# Is it possible to dial up my ISP through my mobile phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895 "2002-07-01T20:16:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/1 "2002-07-01T20:16:16Z")
Here’s what I’ve got: - Apple iBook with built-in 56K modem (ordinary RJ11 jack for plugging in a hardwired phone line) - Nokia 3390 GSM phone (micro 1/16 in. jack for plugging in headset; no data port, I believe) - Earthlink dial-up service What I want to do: - be able to plug something from my laptop’s modem jack into my mobile phone’s headset jack and use the modem & mobile phone to call up my ISP–say, while I’m on the train home from work, so I can upload and test those buggy ASP scripts on the Web site I’m working on. No huge downloads/uploads or anything–just text files. Even 2400 bps would be OK! Is this possible? I’ve found no such connector. Seems to me the connection should be possible, though–just like you used to be able to buy those adapters that clapped over public phone handsets so you could dial up via your laptop’s modem. I presume I’d have to dial in manually w/ my cell phone and then hand the TCP/IP stuff off to the modem/software once I had a connection. If it’s possible, but no such hardware exists, how tough would it be to go to Radio Shack and wire up a homemade adapter? Would I have to worry about differing voltages and frying my cell phone/modem? Or would it merely be a matter of soldering the right wires? ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/2 "2002-07-01T22:07:54Z")
If there’s no data port, you’re out of luck. Most recent Nokia phones have a data port. For those that do, setting up an internet connection is simple with the purchase of a mobile data accessory kit. Check [Nokia USA](http://www.nokiausa.com/) for a phone that has such a port. What you’re thinking of building is essentially an acoustic modem. You can forget that idea. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/3 "2002-07-02T01:42:23Z")
I’ve done it. My Nokia cell phone goes with an adapter cable which in turn goes to a PC Card modem. (There was no way to make use of the built-in modem, unfortunately). Theoretical connection rate as high as the modem (56K) but in practice I’ve only made a 40.0 connection. If you’re interested I’ll try to look up where I got the data cable from. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/4 "2002-07-02T01:47:28Z")
Oops, you said iBook and I’m thinking PowerBook. You don’t have a PC Card slot, do you? Never mnd. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/5 "2002-07-02T02:27:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\*I’ve done it. My Nokia cell phone goes with an adapter cable which in turn goes to a PC Card modem. (There was no way to make use of the built-in modem, unfortunately). > > Theoretical connection rate as high as the modem (56K) but in practice I’ve only made a 40.0 connection. > > If you’re interested I’ll try to look up where I got the data cable from. \*\* What service do you have with this phone? Without GPRS or CDMA2000 or IS95B you will not get anywhere close to 40K bits per second. I believe that voice over GSM is 8Kbits and I know that CDMA is 13Kbits. So unless the service is using more than one voice channel like the technologies mentioned above you can only get as good as 8K bits or 13 Kbits. I don’t think GRPS or IS95B have been installed in the states. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/6 "2002-07-02T03:35:01Z")
I don’t know many details. I’ve a cellphone newbie. (In fact I’ve now used a cellphone exactly three times, ever, in my life). I think they said the Nokia phone itself was analog not digital; service itself is through AT&T, just the basics. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/7 "2002-07-02T13:56:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilhanz \* > \*\*What you’re thinking of building is essentially an acoustic modem. You can forget that idea. \*\* That’s exactly what I’m thinking of. Why won’t it work? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/8 "2002-07-02T15:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > \*\* > > That’s exactly what I’m thinking of. Why won’t it work? \*\* Mainly because digital cell phones compress the voice so they don’t have to transmit at 64K bit per second. The compression changes the signal in lots of ways that interfere with how modems modulate signals but hopefully not with how people hear things. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/9 "2002-07-02T15:34:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gazpacho \* > \*\* > Mainly because digital cell phones compress the voice so they don’t have to transmit at 64K bit per second. The compression changes the signal in lots of ways that interfere with how modems modulate signals but hopefully not with how people hear things. \*\* drat. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/10 "2002-07-02T16:20:16Z")
Your cell phone service provider almost certainly has some kind of setup for data. Look into getting a new phone with a data cable it should not be that expensive. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/11 "2002-07-02T17:20:15Z")
I just checked out my other cell phone, an analog Nokia 252–it DOES have a data port, so I could use it for mobile modem access… except that the documentation says “do not use on a moving vehicle, as data may be lost when switching between cells.” Since the whole point was working while on the train, I guess I’m SOL there, too. > [@](#): > > Look into getting a new phone with a data cable it should not be that expensive. Unfortunately, I just got this one yesterday. Free, with the plan. Doh. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/12 "2002-07-02T17:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Unfortunately, I just got this one yesterday. Free, with the plan. Doh. Most service providers have some kind 30 day guarantee on these sorts of things. Be obnoxious if you have to the sales guy sold you the wrong phone. I they give you flack return every thing and go with a different service provider. Different technologies will not have the problems moving from cell to cell. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/13 "2002-07-02T20:04:09Z")
i’ve done it w/ verizon but since they also provide an isp, I normally use that. your top speed will only be 14.4 though ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/14 "2002-07-02T23:07:23Z")
My ttys have acoustic modems on them. But only do 300 baudot. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/15 "2002-07-02T23:12:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > \*\*I just checked out my other cell phone, an analog Nokia 252–it DOES have a data port, so I could use it for mobile modem access… except that the documentation says “do not use on a moving vehicle, as data may be lost when switching between cells.” Since the whole point was working while on the train, I guess I’m SOL there, too. \*\* Not sure; data might be lost and that would be bad if it was a fax call, but if it’s a connection to the internet using TCP/IP, then it will just be a few lost/damaged packets (won’t it?), which the communications software should handle OK, plus there’s the distinct possibility that the switch between cells might happen at a time when the connection is idle. ---
**Author:** ![Baron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@Baron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/16 "2002-07-02T23:30:01Z")
Well, from what it looks like, you’re out of luck. I’ve looked at the [manual for the 3390](http://www.nokiausa.com/userguides/3390.PDF), and it looks like it doesn’t have an infrared port, or anywhere to plug in a data jack. If you’re able to get another phone, go for it. I use an Ericsson T28 with the infrared data adapter. It’s slow (around 9600 bps tops), but it does work ok for IM and other low-bandwidth stuff. GPRS (faster than regular mobile dial-up) is available in the states, through Voicestream with a compatible phone. Its CDMA equivalent (dont know the name) is also available through a few carriers. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/17 "2002-07-03T03:13:22Z")
I find it almost shocking that there still seems to be no reliable, standard way of getting a laptop computer onto the Internet…isn’t the whole idea of a laptop to be portable? I managed to get my setup working, but it wasn’t easy, as almost no one has any knowledge of how to do it. I have a Sony PCG-FX370 laptop, and a Motorola Star Tac phone. I bought a cable that has a Star Tac plug at one end, a standard computer serial port plug at the other. It came with some software too. $23 US employee cost when I worked at Best Buy, full-sucker price was $50. Made by Belkin. I’m no computer expert, but here’s the jist of what I’ve been told about how it works. You won’t be using your laptop’s 56k modem. Everything is set up so that your computer links straight through the cellphone, with a maximum speed of 14.4 or 19.something, depending on who you ask. Also, most laptops these days don’t come with a standard serial port anymore, and I’ve never seen the Belkin thing in a USB version. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/18 "2002-07-03T14:25:37Z")
Here’s the latest: I could swap my Nokia for a Mototola T193. But, new problem: Voicestream is only really set up to work with Wintel laptops. I’m sure I could probably emulate something under OSX to fool it into thinking I’m running one … but I guess I’m just not that much of a geek. I don’t care enough to bother. My wife will just have to put up with me spending a half hour online when I get home. So much for the wireless web. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-dial-up-my-isp-through-my-mobile-phone/116895/19 "2002-07-06T05:38:17Z")
While we’re on this subject, I’m thinking of switching to Nextel when my Verizon contract ends. Does anyone know if you can connect any of the Nextel phones to a laptop?