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-- VisorPhone Modem Help - Please? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=17093)

VisorPhone Modem Help - Please?

Voice on my new VP is running fine (see previous post). but I can't get the modem to operate - nor am I able to dial my ISP from Prefs/Network."

I'm just trying to establish connection with the ISP's modem before trying to set any sort of browser/e-mail program. But I can't connect - which tells me the mdem is either defective, or I'm missing a setup step somewhere!!!
- Know the ISP's number is correct. I use it as a backup on my desktop. I can also get the ISP's modem to answer if I dial the number manually from the VP. So the number is good & their system is answering,
- But I can't get the modem to dial out!
- followed instructions in the VP manual:
1) Prefs/modem is set to "standard; 57,600; high; automatic [flow control]; United States & AT&FX4.
-- this is the default string. Is it perhaps wrong? I can't find any reference to it in either manual.

2) Prefs/network is set per VP manual instructions to: Pacific Bell [drop down menu]; my correct username, my password, and the phone number.
[ I've tried the number as 7 digits, 10 digits and with a 1 prefix. Still can't dial out.
- when I press CONNECT I get 2 messages:
--- 1) Dialing carriername - then after 5-7 seconds - also NO TONE in ear plug - which I do get when dialing w. the VP.
--- 2) Error: no carrier (0x1102)

--- Seems to me that says "I can't get a dial tone." Yet if I go to phone & dial, I connect right away.
Any help would be appreciated.

I just set-up my Visor Phone for data today. Although it worked, I can offer only a little help.

1) Dialing carriername - then after 5-7
seconds - also NO TONE in ear plug -
which I do get when dialing w. the VP.

The NO TONE thing isn't a problem - mine had no
tone, but the connection established.

Regarding things that might be wrong, have you
tried entering the DNS into the network setup? I
didn't need to, but the documentation said that
some ISPs may need that. The only other suggestion
I have, which you probably don't need, is to
double check the stupid little things, like
that your user name doesn't include the extention
( @whatever.com) and that the case is right on
the password. Oh, and that you have a connection
to your carrier before tapping connect - that
one through me at first - I had lost the phone
connection and didn't notice it.

May have some help?

First of all, try to do this:

1. Preferences-> Network-> Connection
Be sure it says -Current-
2. Preferences-> Network-> Phone
Be sure to just put your home phone number in (or a phone number that you are most near to).
3. Now click on Connect

If your home phone doesn't ring and your Visorphone reports an error, the modem is most likely to be having the problem.

If your phone rings and you pick up and hear communication tones, then the modem is able to establish a connection to an analog telephone. Now you may have to complete the DNS and IP setup for your ISP.

4. Preferences-> Network-> Connection
You may try to use Standard Modem
As that one works for me too.

Best of luck,

Stan

I just got my Visor Phone and want to set up data access. Do I need to pay extra for that?

quote:

---

Originally posted by kamalot: I just got my Visor Phone and want to set up data access. Do I need to pay extra for that?

---

__________________
My Treo has more memory than I do.

Found out from Cingular today some disappointing news regarding wireless internet service for the Visor Phone:

- You have to set up your phone for data service (okay, knew that)

- Their Wireless Internet (MyWirelessWindow) option is not compatible with the VP (didn't know that)

- The data plan is $4.95/month AND $0.15/minute (definitely didn't know that)

This really blows - at least your data minutes are not subtracted from your allotted voice minutes.

You can do SMS for a fee:

- no monthly charge and $0.10/message

- $2.99 monthly charge includes 100 messages

Anyone else know of anything different? I had their Wireless Internet option ($6.99/month) because the Handspring site says it is required and was able to dial into BlueLight yesterday. I tried today and had no luck. I called Cingular and they told me that the $6.99 plan didn't work with the VP. I'm curious to see if the couple of minutes that I was on BlueLight will be charged to me at the data rate or not. I ended up cancelling that option.

So my e-mail/Internet capability on my VP is disabled. I don't need the Internet that badly to pay $4.95/month and $0.15/minute. It would have been nice for a flat fee, but the per minute charge will get expensive.

Mike

Internet - with Cingular - w/o Data Services - Is It Possible?

I'm hearing very different messages - and have seen conflicting messages previously on several sites.

- Handspring & Cingular say I MUST have Data Services!! [of course they would].
- J762538 [2 messages above] seems to imply I can get to the web w/o data services when he says "... Internet - no, Cingular - yes.".
--- or did I misunderstand his message - and I must have Data Services???

--- IF I can connect to the web w. Cingular & w/o Data Services - IF you've done it - what dialing software do I need?

- I'm absolutely certain all my modem & network settings are correct - but the modem will not operate. The phone is fine! Is it a SIM thing, perhaps?

[- J762538 [2 messages above] seems to imply I can get to the web w/o data services when he says "... Internet - no, Cingular - yes.".]

Look at his message again:

"It depends on if you mean SMS (no) or internet, Voicestream (no) or Cingular (yes)"

For SMS instant messages, you don't need data services from Voicestream or Cingular. For Voicestream Internet/e-mail access, you don't need data services. But for Cingular Internet/e-mail access, you DO need data services.

I hope I'm wrong but I've tried all different ways to get mine to work - and it doesn't. If you have success, let me know.

Thanks!

Mike

OK - I'll Try Data Services

I'm activating Cincular's Data Services today to test if that solves my ISP connection problems.
- then I can always cancel it later on. I don't think I weant to pay those rates very long. But worth the test.
- I'll let everyone know what I discover!

This is getting to be too much trouble

I would really like to get the VP, but it isn't worth it to me if it will cost me $70/mo instead of $40. $40 I can justify with the long-distance time.

The provider in my area is VoiceStream. I looked all over the Handspring website and at their VP FAQs to try to see if I needed to get the $29.99 DataStream rider to be able to surf through my regular ISP, do regular e-mail through my ISP, etc. Then I came here and also looked and read and read.

For every two posts that say you have to have the DataStream rider, there is probably one that says you don't. Great - I'd trust the ones that said you don't except there are reposts and such where they say that it worked until trial DataStream periods expired, they dropped the service, etc.

So I called Handspring and they said that counter to what their website says, you don't have to get the DataStream rider. Under the plan description at the Handspring website it says:

quote:

---

The Data Stream service enables your VisorPhone to access data located on your ISP or corporate LAN at speeds of 9.6kb/s. Coupled with a third party data application like an email client, web browser or instant messaging, your Visor gives you immediate access to information.

---

quote:

---

Thank you for contacting Handspring.

First of all, I would like to apologize for the confusion on this whole issue.

The Visor Phone, much like many other mobile phones, has the ability to access the internet if the data service is enabled by the service provider.

For any wireless modem, a data service is needed. The data service allows the phone to send SMS messages, email messages and access the internet.

Now, because the Visor Phone is wireless, a data service is needed and should be enabled by the mobile service provider if you wish to perform the tasks listed above.

Another service that is needed to access the internet using the Visor Phone is an ISP (Internet Service Provider). The ISP is the same service that you would use on a normal desktop computer. For example, ATT Worldnet or Earthlink. Please note that AOL, MSN or any Free ISP will not work with the PDA environment.

As a review, I will repeat what is needed in order for you to use the Visor Phone to access the internet:

1. A Data Service. This is needed because the Visor Phone is wireless. The signal that is used with the data service is different than the one used when using the phone to make enabled through the mobile service provider.

2. An ISP(Internet Service Provider). This is needed for the same reasons it is needed on a desktop computer to access the internet.

I hope this helps you in your decision to purchase the Visor Phone.

---

quote:

---

I would like to buy the VisorPhone but data access plan requirements are hard to figure out. I scanned VisorCentral but confusion on the boards reigns. I even called your technical support and received conflicting answers. Before I buy a phone and commit to a year of service I want to know definitively if I have to buy the extra $29.95 DataStream service to be able to do things like surf the web, use AvantGo, use regular e-mail (not SMS messaging), etc.

The VisorPhone has a modem built in it says. I have a regular dial-up ISP account with AT&T. I have local numbers to dial and I have an 800 number to dial. I have unlimited connect time with my ISP.

So, if I want to use my regular ISP account with AT&T, have the numbers to dial up (as when using my Palm modem with my Palm IIIx) but am interested in doing all this with a VisorPhone on my Platinum, do I have to buy this extra $29.99 DataStream rider or can I just use the VisorPhone built-in modem to make what would otherwise be considered a voice call and count as voice minutes to my AT&T ISP and do my web access that way.

On VisorCentral people talk about how they were only able to connect data for 3 days and/or during a free month when VoiceStream turned on free access to DataStream as a promotion and then after that they haven't been able to make data calls. Some people say you have to have DataStream, some say you don't. Your website says you have to have it but when I called for clarification, your representative said you didn't have to have DataStream if you already had an ISP.

The $50 price on the VisorPhone is great and that with the long distance minutes on the service plan put it over the top as to being a good deal. However, if the $29.99 DataStream rider is required for wireless web access then the deal stops being good for me.

So that is the question - to do the things I mentioned above, do I have to have the $29.99 DataStream rider or is the regular plan sufficient? On Visor Central there is also discussion of having to have some data service - an additional $4.99 service - also turned on. This is clear as mud and it would help if your website information on the VisorPhone was more clear about what is required and why. There appears to be way too much confusion over such a simple question - at all levels. Handspring might move more product if it could be a little clearer as to what is required and why and for what activities.

---

When they say 'Data Service' they DO NOT mean Datastream.
Voicestream turns on Data by default. DataStream is a separate service that is not needed for VP Modem operation.

Double Post

I am a VoiceStream customer in NYC. I've have had data capabilities (ability to connect to an ISP with a wireless modem) on three different VoiceStream accounts (all different sim cards) without ever subscribing to their DataStream service. The minutes _will_ come out of your voice minutes in this case.

But I had a similar experience to those who posted here trying to get VoiceStream to admit this is possible. I'm not sure if it's becuase of their lack of staff training, or that they figure they can sell more services this way.

I agree PDAaddict

I too was very interested in the VP. I was very close to ordering one, but that data question bugged me. I am willing to pay a certain amount per month, but not 50+ bucks! I was told by one VS rep that you needed the extra service and told by another that you do not. Go figure. I definitely won't buy until I find out for sure. Rats.

__________________
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" President George W. Bush

I trusted the posts that said the DataSteam plan was unnecessary for Voicestream data connections. I just got my Visorphone last week, with the
$19.99 Voicestream plan.Only hitch was I had to swap my Deluxe for a different one (at no cost)
because of the microphone issue. Got the new
Deluxe in under 24 hours and was up and running on my Visorphone instantly. It took about one minute to read the docs and configure it for connection to my ISP. Works like a charm. I haven't done Avantgo wireless, but have done email and web browsing with the included Blazer - no problems.

DataStream, to be or not to be?

This is according to Voicestream, as well as personal experience;
You do not need Datastream to surf the web. All you need is minutes from your original Voicestream plan, in which you can dial into an ISP to get 'net access.

Datastream just allows you to have more minutes to use for 'net access. This is for people who surf the web or chat a lot on the 'net.

As for the ISP, you may be able to find a free or a very cheap monthly dial-up ISP to use your Visorphone. In my case, I use my own home computer setup to be a dial-up server, in which my home computers are all connected to a cable modem.

When I purchased the Visorphone, I signed up for the Get More plan which includes 600 anytime, anywhere minutes(including mainland calls) and includes 2000 weekend minutes, which 1000 are for Hawaii only and the other 1000 is for anywhere(mainland included).

On a side note, the Voicestream plan is cool, since the phone number I have does not require the other Hawaii islands to dial long distance to contact me on my cell. This is the same for the other way around, dialing anywhere in the islands does not cost me extra.

Stan

Here is What Handspring Said...

quote:

---

The answer to your question is - yes, you need to sign up for the DataStream services with your service provider.
Once you have those services enabled, just set up the Internet connection using your AT&T information( username, password, access phone number).

---

Don't be frustrated

Look on the bright side, there are people out here, like you and I, that are willing to help each other. I can help you to the best of my abilities.

The VisorPhone is currently priced at $49, that's even better than most of us who purchased it for $249.

Anyhow, I am not sure if you are using Cingular or Voicestream. But the thoughts that I have for both Cellular Providers is that you don't need a DataStream-like service to check email. There are many people who would use a ton of minutes just to be on the 'net, and thats where the Datastream-like service would come in.

I pay only $39.99 a month(or was it $39.95?), and do both, talking on the phone as well as browsing the web with Blazer.

It's up to you if you do want to purchase the VisorPhone, but from my point of view, I would not give it up, and I'm not upset that I could have waited 2 months to get it for $200 less.

You may also want to go to www.visorvillage.com to get more information on the VisorPhone, as they too, have an excellent discussion board dedicated to just the VisorPhone alone.

Stan

Cingular Data Services - No Luck Yet

Some progress - but no connect yet!

As I palnned to do in a previous post, I ordered the Data Services added to my Cingular plan - just to see if I could get logged in for data.
- but an unforseen problem has reared it's ugly head.
- Cingular gave me a special Data Services phone number in my area code - which has been ETERNALLY BUSY for the past 24 hours. I'm trying about every 15-20 minutes - and still can't connect.
- On the plus side, my error messages have changed from "no carrier" to "number busy".
SO - it seems as I'm now dialing - but still can't connect for an entirely different reason.

My thoughts at this point - it's an adequate phone - at least I have combined 2 devices into one. So I'll keep it. But stil not impressed or convinced about web access!

Hi chucm

I believe you were the first to post to this particular thread, regarding the modem in the VisorPhone.

Have you tried to do the test that I provided(in my first post to this particular thread)? I just want to clear up things, and to be sure the modem in your Visorphone works.

Are you able to set up your home computer to be a dial-up server or a RAS(Remote Access Server)? If so, you may want to dial in to your home computer and see if you can establish a connection.

Keep us posted on this issue, or email directly [email protected]

Stan