Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Irvine, CA USA
Posts: 2

Sprint PCS and phone -vs- Omnisky

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Originally posted by valodya
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.

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

Thank you, your post is quite helpful.

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I do occassionally use the SprintPCS #2932 connection, but when you do that, you can't send mail, since they don't supply an SMTP server.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by valodya
Is this really the case? Other posts seem to imply that you can e-mail via QNC. If it is the case, are there any alternatives? I currently don't have a dialup ISP (or any ISP for that matter).

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

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Originally posted by MarkEagle


The SprintPCS QNC connection does not allow you to send email. Cables4PDA's was offering a beta SMTP service which did allow mail to be sent. I've used it and it works well.

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Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

Boy, full circle on my own thread It works for me too. I have minimal dial-up from Verizon/GTE with my DSL account so I don't use it, but have been able to send e-mail using Multi-mail while connected via QNC.

Just to be sure, I just tested it. Connected to QNC. Open Multimail. Sent an e-mail to my work address from my GTE setup and another from my virtual domain (which actually uses my GTE smtp). Got them in less than a minute.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

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Originally posted by Slacker
You are incorrect Mark. I am using (as I stated earlier) Sprint's QNC on a daily basis and I use Eudora's free email client to send and receive email.

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Wouldn't be the first time...

Just curious... how long has this been working for you? My last attempt (2 or 3 months ago) didn't so I tried the Cables4PDA's beta. maybe SprintPCS has changed? Now, all I need to do is wait for the wife to get home (my phone is in her purse) so I can try again.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

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

Based on all the good information I got here, I decided to go ahead a spring for a Supplynet cable. I'm eager to try all this out, but the events of this week got in the way. I realize that this minor inconvenience is less than trivial in light of what has happened.

I ordered the cable on Mon. via second day air UPS. It arrived the next day, and UPS, bless their hearts, actually tried to deliver on Tues. afternoon to my workplace in Midtown Manhattan, but we had already closed. They suspended delivery for just one day (impressive, I thought), and my package arrived on Thurs. However, by this time, cell phone service was sporadic at best, and Sprint wireless web service was down (it had worked Tue. and Wed.; I used it via the phone's built in browser) and has been ever since.

Me and mine are all well and accounted for, so I have nothing real to complain about. I can wait. Just consider this whistling in the dark.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Mark,

Like I said I use it daily. Works like a champ every time. But, as I said, you have to have your own SMTP and POP servers to use. Sprint doesn't provide them.

Now I have a question for you guys. What Sprint PCS dual band phones will provide a wireless infrared connection for connecting to the web?

__________________
Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by Slacker
you have to have your own SMTP and POP servers to use. Sprint doesn't provide them.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Cool! Finally I contributed something worthwhile! Woohoo!

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Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Irvine, CA USA
Posts: 2

quote:

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Originally posted by Slacker
you have to have your own SMTP and POP servers to use. Sprint doesn't provide them.

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Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Chesapeake, VA, US
Posts: 10

Silly question... (it's late, I'm tired)

I got my Prism just a few days ago, and already wondering how I got by without it. Until now I'd been using my phone's PDA'ish functions (SCH-8500, love this phone), but with recent change in job function (yay promotions), and other lifestyle changes the phone's abilities just weren't enough... mix that in with the very limited web access that WAP provides, and here I am.

I ordered a cable to link the two, and found instructions on how to setup the Visor's networking to use the phone, and my tired mind got curious (always trouble) which resulted in flipping open the phone, and dialing the access code (#2932) just to be greeted with a ring (yay) then a voice error code (boo). Now I realize it was silly, but some part of me (my memories of whistling to modems when I was young) half expected to hear a handshake request. O'kay, now that you're done laughing, does the error code (which just said that the code I dialed wasn't valid) mean that for some reason I don't have access to it, or is it just that I actually dialed it that's the problem?


(Tomorrow I'll kick myself for even asking)

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The opinions above are my own, and not necessarily those of my cat.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

Start kicking

The number works for computing devices but not for listening devices (ears).

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Visor Enthusiast and Innogear/Geodiscovery basher.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Chesapeake, VA, US
Posts: 10

quote:

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Originally posted by Slacker
Start kicking

The number works for computing devices but not for listening devices (ears).

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

I don't understand much about SMTP servers or authentication, but I can send e-mails from my Prism via QNC on a SprintPCS phone, using Eudora as my palm-side e-mail client. I've had no problem sending from my Yahoo account; you simply enter the SMTP address when you configure the POP3 access in Eudora. I've also sent e-mail from a POP3 account at another ISP, although that seems have problems some days.

I posted earlier in this thread asking about the pluses and minuses of using a cell phone as a modem versus Omnisky. I've been using the cell phone for a while now, and I thought I'd offer my impressions:

In general, I'd say the cell phone works well enough, but not as well as Omnisky through a Minstrel S modem (at least here in New York City). The cell phone connection is noticeably slower than Omnisky. The phone may be a bit more reliable than the Minstrel, but I've still had problems, not connecting, losing connections, etc. There are of course the obvious physical problems; you have to keep track of the Visor, cell phone, and cable, hook them together when you want to connect, and figure out a way of holding the whole caboodle and use it at the same time. Since, unlike with Omnisky, one's usage is metered by the minute, one has to watch the clock, and sometimes I end up disconnecting and reconnecting repeatedly, which can be a real pain. However, despite these drawbacks, the cell phone is adequate for pulling down e-mail, a few web pages, or syncing Avantgo. I'm happy enough with the cell phone connection that I did finally cancel Omnisky; I could no longer justify the additional expense.

YMMV of course, but I hope this helps someone.can

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

Here's my experience...

I have a Visor Deluxe. I signed up for Sprint PCS 3 weeks ago today with the Wireless Web option. (First 3 months free and just $5 after that). I purchased the Kyocera 2035 phone, and originally bought the Data Kit directly from Sprint. Well, the kit is more suited for a laptop connection , so I went ahead and bought the appropriate cable from Gomadic.

I then set up my Network preferences and my Eudora pop-server/smtp server information. After working out a few bugs (my errors), I was able to connect to my Road Runner account wirelessly! Every so often, I encounter some problem in the connection and I'll have to restart Eudora and/or the phone. One thing I have found (at least for me) is that both the phone and VDX must be off when I connect the two via the cable. Anybody else run into this problem?

Wireless rules!

RodneyD

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

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Originally posted by RodneyD
One thing I have found (at least for me) is that both the phone and VDX must be off when I connect the two via the cable.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

using cable between cell phone and Visor

I have a Visor Platinum.

I am about to obtain a cell phone (finally).

I've read the description of the cables and some of the messages here.

Am I correct in understanding that one does not need anything additional from the cell service? In other words, one does only need the Visor, Phone, and cable and one dials into their ISP?

Thanks,

Mike Raphael

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

Hey Mike,

I think those 3 things will pretty much do the trick. Please note that different cellular service providers will have different ways to set up the connection through your network preferences.

I suggest visiting this site:

http://www.gomadic.com/support.htm

I bought the cable from them for a reasonable price and their on-line directions helped me connect wirelessly...painlessly!

Good luck!

RodneyD

Registered: Jun 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

Thanks, that's what I was asking.
I wanted to know if it was necessary to sign up for additional service, but it seems not.

Mike