OESF Portables Forum

General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: tml on July 22, 2006, 05:19:23 am

Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: tml on July 22, 2006, 05:19:23 am: Hi,

Do you have any suggestions, advices, & experiences with using usb telephone modems? I'm looking for something with the form factor of the apple usb modem 56k[1] but would appreciate a lower price. I use the stock sharp rom (SL C3100). I assume the rom supports this type of device? Do people still use telephone modems? Any problem to be expected?

Regards,
Thomas.

[1] http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ge...LearnMore=MA034 (http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/germanstore?productLearnMore=MA034) (German store)
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: jfv on July 22, 2006, 11:22:24 am: I don't know about USB, but I have a CF modem which I use from time to time and it has always worked easily without any problems and these are now very cheap, at least in my neck of the woods.

Felipe
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: nilch on July 22, 2006, 12:52:24 pm: Same here - I sometimes (when theres no Wifi atround and a phone line is all I have) use my CF modem - just jack in the telephone connection into it and dial away to glory - albeit a slow one.
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: zmiq2 on July 24, 2006, 05:05:09 am: And connecting through modem is much cheaper and faster that using your bluetooth enabled phone!
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: Ferret-Simpson on July 25, 2006, 06:25:07 pm: Not really. If your phone supports GPRS you get ISDN (64kbps) if it has i-Mode (EDGE?) You get around 115kbps and as long as your bluetooth supports it, Don;t know if it does. . . ? a 3G phone will give you about 380kbps.

Faster? No.

Cheaper? Oh, Yes.

[span style=\'font-size:8pt;line-height:100%\']You can go to Churchill.com on the web too, yeah.[/span]

I have a CF GPRS CELL Modem. Saves on cables, extra devices etc. . But does costa fortunum.
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: nilch on July 26, 2006, 10:02:06 am: Even if my phone DOES support GPRS (or EDGE), don't I have to pay to get a GPRS data plan (apart from my voice plan) as an extra ?

I think most (or maybe all) US carriers charge seperately for data plans.
On the other hand with dial-up, there are providers who give plans for FREE.
Maybe a one-time registering fee (like I had a $10 fee with a provider), rest - free for the month.

That surely works out cheaper than using a mobile phone for data connectivity.

I really dont know about the bluetooth speeds - never having used one as yet.
Title: Usb Telephone Modem
Post by: Ferret-Simpson on July 29, 2006, 11:37:46 am: I've been on every network in the UK, and most of the french ones. . . In Europe you get a basic Data plan included, I get 1mb free/Month with my pay as you go simcard (Subject to topping up) and I pa about Â£2 to Â£3 for every additional Megabyte.

Several companies have "Data-Only" Tariffs where they give you between 250, and Unlimeted megabytes a month. . Vodafone's Data tarrffs: Â£25 a month, 250 free, Â£2.50 every MB after: Â£60, unlimited access.

But then you can't use them as a phone.

Only really good for a CF GPRS or 3G card, or if you have a spare phone you don't mind sacrificing in the name of Zaurus.