I'm a Unix sysadmin who enjoys fishing and the outdoors. I frequently spend time far away from the comfort of my broadband connection, yet still have to periodically respond to pages for downed services. Nearly everything I need to do can be done over an ssh connection, even at 14.4 kbps.
What I'd like is a way to connect my sharp zaurus 5600 pda to a cell phone and configure it to use dial up networking through a standard PPP connection (*not* using my provider's fee based data service). I currently have a Motorolla v60s with verizon in the Buffalo, NY area. Connecting my laptop to it through the data/usb cable and using PPP works fine, but carrying a laptop several miles up a creek isn't feasable. At one time, there was a device (AerLink NPC or Socket DPC) that would connect to the compact flash slot of the zaurus and do exactly this, but they seem to be impossible to find now (if anyone has a line on one, please let me know.)
Not only do I have a full year left (out of two) on my Verizon contract, but I also took over my father's phone when he passed away and I moved back to town & since then I've been sharing the plan with my family. I'd prefer not to pick up a new phone at the "discounted" rate from Verizon and be forced to extend the existing contract another two years (we've already extended it ~9 months when I joined by uping the minutes), so I'm entertaining the thought of buying a new phone outright if I can't solve the problem with my v60s. After the current plan ends, I'll most likely get my own plan again.
As for a new phone, I've gathered that Verizon is well known (amongst other things) for crippling a great deal of the capability of their phones, particularily bluetooth. Folks have successfully used bluetooth compact flash cards and the dial up networking capability of bluetooth with the zaurus and their (not necessarily verizon) phones. I've also seen in these forums there are certain verizon phones that can be unlocked to enable bluetooth DUN. One in particular that I've been eye-ing up is the LG vx8100.
The vx8100 doesn't appear to be purchasable through verizon's website anymore. Will verizon allow me to purchase one (or another CDMA compatible phone) through website X and use it on their network, or do they require it be purchased through them? If I can pick it up from outside verizon, I'd love to hear of good places I might be able to find one. The vx8100 v cast does appear to be purchasable through their website. From what I've read here and elsewhere, it looks like I wouldn't be able to do bluetooth DUN with the v cast version though - can anyone confirm?
I'm interested in other phones that might solve my problem, but am leaning towards the vx8100 since it's well supported under BitPim and I use linux almost exclusively. Aside from data capable and text messaging, I don't have many requirements (cameras and pda capability do not excite me...)
Any comments or suggestions are welcome - thanks in advance,
-Mark
What I'd like is a way to connect my sharp zaurus 5600 pda to a cell phone and configure it to use dial up networking through a standard PPP connection (*not* using my provider's fee based data service). I currently have a Motorolla v60s with verizon in the Buffalo, NY area. Connecting my laptop to it through the data/usb cable and using PPP works fine, but carrying a laptop several miles up a creek isn't feasable. At one time, there was a device (AerLink NPC or Socket DPC) that would connect to the compact flash slot of the zaurus and do exactly this, but they seem to be impossible to find now (if anyone has a line on one, please let me know.)
Not only do I have a full year left (out of two) on my Verizon contract, but I also took over my father's phone when he passed away and I moved back to town & since then I've been sharing the plan with my family. I'd prefer not to pick up a new phone at the "discounted" rate from Verizon and be forced to extend the existing contract another two years (we've already extended it ~9 months when I joined by uping the minutes), so I'm entertaining the thought of buying a new phone outright if I can't solve the problem with my v60s. After the current plan ends, I'll most likely get my own plan again.
As for a new phone, I've gathered that Verizon is well known (amongst other things) for crippling a great deal of the capability of their phones, particularily bluetooth. Folks have successfully used bluetooth compact flash cards and the dial up networking capability of bluetooth with the zaurus and their (not necessarily verizon) phones. I've also seen in these forums there are certain verizon phones that can be unlocked to enable bluetooth DUN. One in particular that I've been eye-ing up is the LG vx8100.
The vx8100 doesn't appear to be purchasable through verizon's website anymore. Will verizon allow me to purchase one (or another CDMA compatible phone) through website X and use it on their network, or do they require it be purchased through them? If I can pick it up from outside verizon, I'd love to hear of good places I might be able to find one. The vx8100 v cast does appear to be purchasable through their website. From what I've read here and elsewhere, it looks like I wouldn't be able to do bluetooth DUN with the v cast version though - can anyone confirm?
I'm interested in other phones that might solve my problem, but am leaning towards the vx8100 since it's well supported under BitPim and I use linux almost exclusively. Aside from data capable and text messaging, I don't have many requirements (cameras and pda capability do not excite me...)
Any comments or suggestions are welcome - thanks in advance,
-Mark