Registered: May 2000
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 163

Yeah, the reason I liked the idea of a Canadian forum was pretty minor -- it would be way faster to see stuff of particular interest to "us" than doing a search.
But I pretty much scan all new messages almost every time I'm here, so like I said, a pretty minor reason.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 20

Zero Gravity

quote:

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Originally posted by Gretz99
Hi all fellow Canadians,

Just wondering if any of you have been using the zero gravity service in Vancouver, or anywhere in Canada for that matter. I guess I am still sitting on the fence and trying to evaluate the different options for my Visor Deluxe (well I guess there is only 1 option at the moment). I was just hoping someone who has signed up already would shed some light on how their experiences with it as been before I take the plunge

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

Clearnet Nokia 6188 and Prism Success

I ordered my Mark/Space DCH-M9 cable last week and received it today, exactly one week from the day it was shipped. I had previously had data services turned on for my Nokia 6188 and had been using it with my laptop to connect online.

Note: When you call Clearnet to activate Wireless Web Services, the customer service rep may tell you that this phone is not Web-ready and can not support Wireless Web Services. The phone does not have a microbrowser (i.e. is not web-ready) but it does have the firmware to be a modem and can support Wireless Web. Just insist that they do it for you.

I was online with no problem 2 minutes after I opeened the package. Here is the setup:

Prism -> DCH-M9 -> DLR-3P cable -> Nokia 6188
Connection Method: Serial to Modem
Dialing: Touch Tone
Speed: 19,200bps
Init String: <leave blank>

Remember also to add the area code to the phone number of your ISP, even if it is a local call. This seems to be necessary to make a data call.

Note that you can get the DLR-3P data cable from many 3rd party Telus Mobility dealers (I got mine from the BWireless store in Richmond Centre) because it is the same cable that is used for the Telus Nokia 6185 (they are essentially the same phone). You will also find it at Rogers dealers because it is the same cable as is used for the Nokia 6160.

Now here's my beef:

The total cost of the DCH-M9 cable was:

cable: $34.95USD
Shipping & Handling: $12.50USD!!!!
GST/PST: $7.64CDN
Canada Post Handling Fee: $5.00CDN

This comes to a grand total of $87.92CDN. Ouch!!!!

The DLR-3P cable cost me somewhere in the order of $75CDN as well (don't remember the exact price now).

What irks me the most is that Mark/Space charges $12.95USD for shipping and handling. The postage on the package was $4.00USD for priority post. There was no packaging, since the cable was hand-wrapped in bubble wrap and stuffed inside a global priority mail envelope. Where does Mark/Space get off on charging so much for S&H?

Last edited by muiz on 03-24-2001 at 01:48 AM

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Vancouver, BC. Canada
Posts: 57

Very interesting. It's good to hear it works, though I agree about the cost, and it must be a bit clunky with both cables. I think I'll wait and see what is happening with the Supplynet's promised direct cable between the Visor and my Sanyo 4500 with Clearnet.

One thing you might want to investigate is the possibility of using the Telus/Clearnet QNC (Quick Net Connect). This is currently offered by Telus, but I hear that it is possible to use it as a Clearnet subscriber and avoid the Clearnet Wireless Web cost. It is the same service your phone would dial into if it were accessing Wireless Web services from a capable phone, and serves as an ISP. Clearnet users can access it as part of the Surf Sampler currently offered, and for now, pay no extra! Instructions are available on the Telus site here: http://www.telusmobility.com/bc/wireless/mobile.htm

Halfway down the page is info on QNC (dial #777), and there's a PDF manual with more info. Also look here for palm info: http://www.telusmobility.com/bc/wireless/mobilepalm.htm

Now, I haven't tried this yet, as I don't have my cable, but I've heard that it works. There are some archived discussions on deja.com (now part of google) from the alt.cellular.clearnet user group that discuss it, and people there have done it. It may vanish in May when Telus takes over Clearnet completely, or take on the 15cents a minute charge they have...

Let us know if it works!

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

Clearnet/Telus QNC

I tried using QNC today and unfortunately it didn't work. I get a "No Carrier" error. The interesting thing is that eventhough the phone number in the Network Preferences is set to #777, the phone shows dialing 777. Anybody have any luck with this?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 13

Glad to see that Canada is coming on board. The last time I was there I used a friend's Glenayre two way pager module to get my web info from www.Trancell.com. Pagenet in DCanada now has the Visor and Glenayre package with unlimted service for 70 bucks a month.

Not ideal but....

I hear now that Glenayre has a slimmed down version planned for the end of this year.

__________________
Mark Cambie

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 13

Glad to see that Canada is coming on board. The last time I was there I used a friend's Glenayre two way pager module to get my web info from www.Trancell.com. Pagenet in DCanada now has the Visor and Glenayre package with unlimted service for 70 bucks a month.

Not ideal but....

I hear now that Glenayre has a slimmed down version planned for the end of this year.

__________________
Mark Cambie

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

Telus QNC

I have a startac 7868W and a Visor Deluxe, along with the nifty cable from cables4pdas.

upon receiving it, it took me a few minutes to get connected to my ISP via the startac. However, I have since been unable to use QNC.. Unlike muiz's post, my phone does not indiciate it is dialling 777.

I went through the docs telus provides for palm's, but still no working - and of course, the telus rep's are less than helpful (the majority of them don't know the service exists, and as soon as you mention handpsring UNSUPPORTED-CLICK comes up).

I don't imagine that this simply won't work, will continue to play with it until it does - I'll post my findings then...

__________________
-darkkith

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Vancouver, BC. Canada
Posts: 57

It's possible there may be QNC problems - I've been monitoring the alt.cellular.clearnet newsgroup and one of the Vancouver members has been unable to connect with QNC since last Tuesday. He thinks there are either problems, or else they've cut off access to Clearnet subscribers. That's all the info I have at the moment.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

An Update

This is just an update. I was able to connect to the net at 14.4 kbps speeds using a cable from TheSupplyNet.com and my Telus/Clearnet dot com ready phone. I am paying $5 per month for their data services... data time is counted as part of the minutes in your talk time (excluding unlimited evenings and weekends).

Also, I got an e0mail from someone at ZeroGravity Wireless saying that the Airprim CDMA phone should be available in Canada by late summer. Really looking forward to that.