MODEM & COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
Internet Settings, International Travel, Faxing, etc.

This area is for Q&A relating to Velo hardware issues. Rather than trying to maintain a complicated list of inter-document bookmarks, please use the site search engine, or CONTROL+F to attempt to FIND a specific term on this page.

There are three main pages for HARDWARE ISSUES: GENERAL HARDWARE - RAM/ROM - COMMUNICATIONS

For info on cell connectivity, please read the CE FAQ

I want to know more about the AT commands for the software modem.

Here's everything you'll need to know about it - very technical.

With CE 2.0, CE Services 2.1, and IE 4.01, when I dock my Velo 1 or 500, it tries to connect to the Internet. It's driving me crazy!

I don't know why, but Microsoft seems to assume everyone has a persistent connection to the 'Net. If you do (I have a cable modem), this irritating problem never occurs. If you have dial-up, it will keep happening. There is no real "fix" for it - you can either go into your IE 4.01 settings and tell it that you're on a LAN, which will eliminate the auto-connect but force you to initiate 'Net connections manually, or you can get used to hitting cancel twice.

How can I speed up the CPU reaction time of the Velo 1 or 500 when it's on the net? Screen refreshes take forever, and I can't really use any other programs!

The CPU is cranking full-tilt to pretend it's a modem, so what you need to do is drop the modem speed back a notch. In the EXTRA SETTINGS section of your dial up networking properties insert this: s51=15f10%c0
This will drop your modem speed down to about 19.2 from 28.8, but you can do other things while downloading email or a web site.

I've just upgraded to CE 2.0 on my Velo 1 and I can't select the software modem when I create a new dial-up connection. What gives?

Every time someone has asked me this, it's always been because they forget to install the softmodem off the CE 2.0 CD-ROM. It's called a "software modem datapump" - and you need it.

When I dial into my RAS server running, and the both the modem and Velo 500 slow to a complete crawl - they're practically unuseable. What's going on? (thanks Mike)

How can I get onto the Internet with my Velo?

The best list of ISP settings for CE machines can be found on, you guessed it, Chris de Hererra's site. If it's not listed here, I'm afraid that I can't help. You'll have to try various settings, and if you get it to work, let Chris know and he'll add it to his page. Instructions for setting up your Velo for Internet access are in the manual; basically, just walk through the wizard to create a new connection.

Which ISP should I use to get national (US) coverage for both dial-up and POP3 email?

This is a tough call, but the best bet seems to be AT&T. The only problem seems to be with the passwords, but the email below explains it all. There are many other choices, so check this FAQ.

Dear Jason:

During the signup, I was apparently provided a master ID and password. Until I called AT&T, I didn't even know that they existed. If you will recall, if an existing Worldnet account holder wishes to install Worldnet software on a new PC, you are prompted to put in the floppy that contains the "account.txt" file. I opened that file on my PC and found the master ID and password. So, for someone to access the information themselves without having to call AT&T, the information is actually in that file. On my computer the file can be found in Worldnet/wns12/user/account.txt. The master ID is referred to as LoginName = (value), and the Password is simply called Password= (value).

The velo web page describes these also, but I misunderstood their request to input the login and password as being my user ID and email password. The login ID is apparently a nine digit entry, followed by @worldnet.att.net. The Password entry is also a fixed number of digits (15).

In response to your question about email, yes, once I put in these values, I had ABSOLUTELY No problem getting my internet access or email access. Everything worked beautifully!

Good Luck.
Richard

I'm on AOL? Can I connect to with my Velo?

The short answer is no.

The long answer is to get a "real" ISP - AOL is 100% proprietary and I doubt they'll ever port their connection package to Windows CE.

But here's an updated answer - YES, but it's not very easy. It involves using a DOS emulator and an old AOL DOS client. More details can be found here.

I'm going to be travelling through a forgein county with my Velo, but want to get email. What should I do?

An ISP like UUNET would likely be the best, or someone like IBM. Between the two of them, they likely have 80% of the world covered.

Networking and access of network resources. How can I do it?

"With the Network Client for Windows(r) CE, users can access shared file and print services with a Handheld PC running Microsoft(r) Windows CE 2.0. This can be done via any TCP/IP method that Windows CE supports, including Ethernet, remote access service (RAS), modem, IrDA, and serial connection."

Microsoft has released a mini-network client that isn't officially supported, but it allows you to browse network resources. You can read the excellent article written by Chris de Herrera on the MS site. Also be sure to check out his site with more networking info, which he updates very frequently. You'll need a V-module from Philips, and a NE2000 compatible network card from a place like Socket Communications.

I'm on MSN, but I can't connected or get my email! What's wrong?

To connect, use the following settings:

User: MSN/username
Password: password
Domain: leave blank

Server Assigned IP Address (checked)
Log on to network (checked)
Use software compression (checked)
Use IP header compression (checked)
Server assigned name server addresses (checked)

To get your email...wait a few months.  :-)

The sad truth is that MSN, even though they have moved over to a POP3 system, still isn't a "normal" POP3 system. Mid-1998 is the target date for CE compatibility. Until then you can either buy access to a normal POP3 account from a place like http://www.pop3.com (I've never used them - but they own the domain!) Their prices seem reasonable - about $5 a month. Your other option is to use Hotmail, especially since MSN just bought them. Access to MSN email via Hotmail will come soon enough!

I want to travel internationally with my US Velo 1? Any problems?

Philips can't really support all the communications issues that go hand in hand with world travel, but I can sure try! Listed below are the countries that the Velo 1 has been confirmed to work in. Keep in mind that you'll still need whatever standard adapters are required. This list is FAR from complete, so please help me to complete it. Email me with any experiences you have, including the ISP you used.

Can I receive faxes on my Velo 1?

bFax Pro works with the Velo software modem, giving you full send/recieve capabilities. This is included on the CE 2.0 ROM upgrade.

Go to http://www.bsquare.com/development/products/bFAX.htm for more information and on-line ordering.

I'd like to send a more complicated fax than the software on my Velo will allow!

The Nimble Fax is functional, but limited. CIC's Quicknotes integrates with bFax - you can ink notes in Quicknotes and then fax them using bFax.

What is GSM? What is the GSM VELO?
(Thanks to Troels Jakobsen for this great description!)

First GSM is a digital world wide (although not Japan US and Canada) mobile phone system, coverage on the same phone is possible from Australia to Europe. For a GSM phone to connect to a modem you need a compatible phone (most new GSM phone is data ready) and normally an additional contract with your GSM provider that allows data traffic, mostly at an extra cost. Speed is for the time being 9.600 baud. Later next generation GSM phones will support much higher speeds, these should be available late 1997 or beginning of 1998, but most providers will not change their net until year 2000 so until then the max. speed for the most people be 9.600 baud.

Philips confirms the following information: (as of March 1997)

The European version of the Velo 1 will not have a phone jack but instead have a GSM link (plugs in where the docking station also connects). The only phone supported will be the Philips Spark GSM phone, later other phones (mentioned was Siemens, Ericcson, Nokia and SONY) might be added as this according to Philips staff at Cebit is only a matter of cables.

Launch date for UK Velo, Dutch Velo and Scandinavian Velo was expected in the late summer (although nobody here in Europe has heard anything from Philips since Cebit). Later at the end of 1997 or beginning of 1998 French, Spanish and German models should follow, it was not decided if these phone will have a modem or GSM link.

Price for an Euro Velo roughly $1.200 incl. sales tax. (DEM 1.800 is mentioned on the Philips homepage).

The following is not confirmed from Philips:

In the late 1997 or beginning of 1998 Philips would make an offer to holders of US type Velos where they can buy the necessary GSM software, cables etc. There is no mention of price for this software. This would make a US Velo even more versatile than today.

Are there any other GSM solutions while we wait for Philips?

posted by Geoff Percival in the CE newsgroups:

At last, after several weeks of searching around for a good way to connect my Velo 500 via GSM, I have found a solution that really works - first time! The Ericsson DI27 "Mobile Office".

It consists of an Infra Red Modem, which clips onto any Ericsson 600 or 700 phone, plus software for both CE 2.0 _and_ Win95. Price in the UK 99 UKP + VAT.

Received the kit this morning, but couldn't get round to ordering a phone unitl this afternoon. Finally got time to put it all together tonight and load the software, and it worked straight out of the box, with no hassle or extra configuration - I was able to immediately browse, send and receive email and fax.

With the Ericsson kit, and the Velo 500, I now have a "complete" solution. Able to use either landline (via the built in 28,800 software modem) or GSM connection (via the infra red port) without killing the batteries either way. Not only that, but also I have GSM connectivity for my laptop thrown in at no extra cost!

I have no connection with Ericsson apart from being a very releived customer having found something that works exactly as advertsied first time around. It's been a struggle, but it is worth it to find something that works. ANyone else got the same kit - and if they have, why did you keep it secret :-)

I started off wanting a "Soft Modem" solution, but none seems to be available. I had previously tried to get hold of the Philips GSM connectivity Kit - and found that, although widely advertised, it wouldn't be available unto the 3rd quarter 98. TDK Greycells connectivity kit - expected same date. The Finnish company MTD is supposed to have something - but no-one can seem to get an answer from them.

I even considered using a PCCard GSM modem - but these kill the battery life dead - 30 mins is the often quoted figure.