VisorCentral.com - Visor Phone

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-- Visor Phone (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=27869)

Posted by PeppWaves03 on 10-08-2002 01:13 AM:

Visor Phone

I was wondering if people can post any experiences they have had or are having with their visor phones. Also, do I need to get a separate ISP for the visor phone in order to get access to the web or how does that work?

Posted by dennisl on 10-08-2002 02:47 PM:

I've used the module as my main phone for a little over a year now. If you are interested in a PDA first and a phone second, this is a good choice. Otherwise it's too bulky and inconvenient for heavy duty phone use, IMO.

Also since moving to a rechargable unit, (The Pro), it's a lot more convenient as well. I was using NIMH's before that and having every day to turn off the phone, remove the module, change the batteries, replace the module, turn it back on, -- was a bit much.

The phone quality is just acceptable. The mic makes for a very hollow sound, and the angle you have to hold the phone is awkward (it's done this way to keep you from pressing the face of the pda against your face). It comes with a handsfree kit, but I don't make long calls, so this never became worth it.

As for an ISP, it depends who your provider is. I'm in NY with VoiceStream (technically T-Mobile now, but my provider is still listed as VStream.) I do not have to pay extra for data services.
You can use any dial up ISP to dial into, perhaps you are already signed up with one (many dsl and cable providers have dial up numbers you can use when "travelling"). Also on these boards you will find several threads with instructions on how to use the VStream IDSN. THis is great, as it substantially reduces connection time, but you will not be able to send mail.

HTH

Posted by rrdude on 10-10-2002 02:35 AM:

Visor Phone

Agree w/ previous poster, however I use my Visor Phone EXTENSIVELY with VoiceStream (T-Mobile) Took awhile to get used to "bulkiness", and I now wear a headset almost all the time, 'cause it is to big to use as phone, PLUS, unless you turn the display OFF after you answer, you hear the BUZZZZZZZZZZ of the display right in your ear, no BUZ with headset.

Only other problem, and this is because I use headset, is the VP's headphone jack is not very rugged. I'm on my third phone since February, and the ONLY problem has been the headset jack.

If you can stand to weat an over-the-head headset, the one that Radio Shack has for 29.99 comes with a boom mic and MOST IMPORTANTLY, noise - cancellation properties. I've tried Jabra Ear buds, retractables from Office Depot, lapel ones, nothing comes close to one that has noise cancellation.

Perfect? No way. Acceptable until they get a TREO Communicator WITH grafitti and nice color. Or ANY other PDA-Phone with graffiti, keyboard, and good screen.

No charge for T-Mobile web access, follow the leads further back in this post. You can even have your e-mail auto forwarded to your VP, well, at least the first 200+ characters, as long as the e-mail is going to your PC, and first, and you have outlook or whatever e-mail program set up to send.

I'm still waiting for a method for my e-mail (Comcast's POP 3 server) to get forwarded to my phone from Comcast's server, so that when I'm on the road and don't have my laptop plugged in and connected to net, I still get my e-mail on my VP.

Browsing WEB pretty easy, just need to used to going to ONLY web sites that are designed for PDA's, otherwise you'll die a thousand deaths waiting to load. Good luck.

Posted by jwarn3rd on 11-06-2002 06:25 AM:

vphone internet

I was wondering if you all could go into more detail about accessing the web with the vphone. I have neither of the two(dial up, or dsl) I use the net access from work. Any suggestion?

Posted by rrdude on 11-06-2002 02:56 PM:

Visor to WEB

Check out the THREAD in this category that has four or five stars next to it..........

Complete instructions, just follow and you're on the way

Posted by eigenwave on 11-06-2002 05:04 PM:

Re: Visor Phone

quote:
Originally posted by PeppWaves03
I was wondering if people can post any experiences they have had or are having with their visor phones. Also, do I need to get a separate ISP for the visor phone in order to get access to the web or how does that work?

I had the Prism and VP combination for about a year until I switched back to the 2-device scenario. Here's why. The Prism+VP combo was great was I only had to grab one thing on my way out the door in the morning. I also enjoyed accessing my daily internet dose from one relatively compact device. As with many VC aficionados, two aspects I didn't like about the combo: (1) fragility and (2) bulkiness. For what it's worth, I was happy.

For internet access, I have Earthlink DSL at home with the 10-hour or so allotment of dialup access while on the road. For cellular service, I had Cingular with the 'data services' feature enabled. Cingular had one thorn - $0.15 per minute. Even with a disciplined one hour per month, that comes to a hefty $9.00 added to my bill. Not too bad considering what I had to work with. I averaged about $15.00. This might as well be another all-you-can-eat dialup service at home!

Anyway, that was then. Now, I'm back to the 2-device scenario using an Ericsson T39m (Bluetooth enabled) and my trusty Prism with the Red-M Bluetooth module. While this combo is more bulky than the Prism+VP combo (requiring more real estate on one's belt), I'm more apt to hand over my T39m to someone than to hand over the entire 'farm.' Furthermore, I've switched over to Cingular GPRS and discontinued my 'data services' feature, enabling me to pay for the data I digest rather than the time I'm online. Much mo' better.

In a nutshell, if the Visor+VP combination works for you, then by all means go for it. However, pay-for-as-you-go data with GPRS may be more cost-effective for data-centric individuals.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

__________________
Experience is what happens when something unexpected comes up.

Posted by rrdude on 11-06-2002 06:21 PM:

VP and headsets/Bulky

Really good post, and I agree with most, alas, I AM hooked to having only one device. Still searching for the PERFECT headset tho. Have been thru THREE VP's 'cause of the weak 2.5mm headphone jack, and the stress that corded headsets put on them when hooked on knee, doorknob, seatbelt, etc., etc. have tried FONE system headset ($30.00 Heartland Amercia) WORST of them all. Retractable (Office Depot) so-so, too much background noise, VP's own, so-so, and several Jabra's (boom, ear bud, etc.) BEST headset so far for noise is Radio Shack's $29.95 "OVer the ear" headset with noise cancellation. I do quite a few conference call from the road, and last night rest of my staff thought I had bought a new phone and was in office, when in fact I was running down I-83 at 75mph!

Ordered Jabra's new Bluetooth phone and adapter, but think it is pricey ($179) and back-ordered, perhaps due to West coast dock-workers strike.

If it gives good quality, with noise cancellation, and NO WIRES, I'll be in heaven.

I'll let yo know..............

Posted by eigenwave on 11-06-2002 07:24 PM:

Re: VP and headsets/Bulky

quote:
Originally posted by rrdude
Really good post, and I agree with most, alas, I AM hooked to having only one device. Still searching for the PERFECT headset tho. Have been thru THREE VP's 'cause of the weak 2.5mm headphone jack, and the stress that corded headsets put on them when hooked on knee, doorknob, seatbelt, etc., etc. have tried FONE system headset ($30.00 Heartland Amercia) WORST of them all. Retractable (Office Depot) so-so, too much background noise, VP's own, so-so, and several Jabra's (boom, ear bud, etc.) BEST headset so far for noise is Radio Shack's $29.95 "OVer the ear" headset with noise cancellation. I do quite a few conference call from the road, and last night rest of my staff thought I had bought a new phone and was in office, when in fact I was running down I-83 at 75mph!

Ordered Jabra's new Bluetooth phone and adapter, but think it is pricey ($179) and back-ordered, perhaps due to West coast dock-workers strike.

If it gives good quality, with noise cancellation, and NO WIRES, I'll be in heaven.

I'll let yo know..............

My attraction to Bluetooth, aside from the geek-boy in me, is the fact that the Motorola Headset I have is Bluetooth enabled. I got on eBay (surprise...), and so far it works really well. It also folds so it hardly takes up any space. In fact, I keep it on my key chain when I'm not using it. Really sweet...

__________________
Experience is what happens when something unexpected comes up.

Posted by Prismer2 on 11-30-2002 04:14 AM:

Re: VP and headsets/Bulky

quote:
Originally posted by rrdude
Really good post, and I agree with most, alas, I AM hooked to having only one device. Still searching for the PERFECT headset tho. Have been thru THREE VP's 'cause of the weak 2.5mm headphone jack, and the stress that corded headsets put on them when hooked on knee, doorknob, seatbelt, etc., etc. have tried FONE system headset ($30.00 Heartland Amercia) WORST of them all. Retractable (Office Depot) so-so, too much background noise, VP's own, so-so, and several Jabra's (boom, ear bud, etc.) BEST headset so far for noise is Radio Shack's $29.95 "OVer the ear" headset with noise cancellation. I do quite a few conference call from the road, and last night rest of my staff thought I had bought a new phone and was in office, when in fact I was running down I-83 at 75mph!

Ordered Jabra's new Bluetooth phone and adapter, but think it is pricey ($179) and back-ordered, perhaps due to West coast dock-workers strike.

If it gives good quality, with noise cancellation, and NO WIRES, I'll be in heaven.

I'll let yo know..............

Wait a minute........you want to use a Bluetooth headset with a Visor and Visorphone, so you have a "one device" scenario, right? Where do you stick the Bluetooth springboard?

I guess you are going to order that piece of vaporware, the SpringWiz soft-switch that let's you use multiple springboards. Only trouble is, they have a 20 piece minimum order @ $220 per each for the "industrial model" (bare boards, no case). So unless you have a spare $4,400 to drop (or 19 friends willing to part with $220 for one of these babies) it would be pretty tough to do. Even if you got one, now you are really talking "bulk". You will need one of the larger "compact" camera case to carry around your Visor/Visorphone/Springwiz/Bluetooth module combo!

Or did I misunderstand your meaning? :-)

Seriously, though, I would like to know which RadioShack model earset you found ideal, as my wife says that both the Visorphone alone and with the included earset sounds like I am "in a tunnel".

I find the Visorphone speaker quite acceptable, perhaps even a bit too loud, which I guess I can turn down, but I would like to be more considerate of those at "the other end of the string".

__________________
The Prismer

"I am not a number, I am a person!"

Posted by Prismer2 on 11-30-2002 06:44 AM:

OOOOPS!!

Maybe I should have checked first. I see on the RadioShack website that thte Jabra Bluetooth earset includes BOTH the Bluetooth earset and a mating "base" unit that plugs into the headset jack on many cellphones (including the Viosorphone)

Yes, there is a cord, but if you attach the base unit to the Visor/Visorphone you could easily bundle up the cord with a rubberband or tape and have nothing dangling!

Yes, sit seems a might expensive, but for the typical road warrior it could be extremely practical. Imagine, leaving your (visor)phone in your briefcase, coat pocket, purse, etc. and carrying on your conversation without entangling wires.

Let us know how it works out!

Thanks!

__________________
The Prismer

"I am not a number, I am a person!"

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