Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 29

Interesting idea for Minstrel....

Basically, the Minstrel (and others like it) are receivers for a certain service (in this case CDPD). I'm wondering why we can't just call it a receiver. The software should control the frequency, etc. The software should tell it how to connect, and to whom.

Here is an interesting idea: Let's assume I'm correct in my thinking (which I may not be). If you change the software that controls the receiver, can you not change how data is transmitted? For example, instead of calling a number to connect to a cellular service, have the software search for an OTA (over-the-air) WAN (802.11)?

This would make really cheap wireless ethernet (as these things are nearly worthless now-unfortunately as I have learned), and it would be useable in any wireless router network.

Or am I way off base?
Is there any pre-paid CDPD providers?

Or do I need to pan this thing off on some unsuspecting person?

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-Cochese-
I got a lot of Visor stuff

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Pan it off..

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Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Vermont
Posts: 148

If it is CDPD, The receiving and transmitting frequencies are probably ~800 MHz. WiFi is 2400 MHz. Unfortunately, the Minstrel probably has a cellular transceiver inside that is fixed to the ~800 MHz range.

It may be possible to hack it to run off an existing Analog & CDPD account (as this info is likely in the software) but it would require you to sign up for an analog cell service account with a local carrier.

Too much work. If you want wifi that bad, get a different Springboard for it.

Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 29

Yeah, that is probably the best option.

However, since everyone is phasing out CDPD, and you can change the software to work with 3.1, I wonder if there is a software patch to allow it to use CDMA or even GSM?

Oh well, I was hoping I'd actually be able to make use of it one day. I'll most likely go with a cell provider and an IR link to get my email, and wireless ethernet board for home. That sucks.

That's definetly going to be more than the money I paid for the pair, combined.

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-Cochese-
I got a lot of Visor stuff

Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Vermont
Posts: 148

quote:

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Originally posted by Cochese
I wonder if there is a software patch to allow it to use CDMA or even GSM?

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

It also makes an ok paper weight.. so it's not TOTALLY useless.

that's how mine ended up for sometime till I gave all my Handspring stuff to my sister.. minstrel included.

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams