[massey]

Does anyone know any cell phones currently and adapter sets where you can dial up to an internet connection through a powerbook Ti2. Since I will only have a cell phone and still want to have an internet connection without paying huge amounts of money for broadband. I am trying to figure out how to attach the phone to the powerbook and which current phones can do this without damaging the powerbook. I know digital phone line can damage the modem port of a powerbook but I'm not sure if a digital cell phone will. Please help and advise from personal experience or knowledge, thanks in advance......

[BobVB]

Might depend on your phone carrier. I use Sprint and can connect my Samsung cellphone with a special serial cable to a serial to USB converter on my iBook (same converter I use for my Palm Sync bass). Sprint even has its own ISP number to call so you don't even have to connect through your own. Not the fastest connection, between 2400 - 56K, but ok for quick checks of email and the like.

[massey]

is it possible to use it as your primary internet connection, however, I heard of unstable connections and I'm wondering if I can get it to work at a stable rate of 56k...

[BobVB]

Originally posted by massey:
<STRONG>is it possible to use it as your primary internet connection, however, I heard of unstable connections and I'm wondering if I can get it to work at a stable rate of 56k...</STRONG>

Since it counts as usage in phone minutes I wouldn't even consider that. I just use it as a nice option for when on the road (generally lots cheaper than connecting via a motel/hotel phone.)

I just use it to access my mail via a free web access service like mail2web. Who can even stand to surf at even 56K anymore anyway?

[Diggory Laycock]

Use Infra-red - and a Nokia it's so simple you don't need any wires. Reliability of connection can vary depending on how good your reception is and how much traffic the mobile network is carrying at the time.

I have had a connection up for over an hour before (but not in London!)

However won't your calls be much more expensive on a mobile than a land-line?

N.b. I don't know what mobile standard is in use in the Bay Area, but I doubt it will carry data faster than GSM and GSM gets you *much* lower bandwidth than a 56k modem.

[Mr. Phelps]

Could you please explain how you are connecting through your Nokia? I am using OS X on a PowerBook G4 and a Nokia 8290. Heard it was easy but apparently not easy enough for those of us who are ignorant!!!

BTW, How did you get the UP TIME to display in your dock (and show in your signature)?

Thanks for the help!!!

[Màlum]

Originally posted by Mr. Phelps:
<STRONG>Could you please explain how you are connecting through your Nokia? I am using OS X on a PowerBook G4 and a Nokia 8290. Heard it was easy but apparently not easy enough for those of us who are ignorant!!!

BTW, How did you get the UP TIME to display in your dock (and show in your signature)?

Thanks for the help!!!</STRONG>

You can use your NOKIA or ERICSSON without any problems (or at least most models) via infrared.

Just choose in the Network pane Infrared and then choose your type of phone. That's it.

[Mr. Phelps]

True enough, I should have mentioned that in OS X there is no problem establishing a link to my phone via IrDA. The status bar shows "Connected (Nokia 8290)".

HOWEVER, the problem lies in making the connection to the ISP via the Nokia 8290. In OS X, there is no option to over-ride listening for a dial tone. After clicking on "Connect", the Mac responds with, "No carrier detected. Please check phone line connection and try again."

Am I going to be limited to OS 9.2 for the connection?

Help!!!

[Mr. Phelps]

I just tried it in OS 9.2 and it worked fine and was easy to do (as others mentioned above). Does anyone know how to get around the "dial tone" problem in OS X?

I must mention that one gets spoiled with DSL and begins to realize it when you are connecting at a snail's pace. Oh well, it's still 10^3.14 times faster than the post office :-)

[Màlum]

Originally posted by Mr. Phelps:
<STRONG>I just tried it in OS 9.2 and it worked fine and was easy to do (as others mentioned above). Does anyone know how to get around the "dial tone" problem in OS X?
</STRONG>

I haven't encountered that problem at all, neither for my Nokia 6210 nor my Ericsson T39.

[tonton]

Work-around for the "Don't wait for dial tone" issue in OS X is to choose a different Modem script (I forgot which one).