Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

I finally took the plunge and bought a visorphone with one year contract from VoiceStream. Making and receiving phone calls have been perfect pretty much out of the box. I tried making data calls to my isp. Gave me "No Carrier" error message. Called voicestream 4-5 times to try to get this fixed but still haven't been able to resolve this problem. They're supposed to call me back to try to fix it.

I'm just wondering if there is anyone else in NYC that's using the visorphone and voicestream (w/o DataStream service) and can get on the internet on the visor. I read somewhere telling the customer service rep. to reactivate the "data" part of the service would work. But i asked them to do that and still nothing. This is really annoying because one of the big selling points of the visorphone + voicestream was wireless internet. I would've gotten a much cheaper stand alone phone if i only wanted to do voice.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 97

I'm glad to see your post, because I'm having the exact same problem. But my experience is a little different. When I first got my Visorphone two weeks ago, it worked fine on data calls. (No Datastream needed.) All of a sudden it stopped working -- but only in Brooklyn, where I live. In Manhattan, it still works fine from everywhere I've tried so far. It doesn't seem to correspond with signal strength, which appears to be strong even in Brooklyn.

Like you, I contacted Voicestream which confirmed that everything is set up correctly. Then I contacted Handspring, which is sending me a new Visorphone to see whether there's something wrong with mine. Unfortunately, I suspect it's a Voicestream problem, not a Visorphone problem, because it works in some places and not in others. I'll let you know what happens when I get my new module.

But here's the kicker. Have you gotten your Voicestream bill yet? I just got my first one and they charged me a minute for every single unsuccessful attempt -- even when I got a "no carrier" message. In fact, I got charged for two minutes each time because of the automatic redial by the Visor software.

I'm pissed -- this is a total rip-off! Voicestream charges you even when no one answers your phone. And even when they're responsible for not completing the call! I've had cellphones with AT&T and Verizon, but I've never had this happen before. I'm now trying to find the place in the contract where they explain this; I can't find any mention of it on the Voicestream website. As far as I'm concerned, Voicestream is a total sleazebag outfit.

To find out whether this is happening to you, set up an account on the MyVoicestream website and check your call history.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

I am experiencing the exact same problem on LI. Even with a strong signal I am getting the no carrier error.
I just came back from a trip to Europe, there it works great, even with just one bar.
It is a Voicestream problem. I suspect they thinned out their antennas, since I was trying to make a phone call out of JFK T4 and I did not have reception at all. Voicestreams comment was that they do not guarantee reception in buildings, they should at least at the airport.
Voicestream sucks. For all living in the Voicestream area there is only one solution: move to Europe.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

I finally got the visorphone to get wireless internet. Took me about 6 calls to VoiceStream and 2 calls to Handspring. The stupid part is i have no idea why it works now. I called VoiceStream tech support today and the guy rechecked everything and gave a lot of possible solutions but then as a side thought, checked the computer to see if there was maintenance on the cell Towers in the Queens area where i live. Turns out there was some maintenence going on. So he said to try making data calls somewhere else. I didn't really believe him but while in manhattan a few hours later I tried making a data call and it just worked. I thought i guess he was right. I came back to Queens and the funny part was that it works here too. It didn't work in the morning in Queens. Worked in the afternoon in Manhattan, worked at night in Queens. Is it possible that the maintenance ended right after i made the phone call to the tech support? I don't really care actually, i'm just really happy it finally works. I wish i could help others out but all i can recommend is go straight to the tech support people, they seem to know so much more then the regular customer support people you get.

Right now i'm pretty satisfied with the service. Coverage seems great, quality of the calls are pretty good, and the most i have to wait to talk to a real person at customer support is 4-5 minutes. Just wish more of them were familiar with the visorphone. I don't think i'm going to be too happy when i get my bill though (from what i read in previous posts).

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

I can confirm the above. VS and HS must have fixed the problem on their end.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 97

Me, too. I followed Distrachi's lead and called VS again this afternoon. This time, they explained there have been a lot of "technical issues" in Brooklyn (meaning, I guess, they were working on the lines or routers or towers or something). Apparently, the data calls were being received but weren't being recognized by their system. They put in a work order based on my information. By the time I got home from work, it was working again for the first time in nearly 2 weeks. Probably no connection with my work order.

Tech Support also offered to take the "no carrier" data calls off my bill if they put me over my monthly limit.