Connecting a USB modem to a phone or smartphone

Mobile technologies are not standing still, gadgets are becoming obsolete, and the needs of network users for fast data exchange are growing. What if the phone does not support modern communication standards? Buy a new one or accept a lag from progress? It turns out that through a portable communication device you can access the network not only from a computer. Consider how to connect a USB-modem to Android-smartphone.

The task is not as simple as it seems at first glance. The following errors may occur:

  1. In the settings of the Android device there is no “Mobile networks” item. You need to search for other firmware versions, otherwise you will not be able to connect the modem.
  2. Not enough power. As an option - use with a fully charged battery, buy a better cable or USB hub with external power.

Necessary equipment

Can I connect a modem to the phone without buying additional equipment? Only if the device has a USB connector. This is more typical for tablets. In other cases, you will have to purchase an adapter from USB to your phone connector. Moreover, this should not be an ordinary cable, but an OTG so-called host adapter. It is designed specifically for external devices, and not just pairing a mobile phone with a computer.

You also need to purchase the USB modem itself, which consists of a communication module (3G or faster 4G) and a flash drive that contains connection settings.

Modem setup

Before telling how to connect the USB-modem to the phone, let's look at setting up the modem mode itself. If this is not done, it will be recognized by the Android system simply as a storage medium.

For Huawei and ZTE phones, the task is simpler, special software has been developed for them. It is enough to start it and put the necessary tick. For all other phones you need to do the following:

  1. We deactivate on the computer all kinds of connections to the network and insert the modem.
  2. We find the connected modem in the Device Manager.

  3. Open the properties and remember the COM port.
  4. Download and run the program HyperTerminal.
  5. After creating the connection name in the settings window, you need to specify the port that you memorized in step 2 of the instruction in the “Connect using” line.
  6. Next, go to File - Properties - Settings. There will be an ASCIIsetup button. We put the checkbox "Echo typed characters locally", i.e. "Display the entered characters."
  7. In the opened terminal, type the AT command and press Enter. The string OK comes out. Further we print the following: AT ^ U2DIAG = 0 and again Enter. As a result, OK will appear again.

Pre-configuration is complete, now let's proceed to how to connect a modem to the Android 3G phone.

IMPORTANT. If you want to use the device on a computer, then you need to return the changed settings back. Repeat all the steps of the instruction, but enter the following command in the terminal: AT ^ U2DIAG = 255.

Smartphone setup

After preliminary preparation, you can proceed to setting up an Android smartphone.

  1. We connect the configured modem.
  2. Go to the menu "Wireless Networks" and turn on the transfer of mobile data.
  3. Create a new APN access point.

  4. Enter the data of the cellular operator. You can learn them from the official website or the manual that comes with the device. Some modems already contain the settings of a specific provider, then this item is not necessary to perform, all data will already be filled.
  5. Click Save and wait for the connection icon to appear.

If all the points were successful, then it was possible to connect a modem to the smartphone. However, mobile device manufacturers are not happy with the situation when instead of buying a more expensive and modern gadget, a potential consumer finds how to reconfigure the 3G modem so that it can be connected to an Android phone. And creates software barriers to this, artificial access restriction.

To get around these restrictions, you need to get root-rights in the system. Almost the same as administrator rights in Windows. The presence of such rights allows you to change or delete the system files of the device. To install root, download a special application and follow the instructions for setting it up.

IMPORTANT. Getting root rights often threatens to lose the warranty of the manufacturer of the smartphone. Think well before you decide on such manipulations with your gadget.

Here, perhaps, all the nuances of how to connect a USB modem to the phone, configure it to work correctly using special software.