Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

I figured it was high time we started a new thread related to problems with the Samsung 8500/3500 series of phones. To start off, I have had limited success dialing out with the devices but once the phone is connected the Visor never sees the completed hook-up and then the phone times out and hangs up.

Here is the cable setup: Visor Deluxe <=> gender changer <=> null modem connector <=> Samsung Data Cable (Belkin brand).

Like I said before, it does dial out, and then it fails to talk to the visor once the data connection is made. Does anyone know the AT commands for the Samsung phones? I understand they are less than eager to give that info out over at Samsung - they never respond to my emails....

We can figure this out, can't we???

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

I have been able to get the 3500 to dial out using the above setup.

The null modem is the important part. Here is my modem screen setup...

Standard
14,400
Off
Off
Other
AT&FX4

When I hit connect, it dials, then sits, then hangs up and never negotiates to the Visor.

I do have to power off/on the phone between tries, otherwise the visor keeps retrying and never dials out...

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 264

quote:

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Originally posted by patwoods
Here is the cable setup: Visor Deluxe <=> gender changer <=> null modem connector <=> Samsung Data Cable (Belkin brand).

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

I dunno, I have the Visor serial cradle, a 9-pin Belkin gender changer, 9-pin null modem (Radio Shack) and the Belkin Samsung Data cable involved in my setup.

I didn't buy the Sprint data cable so I don't know about the red thingy, the Sprint techs had mentioned it is a null modem when I was talking to them on the phone.. I can't imagine it would have any other circuitry in it.

I have heard from messages here that maybe the phone is a little flaky; you could always try one out at the Sprint store and see if it dials... Like I said mine at least dials out but no connection completion after that...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Belkin the Key to 3500?

You seem to be the only person able to at least get the phone to dial. I have the Mark Space modem cable and the Samsung Data cable and have had no luck. I get the no modem found error. Sound like the belkin phone cable is the hook.

[Edited by candodiver on 02-08-2001 at 03:45 PM]

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Network Settings?

patwoods,

Do you have another Handspring modem to confirm your network settings? Maybe it dials out but cannot negotiate the correct connection.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

When I get my MarkSpace cable, I will let you know.
Personally, I think it is the phone, the cable works the same as all the others do with a laptop... but will let you know.

I got the Belkin cable at CompUSA if anyone is interested...

I will probably also pick up one of the visor-samsung direct cables from cables4pdas.com anyhow. The two-cable trick is kind of a kludge and weighs almost as much as the visor does.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Maybe the direct cable will work. Sounds like the visor + cable + cable + phone work around is a TTL - RS232 - RS232 - TTL solution. Maybe a direct TTL cable will work? I have exhausted the Mark Space modem cable + Samsung data cable route. No go on my phone. Maybe your Belkin phone cable will work with the Mark Space modem cable.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

I found this in another thread.

http://www.thesupplynet.com/product...cfm?prodID=5335

Anybody know if it is for real?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

Yes, I emailed them and got a reply back.
I asked if they make the cables or just sold them, she replied that they make their own cables and that this should be exactly what we are looking for. It is supposed to ship on the 15th of March, so I figure I will play with the MS cable first, if it doesn't work I can always sell or keep it for another device like a GPS or something cool like that...

I plan to order one of those or the cables4pdas cable once they ship.. hopefully the MS cable will work for the meantime.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca
Posts: 302

quote:

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Originally posted by candodiver
I found this in another thread.

http://www.thesupplynet.com/product...cfm?prodID=5335

Anybody know if it is for real?

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__________________
Bret Snyder<BR>If you don't know where you're going,<BR>You'll probably end up somewhere else.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

I'm not sure about this, but if the Samsung (or any cell phone) is a TTL device, the combination of the data cable and a MarkSpace cable probably doesn't work because the data cable is not getting any power for its conversion circuit. The MarkSpace modem cable is powered by the Visor. The phones data cable is intended to be powered by the PC it's attached to (the same principle as the serial cradle). Without the proper power, the TTL-RS232 circuit cannot translate the signal levels and therefore the communication signals never make it from the Visor to the phone and vice-versa.

__________________

God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

This page may have a solution for power problem for the TTL
circutry on the Samsung Data Cable.

See the section "Using the Visor Serial Stand with "Three-Wire" RS-232 Connections" at http://www.pocketaprs.com/visor.html

I built a little black box to do this for my eTrex. It has two male 9 pin plugs and a 9V/470 ohm extra wire for the #8 pin on the plug for the Visor Serial Stand.

I'll modify it so that both male 9 pin plugs get power on the #8 pin. Then I'll plug my Visor serial stand into one side and the Samsung Data cable into the other.

Question: I have the 3500...I have been going into the setup and changing the "Data/Fax In" to "Incoming Data Only". Is this the proper way to set up the phone for a modem connection?

Frank

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

Cable for Samsung 3500

I just received an email from NYSEBull and he seems to be having problems with the 3500 and the Visor...

He mentioned that he was having problems controlling the phone from the Visor end, I hope he can get it to work! Otherwise that would really suck.

Somebody should be able to do this, I hope...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

That is sort of what I was getting at with this product:
http://www.thesupplynet.com/product...cfm?prodID=5335

Have they been able to actually get one working or have they attached the two connectors together for photos and are working on developement. I also emailed them and have heard nothing back. We'll see. This might be bad news though.



[Edited by candodiver on 02-12-2001 at 03:37 PM]

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Check out this thread. I haven't checked to see if any of us are posting there, but they are working on the same sort of problem. I am convinced that the problem is in the initialization string.

This is why: I have the Mark Space Modem cable which is supposed to act like a serial port. I have used the Samsung on a laptop which defaulted to a serial modem and used the phone. So, I think that the AT&FX4 will not work. I tried the two strings listed in this thread plus the string that Windows is using with no luck. I have no idea what string to use. If the phone is expecting flow control and Windows is providing it then they should talk, which they do. Do we know what string is used to turn error and flow control off on a generic serial modem? This might work on the phone. I know patwoods was working that but had some trouble. This is the key, I feel it. By the way, I heard back from SupplyNet and they say they have a working direct cable ready to ship by March 15th. Who knows?

http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...p?threadid=3815

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 25

Well, one more for the road and I think this is bad news. After getting an answer via email that they have a cable and it works I called SupplyNet. The operator admitted that the cable was under developement and not ready. She even had no idea how long it would be. I have a real bad feeling about this. Still betting the Samsung is looking for flow control and the Visor cannot give it. I'm telling you the answer lies in the initialization string.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

init strings

I am still w/o the serial cable, should be here tomorrow I hope... meanwhile I am using the cradle and 'online' to play with sending AT commands to the modem.

So far all I get 'OK' codes from the phone on are the following:

AT&F0
AT&C1
AT&D0
AT&D2

All the &H commands give an ERROR
All the &K commands also give errors.

I have been searching for generic AT commands with little success, here is the best I have found so far - maybe someone with more modem experience here can do better.

http://www.macntosh.com/help4.html

BTW, once I get the modem to dial out, I need to power off the phone before it will respond again. I get a timeout 774 error in the online program. Is that the phone or the program talking? Maybe a clue?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

(Some) SUCCESS

OK, using the Online app, I managed to dial out using the following init string. AT&C

This somehow allowes me to connect to the Juno dialup, and when I sent an escape, it actually gave me the login screen to input my password. The phone actually allowed the Visor to communicate to the other end! I didn't have the full password handy but it DID work. I still can't get it to do the QNC yet, but here's to hoping!

I used a speed of 9600. This seemed to work the best.
When I did use the number in Online for the QNC, it did connect and I got a long string of characters several times in a row, I can only assume it is connecting and trying to do the negotiation... When I try the same in the network control panel it connects then immediately hangs up though.

I think I need to send the escape character in a login script instead of doing it normally. Anyone with information on how to do the login scripting???

I'm getting closer...

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 93

Pat,

1) Are you doing this with an 8500 or a 3500?
2) the long lines of funky characters is it trying to negotiate a PPP session.

I've been trying my stuff with an 8500 but have a 3500 on the way. Keep trying, it sounds like you are making progress.

__________________
Mike