- Re: P910 as modem

- Re: MCU (4 Prar)

- Re: batteries # 633

- Internet Access on Psion 5mx

- 7Book

- Re: 7Book

- Mobile Connectivity Update, Copying Contacts,

Date: 11 Nov 2004 23:58:55 +0000
From: Rolf Brunsting <address truncated>
Subject: Re: P910 as modem

Dear Itamar,

<< As Rolf explained, there is a problem using the P910 as a modem in that you need to tell it somehow in the init string that you want to use the internet and not WAP or another service >>

I'm very sorry, Itamar, but where in my message can you read that there's a problem with the P910 when you use it as a modem? Nor did I say that you have to use an initialisation string in which you refer to the mobile network's APN. You *can* do that but don't *necessarily* have to do that.

You can treat a GPRS phone as you would treat a modem of GSM phone by creating a modem definition on the Psion. And the definition requires one or more initialisation strings that tell the modem or mobile phone how it should behave. In case of a GPRS phone you need to instruct the mobile network what type of connection you want to make. And you do that by telling the network how the connection should be routed.

Now, most GPRS phones have a WAP browser on board. I actually don't know of a GPRS phone that comes without a WAP browser. Though you're not controlling the phone externally (from a Psion or other computer) the network still needs to know how the data should be routed to and from the phone's WAP browser. And as the P910 comes with an e-mail client and a web browser you need to tell the network how this type of data should be routed. Meaning that the information you supply it via an initialisation string when using the Psion's e-mail client should be programmed inside the P910. The people behind GPRS have made this information available for external devices. Result is that a Psion (or other computer) can instruct the P910 to make the connection using it's own settings. Which saves you programming the same information on the Psion in the form of an initialisation string.

<< I checked on the internet  various forums and found that if you want to use it as a modem for a PC you have to use an extra init string +cgdcont=1,"ip","internet" >>

Such commands are mobile network operator specific.

<< Is anyone using the P800/900/910 as a modem with their EPOC machine to use the GPRS ?  If yes, what are your settings ? >>

I'm using my P800 as a wireless GPRS modem. However, it's useless to give you my settings as these tell *my* mobile network operator how it should route the data, not yours.

<< Can anyone understand the above mentioned init string for a PC and translate that to something useful on the mBook ? >>

+CGDCONT=[cid],[PDP_type],[APN],[PDP_addr],[data_comp],[head_comp]

The command specifies the parameters for a so-called Packet Data Protocol Context. The parameters are as follows.

cid
The context identifier - a number from 1 to 32.

PDP_type
Packet Data Protocol Type - a string parameter which specifies the type of packet data protocol. Use "IP" for Internet Protocol or "PPP" for Point to Point Protocol.

APN
Access Point Name - a string parameter, which is a logical name that is used to select the GGSN or the external packet data network.

PDP_addr
PDP address - a string parameter that identifies the MT in the address space applicable to the PDP.  If the value is null or omitted, then a value may be provided by the TE during the PDP startup procedure or, failing that, a dynamic address will be requested.

data_comp
A numeric parameter that controls PDP data compression : 0 = off (default if value is omitted), 1 = on, other values are reserved.

head_comp
A numeric parameter that controls PDP header compression : 0 = off (default if value is omitted), 1 = on, other values are reserved.


Your +CGDCONT=1,"ip","internet" therefore means that the context identifier is 1, the type of protocol to be used is the Internet Protocol and the access point name for the (external) network is "internet". As no additional parameters are specified the PDP address will (most likely) be a dynamically assigned address while both data compression and header compression are switched off. In plain text,
what the command does is to tell the GPRS phone to make a connection with the Internet via an access point called "internet".

<< At the website of Vodaphone it says that the APN must be "internet". What is the APN ? >>

The mobile network operator is free to give its access points any name it likes. Vodafone UK apparently found it logical to give its Internet access point the name "internet". Orange in France uses "orange.fr",
for example.

<<  Can you set that on an EPOC machine or do I hit here an incompatibillity due to the age of the mBook ? >>

You can as +CGDCONT=1,"ip","internet" is an initialisation string. In other words, create a modem definition like:

Name : P910 GPRS VodaUK
Speed : 115200
Connect : Infrared
Fax class : Auto

Init (reset) : AT+CGDCONT=1,"ip","internet"
Data : [Blank]
Fax : [Blank]

Flow control : RTS/CTS
DSR/DTR : [Unchecked]
DCD : [Unchecked]
Type : Mobile

Note no. 1:
You're going to make an Internet connection via Vodafone UK, meaning that your ISP is Vodafone UK. You therefore need to create an Internet definition on the Psion for Vodafone UK (Control Panel -> Internet -> New). And the number you specify as the "Standard dial-up number" is *99***1#. The "1" in this number refers to the context ID of "1" in the Init (reset) string above.

Note no. 2
I mentioned that you could also refer to the context parameters as programmed in the P910. Well, that's what *99***1# also does. When you have but one GPRS definition programmed in the P910 it will have received the context ID of 1. Change the Init (reset) string to ATZ (= Reset) in the modem definition above and simply use *99***1# in your Internet definition.

Note no. 3
It's possible that the above modem definition results in an Etelserver error. This indicates that the EPOC Release 5 build of your MalayBook can't handle AT+CGDCONT=1,"ip","internet" because it has too many characters. I understand that this has been corrected in the latest build version.

---
Kind Regards,
Rolf Brunsting - Darp - Netherlands

Date: 12 Nov 2004 17:37:05 +0000
From: Jack <address truncated>
Subject: Re: MCU (4 Prar)

To: PRAR ...>>>somebody mentioned "Mobile Connectivity Update 2.00", my 5mx claims to have "Mobile Connectivity Update 1.10", should I be upgrading? Where do I get the upgrade?<<<
Re:
http://www.mgmcc.myby.co.uk/Series5_frame2.htm
Jack

Date: 12 Nov 2004 22:15:32 +0000
From: Alan Morris <address truncated>
Subject: Re: batteries # 633

Vlad A <address truncated> wrote:-

> I did some reading then made an experiment: I recharged four
> alkali primary AA batteries in a Varta slow (overnight)
> charger. After the 14 hr cycle the charger times for
> rechargeables, they were at 1,4 V from 1,19 V; they didn't
> get hotter than rechargeables. I'll see how long they last in
> the camera. (wasn't last that long when they were new...).
> Btw, how strong would an explosion be? Would it blow out the
> wall, the socket, or just the seams of the cell? Would it
> fill the house with toxic stuff? vlad

Vlad I first learnt about recharging primary cylindrical cells of the AA type of construction over 40 years ago.  It was then known as 'dirty DC' charging.

Selenium rectifiers were used in those days.  They looked like square metal sheets bolted together in the centre with spacers.  Unlike silicon diodes they had a very high leakage current.  A transformer with a suitable output winding was rectified in a half wave circuit by a selenium rectifier and applied to a primary battery.  In my case generally a D cell, used in cycle lights.

The leakage current was not high enough so a resistor was put in parallel with the rectifier.

By regular use of dirty DC charging it was possible to extend the life of a D cell significantly, without perforating the layers inside the cell.

These days the layers are much thinner so this method would not be so useful, but now we can buy rechargeable.

I'm not sure about 'toxic stuff', but selenium rectifiers were known to emit toxic fumes when they burnt out!

--
Alan R Morris, G4ENS.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.
Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

Date: 13 Nov 2004 14:29:37 +0000
From: Larch <address truncated>
Subject: Internet Access on Psion 5mx

Can someone give me an "idiot's guide" to getting online?I have a Psion 5mx and two mobiles one of which is an Alcatel the other a Motorola. Both have modem and IR. I understand that I would also need something like Opera as a browser. What do I have to do to use these to get me on line and is there a UK ISP I can use?Any help gratefully accepted!
Larch

Date: 13 Nov 2004 15:55:33 +0000
From: Ian Chapple <address truncated>
Subject: 7Book

Well, I succumbed to temptation and made my first ever purchase from eBay; a netbook personality module. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem, in that it doesn't seem to be able/willing to drive my Buffalo WiFi card. Does anyone know of a sure-fire way to determine if a Series 7 motherboard is capable of supplying enough current to the PC-Card slot? The slot itself works, as I have tested it with my CF-Adapter, so I'm assuming that I've either set something up wrong, or the 7 is sufficiently old that it's not capable of handling the stress of driving a WiFi card. If this is true, it makes the idea of having a 7Book as a netbook replacement something of a non-starter...

Cheers, Ian.

Date: 13 Nov 2004 17:25:53 +0000
From: Ian Chapple <address truncated>
Subject: Re: 7Book

Regarding my earlier posting about my new 7Book. It seems that some of my WiFi settings hadn't been saved after I'd changed them, which was why it didn't want to co-operate. Having changed the settings again, everything works fine.

Cheers, Ian.

Date: 13 Nov 2004 18:36:22 +0000
From: Itamar Engelsman <address truncated>
Subject: Mobile Connectivity Update, Copying Contacts,

Answer to: PRAR

Re.: Mobile Connectivity Update - AFAIK the 5MX does not need the Mobile Connectivity upgrade at all and you should really delete it (unless others write differently in the digest). It wa smeant for the S5 to fix some problems. I don't have it on my mBook either.

Answer to: Marcus

Re.: Copying Contacts - Very interesting indeed. I did what you asked and created a completely new contacts file. You know what ?  There is only one field for the address on the mBook and not separate fields for Home address, Home city, Home p'code and Home country and that is probably where the problem lies. I copied the file from my 5MX where it might be different, I don't know anymore. Any infor anyone froma 5MX ?



Best regards,
Itamar Engelsman
London, UK