Handtops, UMPC - Anyone selling a Flipstart?

05/27/08 + tnkgrl

I'm looking for a used Flipstart - cheap, preferably... Anyone interested in selling? It's a for a special project! I've been using a borrowed one and it's turning out to be very hackable

PM me.

Recent Blog: tnkgrl's journal

06/11/08 + tnkgrl

@wodin I think HSUPA is very near.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/11/08 + wodin

Ok, I've ordered an unlocked Aircard 881U and a GoPhone. I'll let you all know how it works.

Worst case is having to use it as a dongle. That would be ok too as I have a couple of other laptops I chould use it in, or like tnkgrl said in the video, get real good at putting it back together!

I would assume that the drivers that come with the aircard will work so downloading new ones won't be necessary. Correct me if I'm wrong, but starting it up as a dongle before performing surgery should load the drivers.

06/13/08 + tnkgrl

@wodin always get the latest drivers.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/14/08 + nguyenallan

Tnkgrl, I transplanted the MC 8775 (obtained from usb 875u) onto my flipstart. I kept getting the message “invalid user profile” on the 3g watcher screen every time I tried to connect to the AT&T network. Something wrong with my iphone sim card or with the MC8775 modem? Thanks for a great video demo.

Recent Blog: Flipstart....so far so good

06/14/08 + nguyenallan

Tnkgrl, never mind. I get HSDPA connection now. Thanks

Recent Blog: Flipstart....so far so good

06/16/08 + wodin

I know that the FS doesn't allow the WiFi and internal WWAN to be on at the same time, but I'm wondering if I run the 881 in dongle mode, could I turn WiFi and WWAN on and share the connection with Internet Sharing or some third party WiFi hosting (access point) software?

I'm pretty sure the FS USB port doesn't have the power to run the modem, but with a powered hub, it should work ok.

The other thing, tnkgrl, how do I renew the unlimited MediaNet data connection. Do I have to stick the SIM in the phone and dial 611 every month? I didn't see a way to renew it on line, maybe I missed something.

edited: Jun 16 2008 + tnkgrl

@wodin the 881U and 875U USB modems (dongles???) both have a built-in battery... Why do you think that is? So they can be used with low-current USB ports without draining the host's battery!

Yes, you have to activate every month by putting the SIM in a phone and dialing 611 - that's why I'm postpaid instead

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/16/08 + wodin

tnkgrl said: "Yes, you have to activate every month by putting the SIM in a phone and dialing 611 - that's why I'm postpaid instead "

Thanks tnkgrl,

I knew about the battery, but even so your USB port’s gotta put out enough power to keep it charged.

I'm currently paid up two months ahead. Is there a limit to how far ahead you can pay, thus alleviating much hassle of digging out an otherwise useless phone?

06/16/08 + tnkgrl

@wodin, you can always charge the USB modem in-between uses.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/16/08 + wodin

Yes, but I'm thinking about pretty much always on; especially when the FS is docked. That would mean a powered hub.

edited: Jun 16 2008 + tnkgrl

@wodin, when the FS is docked, there's enough current from the AC adapter to charge the USB modem, no?

Besides, why not do my HDSPA mod and do away with the USB modem? You can always use a tiny USB WiFi adapter instead of the built-in WiFi for concurrency.

BTW, I'm looking into ways of enabling both internal WWAN and WLAN

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/16/08 + wodin

@tnkgrl :-)

Acording to Kieth(??? the Vulcan guy who was posting here a while ago) the ports are not powered on the docking station either. That seemed strange to me, but I confirmed it with a USB powered DVD Drive. Didn't work! Had to get a brick with it's own PS.

I really appreciate your HSUPA ;-) mod, thanks, and will probably do it. Just going through all the possible configurations in my head while I wait for the modem to arrive.

edited: Jun 16 2008 + tnkgrl

@wodin, any USB device drawing up to 500 mA should work on the built-in USB port - that's a USB spec requirement... The docking adapter is a passive USB hub, meaning the 500 mA are split between both ports! It's rare for a bus-powered optical drive to draw less than 500 mA, and it's common for laptops/desktop to provide more than 500 mA, so that's probably why your optical drive is not working, bus-powered, with the FS.

Recent Blog: Bluetooth hack for the Asus 701 (Eee)

06/16/08 + wodin

@tnkgrl,

Thanks again! I got home from work and yes! it was here. I cranked up the FS put the SIM in and plugged da buggah in in USB mode (I had loaded G3 watcher and drivers last night).After a long time loading all sorts of weird drivers and configuring some software and rebooting the FS recognized it and brought up the watcher. When I clicked on "Connect" it tried to connect then aborted saying "Invalid Profile"

I uninstalled PDANet, and rebooted (also plugged in the docking station) whist giving the battery a little bit of charge from another powered hub.

I plugged the modem back in and the FS brought up the watcher again. I hit connect and got another "Invalid Profile"

Poking around in the watchertoolsoptionsprofile I find a place to input Username and Password. Do I need to do this? what's my username? What's my password, or is it some other problem altogether?

I'm reluctant to tear the thingie apart to the the miniPCI card out if it doesn't work in USB mode!

HELP!!!

06/16/08 + wodin

@nguyenallan What did you have to do to get rid of the "Invalid Profile"