Posted by max_wedge
I've just spent the last month or so running my pc's internet through the gprs modem in my phone. It works brilliantly - although using gsm gprs is about as fast as a good dial-up connection. It also costs a lot - in my case 2c per KB - which works out at about $5-6 to view a predominately text based website or check webmail and banking.
But I'm very impressed with the reliability of the connection. Can't wait to get a 3G handset to try those 384Kbps speeds!!
Now I'm back on cable (top end 10Mbits per second), but it was an interesting experience using a phone as a modem for my most important internet needs. Now that I'm back on cable at home, I'll be using the phone and gprs with my laptop for mobile internet where-ever I am.
To use the gprs on your phone is quite simple - you set up a dial-up connection but use the bluetooth connected gprs modem in your phone as the modem for the connection. You do need to know the username and password and phone number of you provider. For example with optus the phone number is *99***1# and the username is your phone number, and the password is blank. Note: if you use a traditional "dialup" phone number it won't work - you need to use the funny number provided by the service provider.
If you don't have a bluetooth dongle for the pc you can use the usb cable itself (which also sets up a gprs modem). But I love the wirelessness of bluetooth personally
Posted by abubakar
I've got a big problem!!! I've been doing the same connection with my laptop but I dont have access to secure sites like yahoo or hotmail (or thier messengers). If ried tweeking my internet settings, tried dropping my firewall, to no avail. can the problem be from my Service provider or is there something I've over looked?
Posted by carkitter
@Max
Tried that recently too, with K700i and Z600 as modem. Works great.
Data was too expensive though so now back on 3.5 Mbps ADSL.
And I agree, BT rules, cables sux.
Posted by masseur
@abubakar, if you can access such sites on normal dialup or cable, but on the same PC those sites are not accessable, then its very likely to be an issue with your service provider though I personally have never seen a restriction like that
@max_wedge, just a bit of extra info as I've been doing GPRS (and 3G) dialup for years now. The *99***1# is not an optus phone number, its a standard GSM code for dialling a GPRS data account.
Indeed you could quite equally use *99# becaus the parameter 1 is the default and simply specified the first data account defined in the phone (CID=1)
if you had setup 2 data accounts, the first for GPRS/wap and the second for GPRS/internet and you wanted to use the second from your laptop then the dialling string would be *99***2# etc etc
btw, if your phone does not have the data account setup you can actually specify the data account details on your PC in the modem init string settings using the following syntax
+CGDCONT=1,"IP","apn"
where "apn" is the APN of the provider and 1 (after CGDCONT) is the CID or data account number which you then use in your *99***n# dialling string
Indeed this seems to be the only way I can get my V3 and k-jam to dial GPRS successfully whereas I don't need to specifiy that on my K750
I remember having alot of, er, fun with all this in the early days of GPRS!
edit: btw, since 3g is access in the same way as GPRS, the procedure is exactly the same
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[ This Message was edited by: masseur on 2006-05-23 12:38 ]
Posted by carkitter
I connected to VF GPRS using *99# and internet via wap using a 9-digit (landline type) number provided by ISP. Wap was rediculously expensive, charged by the minute and sloooooooooow too.
Biggest problem is getting low-tech friends and relatives to grasp the concept of ditching the landline in favour of mobiles. It doesn't work when they're all on PAYG not free-minute plans. Otherwise I'd be landline-free and using 3G mobile connect card right now.
Posted by DeLa
I once tried to dial in with gsm, not even gprs, and that worked. Fast enough to get e-mails in & out.
Unfortunatelt it is billed as an regular call, so next to slow it is very expensive. But the idea of having a real 'backup' is nice.
And it was very simple to set up.
Posted by masseur
yeah, GSM dialup is usually at 9.6kbps, though some opeators do support 14.4kbps and it is fast enough to quickly send and receive emails. Depending on the ISP you connect to with normal dialup the call can actually be taken from your free minutes and so cost you nothing.
Its certainly no speed to be trynig to access current graphic intensive web sites though.
Posted by carkitter
On Wap connection (GSM Dialup) I got 9.6 from Z600 and 14.4 from K700i.
Posted by max_wedge
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Thanks for that clarification - very useful info. I remember now using the same number with vodafone in the past. Happily, the automatic driver installation of both cable and bluetooth works a treat and if one's phone has a viable internet connection it's all sweet.
init strings are a powerful way to take control of the phone's capabilites though (from the pc perspective). I'd like to play around with that a bit.
Posted by abubakar
@masseur: its real funny. I can access yahoo and hotmail from my phone's browser but not when linked to my laptop. thanks anyhow.
Posted by max_wedge
just got my bill for two months of using gprs - nothing more than daily webmail and banking checks - 6.5MB at $144 Australian!! Fortunately I'm on a voice cap that includes data so I haven't actually paid more than I do any other month (I'm within the cap).
Posted by carkitter
Vodafone NZ (our only GSM operator) have released a 3G Data Plan of 1Gig for $49.95 + GST(12.5%) per month. Sign up for 2 yrs and they'll throw in a VMC card free. Very tempting... now if only they can sort out thier billing and useless Customer Service Staff, I might even consider returning to it.
Posted by Nanakay
Thanks Max. I live in Nigeria and V mobile is my service provider. I do access the net via an L G U8330. I will try to set up a connection tonight with your settings. I am also waiting to lay my hands on one of those wild phones to make faster connections. Thanks buddy
Posted by max_wedge
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hehe, good luck with that
Here in Oz optus are now offering 1G for $99 a month, so it's getting there.
Posted by max_wedge
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no worries, hope it helps
Posted by Consumology
For over a month now I am using the Vodafone GPRS/UMTS/HSDPA flatrate for 49.30€ per month (5GB), available here in Germany. As I am waiting for my P990 I just can use my P910 at the moment and that means GPRS only. Actually you can get used to the slow speed cause everywhere internet access without any cables (using Bluetooth for modem connection with the laptop) really makes up for it.
BUT I have a very annoying problem: When I download something (especially when more than 2MB) or even during normal surfing the GPRS connection terminates very often. Even more strange is that it not only terminates, but often the P910 crashes (same happens with T68 and T610). It is not the reception (is at maximum) and all settings are fine as well I think. Vodafone tries to figure out the problem as they say it should work but I have not heard from them for over a week now.
I were greatful for any suggestions to solve this problem...
If V cannot fix it I will have to go back to landline and DSL which were really unconvenient and in my case also much more expensive as I live in two different flats and that means I would need two DSL connections which is more expensive than only the mobile.
Posted by carkitter
@Consumology
That's an odd problem, never struck that before. Both Z600 and K700i, Bluetooth dongle, XP SP2 and VFNZ network all performed flawlessly - it was VFNZ's human component that couldn't cope in my case...
Posted by tookool
Please, I will like to know if the laptop will detect the phone automatically when connected and what are settings which I will have to pass through before its detects the connection. Phone now the my carrier and my cheap Z600 are my making me go on stopable especially with my wap database.
Posted by Angelgirl
Hi tookool why not pay a visit to the Proudly Nigerian Forum , for more assistance from Nigerian GSM users, Click the link below;
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=70823&start=6165
cheers
Posted by Dan_Aykroyd
QUestion: when you use GPRS, what appears on the phone? I mean... the *99# gets dialed and so the calling screen (with time on air, etc) appears; or just the "blue-squared-antenna-GPRS-gauge" get's on (such as when browsing from the phon)?
I got scared because I user said the "they were charged as a normal call..."
how come! Am i no connecting AS THE SAME as when I browse from the phone; only that the data I receive is 'gatewayed' to the notebook / palm / whatever?
Thanks.
Posted by carkitter
When using Z600 as bluetooth modem, on the small outer screen, a globe symbol appears. When using the expensive WAP option, the dialled number is displayed.
Posted by carkitter
Looks like Vodafone plan to take their internet services further:
"Laptops with built-in 3G Broadband from Vodafone give you fast, reliable and seamless mobile data connectivity from your laptop. We’re partnering with leading laptop manufacturers to build this new business essential into the latest laptops – a simple, user-friendly, cost-effective, and secure way for you to stay connected on the move."
More info...
IBM Thinkpad with Built-in 3G broadband
The 3G specs are:
Wireless Networking Components
Wireless speed 11a:54Mbps, 11b:11Mbps, 11g:54Mbps, Bluetooth: 1Mbps;1.8 Mbps, 384 Kbps
Wireless Networking Components 1
Wireless Standard[10] Bluetooth
Wireless Type PAN
Description Bluetooth
Frequency Bluetooth:2.4GHz
Wireless Implementation (Form Factor) Integrated
Wireless Networking Components 2
Wireless Standard[10] Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Wireless Type LAN
Antenna Ultra Connect
Description Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Frequency 802.11:2.4 to 5 GHz
Wireless Implementation (Form Factor) Mini-PCIe
Wireless Networking Components 3
Wireless Standard[10] WCDMA, HSDPA
Wireless Type WAN
Antenna Ultra Connect
Description Sierra Wireless MC8755 PCI Express MiniCard
Frequency 800MHz/900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz
Wireless Implementation (Form Factor) Mini-PCIe
Dell and Acer are also on board with this.
And there's also a Wireless Router with 3G:
Vodafone, Linksys and Cisco Systems have come together globally to develop the 3G/UMTS Router, a new product that provides high-speed mobile data connectivity for teams working on the move. It enables teams of up to five people to use the wireless LAN capability already built into most laptop computers to access high-speed mobile data services provided by Vodafone's 3G network.More info...
Anyone using these products? I just happened upon them tonight while browsing the local Voda website.