Nokia Data Cables

Frequently Asked Questions for Nokia Data Cables

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Q: What is data cable?
Data cable is a hardware to connect your phone with PC for communication trough COM port. Just as cable printer, a hardware to connect your printer with PC. Cables for mobile phones are connect via Serial RS-232, LPT1 DB25 printer cable or USB.

Q: What is Nokia Flasher Cable?
As it names applied. This cable is intended for flashing Nokia phones which long time been impossible to do. Thanks to GSM expert, Mr. Dejan Kaljevic who made this low cost device and simple design available. Just for you information, in order to flash Nokia phone before, a Nokia TDF-4 box that cost around US$20.000 is needed. Nokia Flasher Cable communicate with your PC trough LPT port instead of COM port as it is with regular data cable. How to use? Click here for more info. Attention!!! this cable is not intended to be used with Logo Manager, only for servicing.

Q: What data cable can do?
The beauty of data cable is it can do everything possible since it is software driven. From faxing or surfing the Internet until editing your SIM card content or phone's feature. That's include changing logo and ringtones on several phones that support those funtions, changing version, languages, upgrade, downgrade firmware, etc. All depends on Softwares.

Q: Can data cable be used for service purposes?
Every cellular phone uses hardware in form of IC with spider legs called Eeprom IC. This is the place where data is kept just as your computer hard drive. Without it your phone will not be able to functioning as it should be. Data such as IMEI number, menu function, etc are kept mostly in the Eeprom IC, but for security purposes could be copies at flash too and in addition it's necesary to calculate a checksum code if this information change.

Phone damage generated from incorrect data such as phonelock, security code, Nokia contact service, wrong software and wrong card messages, upgrade software data (by example convert from 3310 to 3315 with logo editing menu and other options, 6210 to 6250 or 8210 to 8250), IMEI number changed, etc would be able to be fixed by using data cable and appropriate software.

People use Eeprom Programmer hardware to access Eeprom IC data before. Disadvantages from this method is that there much more risk that you break your phone, because is needed to pull your Eeprom IC out from phone for programming. By taking the Eeprom IC out from phone, data such as IMEI number will be changed automatically to indicate that phone has been serviced.

With data cable, all disadvantages are eliminated. Access to Eeprom IC data could be done without opening the phone's housing or changing the IMEI number. Just like you charge your phone, you plug data cable in the same way.

Q: What are Security Code, Phone Code, SP Lock, SIM Lock, etc.?
Basically every phone equipped with features to lock its function so that users won't be able to use the phone for calling or even just to browse the menu.

Security Code and Phone Code or Phone Lock is just the same term and meaning. If your phone ask this code, it means that the security function to use the phone is active. For Siemens, if you put your code wrongly for 3 times, the phone will enter to "Phone Disable" mode in which you need to send your phone to dealer.

SP Lock or Service Provider Lock is a security features for not being able to use the phone with different operator. Most operator trying to make money by keeping its customer stay connected. So, they will try to sell you a cheap cellular phones and in return you need to sign up for their services. How do they sure that you won't switch to another operator after buying their phone at cheap prices? They will lock your phone to your SIM CARD. Meaning, you will be able to use the phone as long as you use their SIM CARD. If you insert another operator SIM CARD, a message saying "wrong card", "insert correct card", or "SIM blocked" will shows on your phone's screen.

Our Data Cable is the safest and most efficient way to solve unlocking problems. By connecting you phone to your PC and use the specific GSM programs, you will be able to manages your unlocking needs.

Q: Can i do the with a cable same as with Infrared or Bluetooh?
No. Service functions like unlock, flashing, change languages, etc. at the moment it's only possible with cables. However you can connect to internet, change logos, send/receive SMS, etc using Infrared conection.

Q: What's different between FBUS & MBUS?
The FBUS has two pins for Transmitting and receiving data. The MBUS has one pin for bi-directional data transfer. When some of the components inside the mobile phone are changed, they need to use the MBUS. Only Nokia Data Cable has both FBUS & MBUS which are according to the pin out name.

Q: How many kind of data cable?
For nokia there are 4 kinds, FBUS, MBUS & both FBUS & MBUS and Nokia Flasher cable. But Generally there is 2 type of cables data transmission or service cables. Some times this cables are the same for other mobile phones models.

Q: Does MBUS be the same as M2BUS?
For most mobile phone there are only one or two bus (FBUS & MBUS) cables, so MBUS is same as the M2BUS for softwares such as Wintesla or Winlock, particularly the Nokia.

Q: What's the speed of transmitting for F/MBUS data cable?
With GSM Usually, 9.6K to 14.4K depends on the service operator company. With GPRS you can get 50 Kb/seg.

Q: What's the application range of the data cable?
Most people use data cable for servicing phones such as changing IMEI or open phone lock as well as SIM lock. Others use it for fun such as changing mobile phone screen logo, typing SMS from PC keyboard, designing unique ringtone, etc. For people on the move, they use data cable for faxing, browsing the Internet, emailing, etc. Now you can customize your nokia phone including menus, all prebuild ringtones, fonts, etc. You can find more info at Nokia Flash Reverse Electronic Engineering: http://NokiaFREE.org

Q: Could fax and data function of data cable be used at any time?
The user needs to register for enabling Mobile Fax and Data Service from their specific carrier/operator. After that, user can play the online & fax function.

Q: Where can I get the software?
User can download service software from Nokiafree.org. If you need modem software you can download from nokia.com except Nokia data suite that is a commercial product only necesary for old nokia models like 5110, 6110 and compatibles.

Q: What’s the features of Logo Manager software?

1. Changing the welcome logo when you first turn the phone on
2. Changing the operator logo displayed on standby mode
3. Changing Screen Saver pictures (if applicable)
4. Editing the caller group icons
5. Sending new ringtones
6. Editing and managing your SIM card contents
7. Sending text messages
8. Sending logos and picture messages to your friends via SMS
9. Accessing the Network Monitor menu (hidden menu that displays lots of technical info on your phone), etc.

You can purchase at ucables.com

Q: What's the minimum computer specification platform for most programs?
Windows 95/98 & Windows NT 4.0 with Service Packs 3. There should be at least 15MB of free disk space and make sure there are no MS-DOS running on installation. Note that if you use Nokia flasher cable it will not works under NT4, windows 2000 or XP. You need to use windows 98 or millenium.

Q: How to connect Nokia 3210, 3310, 8310, 6510, 5210, 5510 datacable as there is no plug externally?

Open the back side housing and fit it as shown below.

Q: Can i use connect to internet with Nokia 3210, Nokia 3310 or Nokia 3390?
No. This phones has been not designed to connect to internet. You can use NK-32 and NK-33 cables repectively, but this cables only allow to change logos, send / receive short messages or use in service mode to unlock, repair, change imei, etc.

Q: What is DAU-9P, DLR-3 or DLR-2 data cable?
DAU-9P is the original nokia reference for the first and most popular data cable released, this cable is FBUS and MBUS. It works for 51XX and 61XX nokia series. This cable could be used in MBUS mode with 6210, 6310, 7110 nokia phones. You can find it at ucables with reference NK-567
DLR-3 is type of data cable Nokia 6210, 6310, 7110 and compatible series. You can find it at ucables with reference NK-71
DLR-2 is for Nokia 9110/9210/9290 to be able to communicatice with PC for faxing or connecting to Internet. The use of DLR cable is limited, and can NOT be use for servicing phones as the cable is equivalent to FBUS type (most service program needs MBUS type cable). If you need an MBUS cable for 9110, 8210 or 9290 you can find at ucables with reference NK-91

DAU-9P, DLR-3 and DLR-2 are official nokia cables and they are the unique cables that you can get originally from nokia, however there is another nokia phones that can use data cables and that nokia is not selling to the public, only to oficial nokia service centers ( SAT ), you can find OEM cables from ucables.com by example as NK-8, NK-32 or NK-33 data cables.

Q: Where can i buy quality cables?
You can to buy at http://ucables.com, he offers guaranteed cables and your will receive by DHL very fast and cheap.

Q: I want to change logos and ringtones using my nokia cable, where can i find free logos and ringtones for my nokia?
You can find thouthands of logos and ringtones at: http://ucables.com/ulogos and http://ucables.com/ringtones/

Q: Where can i find guides to unlock, flash or repair mobile phones?
When you make your purchase at ucables.com you will receive an username and password that will give you access for 3 months to the members area where you can find all guides, docs, faq and information about how to use data cables to unlock, flash, repair, change imei, change languages, upgrade, downgrade, etc. You can check it at ucables members area

Q: Can you tell me what cable reference i need to use with my nokia phone model?
You can check compatibility list of nokia cables here. If you need to know for other mobile phones you can check cable wizard at ucables.com

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DAU-9 datacables For Nokia

You spent a lot of money on a Nokia dataphone, and nokia was so costive that it didn't put a cable into your box? - Then this site might be for you!

Allmost all DAU-9(P) circuits and descriptions on the web orginates from a Chech-Hacker. This circuit derives power from two pins of the serial port with a 7805/78L05. The 7805 requires, that the input Voltage is at least 2V higher than the output-voltage (makes 7V). Than there are Diodes to get only the positive Voltage so, summing it up means, that the serial port has to deliver at least 7,7 V for the circut to work.

This is not true for most Notebooks, since their signals are 5,5 - 6,5 V in most cases.
Some Vendors use Zehner-Diodes to get 5V, but this may draw to much power from the serial port. My solution is, to use a 7802 and omit the 3 diodes. My tests showed, that 7802 really delivers about 2,5V which is perfect for Nokia phones, since the digital high-level is defined between 2.0 and 2.8 V on a 6110. This is slightly below the recommended max3232 voltage, but at least with the original max-IC it is working.

FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY

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Nokia 51xx/61xx Datacables

Simple data cable for Nokia mobile phones

This is a simple project for one winter night when you have nothing better to do. Parts will not cost all that much, so you will save money by building the cable yourself. This also works with everything I tried on my 6150 phone.

The original schematics was based on MAX232 which could use 3V zeners on FBUS lines. I opted for 3232 instead. Also, diodes were expensive Schottky diodes in orignial but most anything works just as well.

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USB cable-Samsung A500

Samsung A500 et. al.

Modified USB cable to make it capable of charging a mobile phone.

The new beta version of PDANet (download it from http://www.palmgear.com) is much faster: I now get 14-15KB speed constantly!!! This is way faster than the 6KB I used to get with PDANet 2.0. I no longer miss the highest speed that only Samsung phones could offer. Actually, this new beta version is faster than Samsung phones.

First of all, it is a decent phone with a decent speakerphone. Superb reception and crystal clear sound. It does not show many signal bars though, but even with no bars at all, voice and data are still very stable. All the vision phones I tried (A500, N400, 5350, 4900, 5300) were simply not stable enough and all should go back to their manufacturers. It is light and thin enough, very easy to use too, and I see no reason why one cannot use it as his/her primary phone. Its built-in keyboard simply works (writing with a stylus is a joke) and you can really do email on it. Web browsing is now a reality - very fast, all websites (yes, not just few WAP sites) are accessible and all pages are well readable (no left-right scrolling). Even if you don't need a PDA, please still give it a serious consideration because it is not just a PDA + phone, it is revolutionary. This thing lets you enjoy all the SPCS's $40 unlimited vision plan could offer, anywhere, anytime. I know the T-Mobile $40 plan is also "all you can eat", but its speed is no compare and you cannot use the SideKick as a modem. Yes, you can use the Treo as a hi-speed wireless modem (see tips below). I never liked Palm or PocketPC, but this Treo is really a cool thing. It is powered by Palm OS and runs all Palm programs. It does much more. Never ever think it as plain PDA + phone. It is itself, it is a communicator. For example, I can now read Chinese websites and do telnet on my palm. For the first time in human history, now you can have the entire world in your palm. Other smart phones may seem more attractive, but I wonder they ever come close to Treo's backlit keyboard, superb reception, thoughtful design and solid reliability, and SPCS's high speed and affordable voice/data service.

Some tips for Treo 300 (more to be updated constantly, so check it back):

	Download the "ButtonsT" from www.palmgear.com. This add-on to Prefs allows you to customize more buttons, including opt+buttons, jog button and lid switch. This is a must, because Treo by default always switches to phone mode when you lift the lid.
	You may find it is annoying that Treo always defaults to speed dial page in phone mode. Actually this reveals one of the very thoughtful designs found in Treo. You can simply press a name or phone number right from there and Treo will automatically go to phonebook first and, if you keep entering the phone number, then go to dial pad. What a thoughtful design! You can also press the phone button continuously to switch between speed dial, dial pad, phonebook and call history. But some software (e.g. Today) may disable this function and you have to change the buttons to defaults in Prefs to bring this function back. If you hold the phone button, it goes to voicemail. Also in phone mode, you don't have to press the opt button first to get, say, "*", "#", "1" - "9", etc. Just press "T" and you get "*".
	ClockPop is another must. Most Treo programs hide the clock and other information. With ClockPop, you can hold the Telephone button and see these information and more.
	Unlike other vision phones, automatic clock sync is not enabled by default. Enable it in Prefs (click Set Time)
	For email, get the free Eudora Internet Suite. This suite also includes a web browser which works much better than Blazer but no graphics. For web browsing, get the Xiino. It is significantly faster and responsive than the built-in Blazer. It supports almost all websites including eBay and PayPal and java scripting, forms, frames, etc. It shows Chinese websites very nicely too, just select the right Chinese character set (you still need a Chinese OS like CHOS though). If you are a Chinese, get the CHOS (http://www.waterworld.com.hk), lunarcalendar (a Lunar calendar) and MKFestvl (marking Chinese festivals to your date book).

	There is no dedicated home button (it is Option + Menu). Changing the web browser button to home button makes your life much easier.
	To turn on/off the keyboard backlight, double-press the power button.
	To use your Treo as a modem, get either the WirelessModem from www.notifymail.com or the PalmNet from www.palmgear.com. The former works for everything except USB under Windows; the latter works only for USB under Windows. What a combination!
	If your laptop runs Windows 2000 or XP and has a IrDA port, find the IrCOMM2K so you can do hotsync and WirelessModem via IrDA and get rid of any cable.
	If you were a PocketPC user and liked that welcome screen listing your appointments, tasks and unread email, Today is one of these that do that on Palm.
	On eBay, you can find "peakcloudy" selling two must-have accessories for only $10/ea. One is a USB hotsync & charging cable, which uses USB port to power/charge Treo and has a hotsync button like the original cable - very handy. The other is a battery extender / charger, which uses 4-AA batteries. Buy these two from his eBay store to save you few bucks on shipping. The 4-AA battery case was a long one and I replaced it with a square one so I can attach it with Velcro to the back of Treo. I also added a 9V connector so both my Treo and super mini amp can share this battery case and a RadioShack 6V adapter (273-1763, yes this tiny adapter has far more power than Treo's charger). With four Lenmar 2000mAh rechargeable batteries, I can have my Treo with me all the time and never again need to plug it to wall for charging. I did find a little problem though: when the 4-AA batteries drained out (down to about 3.6-3.7V) and you see the Treo light turn from steady green or red to not steady, unplug it or remove the batteries; or your Treo will crash.

You see, Treo 300 is far more flexible, powerful and useful than other vision phones. The designers are very thoughtful. Almost all the software mentioned above are free from www.palmgear.com. I know the Treo 300 itself and all these add-ons cost a lot more than a vision phone. But, these one-time payments worth the money because they allow you to use fully the service you pay for at least $40 every month. Like in the old days, considering the cost for film and film developing, it made sense to buy a good camera instead of a cheap one. The only thing I miss about A500 is its constant 144K downloading speed I was almost always able to achieve! With Treo, I get around 50K mostly.

The Original Article

CDPD is slow (14.4K) but it was the only choice for unlimited nation-wide wireless data. I hate any data service that's charged by KB or minutes. I never really consumed much data, I just cannot surf the Internet and meanwhile count the minutes or KBs I consumed.

This summer, Sprint PCS upgraded their network to CDMA2000 and started to offer unlimited hi-speed wireless data connection, the Vision plan, for only $10 a month.

Don't be misled by the name, "Vision" is not about sending pictures or watching video with your cell phones (you can though), it is just a fancy name SPCS gives to its CDMA2000 network, which is capable to provide 144 kbps wireless data in addition to normal voice. Based on my test, the speed is real - 10 times that of CDPD. Even better, it is only $10 per month for all you can eat. As far as I know, no any other wireless providers offer anything that's even close to this, thanking to SPSC's advanced and efficient network. So, if you want high speed wireless, look no further and get SPCS's vision plan now. For $30 a month, you get 300 minutes anytime voice, and unlimited data for extra $10.

The only choice left is the phone. Unfortunately, the CDMA2000 network is still too new and the new vision-enabled phones that can deploy its full features are all very buggy. The current vision-enabled phones are: Samsung N400, A500, LG 5350, Sanyo 4900, 5300.and Hitachi P300. There are vision enabled PDAs too, but you know I never liked any PDAs because I have my Libretto. For all above phones except the P300, you can buy a USB cable from Radio Shack for just $19.99. See my this post for more details. If you're not so sure which phone to pick up, you can't go too wrong with a A500. It is the only phone for which SPCS has never offered a rebate yet, which means it has the least problems compared to other vision phones. It is the smallest and lightest. It has the best color screen (the only phone that features a TFT screen). Its reception is very good too and it holds signal even steadier than the 4900 which is considered to have the best reception. Although it does not show as many signal bars as the 4900 does, if it gets only one bar, it holds that bar very well. Its battery life is actually decent - it continues to work for quite a while even there is only one battery bar left while other phones including 4900 (which is considered to have the best battery life) shut off soon after two bars. It is stylish and sexy, with full features such as voice recognition for voice dialing. Just say a phone number, or a phone book entry, it'll dial the number for you (save you couple dollars a month for the SPCS voice dialing service and maybe your life too). If you live in northern California, buy cell phones in the Staples at Woodland, they have incredible prices. They sell A500, for example, for $179 and 5350 for $75.

There are much more details to add if I'll have time. But for those who have been looking for such a thing, the information above is enough and they can easily figure out the rest from www.sprintusers.com. Many techies like me are not talkies, but it is nice for them to have a cell phone just in case. If the phone can do more than just voice, such as wireless Internet, then they can really get some use of the $40 per month and they go straight to SPCS without a second thought.

Now the fun part. All USB cable do not charge the phone but it is easy to let them to. All you need is a Schottcky diode and a USB cable from Radio Shack for your phone. Solder the positive end of the diode to the red wire found in the connectors. For A500 and N400, solder the other end to the empty pin at the most left. See the left picture below (replace the pink wire with the diode). For 4900 and 5300, pass the pin right to the red wire and solder the negative end of the diode to the next pin that has a heat-shrink tube. See the right picture below (replace the blue wire with the diode). Warning: do these on your own risk! Why charge the phone by USB? Computers and USB ports are everywhere. With such a thin USB cable, you no longer have to carry a bulky charger. Wireless data activities drain out phone's battery very quickly. With such a USB cable, you can power and charge the phone while you use it as a modem. The voltage of some computers' USB ports is lower than the specification (5V) and charging may stop too early. If this is the case, then try just use the wires (no diode) as showing in the pictures.

A very cool tip (thank sfhub): if you use the phone as a modem, the images will be re-compressed and they look horrible. If you use Internet Explorer, use Ctrl-F5 to bypass SPCS's proxy server which does the image re-compressing.

A side note for Libretto 100/110 users: To use the USB cable, you'll need a PCMCIA USB card. Go get the CompUSA USB 2.0 card for $50. Believe me, I have tried many of these USB cards including an Adaptec one, and this CompUSA one is the best - it is the smallest and it has never crashed yet. Yes, this card has a CompUSA brand name and you know I don't like CompUSA. Should be there a smaller or another trouble-free USB card, I would not have recommended this one.

How to connect a vision phone to a computer/laptop:

1) First you need a cable. Fortunately you can get a cable for any vision phone from Radio Shack for only $19.99, buy it online or in a local store. Note: the cable for Sanyo 4900 works the same for 5300; the cable for LG 5350 is actually a Prolific serial-to-USB converter. A true USB cable for LG 5350 can only be found in the $79 SPCS connection kit (you can still find one on eBay, but you'll have to pay $150 or more for such a simple cable).

2) You need a driver for the cable. You can download the driver from SPCS here:

http://205.137.195.84/servlet/Selectpage

Note that the downloading page is very confusing and you have to select the very correct one, or you'll be messed up. Select exactly the "Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP" for the "Select a platform" drop-down list and "PCS Connection Manger (SM) Software" for the "Select an item".

Then, don't install the downloaded CM - just extract the files. All the drivers are there. When you plugged in your phone and Windows asks you for the driver, point it to there.

For LG 5350, the drivers for the cable are not included in the downloaded CM. For the true USB cable, you can find the driver in the "(Vision) PCS Connection Manager (SM) Software for USB Cables and Airprime PC 3200 Ver. 01.01.022", downloadable from above link. For the Radio Shack $19.99 cable, you can download the Prolific driver from www.futuredial.com. If it is not a true USB cable, you also must change the phone setting from default USB to serial and set the speed to 115200. BTW, how to know if it is a true USB cable? Simple, a true USB cable does not have any box, which holds a serial-to-USB converter, in the middle of the cable.

3) You need a modem driver. For Samsung phones (N400 and A500), the modem driver is in the downloaded CM and Windows will ask you for it after the cable driver is installed. For all other phones, you have to manually add the "SPCS Software Modem". If you don't know how to do this, please do not ask me. Any computer geek can help you with that. If I spend my time to help everyone with very basic stuff, then you won't see things that only I can tell you here.

OK, that's all you need. Now simply add a new dialup connection. Nothing special except using "#777" as the number to dial and selecting the modem you installed in step 3). Enjoy, but please don't abuse it with MP3 downloading etc.

From above, you should have been able to conclude that LG 5350 is to be avoided. This is sad, because LG 5350 is indeed the best vision phone so far among others including the new Sanyo 5300. LG is screwed up by SPCS who pulled out the cable and, especially, the software for this great phone. SPCS also pulled out the cable for other phones, but you can still find them elsewhere (nowhere for LG true USB cable). If you use Internet stuff only on the phone (not using it as a modem), I still highly recommend LG 5350. If high speed laptop connection is the most important, then go A500 or N400. As you see above, Samsung phones have their own modem driver which allows 240K speed under both Windows XP and 2000. LG and Sanyo phones use Windows' built-in serial-port modem driver which limits the speed to 115200, at least under Windows 2000.

There is one more reason to avoid Sanyo phones (they have great reception though): although you don't have to disconnect for a call to come in (as long as no network activity at that moment), you have to disconnect the dialup connection before you can make a phone call out. With LG and Samsung, you can make phone calls anytime as long as there is no network activity - no that disconnect/re-connect hassle you have with a Sanyo or your landline modems. You can simply leave your LG or Samsung phones connected all the time. The phone is not always blocked (it turns into idle after few seconds) and you can still receive and make calls while you surf the Internet or check your email periodically. Meanwhile, when you do need a continuous connection, for example, while transfer an important document from your office desktop to your laptop, a come-in call won't break the connection.

Actually, there is even one more reason to avoid Sanyo phones. Unlike other phones that you can access a menu with number short cuts (e.g. press menu-9-4 on a A500, you can quickly access your memo pad), you have to scroll down all the menus to get a function. This really sucks! A500's PDA functions are so easy to access, even much more convenient than a PDA crap. Because it was so hard to enter or look up an entry on a normal PDA, I had never used a PDA longer than a week. Even if I somehow stored successfully an task into the task list, I never wanted to check that list later. If I could spend that much time and effort to store a task into the task list and spend even more to check the list, I would have used that time and effort to finish that task already! Now with an A500, I found that I've been really using PDA functions such as memo, task list and calendar. No need to mention the phonebook of course. A vision phone does them all plus it is a phone and an always-connected Internet, and it is easier, cheaper and smaller. Yes, inputting an entry into a phone with T9, is way quicker and easier than writing it into a PDA with a stylus pen. Furthermore, while you can do all the things with just one hand with a phone, you have to use two hands with a PDA. Add to it a small laptop like Libretto, you are all set. Repeat after me (in the tone of a cheer leader): throw away your PDA, and get you a vision phone!!!

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Data cable -Siemens S25

Siemens S25

Data cable for connection of a HP palmtop to a mobile phone

There are two ways to connect the HP DOS palmtop (100LX, 200LX, 700LX, 1000CX) to a mobile phone: via a data cable or via infrared. Regarding the infrared connection please read my EMI problem page and my phone features page!

If you want to connect your phone via a data cable to the HP LX, please read on.

The cable and circuit described here is suitable for most mobile phones which have a serial port. Originally it has been designed for the Siemens S25 phone (the pictures show that phone), but it works for many other models, too. Only the plug has to be adapted.

In most cases you can also use the original data cable which is available for your mobile phone. But there are several potential problems:

• You'll have to carry a bulky combination of cables aroud: The phone's data cable, the HP connectivity cable and a null modem adapter in between the two cables
• The original data cable may not work at all. This is because many cables (especially cheap ones available on ebay etc.) are powered by the PC's serial port. This works for standard PCs, but not with the HPLX, because the palmtop's serial port is not able to supply enough power to the cable. The cable described here is powered by the phone via its accessory power line.

Compare the bulky Siemens-HP cable combination
(on the left) with my self-made cable!

It may be necessary for you to reques data/fax services from your mobile network provider before you are able to use the mobile phone as a modem. If it is enabled, the phone / cable combination lets you use the phone as a regular modem (plus many GSM-specific features).

Making a data cable

What you need:

• 1 MAX3232 (I recommend the SMD package)
• 4 capacitors 0,1uF
• 1 capacitor 10uF
• 2 Z-diodes 2,7V
• a phone-side plug (I took mine from a cheap head set)
• the material for making a HPLX plug (see my HPLX serial port plug page)
• epoxy glue for covering the HPLX-plug that holds the electronics

I won´t describe the process in detail, I´ll only show you pictures of my cable. Please be creative!

First, the circuit diagram. I recommend that you download the picture and print it out because it may not be readable well enough in your browser. Note that the pin assignments on the right are only valid for a plug for Siemens S25/S35-family phones! For other pin assignments, please see the table below!

Circuit diagram

the parts for the HPLX plug and the circuit board

circuit board and MAX3232

MAX3232 soldered onto the circuit board

top and bottom of the circuit board with HPLX plug module attached and all wires except the cable to the phone.

working arrangment.

data cable covered with epoxy and plugged into the palmtop´s serial port

Getting a plug for your mobile phone / pin assignments

To get a plug which fits the port of your phone you have the following options:

• buy an accessory which comes with a full-wired plug and use that plug (cheap head sets for example)
• buy a single plug, a source in germany is for example www.handystecker.de.

The circuit diagram above shows pin numbers for only the Siemens S25/S35 plug. Use the following table to get the correct pin assignments for your plug:

pin name	Siemens S25 etc.	Ericsson T39m etc.
Rx	pin 6	pin 4
Tx	pin 5	pin 5
GND	pin 1	pin 10
Vcc	pin 4	pin 11

Following phones are pin compatible:

• Siemens S25, C25, S35, C35, S45... (probably more)
• Ericsson T39m, T68i, T68m, R520... (probably more)

Tips and Tricks

• The cable shown here does not have handshaking lines (RTS/CTS). Some mobile phones have these lines and expect them to work. With such a phone, you may have connection problems using the cable (buffer overflows, missing fax lines, lost data, timeouts...). Some phones have configurable handshaking behaviour. For example, the Ericsson phone T39m (and probably similar models, too) need the command AT+IFC=1,1 to disable their RTS/CTS lines and switch to software handshaking (XON/XOFF).
• Some phones have a fixed baud rate on their serial port. For example the Siemens S25, S35 and similar models are hard-wired to 19200 baud. Other phones, such as the Ericsson T39m, have an automatic speed detection. So take care about that when configuring your communication programs.
• An easy way to test if the cable basically works is to fire up the DataComm application of the palmtop, configure it to use COM1, 19200 baud (or 9600, 38400...) and send an AT command, for example ATZ. After pressing Enter, the phone should respond with OK. If it doesn't, something is wrong.

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