How to:- Connect XDA to an external modem [Archive]

XDABob

3rd August 2003, 11:19 PM

Sorry its taken so long to post the details on this one, but here goes!

HOW TO:- Connect your XDA to an external modem

Purchase an O2 XDA Hot Sync cable (2HT2B99N). The XDA end of this cable has a built-in connector for the mains power adapter, thus allowing you to charge your XDA whilst connected to a modem. The Hot Sync cable is in essence a Null Modem cable designed to link two computers together without actually using 2 modems. In this case one end of the cable is designed to connect to your XDA rather than a PC serial port.

In order to connect the XDA to a modem, it is necessary to connect the Hot Sync cable to an adapter which in turn connects to a standard modem cable designed to connect you're modem to a PC 9-pin serial port.

This adapter is a cable with a 9-pin male D type connector on both ends, with the appropriate pins connected. Having built this adapter, I now think that it is the same as 9-pin Male to 9-pin Male Null Modem Adapter which you can purchase from www.expansys.co.uk, or similar for a few quid!

To make the adapter, purchase a length of 4 pair cable, 2 x 9 way D type hoods, 2 x 9 way D type plugs (all available from Maplin or similar), and wire the plugs together as follows.

Cross pin 1 and pin 4 (DCD-DTR)
Cross pin 2 and pin 3 (RXD-TXD)
Cross pin 3 and pin 2 (TXD-RXD)
Cross pin 4 and pin 1 (DTR-DCD)
Connect pin 5 to pin 5 (GND-GND)
Cross pin 7 and pin 8 (RTS-CTS)
Cross pin 8 and pin 7 (CTS-RTS)
Connect the shield wire to the metal casing on both plugs. Leave any other wires un-connected (and safe from shorting).

Now connect the XDA, to the Hot Sync connector, the other end to one end of the cable/adapter, and the other end of the cable/adapter to the 9-pin female end of your modem cable. Finally connect the other end of the modem cable to your modem (which obviously needs to be connected to a phone line!). Is that enough connections?!

Switch on the modem, and your XDA should 'wake up'.

You now need to configure the modem/connection settings on your XDA.

Tap on Start, Settings, Connections Tab, Beam and remove the tick from the box 'Receive all incoming beams and select discoverable mode'. This will ensure that COM1 is not used by the Infrared port. Tap (ok).

Tap on Connections
Click on the 'down arrow' next to Internet Settings and tap New…
Enter an appropriate name, such as the name of your ISP, and tap on the Modem tab.
Tap on New…
Enter a Name such as the name of your modem.
Select ‘Hayes Compatible on COM1:' from the Select a modem drop down box.
Select the maximum Baud Rate (115200) from the Baud Rate drop down box. This is the speed that the XDA communicates with the modem, not the speed of the modem (such as 28k, 33k, or 56k), and so should be as high as possible.
You should not need to change the settings under the Advanced… button, so I won't detail them here.
Tap Next.
Enter the phone number for your ISP and tap Next.
On the final screen, enter any appropriate settings for phone/modem (if in doubt, leave as default), and tap Finish.
You will have returned to the Modem Connection Screen. Tap on (ok).You will return to the Connections screen. Select the newly created settings from the drop down box and click Connect.

Eventually, a Network Log On screen should appear. Enter the appropriate User name, Password, and Domain (if appropriate). You should be able to get these settings from your PC if you are going to use the same dial-up account.

Tap on OK

A message window should appear, detailing;

Connecting to: The Name you gave your modem
Dialing from: The dialing location (such as Home, Mobile, or Work)
Using: 'Hayes Compatible on COM1:

Dialing the number being dialed

The biggest problem I had at this stage, was getting the correct number dialled! It kept adding extra numbers as if trying to dial internationally. If this happens then you will have to alter the settings under dialing locations/the number entered in the connection settings. It maybe best, to disconnect the modem from the phone line until you get the correct number showing under 'Dialing'.

If your modem has LED Status Lights and/or a speaker then all being well, you should notice some activity. Eventually you should be connected/authenticated. You should now be able to browse with Pocket IE and send/receive email (although the later will require you to configure an account under Inbox if you haven't already got one).

Dropping the connection proved messy at first (I had to switch off the modem or the XDA). I have since discovered that if you have the XDA phone switched on, a 'Connection Active' Icon appears in the Navigation Bar, once your modem establishes a connection. You can tap on this Icon and end the connection that way. Much neater!

The process detailed here worked for me. If you choose to follow these instructions, you do so at you're own risk.