Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 32

Hi Alex,

Sprint takes the data minutes out of your voice minutes regardless, but there are two ways to pay for it: 1) sign up for the Wireless Web plan at $10/month, and allocate your minutes any way you want between voice and data, or 2) don't sign up, and pay an extra $0.39/min for data minutes (yes, the same minutes you already paid for once as voice minutes!). I took the latter approach and just use the phone to send e-mail composed offline and pick up new mail. I dial in to AOL and use their Palm e-mail app, which does not currently allow Web access. Can get onto the Web or use PQA's with Eudora Internet Suite via a work account, but I try to restrict that to use with a wireline modem. FWIW, my current setup is a Palm Vx, Samsung 8500, data cable and Syncablesolutions modem cable.

It doesn't matter that you are only dialing into your regular ISP - Sprint can detect that it's a data call and the charge is slapped on automatically.

I don't really know the reason for these charges - maybe it really takes more bandwidth, or maybe they just figure they can get away with it...The latter is the only explanation I can think of for the almost $100 price of the Wireless Web kit, which contained a $50 (from Samsung) data cable, a null modem worth about $5, and a CD (not needed for Palm connectivity). I've been wondering, is the new Internet Connectivity kit just the same thing as the old wireless web kit?

BTW, I believe the $30 charged by syncablesolutions is to modify an existing data cable, so you would be looking at $80 total (probably plus priority mail charges both ways, say $6 - 7). Or you could just get the modem cable for $20 + $3 s/h and connect that to the data cable to save a few bucks.

bandersnatch

Last edited by bandersnatch on 03-06-2001 at 05:16 AM

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

wireless web

As I understand it you can use any ISP if you don't have the wireless web $10 option. But it will cost .39 per minute I believe. The guy at the Sprint store told me I didn't have to have the WW option but if you use more than 25 minutes a month you lose on the cost savings...

Plus you can use the QNC and not have to worry about paying for an ISP or trying to find a free one that works. The way I look at it, that's not a bad deal for $10/mo.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Data Charges

You are not wrong. For Sprint, which is my carrier, you need wireless web which cost $10 per month extra then the minutes count against your plan. (Confirm this with Sprint or your carrier). If you make data calls with out wireless web you are charged $0.35/Minute. Wireless web with the 3500 is pretty cool by the way. I am able to get a lot of what I want to get done using just the phone (Directions, movies, Yellow Pages) it would just be nice to be able to browse the web instead of WAP the web.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

hey candodiver...

Did you ever get your visor hooked up to the 3500?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

I sure did and it was not that hard. Funny after all that, it was that simple. I am interested in the single cable solution though. In the process of getting this working I have started using the phone's wireless web function since I added it to my service plan and have been able to get a lot done. I don't want to order the single cable until I find out if it works OK. So, could you please let us know when you get it.

Last edited by candodiver on 03-06-2001 at 09:33 PM

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

data cable

will do!

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

eagerly waiting!

Yes, i now realize that it is only $10 a month! With all my unused minutes, it is certainly cheaper than $40 for YadaYada or OmniSky, and $30-40 for a small cable is better than $150 (or even $300?) for the Minstrel modem. So yes, please let us know how the cable works when you get it! This would actually be an affordable solution for a casual wireless user like me

Does anybody know how Sprint's Wireless Web works with "add-a-phone" accounts, when you have two phones sharing minutes? Can you use one WW for both phones, or have to buy a separate WW option for each? I guess i'll check with Sprint.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

I don't want to turn this into a Sprint thread, but since most of the Samsung phones belong to Spint users ... I share phones. The wireless web is per phone. So to add it to both phones would be $20.

Last edited by candodiver on 03-07-2001 at 08:07 PM

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle
Posts: 2

Thanks you guys !

Thanks for all the work that you guys did and were good enough to share with the rest of us lurkers. Great work.

I'll be excited to hear if the Supplynet or MS single cable solution works. I am using an 8500 and have been trying to get it to connect with my Vdx. Can't wait.

BTW a great place for SprintPCS discussion is alt.cellular.sprintpcs

Thanks again

Tim

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 52

We all await the new cable. I know the wireless web works on my 8500, I know QNC works with my laptop, but will the single cable work?

Where is "the list" for the best software for wireless and the Prism?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

List

I have been playing around with the JPS PQA application, and am really starting to like the pqa concept as opposed to web browsing with Blazer... There are a few threads like this one...

http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...p;highlight=PQA

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 5

DCH-M9 (with RTS mod) *IN STOCK*

The new and improved DCH-M9 (with active RTS) came in last Thursday. We shipped out all the back orders, and still have a good supply left.

(we have increased production capacity significantly in the past few months via the addition, and are now reaping the benefits!)

Also, since February, our online store has been able to tell you at the time you confirm your order, how many are in stock, so you know if it will ship or be placed on back-order.

A batch of DCH-H9 (hotsync) are expected this coming week, and DCH-M2 and DCH-CI later in the month.

We're also planning to add new Visor cables to the lineup, so if you have not already taken the cable survey, please do. Not only does it help us decice which cables to make next, it also gets you on our announcement list so you get an email when they come out.

Brian Hall
Mark/Space
www.markspace.com/datacord.html

__________________
Brian Hall, Mark/Space Softworks
Missing Sync, Mark/Space Mobile Office (Fax, E-Mail, SMS, Sketch, PhoneWatcher),
DataCord, Online VT100

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Modem not found

I got everything that I need I think. I got the Sprint Wireless web connection kit for my Samsung 8500. It came with the null modem adapter. I also made a cable that supplies the extra voltage for the rs232. This cable made my keyboard and GPS work with the Visor so I know it works.
I have tried it with and without this extra cable.
I setup the QNC. I tried it with my ISP. I setup all the connections with country=other, 14.4, and even tried 19.2. I tried it with and without flow control and automatic flow control. I still get:"Modem not found"
One other side note. I bought an IBiz USB/serial cradle and now my keyboard works without the adapter I made. I tried the phone with that cradle with and without the adapter and with my HandSpring cradle with and without the adapter. No dice.

Any ideas?

Update: I just got back from Radio Shack with a gender changer to replace the null modem adapter. Still not working!!!! I wasn't sure if this was needed or not, but it was worth a try.

Update 2: I tried the 4 to 7 pin connection along with every other permutation listed above on both sides of the connection. I am giving up for the night. STILL NOT WORKING!!!!

BTW, I have a platinum. I love the speed, but I would trade it now for a better serial port. The one on the Platinum is awful.

I wonder. Does the serial port on the Edge work better or at all?

This halfway working serial port is the worst thing Handspring ever did in my opinion.

Last edited by bchristian on 03-13-2001 at 02:20 PM

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

SupplyNet cable delayed until 4/10

Just thought I would let everyone know that the Samsung 8500 to Visor cable that was to ship on 3/15 has been delyed until 4/10/01. I was just at their site and read this.
http://www.thesupplynet.com/

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

I don't see anything there, it still says 3/15 on the product page... Where did you see that?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Click refresh

You might need to refresh your browser. When I use the dropdown box and choose "HandSpring" it loads a page with three cables. One of them is the cable in question and it says:
Samsung SCH-3500, SCH-6100, SCH-8500 to Visor cable (shipping delayed until 04/10/01)

I just checked again to make sure.
If you are going through a proxy you may be looking at out-of-date pages. I had this problem with my last ISP. At work I saw current pages, at home I saw days old pages sometimes. It was maddening.

Anyway, I hope this doesn't mean that they can't get it to work or work reliably. I hope it just means there was a problem in getting the connectors or something like that.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

cable...

Odd, I set my browser at work to reload pages every time, but it showed up the second time... It says they are testing, and they will go out on 4/1 now.

Geez, I have been waiting for this for weeks now. Oh well. At least I have the MS modified cable, although it is clunky it works.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

Palm IIIe

Will the Palm IIIe work with the MS/SCH-3500 data cable configuration? I know Palm came out with a Mobile Internet Kit, but it is not compatible with the Palm IIIe because it lacks a flashable ROM. Do you need any special software to use this wireless feature? Also which visor has the best compatibilty with a Samsung SCH-3500 phone?

-Peter

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

cool

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God bless the USA! The country I love, and will support at all costs.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 52

Samsung 8500 Data Cables

Depends on how you search the Supplynet site. If you look under Samsung, you will see the 12006H Cable for $29.95 and it still is shipping 03/15/01. If you look under Handspring, you will see the same cable listed for $39.95 and shipping 4/10/01. I checked my receipt and I ordered the $29.95 version so I expect to see my cable very soon.