Siemens A55 data cable

[Andrew Jones]

Hi, I've got a Siemens A55 - and I want to buy a data cable for it.
Since I've never tried using one before, could I please get some advice
before I buy one?

- Is a data cable the same as any other data cable, no matter who made
it (as long as the connector and connections are right, of course)?
- Can I use a program to change logos/ringtones/phonebook entries with
*this* phone?
- How many programs to use the cable are there? Are any of them free?
- Would this (http://tinyurl.com/2l3gu) one be ok?

Thankyou very much for any help.
--
Andrew Jones
The from address isn't real. Use:
andrewjjones at lineone dot net

[Adam Bradley]

In article >,
says...
> Hi, I've got a Siemens A55 - and I want to buy a data cable for it.
> Since I've never tried using one before, could I please get some advice
> before I buy one?

The A55 itself does not support any data cable functions AFAIK. However
you can use a data cable to upgrade it to a C55, which will let you do
the kinds of things you want to do.

The appropriate forum at http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/ has details on
how to do this apparently.

The cable you mentioned should do this fine.

--
Adam

[Andrew Jones]

Adam Bradley wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>>Hi, I've got a Siemens A55 - and I want to buy a data cable for it.
>>Since I've never tried using one before, could I please get some advice
>>before I buy one?
>
>
> The A55 itself does not support any data cable functions AFAIK. However
> you can use a data cable to upgrade it to a C55, which will let you do
> the kinds of things you want to do.

Wow! I've potentially got a C55 then (apart from externally, of course)?
So I suppose it's only the software that's different?

> The appropriate forum at http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/ has details on
> how to do this apparently.
>
> The cable you mentioned should do this fine.

I've looked on the forum and posted a message because I don't understand
any of the previous ones, and I bought the cable.

Thanks again!
--
Andrew Jones
The from address isn't real. Use:
andrewjjones at lineone dot net

[Andrew Jones]

Jon Parker wrote:

> Andrew Jones posted the following for all to hear...
>
>>- Is a data cable the same as any other data cable, no matter who made
>>it (as long as the connector and connections are right, of course)?
>
>
> Not always.

Well, it's a 'no name' cable, not original Siemens, so hopefully it'll
be ok.
--
Andrew Jones
The from address isn't real. Use:
andrewjjones at lineone dot net

[Dave Higton]

In message >
Andrew Jones > wrote:

> Hi, I've got a Siemens A55 - and I want to buy a data cable for it.
> Since I've never tried using one before, could I please get some advice
> before I buy one?
>
> - Is a data cable the same as any other data cable, no matter who made
> it (as long as the connector and connections are right, of course)?

Probably not. I bought a cheap no-name cable for a C35e. I found
that it only implements the Transmit Data and Receive Data lines; it
doesn't implement any handshake lines.

I haven't bought a Siemens original, so I can't comment on whether
such a cable would be any different; but there are references in the
Siemens manuals for AT commands as to what happens in response to
certain handshake signals.

I also don't know (but would like to know) whether Siemens make two
kinds of cables: a cheap one for ring tones etc. and a more expensive
one for using the phone as a modem.

You are only likely to need the handshake lines if you are intending
to use the phone as a modem - to the best of my knowledge.

Dave

[John Henderson]

"Dave Higton" wrote:

> I also don't know (but would like to know) whether Siemens make
> two kinds of cables: a cheap one for ring tones etc. and a more
> expensive one for using the phone as a modem.

I'm confident that all genuine cables are made to the full
specification.

My experience with cheaper cables has been patchy - some software
works, and some doesn't. Some messaging software looks for DSR,
for example.

John

[Stephen \(aka steford\)]

Andrew Jones wrote:
> Adam Bradley wrote:
>> In article >,
>> says...
>>
>>> Hi, I've got a Siemens A55 - and I want to buy a data cable for it.
>>> Since I've never tried using one before, could I please get some
>>> advice before I buy one?
>>
>>
>> The A55 itself does not support any data cable functions AFAIK.
>> However you can use a data cable to upgrade it to a C55, which will
>> let you do the kinds of things you want to do.
>
> Wow! I've potentially got a C55 then (apart from externally, of
> course)? So I suppose it's only the software that's different?
>
>> The appropriate forum at http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/ has
>> details on how to do this apparently.
>>
>> The cable you mentioned should do this fine.
>
> I've looked on the forum and posted a message because I don't
> understand any of the previous ones, and I bought the cable.
>
It's not that hard to follow. Download the Freia (sp?) software and the
latest C55 firmware (v24 I think) - all can be found on links in that thread
IIRC. Use Freia to backup *everything* - there are about 4 different things
to do IIRC again and takes about 30 mins. Save these somewhere you won't
forget. Then flash the C55 firmware as per instructions using same s/w - all
should be OK. If you experience battery problems on recharge (I did) reflash
the battery parameters from your A55 backup. There's also the Java unlocker
that enables data transfer to C55 - you need to do that at some point -
again in the thread somewhere. Download DES while you're downloading the
other stuff - the phone becomes a virtual drive in explorer and you can
upload/download ringtones etc easily to/from the phone

You will indeed then have a C55 in an A55 case and anything a C55 can do it
will do - it's a pretty cool hack.