wireless mobile phone dialup access?

johnMG · 04-13-2004, 10:33 PM

I'd like to arrange a setup where I can use

1. my laptop,
2. some USB or maybe PCMCIA device, and
3. a cell phone / mobile phone

to access a standard dialup ppp account. Is this reasonably doable?

What sort of hardware is out there to get this setup to work? Do you need a special mobile phone -- perhaps with some specific connector / interface? Any tips/advice/links are appreciated.

Thanks.

xaxol · 04-14-2004, 01:02 AM

To connect a mobile phone to a linux laptop and use the phone as a modem is either use a digital data capable phone and a serial data cable or a Sierra Wireless AirCard 555 (PCMCIA). Sierra has un-supported linux drivers for the card. I have not seen a cell phone and USB cable work with a linux laptop.

johnMG · 04-14-2004, 12:36 PM

Thanks for the reply xaxol.

> I have not seen a cell phone and USB cable work with a linux laptop.

I was just thinking off the top of my head there. cell phone + anything + linux laptop is just what I figured it would take. I'd even heard something about a compact flash ("CF") card/device but know very little about how that would be useful for something like this.

I'll have a look around for "digital data-capable cell phones".

Hmm... the Sierra AirCard you mention.
http://www.sierrawireless.com/Produc...AC5551xRTT.asp
Nice. I didn't know you could get a mobile phone built right into a pcmcia card. :)

I'll hunt around for details from folks who've gotten this working (I'm currently just using the stock bf24 Debian kernel). If anyone has any links, please post.

johnMG · 04-14-2004, 12:43 PM

From the faq http://www.sierrawireless.com/Suppor.../faq_AC555.asp there's a link to a "technical resolution" doc http://mycusthelp.com/sierrawireless...ilC=&KEY=Linux

Anyone here gotten this working with reasonable effort?

xaxol · 04-14-2004, 01:20 PM

johnMG,

SocketCom has links to linux (Zaurus) drivers for different CF devices:
http://www.socketcom.com/ZaurusSharp.asp

Inluding Digital Phone Cards:
Two things noticed is the Hi-Speed DPC - Audiovox 9155 and Hi-Speed DPC - Kyocera 2235 which utilize the Verizon Wireless NationalAccess (average speed 40 - 60 kbps w/burst speeds of 144kbps) service