Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

okay here's my problem....i have a startac 7868w (with web access ) and i am trying (w/o success) to connect my vdx to the startac....
here's my setup

vdx
motorola st7868w
markspace modem cable (purple wire)
null modem adapter
motorola data cable

i have set up
modem preferences as follows:
custom
speed 19200
speaker low
flow ctl=on
country= other
string at&fx4

network preferences:
service: verizon
user name: qnc
password: qnc
phone 00
connection: PPP
timeout: poweroff
query dns : Checked
IP Address: Automatic


script:
atdt#777
send cr
delay 4
send at$qncknd=1
send cr
end

when i try to connect i get the following:


error serial timeout.
could be bad cable or faulty modem
(0x0305)

the error message comes very quickly so it suggests that it is a hardware not a software issue...but am i doing something wrong? or did i get a bad cable?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

I'm not sure but I think it has to do with the phone number set to 00. As far as I know, that tells the OS to make a direct connection on the serial port. You need to specify an actual phone number. In the case of QNC service, it may be a 4 or 5 digit number... Verizon should be able to tell you.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 102

Do you have to dial in to an ISP for Web access or is it provided for you through the Verizon service? If it is Verizons service, like Mark said, you need to specify the access number and include it after the atdt command. Is the 777 number something you got from Verizon?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

After re-reading your post, try this:

Change the phone number in the Netwotk Prefs to #777 and remove the ATDT#777 from the script. Hopefully, that will work.

The SprintPCS QNC works similar (with a different phone number, of course ).

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

nope that doesn't work....i'll have to wait to tomorrow to call verizon...i'll let you all know..thanx anyways

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

You might want to try #777 for the phone number and no script. You've got nothing to lose at this point.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

i called verizon...changed all the settings to what they say is perfect..and nothing..same error message...i think i gotz a bad cable

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Your cable probably is not bad. I think the problem is due to the fact that the Motorola Data Cable also requires power since it, too, has a TTL-RS232 transceiver in it. It usually draws its power from the serial port. In this case, it's not getting power from the MarkSpace cable. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like you can't use the setup you describe. A custom cable is what's needed for the Visor to work with a StarTAC.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

ok...what is a "custom cable??"

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

A custom cable is one that you'll have to build yourself since nobody seems to want to supply them for the Visor.

If you read through this lengthy thread, there are instructions for a StarTAC cable. You'll find them somewhere on page 4 of the thread.

I used them to build my own cable that works very well connecting my Visor and StarTAC.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 106

I am currently in email conversations with the folks at Markspace Cable to see if they are willing to run a batch of Visor to Motorola (StarTac, etc) custom cables. They are looking for OEM producers of the StarTac connectors - I suggested they try ATL. Anyone else have a source for the connectors?

Also, let me know if you might be interested in buying one of these cables - more is better I'm sure.

Kupe

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kupe
Anyone else have a source for the connectors?

---

I've been looking for a source myself.

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

I'm glad I read this - I was just about to order a MarkSpace for use with the same phone. Now I know to wait.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 9

quote:

---

Originally posted by lazaruz

i have set up
modem preferences as follows:
custom
speed 19200
speaker low
flow ctl=on
country= other
string at&fx4

---

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

---

Originally posted by rslatkin
Does it make a difference if you turn flow control off? The Visor does not provide flow control signals.

---

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Visor w/ Motorola StarTAC 7867W and SprintPCS

Hi,

this is just a post to let people know another wireless net access configuration that is successful. I'm using a Visor DLX, a serial cradle, a Motorola StarTAC 7867W phone with SprintPCS Wireless Web Access, a data cable from Sprint's Wireless Web Connection kit (phone connector on one end, DB9 on the other), and a gender-changer between the serial cradle and the phone cable.

I have the modem configured as so:
Standard
14400 bps
Speaker off
Flow ctl off
Country other
String AT&FX4

I have my network configured to my service provider (my employer)...

I have found that the order in which you connect and power up the various pieces does in fact matter. What works for me:
(1) Connect the gender-changer and the phone cable to the serial cradle
(2) Put the powered-off Visor on the serial cradle. Turn it on.
(3) Power on the phone
(4) Connect the phone to the phone data cable. I hear a beep, followed by a beep every five seconds or so...

I hope this helps!

Bill

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 93

Custom Cables now available!

There has been enough interest expressed that I am in the process of building the "custom" cable required to connect a Visor to a StarTAC. Please watch for details and images of the cable in the BUY/SELL/EXCHANGE forum.