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Old 10-22-2004, 11:51 AM   #1
rgray
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Satelite phone connection

Globalstar agents tell us that Mac cannot be hooked up to a satelite phone - the usual PC only crap (.."it needs special software.."..), except that I need to set up a client for a 6 week voyage.... Anyone know anything about this???
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Old 10-22-2004, 02:04 PM   #2
CAlvarez
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I've only done it once, on Inmarsat. In that case it had a standard serial port and it looked just like any normal modem, using the Hayes command set. You should look up the specs on the phone itself, and see what type of ports it has. You should probably also try a Google search on the phone with Mac, and see what comes up.

Here's the first thing I hit:
http://www.humanedgetech.com/manuals...dataformac.htm

Not very useful, but it implies that the Mac is at least addressed in the user's manual. The search gets a little more complex since some VP at the company is named "Mac" so he's all over the web results.
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Old 10-22-2004, 06:31 PM   #3
rgray
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OK, thanks for that. I went first to Globalstar and there is a .pdf on their site and it definitely says in the system requirements that Mac is OK.. except that the index of the .pdf says the Mac info is on page 43.. except that the .pdf ends at page 22.. !!! I went to Qualcomm, the maker of the Globalstar phone, and got the appropriate manual with a nice section on setting up Mac written, of course, in os9-ese.... Fortunately I can make the translation OSX-ese without much trouble.

Two things concern me still. Firstly, the manual refers to a "Globalstar Phone Modem" script - I'm not sure whether the 9 - X distinction is relevant here? The script is supposedly on a CD which should come with the phone. However the phone will be leased for 6 weeks of the trip and we won't have more than a couple of days to play with the setup... Secondly, the Qualcomm/Globalstar kit supplies a cable to connect their proprietary connector on the phone to a (can you guess?) a 9-pin serial connector. I already have a serial(9)-to-USB dongle that came from Palm. Can I assume it is usable here?
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Old 10-22-2004, 07:43 PM   #4
CAlvarez
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I can't answer the question on the dongle since I've never tried it, but theoretically, yes, it's just a serial port. I also don't know if modem scripts from OS 9 work on OS X, but again, theoretically, the script should work with any OS because it's just commands to send to the modem.

You probably already know, but the script goes in: /library/modem scripts

Good luck, and I've love to know how it turns out.
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Old 10-26-2004, 01:44 PM   #5
rgray
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Well, the quest continues.

The data manual I downloaded from Globalstar was 22 pages. I got the same manual from Qualcomm (maker of the GSP1600 phone in question) and it was 98 pages (the Globalstar version is the Qualcomm one simply truncated for reasons unknown).

Therein is detailed info on setting up OS9, nothing for OSX. Also, there is detailed info for Unix. Between the two, I have put together _most_ of what I need... but not all...

A little rooting thru the system shows that modem scripts for OS9 are different (for same-named modems) from OSX scripts, at least in size. And even if I can find an appropriate script (Unix instructions say to configure as standard Hayes) I'm not clear on how to make the machine address an external modem!

I contacted Globalstar by email and received:

Hi Robert, sorry for the delay. We support MAC up to OS9. From our
experience, OS10 works as well, HOWEVER, we have no support or documentation
for it.

Chris Armstrong
Marketing and Distribution Support
Globalstar Canada Satellite Co.
carmstrong@globalstar.ca


I phoned Globalstar and have just now had a technician callback.... Essentially the same story except that he is prepared to email me the script (Yay!) and gave me a local contact.

Effective now (1327hr EDT) Qualcomm isn't even answering the only phone number to be gleaned from their website.

At this point I am to tell my client that we have to undo 5 (?) years of me pushing OSX in order to use what is supposed to be an industry leading satellite phone...

Unacceptable!! Qualcomm and Globalstar should be thoroughly embarassed.....
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Old 10-26-2004, 03:54 PM   #6
CAlvarez
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So why not go with one of the other satellite phone services and/or other hardware? You know Iridium is back online, right? And there are others.
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Old 10-26-2004, 06:00 PM   #7
NeutronMonk
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serial adapter, scripts

If you need a serial (DB9) to USB adapter, absolutely the best on the market is the "high speed" Keyspan USB to serial adaptor- I've used this in conjunction with ZTerm to communicate with all sorts of legacy/dos/pc/ancient devices with excellent results. The adapter and the driver work.

If one pops into the Library/Modem on OSX, one is confronted by a plethora of scripts... surely one of these works? If not, a google for me generated all kinds of scripts... including this script generator off of Apple's own website.

Good luck,
Salud

Dave
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Old 10-26-2004, 08:20 PM   #8
rgray
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Now that I have found my way to the tech people some real progrress appears to be close at hand. The local contact is actually a Mac guy (recording studio at home) and I wil be meeting him.

I have the "Globalstar Phone Modem" script in hand and am one degree of separation from a guy actually using OSX to connect to a satellite phone...

I will report the solution here - maybe try to make a hint of it. Stay tuned
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Old 01-06-2005, 02:19 AM   #9
kPod
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Red face Any luck connecting?

I'm looking into purchasing this same Globalstar Satelite phone and would love to know how this whole story ended!!? Can't seem to get any info anywhere else.

Did the "mac guy" deliver or did it all end in disaster.....

kPod

"Now that I have found my way to the tech people some real progrress appears to be close at hand. The local contact is actually a Mac guy (recording studio at home) and I wil be meeting him.

I have the "Globalstar Phone Modem" script in hand and am one degree of separation from a guy actually using OSX to connect to a satellite phone...

I will report the solution here - maybe try to make a hint of it. Stay tuned"
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