On 2007-12-02, Grant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Has anyone attached their cell phone to their Gentoo system to
> act as a modem?
Yes. My Verizon LG VX4400 works fine as a modem. When plugged
into a USB port, it shows up as /dev/ttyUSBn. You can dial up
any landline modem you like using "AT" commands, or you can
dial up Verizon's internal ISP number. The connection looks
exactly like any other PPP connection via a serial modem.
Verizon provides low-speed (14.4Kbps) internet access for
"free" (doesn't cost you anything but normall calling minutes).
The free low-speed access isn't officially supported: you won't
find it listed in your contract. But, it's always worked for me
when I've needed it (I haven't tried it for a few months, so
YMMV). Higher speed access requires a data plan.
AFAIK, most of the Verizon phones can work as modems. At least
that was true back when I was reading up on the subject (about
4-5 years ago). AFAICT, all the other US carriers required you
to pay for a data plan if you want to use your phone for
tethered internet access.
> This would be great for traveling. I'm with Sprint (no
> contract) but I think I'll switch to T-Mobile because from
> what I understand they are the only cell phone provider in the
> US which uses the GSM band.
GSM is a TDMA protocol, not a band. GSM can be (and is) used
on the same RF bands as the CDMA protocols used by Verizon and
Sprint. AT&T is also GSM, BTW.
> That way I should be able to use the phone/modem
> internationally.
That depends. The bands used by GSM phones in the US are
different than the bands used in other countries. Many of the
GSM phones available in the US are 1 or 2 band phones that
won't work internationally. If you want to use the phone
internationally, make sure it's a 3 or 4 band phone.
> Has anyone set this up?
Only on Verzon (which isn't GSM).
> Any phones look particularly good for this?
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at KOJAK?
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