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-- Do you have to pay Sprint extra to use your startac as a visor modem? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=12492)

I'm a little confused here. Someone said you must
pay for 'wireless web service' to use a visor modem
with the startac. However, how does the phone (or sprint)
know that you are sending data instead of talking.
I mean, suppose I simply dial my ISP's number, and
connect the modem up when the ISP modem answers.
Why is it any of Sprint's concern what tones are flowing
across the connection?

I understand that voice connections may have a low
frequency bandwidth so that my speed is limited to
something like 14kbps, but--other than speed--is there
any reason why I would need a special connection?

I use my land phone line for modems and never tell PacBell
that I'm doing so.

The deal is, the modems are in the Sprint switching office not in the StarTAC. If you don't have "Wireless Web" enabled, they won't let your phone access the modems.

__________________
Mike

huh? There are two modems in the connection: one in
my visor springboard port, and one in my ISP's building.
Why would there be one in Sprint's building? (For
people NOT using Sprint as their ISP.)

Here's where the confusion may be coming from: there are two ways to use cellular phones to access the internet. The first is using a cellular capable modem attached to your visor, which then uses the phone like any other phone to dial into an ISP. In this case, the wireless provider, the ISP and everyone else, doesn't care if you are paying any special fees, as the call goes through as a regular phone call. I don't know, however, which springboard modems, if any, are cellular capable.

The second way is to use a digital cellular phone. In this case, as the information coming from the phone is digital, the wireless carrier can use a modem at their end to connect you to the internet directly, with no need for a modem on your visor. In this case, you'd just hook a cable directly from the Visor to the phone, and dial up through your wireless carrier, who will charge you extra for the privelege.

Wireless companies have different names for this depending on their plans, but usually will sell you a cable and software for connecting your laptop - getting a dedicated Visor cable is more difficult, but there are two places currently selling them - www.cables4pdas.com and www.thesupplynet.com

Here is what you have to pay inorder to use your PCS phone to surf the internet wirelessly on your HS:

1. Wireless Web inabled phone, such as the StarTAC
2. A serial cable and equiptiment to connect it to your visor
3. A regular dial-up ISP or method to conncet to the internet
4. The 10 dollor amoth for data service

hope this helps.

sam

__________________
Sam Kleinman

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"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
Here is what you have to pay inorder to use your PCS phone to surf the internet wirelessly on your HS:

1. Wireless Web inabled phone, such as the StarTAC
2. A serial cable and equiptiment to connect it to your visor
3. A regular dial-up ISP or method to conncet to the internet
4. The 10 dollor amoth for data service

hope this helps.

sam

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quote:

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Originally posted by Clovis


I understand the above method, but what if I purchase the Xircom Springport modem and the connection kit accessory. Can I dial into my ISP without having to pay an extra service charge to my cellular provider, i.e. Sprint, Pac-Bell, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

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__________________
Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
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"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

quote:

---

Originally posted by Celchu19


Unfortunatly you cant, the connection kit is GSM specific I belive. if you want to conncet using a springboard your only option is using the efig dignostic module, and the Serial conncetion kit that you get from sprint.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Clovis
Do I still need to pay an extra service charge?

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__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

I'm very confused. I thought that if the signal was digital and the phone was compatible then you didn't need anything special from your cell phone provider. Or was it the GSM phones that don't need special stuff? Or the IR phones? Help!!!

I've been checking out newsgroups, message boards, etc looking for info. Here are two FAQ type places I've found.

http://palm7faq.cjb.net/
http://www.bcpl.net/~wstone/8290/instructions.htm.

there are two main digital standerds, CDMA and GSM (I'll leave out TDMA becuase it's a lot less common). In order to make connections faster and more reliable, the modems are usualy (not always, but most of the time) located on the providers tower insted of in the phone. Inorder to get the phone to work, you must tell your provider that you wish to enable use of these modems, then all you do is dial the number and it all works seamlessly.

As for IR or Serial connections, you need a method of connection the phone to your computing solution.

sam

__________________
Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
CollectiveArts TechMusings

"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

Some services, however, do not charge for this service. It depends on your region and your provider wether you have to enable wireless web or equivalent. Qwest, for example, gives free dial-up access on all accounts.

GSM should have a modem built in (Or as an add-on) and therefore should work without a fee.

__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]

quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
there are two main digital standerds, CDMA and GSM (I'll leave out TDMA becuase it's a lot less common). In order to make connections faster and more reliable, the modems are usualy (not always, but most of the time) located on the providers tower insted of in the phone. Inorder to get the phone to work, you must tell your provider that you wish to enable use of these modems, then all you do is dial the number and it all works seamlessly.

As for IR or Serial connections, you need a method of connection the phone to your computing solution.

sam

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quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
there are two main digital standerds, CDMA and GSM (I'll leave out TDMA becuase it's a lot less common).

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quote:

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Originally posted by mmendo1
The question regarding your landline phone service provider not distinguishing between data and voice calls and why the same wouldn't apply to your wireless phone service provider really doesn't apply as they are two totally different animals, they don't work the same way. Some wireless phone providers block data calls requiring you to sign up for that service for an extra fee.

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quote:

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Originally posted by mmendo1


Actually, last time I checked, out of the three digital standards, TDMA accounted for something like 65% of the digital coverage that is out there (for the US), with CDMA around 25% and GSM 10%. This is because it is extemely easy to convert an analog cell tower into a TDMA one.

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__________________
Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
CollectiveArts TechMusings

"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

quote:

---

Originally posted by Clovis
Why can't I use the Xircom Springport Modem and connection kit to dial my ISP's modem via cellular call? For example, my home PC uses its modem and dials on the telephone company's telephone lines to my ISP's modem. I don't need to tell my regular telephone company I'm calling my ISP. Why can't I accomplish a similar type of modem to modem connection?

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__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

quote:

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Originally posted by Clovis


If what you say is true and wireless providers block data calls, why is that I when I use my cellular phone and manually dial my ISP's number on my phone's keypad and listen through the phone's speaker, I can hear my ISP's modem tones? Therefore, shouldn't the Xircom modem be able to "hear" my ISP's modem tones over a cellular call the same way the Xircom modem can "hear" my ISP's modem tones over a landline?

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GSM Kit for XIrcom Global Access Modem

When I first started exploring the wireless option, I bought the Xircom Springport Global Access modem and planned to connect it to my Nokia phone with service from Powertel (now Voicestream). I confirmed with our account executive at Powertel that this setup would work without paying any addional fees. However, at the time,the GSM connection kits for the modem were not available.

Being impatient, I purchased a Nokia 8290 phone and conect through the IR port on my Visor Platinum. I have to pay a $ 5.00 per month fee for data services for this setup to work, but it is worth it not to have a cable to keep up with. Hope this helps.