"Inside" - AudioVox Thera (Verizon Model) also used as External Modem and SDIO

[jocko88834]

Ok, My original intrests in this forums was to find a way to enable the device to be used as an external modem.... Then after all the reading it looked like the only way to make it happen was to get our hands on the Toshiba SDK(which turns out to be Non Existant). So I gave up on that. I then decided to just settle for WiFi via the SDIO port using A secure Digial WiFi card. I was unable to do that... (tried the Socket and herd the SanDisk
wont also werk.

Turns out all is a fialure. And yes I used all updates for newest drivers in all cases, for all card and for the watcher software(even tried to use the samsung i-700 driver to try and hack the modem connectivity to the usb cradle. No Go. So...... Me and and a buddy got to thinking. We took the damb thing apart. Turns out that the serria wireless card SB555-T is a CF card internally "plugged in". SO... it looks like this pic contained within below.

I would like for either to find a way to utilize the thera as a modem and/or just take this CF wireless SB555-T card and place that bad boy in another toshiba PPC that has a CF card slot open OR put the card in a blank CF card and BOOM were all set WITh PPC 2003 (Windows Mobile 2003 after Verizon releases the update for the i-700 next month ..hopefully it will work with the thera).

So if you are inclinded to do so and/or are intrested in further updating / upgrading this unit... let the posts begin!!!

Current Objectives:

1. Get this damb thing to work as an external Modem. (some one would have to craft a custom driver to allow the LAPtop and or Desktop to reconize the USB / PPC as a modem)

2. Take this Serria SB555-T CF card and plug it in another PPC internally and / or Externally and have a lotta fun.

3. What aver all yall can think of.

(And Yes... we put it back together it worked fine. only 9 screws (including the 3 to unscrew the serria card) One less thing to worry about when our batteries break and we have to replace it :.)





(If it 's not broke ... Break it)

[chicago773]

GREAT PIC - nearly opened mine up jst to see what was in there. Thanks for saving me the trouble.

[eddyGorsuch]

1. Get this damb thing to work as an external Modem. (some one would have to craft a custom driver to allow the LAPtop and or Desktop to reconize the USB / PPC as a modem)

2. Take this Serria SB555-T CF card and plug it in another PPC internally and / or Externally and have a lotta fun.

For 1, all you need to do is: [list=1][*]Get the Sierra Wireless SDK from their website.[*]Get Watcher to shut down (I think turning off the radio switch should work). (Note, I had a bug once where Watcher would not shut down, even when the radio switch was off- so this is not really a hardware shutdown. It just tells WatcherWatcher to keep Watcher running.) You won't be able to talk directly to the modem while Watcher is running.[*]Write a PPC program that accepts data from COM1 (I know COM1 is used for the serial cable, so I'm thinking that it is also the USB) and forwards these on via the Sierra Wireless SDK to the modem. Or the program could just simply forward the data on to the SB555 on COM7 (or 8? - there's a registry entry or two that says which COM ports the SB555 uses) and let the PC program figure out the [*]Write the PC driver that lets the Thera work as a modem.[/list=1]

I think an easier alternative would be to write an IP packet router that accepts data/packets from COM1 and forwards them on to the PPC's IP stack. Doing this would mean that you don't have to shut down Watcher. But you'd have to do the connect manually from the Thera. It's also the reverse route from the ActiveSync internet routing. But this only lets you use Verizon's Express Network (or Sprint's) instead of being able to dial up your own ISP.

Yes, I've thought about this before. But I have no interest in making the Thera a modem for my other computers, so it's been just a thought experiment.

For your item #2, When I had my Thera open, I could not get any signal at all unless the antenna was touching the SB555. So you'd have to take this into account when trying to build your own CF card version.

eddy

[jocko88834]

yes your right... but for me I would'nt care because were getting the Express Network here in So Cal unlimited with our existing minutes... (hence unlimited nights and weekends)

Also we connected a wire from the antenna to the CF card and the signal worked gr8. I will post pix of that soon.

If you can get the above "theroy" working so we can use the modem.. that would be SICK!! Im sure you'd be the hero of the Year. Ayone else up to the task??

[Life-Is-Good]

Originally posted by chicago773
GREAT PIC - nearly opened mine up jst to see what was in there. Thanks for saving me the trouble.

You can see photos of the internals of ANY phone on the FCC website. To get the photos, go to the index of phones on PhoneScoop and open the page for the phone:

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/index_all.php

For the Thera:
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?id=146

Click on the FCC ID on that page:

This returns a page from the FCC with sections for each frequency the phone uses:
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/c...estTimeout=500

Click on “Details” for one of the “Original Equipment” entries. The Page you get has internal and external photos, a copy of the preliminary user’s manual, the RF test reports, and other information.

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/c...CET0200MT'

Internal photos of the Thera on the FCC website:
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf

https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf

[ddwire]

I have a G1000 from Sprint that does work as a modem very easily. This is the main reason I have not traded for a toshiba 2032 as no one has made this work.
If some one has a Sprint model, I think they could try downloading the Sierra drivers for the pc card modem and install them. The Sirea pc card modem works with pocket pc and the watcher program for Pocket pc's with PC card slot.

[jocko88834]

Alright.... seen here

http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum...threadid=19172

(6th post down)

We can access an advanced menu within the watcher program by hitting ctr-D on the keybord within watcher. Then we are propmted for a password which is ##debug

We then get an advanced menu at the bottom. We are able to access Protocol Statistics(lets you see your Long and Lat via GPS-- I have Verizon model) and Debugging Log Tools. There is an option for Modem Configuration but it then prompts me to enter another password. Dont know if we get this password to mess with the modem options we might finally be able to get one step closer to using this thing as an external modem (go further into the rabbit hole).... tell me what you guys think ... oh yah and the 2nd password:.)

[jocko88834]

ok.. got the password(s). Turns out once you get the Modem Configuration password(dont yet know if this one varies between carriers) you are then prompted for the service programming code(which will vary between carriers). I will soon post pix of the extened options which are available within "Modem Configuration under Advaced in watcher soon. (most options can be changed and altered via registry but its nice to just have a menu).

Also From poking around looks like we can have multiple carriers on this phone at the same time(only able to use one at a time but you can switch between the two in this menu.) Can anyone verify this?

[jocko88834]

Ok here they are. When following the directions from the above thread you will get these options.....

Some intresting things.... we can specify our own DNS... our own emergency numbers , etc. Hope this helps with the search for an external Modem solution.

[ddwire]

I still think you need to down load the sierra wireless air card drivers to your lap top from Sprint or Verizon to make this work. With the G1000 from Sprint you need to do a reg tweak to bring up a modem switch in the settings menu. then you install the pcs air card drivers from to the LAptop and put checks in install drivers for Hitachi and air Prime. ( The G uses the air prime modem instead of sierra wireless). after that is done you reboot the lap top and plug the G in to the laptop via the cradle or a connection cable and the drivers are loaded (I have win XP Pro) Then make a new connection on the laptop to dial the #777 number and set port speed. ( I set mine to 230) bingo you are on line.

I believe you will need to do a similar procedure. 1. find the modem setting in the 2032 or thera (may not even need one because watcher is already installed) 2. load the sierra wireless air card drivers on your laptop from Verizon or Sprint .3 set up connection on laptop.

[jocko88834]

I'm not sure what you mean, which sierra wireless air card drivers on your laptop from Verizon or Sprint. Can you elaborate. Thanx.

I was under the impression that the laptop cannot reconize the PPC as a modem when its in its cradel due to the ip address that active sync assigns it. Thanx for your clarification.

[midibach]

I'm not sure if the 555 docs and files they have on their website is completely compatable with the 555-T that is embedded in the Thera.

http://sierrawireless.com/SupportDow...n/ac555vzw.asp

[jocko88834]

No luck there but thanx for the direction. I think we need something like eddyGorsuch was talking aboot in the 3rd post.

I joined the Serria Wireless SDK and read their fourms. Looks like one guy tried creating a solution for this external modem problem, but gave up after he received no support.....

Hopefully someone will take over where he left off:.)

[ddwire]

Verizon may do things different from Sprint. If I had a 2032 from Sprint I would down load the air card drivers from the Sprint web site and create a new connection and try to connect. Basicly what you would be doing is connecting the air card via cable instead of pc card slot. works great for the G1000 with the air prime driver.

From what I understand is the internal modem in the 2032 is the internal guts of a air card. to use the Sierra wireless air card with Sprint you load the watcher software on a laptop and make a data or voice connection just like you do with the 2032. So now you put the driver on the laptop and connect the 2032 with data cable and conneet with the watcher program on the laptop.
If I had a 2032 I would try it my self.

[jocko88834]

you mind posting a link to which driver / downlaod from sprint you are reffering to... Having trouble locating it... Thanx

[ddwire]

http://205.137.195.84/servlet/Selectpage

Choose the win op system you have and choose Sierra wireless
Dan

Again Verizon may be different

[jocko88834]

ok ... tried to install the drivers on the above link for 550 just for fun. It did install modem drivers but when trying to query the modem it fails.

My buddy (TWiST) found something intresting within the Serria Wireless SDK. A driver named "mdmsb555.inf" <---our card is the SB555

Just a partial view of the inf:

; Windows Modem Setup File
; Copyright (c) 1993-2001 SierraWireless Inc.
; Manufacturer: SierraWireless Inc.


[Version]
Signature = "$CHICAGO$"
Class = Modem
ClassGUID = {4D36E96D-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Provider = %SWI%
LayoutFile = layout.inf

[Manufacturer]
%SWI% = SWI

[SWI]

%AC555% = SERIAL, UNIMODEMD29D2324

[Strings]
SWI="Sierra Wireless Inc"
AC555="Sierra Wireless SB555 Modem"

He believes that if we modify this to also use USB along with serial we might be headed in the right direction.

Even if this did work... What then? How do we get this to communicate with the modem itself... Does "watcher" have to be on or off?

Any Input and / or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Driver from Serria SDK provided below... Ill keep you posted on the "Hybrid Driver"

[jocko88834]

SB555 inf from Serria Wireless SDK...

[midibach]

I beleive watcher would have to be off. Also I think that an app would have to be written for the Thera that would pass the com port through the USB connection.

[ddwire]

Have not heard any thing for couple days, have you found the modem setting in the phone yet?