Registered: Nov 2001
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 4

VoiceStream w/out ISP - not working... yet

I've read all of the information in this thread, applied it to my Handspring Prism/VisorPhone/Blazer Browser/Palm O/S 3.5, and attempted to make a VoiceStream ISDN connection (from Connecticut) without success.

When attempting a connection, It reports:
"Dialing VoiceStream", then
"Signing On", then I get an error"
"Error: PPP timeout (0x1231)".

I have read lately that some have been reporting difficulty making a connection... well, I haven't made ANY connection and appeal to any one with more information that may have a hint as to what is the cause of my difficulty.

One thing that concerns me is the input of a (space) for the User Name and Password. I have used the silk screen keyboard to assure that my input for each is just a single space then exited out by selecting Done... etc. However, when I attempt to inspect what I have input by selecting the Password and viewing the input in the Keyboard, the (space) is gone. This leads me to the
Question: Does the Blazer clear the Password when one edits a previous entry?

To date, three sites have been posted citing configuration information which I have applied. They are as follows:

heberman:
Configure for Palm 3.1 & 3.5 devices

Tips for getting data enabled without DataStream

VoiceStream ISDN init string

Using this information, I have configured my handheld as listed below.

System(Category)/Preferences/Connection
====================
Name: VoiceStream ISDN
Connection Method: Serial to modem
Dialing: TouchTone
Volume: Off

Details...
Speed: 57,600bps
Flow Ctl: Automatic
Init String: AT&FX4;+cbst=71,0,1
AT&F+CBST=71,0,1;&W <-- tried this one also

Handspring Blazer:
================
Options/Network Preferences:
Service: VoiceStream
User Name: (enter a space)
Password: (enter a space)
Connection: VoiceStream ISDN
Phone: 1 (203) 434-9933
FL: 19132440821
CT: 12034349933

Details...
Connection type: PPP
Idle timeout: 3 Minutes
(not checked) Query DNS
Primary DNS: 65.161.188.100
208.14.205.5 <-- said to be offline
Secondary DNS: (none)
IP Address: Automatic

Options/Blazer Preferences:
(Tab) Browser:
Images: 256 Colors
(checked) Ask before establishing Internet connection

(Tab) Advanced:
Cache Size (K): 511
(checked) Accept Cookies
Set Proxy:
(checked) Use Proxy
Proxy Server: proxy
Port: 80

VoiceStream:
===========
My MSISDN (mobile phone number) is provisioned for data, the MSISDN is set for data in the HLR. I do not have the $39.99 DataStream subscription. Using my rate (price) plan minutes for Data/Fax transmissions.

__________________
Sincerely,
gr8cut

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 12

gr8cut, lower your modem speed to 9600.

Also, where did you find that (203) number? Let me know if you have success with it. I have only seen the 913 number.

Also, as I posted above, for some reason I had better luck with the AvantGo browser. If you dont connect with Blazer you might want to give AvantGo a try.

Also, when using AvantGo, I could not get anything with images set at anything more than 4 grays. I think this has to do with the slow speed of the wireless connection. Weirdly, even set at 4 grays some images came through in color. Anyway, you might want to try lowering your images setting.

Good Luck. Once you get it working, its amazing!

--Charlie

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 78

<Heberman - how about sharing the goods on that free ISP server?>

I found it at "mailtag.com" It's free, with a catch: you are limited to 30 min a day. When I download my e-mail, I use Voicestream's number. It's much faster to logon and there is no time limute like mailtag. When I send e-mail (less frequently), I switch to the mailtag connection.

In setting up mailtag, their smtp server is: "mailtag.com" You don't include "smpt" with it. Also, on the Details screen in the "Connection" menu, I just use the default Init String: AT&FX4 That works. When I tried using the longer Init String I use in the Voicestream setup I couldn't logon.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 12

Wow, - I got my Mailtag account, connected, & sent mail with no problems. Great Tip! Thanks Heberman!

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 4

VS has been upgrading their data services since ~11/11...I just called Data Services Group, and the services are up again. Using your settings, I was able to connect.

I wasn't able to browse w/ either Blazer or Avantgo...but that may have to do with the browser settings rather than anything else. I'll repost with more info.

--Woodie

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 78

I've had some problems with e-mail and browsing with Voicestream during the last few days. It hasn't been that big of a deal, because I can connect for free with mailtag. However, I hope it works again soon. Voicestream's connection is faster, and doesn't have mailtag's 30-min a day limit.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 4

Working!! VD+VP w/ Voicestream

Got it working w/ AvantGo and Blazer 2.0!!

(After much blood, sweat, and minutes...)

1. Installed the Serial/IR stuff for the Palms
2. Settings:

System(Category)/Preferences/Modem
====================
Modem: Custom
Speed: 14,400
Speaker: Low
Flow Ctl: Automatic
Country: Other
Init String: AT&FX4;+cbst=71,0,1

Dialing: TouchTone

System/Preferences/Network
================
Service: VoiceStream
User Name: (enter a space)
Password: (enter a space)
Phone: 12034349933

Details...
Connection type: PPP
Idle timeout: 3 Minutes
(not checked) Query DNS
Primary DNS: 65.161.188.100
Secondary DNS: (none)
IP Address: Automatic

Blazer 2.0 - Options - Blazer Preferences:
=============================
(Tab) Browser:
Images: 4 Colors of Gray
(checked) Ask before establishing Internet connection
(unchecked) Disconnect on exit

(Tab) Advanced:
Cache Size (K): 511
(checked) Accept Cookies
Set Proxy:
(unchecked) Use Proxy

VoiceStream:
===========
My MSISDN (mobile phone number) is provisioned for data, the MSISDN is set for data in the HLR. I do not have the $39.99 DataStream subscription. Using my rate (price) plan minutes for Data/Fax transmissions.

Located in (lovely) Connecticut.

--Woodie

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

This seems just too good to be true. I'm SO psyched!

I would note that many of the errors people are reporting sound a lot like my vain efforts to make a lot of discount ISPs work--they just wouldn't. I finally found some that would, with little rhyme or reason.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

I note that only the last post, from Woody, used something that seems to make sense on my setup. For example, some said pick serial to modem. I have no such option (Prism...) Am I missing something?

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

I see that I was initially confused--between net preferences and modem configuration. After getting it all down, though, I still just get "ppp timeout"

I have changed the ppp timeout from 3 minutes to power off and back again to no avail.

And then seeming success--I established a connection. But every time I try to actually surf, I get some error message implying a variety of problems, but mostly adding up to the connection won't let me dl data.

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Last edited by Mark Squires on 12-01-2001 at 06:12 PM

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 78

I had similar problems, and I finally checked the "Query DNS" box in the Network Preferences, Details area. I could then connect. Even though I didn't uncheck the box, it is now unchecked and has the same Primary DNS number used by Woodie. It still works fine.

Good luck.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

query dns seemed to work---I connected. I exulted!

But then I while I was seemingly connected, I could never transfer any data (like checking Yahoo email). It would always end with "unknown network error". I'd switch back to my normal ISP--everything would be fine.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Utah
Posts: 78

Try using Blazer or Avantgo to surf. If that works, you should be able to download e-mail. If it dosn't work, then something else is still wrong.

I can even download my mail from an IMAP server (I hate IMAP) using Multimail. But I can't send email unless I connect with a server that has SMTP. Mailtag's SMTP server is free, if your call to them is local. 30-min per day limit.

However, I just download 3-mail 90 percent of the time, and only occasionally send email from the visor.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

My fault--I was not clear. I was using Blazer AND AvantGo to get email from yahoo.com

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

And finally it worked.

I must say, I don't know why.

Originally, check QUERY DNS made the difference between connecting and not.

This time I unchecked it, and for the first time got data transmission. It seems like it just isn't all that reliable perhaps--sometimes the line works, sometimes not. Haven't used it enough to say so far, but it seems more erratic than my ISP. Still, if nothing else, it's nice to have a backup!

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Lake Villa, Il 60046
Posts: 3

Palm Serial/IR Update

I am wondering, do I need the update to the Palm Serial/IR library if I want to use my VisorPhone to connect to the VoiceStream ISDN or is that only if using the IR/mobile phone combo? If someone has any information I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

-Mike

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 242

I wondered about that, but did not download anything special--whatever was on my Prism as released worked.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 4

VoiceStream w/ VP + VPlatinum

Because of the lack of a good case for my VD-VP combo, I ended up having to replace my VD with a VPlatinum. I finally got around to resetting up my data access, w/o the DataStream stuff from VoiceStream.

From following the thread for some time, the different Visor OS versions cause a lot of confusion in the settings. I hope that the settings I have in my VPlat, OS 3.5.2H1.5 match those found in the Prism or other 3.5 version Visors.

Avantgo, Blazer 2.0
No IR downloads (I think).
Settings:

System(Category)/Preferences/Connection
====================
Configuration: Custom
<edit>
Name: Custom
Connection Method: Serial to Modem
Dialing: TouchTone
Volume: Off
<Details>
Speed: 14,400
Country: Other
Flow Ctl: Automatic
Init String: AT&FX4;+cbst=71,0,1;&W

System/Preferences/Network
================
Service: VoiceStream
User Name: (enter a space)
Password: (enter a space)
Connection: Custom <==== This is from the Connection above!
Phone: 12034349933

Details...
Connection type: PPP
Idle timeout: 3 Minutes
(not checked) Query DNS
Primary DNS: 65.161.188.100
Secondary DNS: (none)
IP Address: Automatic

Blazer 2.0 - Options - Blazer Preferences:
=============================
(Tab) Browser:
Images: 4 Colors of Gray
(checked) Ask before establishing Internet connection
(unchecked) Disconnect on exit

(Tab) Advanced:
Cache Size (K): 511
(checked) Accept Cookies
Set Proxy:
(unchecked) Use Proxy

The key to it for me, was that the Network setting was trying to use the Default Modem connection, rather than the Custom one I had set up, and was mucking about with.

G/L to you others!

--Woodie

Registered: Nov 2001
Location:
Posts: 7

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Hut
I set up my Prism as directed but I keep getting the following message when I try to connect with Blazer:

"Error: modem not found (0x1106)"

Any ideas on how to fix this or what I could be doing wrong would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

---

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 2

Help! error 90x0510

Ive tried all of the above suggestions to get this connection to work, but when I try to connect via Blazer, I get the error code "Error: (0x0501) . Any ideas what I'm missing?

Thanks in advance,

Kent