| Question |
Answer |
| What is
Wireless Cellular Data? |
- Wireless cellular data is the technical description
for making calls from your computer to another computer
using your cell phone. The "Data" refers to
the fact that you are not sending voice over the phone
lines, but actual computer information.
|
| Who can use
Wireless Cellular Data? |
- Anyone. Wireless Cellular Data is designed to keep you
connected when you’re on the go. All you need is a
laptop and a cell phone and you can connect through your
Internet Provider and surf the web, send faxes and check
your e-mail. All on the go!
|
| How do I use
your kit to get on the internet? |
- All you need is a laptop and a cell phone, once you
purchase Ositech’s Wireless Cellular Data kit –
you’ll have all you need to get online. Ositech’s
documentation shows you how to set up the most common
Internet Dial-Up packages so that you can log on to your
Internet Service Provider and begin surfing the web.
|
| I keep
hearing strange terms whenever people talk about Wireless
Cellular Data. Terms like GSM, TDMA, CDMA and AMPS keep
popping up – what do these mean? |
- GSM, TDMA, CDMA and AMPS are all forms of Wireless
communication technologies. Each provides a different
method of carrying data (or voice) from its source phone
or computer to its destination phone or computer. Each
is explained in some detail below:
- GSM (Global System for Mobile communication)
GSM is a digital mobile telephone system that is widely
used around the world (especially in Europe). GSM uses a
variation of TDMA and is the most widely used of all
three digital wireless telephone technologies. GSM
digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a
channel with two other streams of user data, each in its
own time slot
- TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
TDMA (used in GSM, above) is a technology which divides
each cellular channel into three slots in order to
increase the amount of data that can be carried on a
particular channel at a particular time.
- CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
CDMA, unlike TDMA and GSM, after digitizing data,
spreads it out over the entire bandwidth available to it
(unlike GSM and TDMA which place the calls side by side
in three streams). Multiple calls are then overlapped on
top of each other, and each is assigned a unique
sequencing code to "unlock" the information
only when and where it should be unlocked.
- AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
AMPS is the original standard for cellular products. All
AMPS phones should work in almost any region across
Canada or the United States
|
| My
connection speeds seem particularly low, how do I get a
stronger data connection? |
- Staying in one location during a cellular data
connection can ensure a more constant signal and help
avoid interference with your connection. If you are
inside a building, try to locate yourself as close to a
window as possible, position yourself as far away from
large metal objects (such as elevators) as possible,
also, try to avoid sitting too close to fluorescent
lights as they can provide "noise" which can
interfere with cellular data signals.
|
| Why do I
always seem to get disconnected during my cellular data
call. |
- There are a number of factors that may cause a
cellular data call to end prematurely. Firstly, always
ensure you have a strong charge in your batteries. A
weak charge may result in the phone shutting down
mid-call. If you are using a flip phone, always ensure
the flip is kept open, otherwise the phone assumes it is
no longer in use and will shut down (thereby
disconnecting your call). Call waiting can also cause
connection problems. If you have call waiting, you
should disable it before dialing out to make a data
call. Incoming calls can disrupt your data flow and
disconnect your data call. Contact your local phone
company for instructions on how to disable call waiting
on a call by call basis.
|
| Why am I not
getting 56K cellular data connections? |
- While Ositech sells 56K PC Card modems, these fast
speeds are only attainable through regular phone line
connections. When making a cellular data call,
interference and atmospheric conditions make cellular
phones unable to establish high speed (over 14.4K)
connection speeds. Ositech Wireless Cellular Modems will
provide you with the optimum data connection possible
within the confines of the limitations and resources
available on the cellular network in your area.
|
| I have a
Macintosh computer, will Ositech’s Wireless Cellular Data
kit work on my machine? |
- Technically, yes. While Ositech does not officially
support Macintosh computers, testing has shown that
Ositech’s Wireless Cellular Data kit can be
successfully used on Macintosh machines.
|
| Using my
Five of Clubs PC Card, why can’t I connect to the Internet
with my Dual Mode (analog/digital) phone? |
- You can, you just need to ensure your phone is in
Analog mode before dialing out. Ositech’s Wireless
Cellular Data Solution uses your phone’s Analog mode
for cellular data. Ensure your phone is always set in
(and stays in) Analog mode for the duration of your data
call.
|
| What Is
CellFlex? |
- CellFlex is an exclusive Ositech technology that
allows cellular data connections to be made in either a
digital or an analog calling area. Unlike other cellular
internet kits, which allow connections through only
digital or analog network (not both), Ositech's CellFlex
technology allows connections through either type of
network, with Ositech's unique active cable actually
detecting the network type in which you're trying to
place your call and configuring your Ositech PC Card to
connect accordingly.
|
| How Is
CellFlex Useful To Me? |
- If you travel around at all, moving from one calling
area to another, CellFlex allows for total connectivity.
You need never be seperated from your important
information on business trips or while you travel
recreationally.
- CellFlex is also a technology for the future. While
there are networks in North America that currently
support Dual Mode Data, even more will be made available
soon. With Ositech's CellFlex solution, you don't have
to buy one Analog solution now (if you don't have
digital coverage where you live/travel), and a second
digital solution later, PLUS, you get the added bonus of
being able to connect wherever you travel no matter what
coverage you have at home.
|
| What Is Dual
Mode Data? |
- Dual Mode Data, like Dual Mode cellular phones, is a
data connection technology which allow your cellular PC
Card to switch, along with your phone, between analog
and digital modes allowing connections under either
network.
|
| My Phone Is
Not Dual Mode, Will Ositech's CellFlex Products Still Work
For Me? |
- Yes and no. If you have an analog-only phone, you can
use Ositech's CellFlex-capable products, but they will
only allow you to make analog connections (as you would
make with any Cellular Internet solution). Your phone,
since it is not Dual Mode itself, will not be able to
tap into the added power of Dual Mode Data. The
advantage to getting a CellFlex-capable product, even if
you only have an analog phone at present, is that it is
technology for the future, and you will be able to use
it's full capabilities if you ever upgrade to a dual
mode phone, or if you ever move into a digital-capable
area. CellFlex provides a versatility as yet unseen in
the industry.
|
| What's The
Difference Between Ositech's King of Hearts and King Of
Clubs products? |
- Both products are CellFlex-capable, Wireless Internet
Access Cellular PC Cards. The difference between them
comes in the form of the internal modem in the King of
Hearts. If your laptop already has an internal modem
which you can use to connect to the internet through
your normal home phone lines, you can purchase the King
of Clubs to add Dual Mode Cellular connectivity to your
computer. If, however, your laptop does not already have
a modem or you want to upgrade your current modem and
you want to be able to connect through landlines in your
home, you can use the King of Hearts and obtain the
complete connectivity provided by Dual Mode Data and a
standard landline allowing true any time, anywhere
connectivity with Ositech CellFlex-capable PC Cards.
|
| If
you have further questions not answered above, check out our
Education page or e-mail the Webmaster. |
