PDA + Cellphone + ISP = Internet Access?

marvinx asks: "I'm wondering what other Slashdotters do to hook up their cell phone (analog or digital) to their PDA (Palm or Handspring) to get wireless Internet access. What combinations of phones, wires, PDAs, and ISPs seem to be working? I've got a Visor Deluxe and a Samsumg 3500 PCS phone, and I just know that there is a way to get wireless e-mail. Any success stories?" The combinations are endless, but the results may vary greatly. What combinations have you tried with what varying degrees of success?

Comments

CDMA Digital works pretty well...

[weave]

After blowing US$270 a few years back on a modem and cable to hook to my nokia 2180 phone, the best I could get was 1200 bps and it'd constantly drop. The problem was that the phone had to be put into analog mode to make a call.

I now have a Motorola 7868W Startac with a Digital Phone Card with service through Verizon and it works wonderfully. Let me break it down for you....

• The phone: Has a built-in "modem." Actually, since it never goes analog, modem is a bad term. But plug a serial cable into this puppy and you can send Hayes AT commands to it! It also has a phone.com mini-browser in it so you can browse WAP sites or even read/send e-mail if you like pecking on a 10-key pad.
• The PDA: Casio E-115 Pocket PC. Has a Compact Flash interface. Now that means you can get a serial CF card and connect that to a serial cable for the Motorola (that costs $119 at a Verizon store believe it or not, plus a bit for the CF Serial card and cable too.) Which brings us to...
• The Interface: Socket's DPC phone card just combines the two pieces above into one serial CF card with plug on other end to put into specific digital phones. They make different cables for phones so make sure you order the right one. Retails for $120 iirc.
• The Service: Verizon has CDMA Data access in many areas (but not all of its digital areas). It runs at 14.4K and you communicate to the phone at 19.2K. With it you can just dial a normal ISP dial-up number or use Verizon's own dial-up at no extra cost by dialing #777 and using a username/pass of qpc/qpc (er, it says this on their web site so I'm hardly revealing anything here). The point is, #777 is available without having to have your own ISP. Now you have to pay/use minutes just like normal airtime rules. I got an unlimited nights/weekend package to help.
• The Cost: Via Verizon, it's $6.95/month for "web access" plus air time. You get web access through the phone's browser plus data access from another device. Now I never tried not having the 6.95 web charge and just trying to dial #777 and seeing if it worked however. Of course, they know what your phone # is when you dial into it. Their intent is for you to buy the 6.95/mo service from what I could gather. If thinking along those lines, dial into an ISP and not #777 if you don't have the 6.95/mo service. However, I'm sure the wireless network has to know if your call is being set up for a data call (and even when my call detail comes in the mail, calls to an ISP still show as a data call) so I really really doubt you can get buy without the "web" phone service feature.

Another possible solution is to use a CPCD network. The big problem I had with this one was lack of a CPCD CF card. Well, one just came out (I remember seeing it advertised but can't remember details). With this, you don't need a cable between your phone and PDA, you don't need your phone at all. Get CPCD service and you're really free. Verizon sells this too for $40/month unlimited access in my area and it runs at 19.2K. Never tried it, so I don't know how well it works.

I'm also not a Verizon person. I'm just more familiar with their services since I'm a customer. There could be other combos out there. Also, Socket has the Digital Phone Card (DPC) for use with GSM phones so that must be an option in areas as well...

Analog vs. Digital phones

[Anonymous Coward]

A few months ago I wanted to do the same thing (but with my laptop). Actually, I had intended to buy a regular PCMCIA modem (as my onboard winmodem could do nothing for me but reduce battery life :), and ended up splurging the extra $100 for one that had an analog cellular connection.

Well, as it turns out, there's a part missing from the box - the proprietary cable to connect the modem to the phone. This stupid cable ended up costing me another $200!

And to top it off, the service was crap. :) I ended up with unreliable 4,800 baud connections.

Few weeks ago I dumped the whole system in favor of an all digital (CDMA) one (Startac 7867W), after skeptically watching one in action. It was quite impressive. 14.4k (really - solid 2k/sec download), never dropped carrier, even when moving / switching cells, cheaper service, etc. And, to top it off, the cable was only $80. No modem required (serial port connection).

I'd highly recommend anyone who has an analog phone upgrade to a digital one before investing in a wireless Internet solution.