Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Geneva - Switzerland
Posts: 6

Ericsson T65 to Platinum

Hi folks !
I have a Platinum and have probably just made a wrong purchase: a T65 ericsson mobile (GPRS-HSCSD) that has neither an infrared port nor a modem. I want to be able to send and receive mails on the Plat via the phone.
Ericsson can provide a data cable (RS232-DRS10) but no driver. They say I have to get a driver from Handspring and connect the cable to a serial cradle.
This is chinese to me.
Any clue or experience here ?
Would be grateful.
Jacques

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 92

If there's no modem, then you're stuck, I'm afraid, since all the Visor will do is send out standard AT commands - which is enough for sensible phones like Nokia's that do have modems.

Personally, I don't much like the T65, having played with one for a magazine review. The processor is incredibly slow - you can download POP3 email with it, but it won't keep up with your keypresses as you scroll through the message.

If you want GPRS and HSCSD to use with a Visor, I'd recommend either the Nokia 8310, or the 6310 which also has Bluetooth built in. The 8310 has a modem, but as far as I know only an M-BUS/F-BUS connection, rather than serial, so you'd have to use it via an IR link.

Nigel.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Geneva - Switzerland
Posts: 6

Modem, IRDA and other stories

Thanks Nigel for your very precise tips. Very technical. Do I have to look for a phone with a built-in hard modem (or is a soft modem enough?) and/or with an IR port ? Which one is needed for sending mails from the Visor via the phone ? I thought a modem is a kind of phone, so what is the need of a modem for a phone. I am afraid I am lost there.

When you write "The 8310 has a modem, but as far as I know only an M-BUS/F-BUS connection, rather than serial, so you'd have to use it via an IR link", does it mean that there are several options possible ?

Jacques

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 92

OK... if you want something that will work with the Visor, without any drivers at all, you need a phone that has a built in modem, ie something that will respond to the "ATDT..." type commands that the Visor sends when it expects to dial.

Most data-capable phones with IR or serial connections have these, but not all - early Nokias like the 6150 and 6110 didn't. To use those with a Palm, you have to run a software modem, like TDK Global Pulse for Nokia. You can't even do that with a Visor, because of the different serial connector.

If the salesguy says you need a driver for the Ericsson, then it's likely it requires a soft-modem type package - but enquire further, he could be mistaken.

With regard to serial cables, the first thing is getting something that connects to your Visor; I think Mark Space do some, which solves that bit of the problem. However, when it comes to Nokia phones, while most of the decent ones, like the 8210, 8310, 7110, 6210 and 6310 have hardware modems built in, you can't always access them via the serial connection.

Nokia phones can have three types of serial connection (there could even be more!). There's plain RS-232, like you find on a PC, M-Bus and F-Bus. The latter two can be used by some software, like LogoManager on Windows, to program the phone book, change phone settings, transfer logos and so on. To connect to the net, using the internal modem and a serial cable, you need full RS-232. That's found only on the 7* and 6* series of phones. If you have the 8210 or 8310 you can program from a PC via serial, but you can't do modem stuff, since the connector (which is hidden under the battery on those) is M-Bus/F-Bus.

So, with the 8* series, you're restricted to infra-red. I happily use my Visor with an 8210 on Orange in the UK, which gives me 14k4. If I had an 8310 I could use HSCSD to get 28k8 - the same with the 6210.

The 6210 has HSCSD, but not GPRS; if you want that from a Nokia, you'll have to go for the 6310 which you can use with Bluetooth, IR or a serial cable, or the 8310 which you would have to use via IR only.

I hope this answers most of your questions; I'm off to Berlin (taking a VisorPhone with me to play with) so I probably won't be back here for a few days.

Nigel.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Geneva - Switzerland
Posts: 6

Thanks a lot Nigel for your patience. I have a lot of material to chew on till your return from Berlin. Have a good trip.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Geneva - Switzerland
Posts: 6

Hi Nigel !
Welcome back. I solved all my problems by trading the Ericsson T65 with an Ericsson T39. I don't quite like flaps of massive antennas but it is packed with features.
Thanks again for your input.
Jacques

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Jacques/Nigel,
I'm looking for a cable to connect my Thinmodem and T19, does the cable you bought match the connector to this pic? If so where did you get it? I'd really like to connect using this phone (It's the one they handed me!) Thanks,
Sterling

Attachment: im000324.jpg
This has been downloaded 142 time(s).

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by dampeoples
a cable to connect my Thinmodem and T19

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle


I didn't think the Thinmodem can be connected to a cellphone...

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

The Xircom SpringPort supposedly can connect to a few GSM phones using a very expensive (+$100) cable they sell.

__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Oh well, I was looking for a shortcut - we have to enter our worktime on the internet daily now, just looking for a way to get that done without wireless and definately without pulling the laptop out!

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 92

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacques
I solved all my problems by trading the Ericsson T65 with an Ericsson T39. I don't quite like flaps of massive antennas but it is packed with features.

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