated solid light on the modem.

Does anyone have a solution to get the 3g modem to connect to the internet when plugged into the Android Tablet's USB port? Internet away from my Wifi zones would be AMAZING.

 

[Dion Disco]

I use my Android phone's Wi Fi Hot Spot to connect my laptop - works great and no extra gear to carry around

 

[FarligOpptreden]

I'm guessing he DOESN'T necessarily had a 'droid phone to tether the tablet.

AFAIK, the drivers for the USB modem will have to be installed on the device to which it is connected. I'm almost certain there aren't Android drivers for the speedstick that will automatically get installed to the tablet.

 

[Jola]

Yes, it is a software issue !

 

[Elimentals]

Yes it is software, but you can root and fix, there is a Howto over on XDA if memory serves.

 

[Elimentals]

Found the bookmark on how to do it on Asus. I used it back in the 3.1 days and it worked on the Cell C black speed stick. To be honest I did not need it so did not even reapply the fixes or even check if it worked after the 3.2 update.

http://techwalls.com/gadget/3g-usb-asus-transformer/

 

[AndroidChangedMyLife]

Thanks for the responses...

Off course I have an Android phone as well, otherwise my name would just be stupid, and yes I do connect my tablet through my phone using the mobile WiFi hotspot but I need to know how to connect a 3G modem because I have more available "data" on my Cell C stick than on my cellphone's data bundle. Plus I want to get my dad an Android tablet and giving him portable internet through a 3G modem would be a bonus.

I have a broadband router at home that I plug my 3G stick into and it connects automatically and gives me WiFi at home. No need to install the Cell C software, or anything like that. The router is ready to go for all 3G Modems, just a few settings to change when you log into the router to define the 3G login details.

Is there an Android market app that you install that autodetects 3G modems and allows you to insert the correct settings, username etc, without needing to root and fix the tablet? If not... who wants to write one

 

[fred1]

Why not just use the sim in the tablet?

Sent from my GT-P1000 using MyBroadband Android App

 

[AndroidChangedMyLife]

I got the WiFi only version unfortunately. The Wifi & 3G version only came out after I got my tablet.