Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 20

Okay,

I got my modem this past monday and I've chewed up a few sets of batteries already. I love it and can't spend enough time online (I know, get a life!).

My problem is that I've had 2 fatal errors that required a hard reset (one on wednesday and one today). At first I thought that my problem was fragmented memory (I have not let the fragmentation level get above 2% since the wednesday reset) but that hasn't helped. I have a VDx with no hacks & very few 2nd party programs (my next step in troubleshooting is to run for a few days with a completly clean setup, no 2nd party programs).

Has anyone else with a Xircom Modem experienced any similar problems?

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

Yes I had the same thing happening with Xircom 56. I do run lots of hacks so thought that might be the problem but it occurred once when I had all the hack uninstalled as well. I'm going to be traveling with it soon - didn't feel like I had the luxury of doing a lengthy troubleshooting session so I returned it to CompUSA - told them I thought it was defective. The replacement has worked flawlessly with and without multiple hacks running.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Finally, CompUSA found me a SpringPort!!! Picked it up last night. Plugged it in, and it worked!

I do have a few questions/concerns, however.

1) What are the proper modem settings in Preferences. Specifically, what are the Flow Ctl, Country, and String settings for the SpringPort?

2) With MultiMail, I was able to setup my mail server details and successfully send and receive the first time out of the box. Subsequently, every time I try I get a time-out error. The lights on the modem seem to be flashing indicating transmission but nothing happens. Any ideas?

3) It seems that web browsing isn't working. Using AvantGo, ProxiWeb, and EudoraWeb, I can't seem to get my beloved VisorCentral.com to load. I think it might be related to #1 above, but I'm not sure.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Bad Unit???

Ok, I think it's a bum unit. Now it doesn't seem to want to do anything except dial. MultiMail just times out during send and receive, AvantGo (or any browser for that matter) just sits there "waiting for response". The light on top of the SpringPort flashes and flickers like it's doing something but nothing happens. Anyone else experiencing these problems with the module? Got any clues as to what could be wrong?

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Mine works fine, with one exception. When I try and send email using MultiMail I get a long error message (I haven't written it down yet, so I can't spit it back at you), and then a fatal exception that requires a soft reset. I haven't had a chance to extensively trouble shoot it yet. I suspect it may be a problem with the POP account, and not on the Visor's end.

Other than this (admittedly significant) problem, it works really well. It retrieves mail fairly quickly, and I've been able to browse the web using both AvantGo and Eudora. Visorcentral works surprisingly well on AvantGo, once you get used to only looking at a quarter of a screen at a time.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

I'm suspecting there may be a slight problem. The first time I plugged in the Xircom I had to reset, and soon after I was forced to again. I have yet to keep a reliable connection with it, but of course this could be due to other factors. I do find it unsettling that i have had to softreset a number of times already in the two weeks I have owned this module.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

This thing is getting returned!!! It just won't work and now this morning, after 2 hard resets , I've had enough. I tried new batteries, fiddled with all the settings, and still no luck.

My only problem is what to do: exchange it for another one or get a ThinComm? Needless to say, I'm very disappointed with my first Springboard experience!

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: NY, NY, USA
Posts: 39

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle
This thing is getting returned!!! It just won't work and now this morning, after 2 hard resets , I've had enough. I tried new batteries, fiddled with all the settings, and still no luck.

My only problem is what to do: exchange it for another one or get a ThinComm? Needless to say, I'm very disappointed with my first Springboard experience!

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"No matter where you go... There you are"

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

quote:

---

Originally posted by MarkEagle
This thing is getting returned!!! . . .

My only problem is what to do: exchange it for another one or get a ThinComm? Needless to say, I'm very disappointed with my first Springboard experience!

---

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 20

Well,

I am going to take this modem back to CompUSA and exchange it. I just don't know if I am going to get another Xircom modem or a Thincom modem. If I get the Thincom, I would have just about enough to get a backup module!!!

The reason I am frustrated is that, in the course of 1 week, I have had to hard reset my VDx 4 times and soft reset at least 7 times. This is unacceptable & slightly ridiculous.

I'm just glad to know that I'm not the only person to have these problems.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

FYI - the MultiMail that comes with the Xircom is v2.2 the latest version is 3.1. There inquired but there is no reduced price upgrade. I went ahead and bought the newer version. I have it installed on my visor - haven't moved it over to the modem. I installed it between the time I returned the first (faulty) unit and setting up the one I got as an exchange. Don't know what if any effect that has had on the performance.

One other thing I've noticed - performance seems to be better if I only select select send OR receive. It doesn't seem to want to work as well if I select the send&receive option times out but haven't had to reset yet.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

I'm hoping someone can help me with a couple of problems with my Springport. I've had it for about a week. It's great for downloading my POP email (a "my yahoo" freemail account), and for web browsing (given the screen limitations). However, I'm having two recurring problems:

First, I can't seem to send messages. I get the following error message:

521 - yahoo.com closing transmission channel. You must be POP - authenticated before you can use this STMP server & you must use your yahoo mail address for the send/fror field.

I then have to do a soft reset to get the thing working. Any thoughts?

Second, the modem seems to be freezing up the whole thing on an intermitent basis (unrelated to the problem above). I get an error dialog box, but it's blank - no text. Again, I have to do a soft reset.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 20

Well,

I traded in my Xircom modem for a Thincom modem and a backup module. I'm jazzed, 4 days and not a single hard or soft reset!! I know that the next Xircom modem that I got would have been fine, however, for the same cost, I was able to get a modem and a backup module.

The other thing that I like about the Thincom is that I always know the condition of my batteries. With the Xircom modem, you didn't have any indication of the remaining battery life. When the Thincom modem is in use it consumes very little of the Visor battery power and goes into sleep mode when not in use.

And the modem can be left in the springboard slot and not interfere with the hard cover, too cool.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Gainesville, Fl
Posts: 11

Web Browsers??

Got my Xircom modem last week. Love it! No resets! My question is does anyone know of another browser besides Avantgo? I would something with the ability to bookmark.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

An update on my Xircom use. The first error message in my last post was (as I kind of suspected) a yahoo mail problem, not a Springport issue. It turns out, you have to receive messages first before you can send them - a quirk of their system, apparently.

The second error message is still a little mysterious. Xircom's customer support got back to me and it may be a bad modem. That said, I changed the batteries and haven't had the problem since.

To answer airun's question, I've used Eudora's web browser. It supports bookmarks, but doesn't display graphics at all. I haven't had a chance to play with it much, but on the whole so far I prefer AvantGo. It's free from Quallcomm's website. The other browser you hear about is ProxiWeb, but I don't have any personal experience with it.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 276

2 things...

I was wondering what kind of cases people were using to house their Handspring and SpringPort? I have been in such a mess with finding the perfect case that fits on my belt. Once I finally made a decision my company gave me a pager and now I can no longer use a belt clip case. I would feel like BatMan with a phone, pager, and PDA on my belt.

What is everyone using?

Sorry about the cross-subject post. I just wanted to talk to the SpringPort users.

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what?<br>

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

I have been using the SpringPort for accessing AOL E-mail for about a week. A couple days ago I "dialed up" through an ISP and used Avant Go to access various sites. Overall I was pretty impressed. That was until yesterday. I was on-line for over 30 minutes (previous to this only for 2-5 minutes at a time)and noticed the Visor screen was starting to darken. After a couple more minutes everything locked up and required a hard reset. I put new batteries into the Springport and everthing worked fine except the screen was still "dark". The modem appears to get hot to the point it affects the screen contrast since once everything is allowed to cool down,the screen is back to normal.

Therefore I have two questions:

1) Is there a way to monitor the battery level of the Springport?

2) Has anyone else(with this or any modem) had a problem with the screen darkening during prolonged use? I am concerned about the amount of heat that is seemingly being developed by the Springport.

Thanks for the help

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 20

Hey VTL,

In an earlier post you stated "The first error message in my last post was (as I kind of suspected)a yahoo mail problem, not a Springport issue. It turns out, you have to receive messages first before you can send them - a quirk of their system, apparently".

Do you mean that you need to receive a message once, then all future sessions you are pop-authenticated? Or do you have to receive mail at the beginning of each session prior to being allowed to send?

I am having the same problem and have not had the time to contact yahoo support.

Thanks for your help!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

My understanding is you have to first "receive" at the begining of each session. I got it off Yahoo's mail help session. It seems to work fine now, not really a big deal to do it - particularly if you set a filter to just download the messages that have come in since you last linked up.

Good luck. It's kind of nice to answer a question for once, instead of always asking for help.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

Calling Cards

I've been traveling for about a week. The Springport has worked fine. The only problems I've had - I think are with MultiMail. I downloaded the latest version before I left - no problem as long as I send and receive mail separately. There is an option to do both at the same time but that always seems to hang the modem.

I now need to be able to use a calling card with the modem, I've tried every configuration around but nothing seems to work. There was an earlier post on a Thincom thread but those directions didn't work either.

If anyone knows how to set up using a calling card I would really appreciate the assistance either posted on the board or reply directly to me at [email protected]

Thanks