Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

SprintPCS - what do I need?

Ok, I've read dozens of threads from the past couple of years and I'm more confused than ever.

I'm switching service off of ATT because it's TDMA. I'm pretty sure I'm going with SprintPCS over Cingular here in L.A.

So, what do I need?

SprintPCS service. Okay.

A data capable phone, which most of theirs are.

Cables. Do I need to get their connectivity kit and another cable from SupplyNet or Cables4PDAs?

Do I need their wireless web service? Is that only if I don't want to dial up my ISP (I've got DSL and only a handful of dial-up hours)?

Can I send e-mail with their QuickConnect or only when I dial up my provider directly? (I thought I saw something about a beta service from Cables4PDAs).

Thanks.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 38

If you're already using your SprintPCS phone to connect to the
internet, using them as your ISP is no additional charge. That
is to say, you will be charged wireless web minutes no matter who
you call to connect your browser, and there is no additional charge
to use Sprint as your ISP over, say, netzero. Yes, this means they
can tell a normal (voice) phone call from a data connection.

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Sanford, Florida
Posts: 16

To summarize, you will need:

1) Your handheld computer

2) A data-capable CDMA or GSM cell phone

3) A cable that attaches your handheld to the phone, and

4) A service contract with a CDMA or GSM carrier

You will not need wireless web. You will be using your cell phone minutes.

If you have a Visor or Visor Deluxe, you will also need an ISP to dial into. QNC does not work with the earlier OS on those two earlier models.

I'm using a Visor Deluxe, a Startac, a cables4pdas cable, Verizon, and Earthlink, and it works great.

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Sanford, Florida
Posts: 16

ooops ... got outta my league a bit ...

I DO NOT KNOW what you need for GSM ... the above information really only applies to Sprint and Verizon and CDMA ...

Sorry about that.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

I am doing EXACTLY what you specify, and I know exactly how it works (because they screwed up my bill):

You need a phone (duh), and a way to connect that phone to your Handspring device. I have the Motorola Timeport and a cable from http://www.thesupplynet.com/ to connect the two devices together. The great thing about this phone is that it comes with the data connection kit so you can hot-sync your phone with your desktop and use the phone as a desktop or notebook modem as well.

Next, you need the QNC settings:

In Preferences|Network
Create a New Service
Service Name:QNC (Quick Network Connect or whatever you want)
User Name:web
Password:web
Phone:#2932 (don't forget the # sign)
Goto Details...
Connection type:PPP
Query DNS: (checked)
IP Address: (Checked) Automatic

That will get you up and running. You can get a free mail and web client from http://www.eudora.com/.

Now for pricing. If you have not purchased the wireless web option ($10 a month) you will not use minutes from your plan but rather use wireless web minutes and they will charge you for every single one of those little minutes. That translated to a $250 Sprint bill for me. If you have the Wireless Web option, your wireless web use only uses up plan minutes.

Oh yea, one more thing. If you signed up for Sprint and got 6 months of free wireless web, you better tell Sprint that you want to continue to get the wireless web option BEFORE your 6 months is up because they will remove that option from your plan and start charging you by the minute!

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

---

Originally posted by ifallis
If you have a Visor or Visor Deluxe, you will also need an ISP to dial into. QNC does not work with the earlier OS on those two earlier models.

---

__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Sanford, Florida
Posts: 16

Sorry, guys. I forgot rule #1 of dicussion forum posting:
Stick to those things you have PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with.

I was going by what others had said when I set up my Visor and Startac to use Earthlink instead of QNC. Didn't really make a difference to me, since my Earthlink minutes are unlimited. But I'm glad to hear QNC is an option.

I also assumed Sprint was set up as Verizon is; that was a mistake. In case anyone reading this is debating between Sprint and Verizon, Verizon seems to have the edge because there is no additional charge for data calls. Here's what Verizon says about using your cell phone with your PDA or laptop:

"Mobile Office by Verizon Wireless gives you the power and ability to handle your professional and personal business whenever you want, throughout our digital service areas. With Mobile Office, you'll stay connected with important company and personal information.

"Easily, Reliably, Wirelessly
Mobile Office connects your Verizon Wireless data-capable digital phone to your laptop or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to give you secure, dependable wireless access to vital information including e-mail and the Internet when you are in a Verizon Wireless digital service area.

"The Economical Mobile Office
There's no additional access fee for Mobile Office service because it's an included feature of your Verizon Wireless digital service. Mobile Office calls are taken from your packaged minutes just like your voice calls, so there's no need to keep track of a separate bundle of minutes. Everything you need to begin using this convenient and inexpensive service is included in the Mobile Office kit and your Verizon Wireless digital service."

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

Slacker, thanks. Yours was the response I was hoping for.

Are you saying that when you bought the Timport from Sprint, it included the Data Connectivity Kit? I thought those usually run about $50 separate?

Either way, I think I'm going to get my phone & Sprint service through Amazon. Between it and the Sprint rebate, I can get a Samsung 8500 for $49 or the Samsung 3500 or Sanyo 4500 for free.

Russell

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

Ifallis, I thought the same thing, but at least here in L.A., the Verizon plans are more expensive and they're nights are shorter: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., instead of 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. So the Wireless Web option from Sprint PCS (which is now only $5 month), still makes Sprint cheaper.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

quote:

---

Originally posted by Anomaly
...Are you saying that when you bought the Timport from Sprint, it included the Data Connectivity Kit? I thought those usually run about $50 separate?...

---

Yes, the timeport came with the connectivity kit AND starfish software. I keep my phonebook on the computer and sync it to my phone.

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 1

So what software is needed to browse the web or get/receive e-mail etc. ?

quote:

---

Originally posted by ifallis
To summarize, you will need:

1) Your handheld computer

2) A data-capable CDMA or GSM cell phone

3) A cable that attaches your handheld to the phone, and

4) A service contract with a CDMA or GSM carrier

You will not need wireless web. You will be using your cell phone minutes.

If you have a Visor or Visor Deluxe, you will also need an ISP to dial into. QNC does not work with the earlier OS on those two earlier models.

I'm using a Visor Deluxe, a Startac, a cables4pdas cable, Verizon, and Earthlink, and it works great.

---

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slacker
...You can get a free mail and web client from http://www.eudora.com/.

---

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Watertown MA, USA
Posts: 15

If you are going to go to Sprint . . .

you should consider the Kyocera Smartphone. A (CDMA) phone and Palm device in one. It's pricey, but since you are going to have to buy a phone anyway, it might be worth your while to avoid the "Batman Syndrome"

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

But give up springboards and the Stowaway keyboard...

As I mentioned in another thread, I've gone with Sprint PCS and a Sanyo 4500 and it's working great.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 26

Don't forget that AirPrime is about to be selling their SB3000 under the Sprint OEM banner. It's a CDMA phone/modem.

From their website (http://www.airprime.com)

quote:

---

The SB3000 is fully-upgradeable to IS-2000 1xRTT third generation (3G) CDMA digital service. (Currently supports IS-95.) As 3G becomes available, the SB3000 can be software-upgraded to provide High-speed packet data (up to 153 kbps) and significantly increased standby times.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH USA
Posts: 107

quote:

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Originally posted by PDAddict
Don't forget that AirPrime is about to be selling their SB3000 under the Sprint OEM banner. It's a CDMA phone/modem.
.......
I was going to buy the VisorPhone but never could get a straight answer on data from Verizon or Handspring. Now with the SB3000 almost on the shelves, I'm waiting to get that one and go with Sprint.

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__________________
MANY BLESSINGS!
Peace and Every Good!


Michael W. Cristiani
[email protected]

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: mountain view, ca
Posts: 36

quote:

---

Originally posted by Slacker


Next, you need the QNC settings:

In Preferences|Network
Create a New Service
Service Name:QNC (Quick Network Connect or whatever you want)
User Name:web
Password:web
Phone:#2932 (don't forget the # sign)

---

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: mountain view, ca
Posts: 36

Ok, it does appear to be an OS related issue...

The Verizon documents show a substantial difference between 3.0.1 and 3.5 based systems:

http://www.area.com/laird/visor/ver...m_userguide.pdf

I tried the 00 workaround they suggested here and it didn't work. In fact, another odd thing happened and dialing 00 would cause the unit to skip dialing. Very strange...

Can't find anything on this at Handspring....

Alan

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 76

I'm currently using a Minstrel S modem with Omnisky for internet access on my Prism. I recently got a Sprint cell phone, and in the interest of saving money am thinking of getting a cable and ditching Omnisky. Has anyone tried both? I'd like to know how using a cell phone as a modem (Samsung SCH-8500, if the model matters) compares to Minstrel/Omnisky in terms of speed and reliability. Any insight would be appreciated.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: mountain view, ca
Posts: 36

I've found the cdma handset and cable with a palmos3.5 system like the platinum or visor to be a great combination.

I use Verizon and the http://www.thesupplynet.com cable and have been very happy. It doesn't work everywhere but I've been surprised how often it does work. With Verizon, there is no charge for using the service beyond your connect minutes.

I'm currently struggling with the issue that PalmOS3.1 is broken and there appears to be no patch available so I am not able to use the QNC service in the traditional fashion. I have to dial an ISP through the phone so I am getting substantially slower speeds than I saw with my (now lost) platinum.

alan