Using Ericsson T60d Cell Phones as Modems?

Garfipus asks: "I have an Ericsson T60d cell phone that I use for cellular modem access. It works fine on a WinME laptop, but I'd like to use it on my PowerBook (and with a miracle, on my Newton 2100). I looked at the .inf file from the Sony Ericsson support website, and added the modem strings to a modem script under Mac OS 9, but it doesn't work. If I dial, the system doesn't see the modem and times out. A terminal emulator works, and allows me to issue commands. I can dial voice calls with ATDT, but that's about it. Any input on correct configuration settings for any non-Windows OS? I'd get a T68i (using that one is easy), but Cingular doesn't appear to support it."

Newest Firmware

[bic2k]

I had that same problem until I got the newest firmware. Try that.

Re:Newest Firmware

[Garfipus]

Where did you get the updated firmware? I didn't see a link on the Ericsson support page.

Re:Newest Firmware

[Komarosu]

A local phone reseller, not every carphone warehouse will stock flashing hardware, but if you look through sony's support site they will give u a list of "Sony Certified Dealers".

Re:great story

[mikedotd]

Do what I did, and disable the 'ask slashdot' section from your homepage and stop whining.

Wow!!

[__aafkqj3628]

and with a miracle, on my Newton 2100

That'll be one hell of a miracle

ask a newton mailing list...

[Miska]

such as newtontalk (http://www.newtontalk.net/)
they often consider issues such as yours.

_

PPP oddities

[Andy Dodd]

I've noticed that cell phones that act as modems have two methods that they use to do it:

a) Dialing to a normal ISP, they act just like a normal modem. You have to wait until it connects to the other end before it issues a CONNECT statement.

b) Dialing to Sprint or Verizon's Quick Net Connect (#777 on Verizon), it issues a CONNECT command immediately, but doesn't actually initiate a call until your PPP stack starts talking to the phone.

Something about this behavior confuses some OSes, including RedHat's standard PPP connecton scripts.

Here's a trick to try: Set your PPP dialer to give you a terminal window at connect. (MacOS can do this, right? Windows can (built-in to PPP system) and Linux can (Minicom calling pppd as a download handler). Have it dial #777 and bring up the terminal window. You should see CONNECT and then... Nothing. Wait 2-3 seconds, then do whatever you have to do to start PPP (Windows has a button to do this, in Minicom you use whatever download handler slot has pppd assigned to it).

If you're not using a QNC system (i.e. you're simply dialing into a normal ISP), well, then your OS is simply broken. As another poster said, these simply implement an AT command set. Some modems have INF strings to optimize their performance, but the generic init strings (or even no init string at all, the way I do it, just ATDT) always work.

Last but not least - Although this is OS-independent so would be breaking your setup under Windows too - Some phones require you to explicity put it into "data/fax" mode - This may only apply to integrated PDA/phones to decide what gets access to what though.

I'd get a T68i (using that one is easy),

[Glonoinha]

Ok, I have a T68i and I have been Googling my ass off all day and still can't come up with a detailed enumeration of how to do this.

How do you use your T68i to connect your laptop (lets make it easy, say Windows 2000 Pro on a Dell Latitude C800, for example, or Win2kPro on a Dell CPiA 366 :) to the Internet? I honestly don't care if it is working like a 'modem' or as a packet switching device on the GSM network - as long as it establishes a connection (even if I have to use an external ISP as opposed to routing through AT&T's (or whoever's) network.)

Special cable? (haven't found one for sale yet)
Bluetooth? Chyea right, not built into my laptops
IR port? Not a particularly viable venue when you are in a moving vehicle.

???

Re:I'd get a T68i (using that one is easy),

[Garfipus]

The serial cable is a DRS-11, same as the one I'm using with the T60d. I bought it from the Sony Ericsson sales website, http://www.buywirelessnow.com/sonyericsson/PhoneAc cessories.asp?cat=Connectivity&phone=ERICSSON+T68i Software is availible here: http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?template=SP1_1 7&B=ie&FileCatID=5&start=0&PID=9932&LM=SD_V&MN=Dri vers&noredir=1 As far as non-supported OSs, the command ATDT*98*#1 will dial the first data account on the phone, ATDT*98*#2 the second, etc.

Re:I'd get a T68i (using that one is easy),

[cve]

I'd spring for a Bluetooth PCMCIA card. I paid about the same for mine as the proprietary SE cable.

Re:I'd get a T68i (using that one is easy),

[McFly69]

I used the DRS-11 cable (parrell port to phone) and works great. I actually been able to recode t he t68, and the t28 serious without any problems. Best of all, there are programs you can buy other there to change the default settings. Like sounds, display crap and able to unlock the phone (to use other providers).