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Sprint cell phone, cable & Visor Platinum help


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Topic: Sprint cell phone, cable & Visor Platinum help

mraphael
Member

Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Sprint cell phone, cable & Visor Platinum help

I'm new to Sprint PCS.
I have a Visor Platinum, with a cable to connect to the cell phone.

It works fine.
However, when I log on from the Platinum it ends up being used as 'wireless' minutes at Sprint. I think I do not pay for 3 months.

Does anyone know the routine to dial the ISP number on the cell phone and then log in from the Visor? (Sprint says if it is done that way it is a cell call, not wireless).

I am interested is anyone has information and recommendations on the Visor settings.

In advance, thanks,

01-27-2002 01:39 AM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: Sprint cell phone, cable & Visor Platinum help

quote:
Originally posted by mraphael
Does anyone know the routine to dial the ISP number on the cell phone and then log in from the Visor? (Sprint says if it is done that way it is a cell call, not wireless).

I take this to mean you're currently using the Sprint PCS QNC to connect? In order to connect to an ISP, all you need to do is setup a connection in Prefs, specifying the ISP's phone number and network settings, etc. It's basically no different than if you were setting up a regular modem on the Visor.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

01-27-2002 01:55 AM

danresqman
Member

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Home: Vermont School: Liberty University Lynchburg VA
Posts: 37

I think that the confusion is with using wireless web and minutes. the advantage of having wireless web service is that Sprint doesn't charge you the 39 cent per min data call charge. for setup instructions on using QNC see this thread .
I believe that until Sprint goes to the always on System this summer we will continue to use airtime to connect.
P.S. don't call sprint and ask for help...they are clueless on this stuff, i found the answers I needed right here at VC while i was on hold waiting for my customer care agent to get more info. She tried to transfer me to a web specialists, but i was simply disconnected.

Good luck.

Dan C.

01-27-2002 04:45 AM

mraphael
Member

Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Thanks for the info.
Let me ask another question, another way.

I did set up the Visor and then clicked on 'connect' and did connect to 'earthlink' with no problem.
I then checked my Sprint minutes and saw that they were wireless. Since I get 3 free months I don't care right now.

When I called Sprint to ask, they said doing it that way is considered 'wireless' connection.
However, if you dial direct from the cell phone to the ISP it would be charged as regular minutes.

Thus, my question is 'how to set the Visor up' to dial into an ISP from the cell. It seems like it would be like a desktop dial-up connection.

Does that make sense and any ideas?

Thanks,

Mike

01-27-2002 03:38 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by mraphael
When I called Sprint to ask, they said doing it that way is considered 'wireless' connection.
However, if you dial direct from the cell phone to the ISP it would be charged as regular minutes.

Actually, the way I understand it is that anytime you're using a "data" connection (i.e. using the Sprint PCS modem pool, which is what you're doing when connecting to an ISP), it's a Wireless Web connection and is charged accordingly. Regular airtime minutes are for voice calls.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

01-27-2002 05:46 PM

danresqman
Member

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Home: Vermont School: Liberty University Lynchburg VA
Posts: 37

The way I understand it is that once you set up the modem you don't have to tell the visor that you are using a cell. it figures it out on its own.
try this link
and see if that helps...also click on the this link and go to step 3 for QNC help. once i got all the info i was up in 5 mins.

Dan

P.s so what you are saying Markeagle is that as long as i am using the Wireless web ie QNC it will not eat up my normal minutes?? i thought using the web that way cost you at least airtime and the bonus was no extra charge for data calls?

01-27-2002 07:55 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by danresqman
as long as i am using the Wireless web ie QNC it will not eat up my normal minutes?? i thought using the web that way cost you at least airtime and the bonus was no extra charge for data calls?

All minutes, be it voice or data, come from regular airtime minutes. The WirelessWeb option allows you to use data minutes without additional charge as well as the ability to use the QNC feature.

quote:
Sprint PCS Wireless Web Option
This Option lets you use your calling plan minutes for both clear calls and accessing the wireless internet, and you get 50 Sprint PCS Wireless Web updates included. Each additional minute of Sprint PCS Wireless Web access is based on the additional minute usage of the plan you have selected. Each additional update costs $0.10.

Even when dialing a regular ISP, you're essentially using the phone as a modem, and therefore, making a 'data' call. In reality, the modems are physically located in the Sprint PCS cell towers and not your phone. The network knows the difference between voice and data calls. My StarTAC displays "Data Call" whenever I dial my ISP from my VDx.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

01-27-2002 08:24 PM

mraphael
Member

Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Thanks, I think.

Bascially, what you guys are saying is that if you are connecting to the web via Visor thru a Sprint PCS it is 'data' minutes.

Thus, if I want to use this set up periodically simply to check email, while in an airport for example, I might just as well pay the $.39/min. and forget it.

01-28-2002 01:27 AM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by mraphael
Bascially, what you guys are saying is that if you are connecting to the web via Visor thru a Sprint PCS it is 'data' minutes.

Yes... 'data' calls are 'data' minutes and come from your regular airtime minutes.

quote:
Thus, if I want to use this set up periodically simply to check email, while in an airport for example, I might just as well pay the $.39/min. and forget it.

That depends on your definition of periodically. If you're truly only going to use it once in a while (less than, say, once a week), then I'd say paying the .39/minute probably makes sense. However, if you do the math, $10.00 / $.39 = 25.64 minutes per month... that's less than 1 minute per day. Depending on your usage, it would be very easy to exceed the $10.00 WW option.

You might want to check with Sprint PCS, too. When I renewed my account back in November, I was able to add the Wireless Web option (I didn't previously have it) for only $5.00/month by simply calling Customer Care. The web site still lists it as a $10.00 option.

__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

01-28-2002 01:51 AM

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