Australian CDMA Mobile Phones and Linux

Capability

Australian CDMA mobile phones can in principle make ISDN connections and can thus subserve internet connections via conventional Information Service Providers (ISP) or send and receive faxes.

Hardware requirements

To use a phone as a modem together with a computer (generally a laptop) a connecting cable is needed. These devices are not really modems, as the phone is not doing audio modulation/demodulation, but they are generally called modems nonetheless.

Compatibility

The Australian networks will not service CDMA phones visiting from overseas, including New Zealand, nor will they be registered for use within Australia, i.e. they will not be given an Australian phone number.

Software requirements

Mobile phone modems generally come with software packages, mostly designed for MS-Windows, and information on the Web usually states MS-Windows compatibility. Finding out whether a phone/modem will be usable with Linux is not easy. Retailers will usually state categorically that no phone/modem can be used with Linux, suppliers will sometimes say the same, or if pushed will admit they do not actually know. Manufacturers in my experience will rarely answer the question, though sometimes you can get responses to questions about serial interfaces and AT commands.

My purchase of a CDMA phone was driven by inadequate GSM coverage near my home and the installation of new CDMA transponders. It appears extension of mobile coverage in rural areas only with CDMA is common. As was the case with my Linux GSM modem experience my purchase was a bit of a gamble based on limited information. In practice the Kyocera phone I purchased together with a serial data kit responded to standard AT commands. In other words, any Linux software designed to work with ordinary land-line modems will work.

Kyocera models known to work

The following have been used by me or reported by others to operate:

Phone	Modem	by
QCP 3035	Serial cable (speed must be set to 19200)	Dave Davey
3245	TXDTA10032 USB data cable	Eagle Engineering
KOY	TXDTA10032 USB data cable	Eagle Engineering

Nokia models known to work

The following have been reported by others to operate:

Phone	Modem	by
Nokia 6385	Serial cable (DLR-3P) or IrDA	Shannon Trew Michael Carmody

Hyundai models known to work

The following have been reported by others to operate:

Phone	Modem	by
Hyundai HGC-610E	Serial cable (HDK-12N) (speed must be set to 19200)	Shannon Trew

Maxon models known to work

The following have been reported by others to operate:

Phone	Modem	by
Maxon MM-5100 (works with 1xRRT)	USB cable	James Cameron

Consult James' excellent web page for information on how to use this high speed, and the costs.

Restrictions

CDMA network services may restrict data/fax connections:
- You may need to request data/fax access for your network account.
- You may need to pay an extra fee for network data/fax connection access.
- Your access will be restricted to use within Australia.
There are general restrictions:
- For CDMA phones, the normal serial data speed is 14,400 baud. With compression techniques, throughput may be higher. Of course the speed can be limited at the other end of the data link. If you are calling a conventional modem on the PSD network, the CDMA network will convert your digital data stream to an analog one on the PSD, and the speed can then be limited by the called modem. If you call a modem with a digital link, e.g. another mobile phone, the CDMA speed limit will apply, unless the called phone is on the GSM network when a lower speed limit may apply.

Please help improve this information

If you have experience with Linux and Australian CDMA-phone-modems other than the ones mentioned here, please let me know by e-mail.

New Zealand CDMA mobile phones and Linux

Information is available here.

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Maintained by Dave Davey daved@physiol.usyd.edu.au

Last updated 25 February 2006