Wireless / Mobile > Sprint Mobile Broadband > Static IP's from Sprint or Millenicom

Static IP's from Sprint or Millenicom

I got a static IP from Sprint, and then tried to change the IP address of my Sierra 595U but it wouldn't take. Does anyone know the procedure for installing the static IP, and do I need to change the settings on the other network devices? What are the benefits for a home network, if I don't need a VPN?

Static IP's are really not necessary for most users, unless you want to run a VPN, as you said, or in my case, for receiving the mlb.com baseball feeds.

MLB has blackout rules and they check to see where you are by your IP address, which can be totally misleading, but nevertheless, they do. Since my IP changes constantly, I have to call them on the phone, tell them my IP and then they lift the blackout. If I had a static IP, one call would do it for the whole season, instead of having to call for each game, as I do now.

Like I said, there's a rather narrow but definite range of needs for a static IP.
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

I like it that MLB goes by IP address, because mine shows me in Seattle, which means I get to watch all the San Diego games without blackouts. I guess Sprint's servers are elsewhere, but MLB hasn't figured that out yet. Don't tell.

If they bug me with my static ip, I will switch back to dynamic.

reply to caribconsult
If using the Pantech, Millenicom clients can get a Static IP

From their website:

"Static IP

Millenicom clients using the Pantech UM175 are able to subscribe to a static IP for an additional $10/month. Simply email support@millenicom.com to request this service."

This probably doesn't help you out since you do not have the Pantech. I didn't see anything about Sprint service being able to get a Static IP from Millenicom on their site.

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Windows XP Pro SP3 / Windows 7 Beta Build 7000|AMD Phenom X3 8650|Asus M3N72-D Motherboard|4GB Patriot PC2-8500 1066MHz RAM|2x GeForce 7950 GT 512MB|

reply to caribconsult

DAVE: aside from hosting things (which I don't do), read my post above regarding MLB via internet, and you'll see why a static IP for a measly $3/mon (according to Jim_in_VA) is a bargain for me.

I think if you want to run a VPN you also need static addressing but don't hold me to that.
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

I don't believe that Static IP is required for VPN. The new Cradlepoint MBR1100 offers:

"The high-performance MBR1100 has the capability to create and terminate IPSec VPN sessions. It provides up to five concurrent sessions, supporting transfer and tunnel modes and several Hash and Cipher algorithms. This securely encrypted protocol means your communications from one private network to another is secure from end-to-end."

No mention of any Static IP requirement.

More: '»www.wirelessnwifi.com/index.php?···ts_id=48'

I don't claim to understand the intricacies of it all, but we have sold ~50 of them and the customers have figured it out!

HTH

reply to caribconsult
Thanks
I was thinking about hosting my website but with sprints slow speeds at times it wouldn't be a good idea. I can't depend on the connection here to be as Sprint ads say.
Anyway thanks for the reply and I will leave the static ip on the table for now.

Dave
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® D A V E ®
Sprint Mobile Broadband
Sierra Aircard 595U on a 14 element yagi antenna
at 35 foot. Feed with LMR-400.

My Home Page is: ® WWW.W4DRA.COM ®

reply to caribconsult
I know this is an older post, I've been away... But for those who are on a dynamic ip (most of us), you can use such a service called no-ip.org which is a Dynamic DNS. I host voice chat software with it without the need of a static ip. What it does is installs a small file on your "host pc" and runs in the background refreshing however fast you want it (in minutes) from 5 minutes and up. It's pretty nice and the best part of it is the feature I use is FREE. There are multiple options that are free. Hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions.

razor

I use DynDNS for a similar reason. Though my situation is different (Comcast cable, so my IP rarely changes) it's nice for them to assign me an easy-to-remember domain by which I can access my home network and router from anywhere. The home network part requires a PPTP VPN, so it's less reliable. But DynDNS works like a charm.

reply to razorback
Razorback: thanks for the suggestion. It would probably work, except for one detail--my MBB device is in a router, not in a computer, and I have no idea how to get that software to work in the router. My LAN ip address is immaterial...it's the WAN ip that the router gets that's causing the problem with the baseball broadcasts.

I have spoke to those idiots (at MLB.com) several times, including their elevated support, and they don't see it as a problem that their system is misinterpreting my ip. Even in a situation where I want to watch, say, the Yankees vs. Baltimore. My IP shows up in KC, which is not in the 'blackout' market for either of those teams, but I still have to call in to get it lifted. Here's the really stupid part: the callcenter rep merely confirms my location and ID, then pushes some 'magic' button on their screen and boom, I'm watching the game. When I asked "why can't you program this into my record; that I'm not in any team's blackout market in Puerto Rico" (where I live) all I get is dumb-ass replies like 'our system doesn't work that way' or 'this is how it's supposed to work' or equally inane answers. Hey, this is computer programming, not rocket science. I've done this crap, and I know it can be done, but they just continue to be obstinate. It's easier for me to access my bank and brokerage than MLB.com!
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

OK, I get what you're saying. Tell me more....how does this thing get around the fact that Sprint gives me a new IP address every day or so? Once the address changes, MLB.com rejects it and I have to call in as described above.
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

TEST99: you just hit the nail on the head. Will MLB accept this? I have my doubts. Next time I call in I'll ask if they'll accept a domain name in lieu of an IP address and if they will, they I'll give your suggestion a try.

Can you provide a link(s) to where these programs are found, and which one do you consider the easiest to deal with? I'm not running a domain or servers or any website on my setup...this would be for this single purpose of the MLB issue, so I probably don't need a full complement of bells and whistles.

Thanks for your help,

Jeff
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

Thanks a lot for your input, TEST99. That's what this site is all about, so thanks for being a contributor.
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Sierra 598U/Cradlepoint CTR500, grid antenna, Millenicom, 4 XPPro and 1 Ubuntu units, FireFox everywhere.

reply to caribconsult
Sprint charges $3 per month. Works on a datacard or phone plan. You can choose the city (they ask you for your closest city) for the IP.

So far works perfectly, even with a VPN

yes, sprint offers them for $3.00 extra per month per device.

the BEST way to get the new static IP to come to the device is to re activate it. PITA, but it works, trust me, i took 12 dynamic devices and assigned them all to static IPS. the first few changed to static w/o any issues over the phone with Sprint. the rest, no matter what the tech did, we had to re activate the device and everything worked smooth after that.