Wireless Internet connection

elisejk · 12-23-02, 04:39 AM

Well, I'm very new to this and have purchased the Axim as a gift. Also would like to provide whatever is necessary to do internet stuff - can someone please make some recommendations, thanks! Guess I'm asking for the steps to take and what I need to buy cause I don't know what to do. Thanks in advance for your patience!

12-23-02, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Well, I'm very new to this and have purchased the Axim as a gift. Also would like to provide whatever is necessary to do internet stuff - can someone please make some recommendations, thanks! Guess I'm asking for the steps to take and what I need to buy cause I don't know what to do. Thanks in advance for your patience!

If you have a cellphone with an infrared port, you can use it as a modem to "dial-in"
to your favorite ISP and start surfing....or alternatively, you can buy a wireless LAN
card (such as those from Socket/Symbol) and surf via a wireless hotspot.

I have used both on the Dell and I prefer the latter as it is much faster than using
my cellphone as a modem.

Hope this helps....

enob · 12-24-02, 11:43 AM

I agree with ttran you best bet would be a wireless CF Wifi card if you have access to a wireless network. There is a number vendors carrying them and some good deals right now.

imarollingstone · 12-25-02, 10:37 AM

I would like to set up an internet connection via my Verizon Wireless phone. I know I need to purchase a CF card to connect the Axim and the phone. Once I do this how to I connect? I have dial in connections with both AOL and ATT Broadband. Do I need special software from the ISP?

I also already have Mobile Web installed on the phone, so I can already access the internet via the phone, however I would like to be able to use the larger display of the Axim.

Any suggestions?

12-25-02, 12:43 PM

If you have a web enabled phone you do not need to dial in. It is instant on. Also a CF wireless WiFi card has absolutely nothing to do with your cell phone. WiFi is used for a home network or can be used at Starbucks Coffee shops and other similar hotspots. Starbucks uses Tmobile and you can establish a Pay plan onsite. It is recommended that if you access corp. or home networks over this connection you use an aftermarket or third party VPN software for added security. (people COULD access your netork otherwise..if your paranoid) See your Cell providers website and download software that enables the Axim to use your phone as a modem. My provider, ATT, had software for a Ipaq with PocketPC2002 that works well for me. I use the IrDa ports for connection. There are cable connections availbale for some phones also. You need to visit your cell providers web site to verify your options. Some phones also use bluetooth to connect phone to PDA. This also different that WiFi.

Hope that helps.

Frankie

imarollingstone · 12-25-02, 03:02 PM

Thanks Uncle! I'm still a little confused though. Since I already have two ISP's (One broadband, one dial up), I'd prefer not to add a third for the Axim. I also don't use most of the minutes allocated to the phone. If I purchase a modem that attaches to the cell phone, can I use it as a dial in connection (even though it would be going via the cell phone)? If so, does this setup require additional software, and if so, where would I find it. I cannot find any info from AOL, MSN or ATT Broadband about doing this.

boatride · 12-25-02, 07:38 PM

To: imarollingstone

I have check with Verison and they do not have a cable to hook up a Axim to any of there phones. They do have a USB cable for most of the Phones they currently carry. I have tried to find some way of hooking up the USB from the phone to the Axim but have been uncessfull. With the Verison system You will use your mins from your calling plan. At a speed of about 14k. If expressnetwork is in your area they have additional plans that do not use your calling mins but are based on the Megs you use or a $99 montly charge for unlimited. they boast a 144k burst but some say its no faster than 35k to 50k about what most dialup is now.

Hope some reads this and can tell use if there is a CF card with a USB conection on it or if the cable from the Axim can be pluged into a usb shareing port with the phones USB plug.

I have been having trouble keeping my Axim online using the IrDA port with my Nokia phone I had purchaced a Ipaq to see if i could access the internet and get e-mails with My current Phone and such. I had a problem with the Ipaq and they had a Irda upgrade on there site and after installing it I never lost any connections. I want to try the upgrade in my dell but worried it might really mess the Axim up.

Anybody got any clues on the IrDA ?

imarollingstone · 12-25-02, 07:53 PM

Boatride,

I've been looking a good portion of the day. I did find Dell offers a modem that connects to the StarTac via a CF card. But since it's $100, I'd like to make sure it is what I need before I buy it. That is the closest I've come thus far. It seems the Axim is too new for some of the cables to be out yet.

boatride · 12-25-02, 08:04 PM

I checked with www.suppleynetwirless.com and they are going to send me info as soon as they get something on the Axim. Put i think most of there cables run from $49 to $90 too.

Plus i dont think the Startac donest support the express network on Verison. you will be stuck in the Slow lane with it check with them on the newer phones that do connect to Express Network. But do check to see if Express network is in your area.

12-26-02, 02:53 AM

I have ATT GSM/GPRS service and have web access from my phone. Now this is pure Digital Service (NO ANALOG AT ALL) I Have a Nokia 6310i Phone that has an IR port and Bluetooth capability. ATT, in their mMode area has the downloads for an iPaq using PocketPC2002 OS only. (this is the same OS as the Axim) This is what I downloaded. I have already connected to ATT's GPRS Web via the IR ports. I do not yet have the Bluetooth CF card to make this connection, so for the moment I have to line up the IR ports on both the Phone and the Axim on a table back-to-back. I do not need any additional accounts this way.

I can use the CF WiFi card (I have a Linksys WCF12) at Starbucks. This requires an additional account.

I can also dial up my ISP thru the Cell phone using that same software from ATT, and use My Eartlink account with the same IR connection. Again, I already have the account so no added acount is needed.

However, you still need some way to connect your Axim to the Cell Phone. This can be done on a phone with Data Service via IR, Bluetooth or a cable connection. If your Phone has an IR Port there is no added expense. If your phone has bluetooth only than you will have to buy a Bluetooth CF card for your Axim. If your phone only has a cable connection, you have to buy a CF card for that cable connection. The main thing is that you MUST have Data capable Phone service. SOME ATT cell phones (NOT GSM) do NOT have data capability. So check that first. If your phone then has an IR port your set. If not you might have a Blue tooth option or a cable option. Socket Communications has both Cable and Bluetooth CF cards for about $100.00 - $170.00 repectively. check out their site for more info.

It may be easier to get a new phone with an IR port. Also, I recently changed from regular ATT service to ATT GSM service and my monthly plan is apples to apples LESS expensive. ATT also has some FREE phones with IR ports. Bear in mind that ATT GSM phones only work on a Digital only network and do not have the same coverage. My experience has been good and drive everywhere. In my experience you usually drop your calls in the analog Cr@p anyway. You may be able to reduce your monthly cell phone bill and get semi mobile email access. I say semi mobile because without either bluetooth or a cable you MUST line the two units up. The only way you can do that walking down the street is to have three hands. LOL

Hope this helps out! B)

doh! · 12-26-02, 12:59 PM

This just expands on MyUncles comments:

GoTo http://www.socketcom.com/product/default.asp

for an overview of their CF products

They have a moderately priced connectivity solution for just about any issue. Some of these products are availble from Dell at a lower price. The LinkSys WiFi solution seems to be one of the lower in cost available. LinkSys makes good stuff.

Once you've been to Socketcom's site,you'll have a lot better idea of what is available. You may find competing products that are lower in cost. At some point "penny wise, pound poor" kicks in.
:P

imarollingstone · 12-26-02, 01:06 PM

Well here is the scoop from Verizon.
You can use their Mobile Office. With this option, you use the minutes from your phone plan. You have to be on their network for it to work, but they do have the largest network. (The connection is only 14.4 K with this option). They also have the Express Network which is faster, but very limited in coverage).

Connecting the Axim and Phone is a issue. They suggested two methods. Bluetooth, which requires a Bluetooth device on both the PC and the Phone or an adapter for PCMCIA card. Of course there is not an adapter available for the Axim. If an adapter became available for the PCMCIA card, you could use this set up with the proper cabling.

Since this is not available, I found a thing called a Digital Phone Card (DPC) available from http://www.socketcom.com/. I think I'm going to purchase one of those and give it a go. Verizon wasn't real sure they could get it to work, but it's a lot cheaper than purchasing a new bluetooth capable phone without a new plan.

It won't be fast, but it will be pretty close to Nationwide, and not have any additional cost for service.

I'll let you know if I get it to work. The folks at Verizon were pretty helpful, once I got to the correct department. You need to speak with the Mobile Web department.

dswolves2@yaho · 03-05-07, 12:19 PM

I have an Axim X50v and I'd like to use it to access the web by using my cell phone. I have alltel. Do I have to have special software? The cable isn't an issue especially since I have a Razr so it's just a miniusb cable. Alltel put me on the unlimited data service. They don't charge full price (as if you were operating a desktop or laptop computer) I just don't know if there is a software that I need??? the software that they sent me looks like it's for a desk/lap top computer, it doesn't mention PDA anywhere. Can somebody please help me!?!?!