CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

[DanaMc]

CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

This is designed to explain the basic approach to using your cell phone with your computer to connect to the internet. It is not intended to be an in depth coverage of the topic. Rather it is intended to help folks get acquainted with what is necessary and a suggested resource or two. The first step in this process would be to check with your cell phone carrier. Make sure there is no reason you can’t use your phone like a modem. Some carriers can provide this for an additional fee.

It is the most cost effective way to keep up with your email and favorite web pages from nearly anywhere. In most cases you do not need a separate or different phone plan. You will use your plan minutes and can manage it to take advantage of the unlimited nights and weekends just as you might for conversations. Regular cell phone roaming charges may apply depending on where you are and whether your carrier has an agreement with the local service provider. This is no different than any other situation.

The key components needed are your cell phone, a special USB cord designed specifically for your cell phone. It will connect your cell phone directly to your computer via a USB port on the computer. Finally you will want software to manage the connection and compress the data being sent. There are many sources for this equipment. You can check with your local cell phone retailer. Radio Shack is a good source on this topic as well. But they will only be familiar with the phones they sell. I have been using SnapDialer. I have been very happy with the combination of Verizon and SnapDialer to connect to the internet.

Once your software is installed and configured for your internet service provider, you will only need to click on the Icon to launch your internet session. What service provider you use is not part of this topic. However there are many low cost or free email services such as Google’s Gmail, Microsoft’s Hotmail, or Yahoo.

Below is some additional reading on this topic:

HOW-TO: Use your CDMA cell phone as a USB modem

Cell Phone Internet Connections

Cellular Fills Gap Between Hotspots

Looking for a boost in your signal? There are third party systems that can enhance your cellular signal and/or facilitate the use of a cell phone in your RV or your home. One example of this is Wilson Cellular Antennas & Amplifiers. Properly installed, these systems can enhance your range of coverage.

[MrWizard]

consisdering an aircard doesn't have a keypad and must be mounted in the PC how would get online to activate for the day/24hrs ?

any cell device cannot dial unless it is activated, if its NOT activated, it can't connect to be activated

thats why when you have problems, a dead phone, tempoary disconnect, what ever, you have to call from another phone

I suppose you could call customer service from your cellphone, and give them all the info account number , card ID etc, and ask for a 24hr turn on

I don't envision VZW offering this service as the logistics out weight the revenue to be gained

get a vzw cellphone, the data plan can be added as a feature, it can be turned ON/OFF at anytime by calling CS, yes it will be a prorated charge, what is the pro-rate ? I don't know..

having the $59 data plan, the phone uses the same EVDO broadband network as the aircard, use it for a week turn it off

if you have a different carrier ask them if its available

[rv-n-agin]

Wy doesn't Verizon offer high speed data service by the day like they do with GPS? I would be willing to pay a rediculous price by the day if I didn't have to sign up for a month at $80. I only need it occasionally.

[MrWizard]

almost everything that came out since 2005 has, EVDO - vcast capability, if your looking specifically for a phone that does NOT, it will be very hard to find , you will need to look at a used or 'new old stock' older phone

with LG the 8000 , 8100, 8300, 8500, 8600, 9800, 9900, 9400 tv phone & the new 8700, all are vcast evdo

same for almost all Motorola & Samsung model

its very easy to turn the evdo off on an LG phone only takes about a minute

i've done it so many times i can do it one handed in about 20 seconds on my phones

edit removed misprint: gzone phone also has evdo

[burlmart]

Thanks for these leads.

If we want to take out the variable of properly turning off the EcDO via the phone's menus, so as to ensure the simplest 1x hookup, can you add some of the non-EvDO sets to this list?

[MrWizard]

lg8300, lg9900, and maybe the samsung u740

I say maybe because the screen is dual flip and it has a full keyboard with tiny keys

the LG9900 enV is my favorite phone, its fairly easy to set these phones for 1x only and use the 1x dialup
and they have very good signal reception, i think the 9900 is the strongest performer, but it is bigger and heavier than the other (2) choices OR your 3300 flip phone. the LG vx8100 is also a very good phone but it was replaced by the 8300 and you may not be able to find one, i actually like the 8100 more than the 8300, because the outside display is larger

edit

many phones are listed as having MEK not MOK

mobile entertainment kit

cable, phone drivers, but NO connection software, just music transfer software

no problem, i create my connections setups in windows, the details are in this thread

[burlmart]

Was considering taking Verizon up on a new phone to update the lg vx3300 we have. We like its simplicity and (as far as we can tell) apparent signal reception strength, but lack of mok availability and any advantages posed by newer technology are reasons to possibly switch.

We want an easy to use, strong signal receiver, simple to use 1xrtt backdoor, and, importantly, one for which verizon will be sure to have a mobile office kit at the store.

Any strong recommendations are appreciated.

[tuwood]

I'm using Cingular's data connect plan on my cellphone & I can receive calls when I'm online. However, it does put your data call "on hold" so you can't surf any more while your on the phone, but it does keep you connected.

I'm actually posting this message over it from the campsite in Onawa, IA. :W

[MrWizard]

i recieve calls when i'm on the internet, haven't tried making any.. and i'm with verizon, if they call an its busy it goes to my voice mail, if their really desperate nad its an emg they can call the DW's phone

[pulsar]

phitur wrote:
But, how do you use your phone as a modem with verizon if you don't pay the $70?

See this post in this thread.

Tom

[phitur]

But, how do you use your phone as a modem with verizon if you don't pay the $70?

[amacrae]

jflanagan wrote:
Great post.

For those that haven't tried this yet, keep in mind that you cannot recieve a phone call while your phone is being used as a modem.

Now that dedicated data cards are down to $49 to $149, it might be worth picking one up.

Also, at least verizon is slowly expanding their broadband access service (which their $149 cards are forward compatible with) and it offers 300kbps-2mbps speeds. They'll probably have phones soon that are compatible with it too. They might already. But I'd rather have a pcmcia card in my laptop for $149 than tie up my cell phone.

$80/month is a lot, but verizon (and probably other carriers) have started monitoring bandwidth and have the right to shut down your data connection if they figure out you're using the phone as a modem tethered to your PC to avoid paying the $79/mo.

Joe

Just returned from a trip to Norway. I have a GSM phone there, with service from Telenor. Nokia N70 GPRS/EDGE capable on a 3G GSM system. Make and receive voice calls while surfing the internet on my Mac, connected to the phone via Bluetooth. Someday we'll have that kind of service in the US.

[MrWizard]

new phone SamSung u620 cellphone with mobile TV

all setup and posting using 1x backdoor, yeah right now, got to watch the minutes

same modem settingsin WinXP differetn modem choice (u620)

slighly different menu sccess on the sammy to set it in '1x only mode'

but it all works, i'm even using bluetooth to connect the phone and PC, NO cable

belive me, setting up the cable is easier than the 'first time' BlueTooth setup

after it's all setup its a PieCe of cake

[mikestock]

Got it. Thanks!

[MrWizard]

go here http://www.igonemobile.com/downloads/index.aspx

scroll down the list and download the driver for your phone, that will make it possible to use it as a modem

then see the Verizon setup info in this thread, I have LG and smasung but the basic setup info ' PW & number to dial, encryption setup-NONE ' are the same for ALL verizon phones, only differences are some difference in access thru the phone menus, all the PC side is the same for ALL vzw phones

other people on here have the moto's the info is HERE in this thread

[mikestock]

I have a Motorola v325i Verizon phone which already has a mini USB connection on the bottom which also serves as a charging port. When I hook it up to my computer using XP the computer recognizes the phone.

Where do I go from there to use the phone as my modem? I would like to be able to use my plan minutes or free night and weekend minutes.

We are planning an extended cross country trip in three weeks and I would love to be able to keep in touch and pay bills.

Thanks