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SP3i on Virgin - No GPRS


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Guest jamescj
Posted

Hi all - all the best for the new year!

I have got myself an i-mate SP3i for Christmas :-) I was using a Sony Ericsson T610 using Virgin (pay as you go) and had GPRS, MMS etc working

You would think that taking the SIM from the SE to the SP3i and entering the requisite settings would be all that is required ...

Unfortunately only after some hassle have I got all the settings for MMS up and running however I still have not got Wap over GPRS running so that I can browse the web or check mail (which I can do with the same sim on the SE!)

The Virgin GPRS settings are easily obtainable by Googling and are these:

APN: goto.virginmobile.uk

username: user

password:

gateway: 193.30.166.3

But I just cannot get it to work ...

As I said, this works on the SE, although I did notice that it takes a while to get the first web pages up and wonder if perhaps the smartphone is 'giving up' on the connection before it goes through ...??

The fact that MMS is working would seem to indicate I am 'nearly there'??

Any thoughts anyone?? I have not seen many messages of success through Googling around ...

(I have also heard mention of using proxies but don't know the details)

Christopher

TabletPC MVP

http://www.tc-one-thousand.com

Guest martin
Posted

Welcome Christopher

I think you probably need to create a WAP proxy connection. Try the following and see if that helps :)

GPRS WAP service

Descriptions: Virgin WAP

Connects to: The internet

Access point: goto.virginmobile.uk

User name: user

Password: wap

WAP proxy server

Connects from: The internet

Connects to: WAP network

Proxy: 193.030.166.004:8080

Type=HTTP

In data connections make 'WAP connection: Virgin WAP'

In internet Explorer, Menu-Options, untick 'Auto detect settings' and make 'Select network: WAP network'

You should be hopefully be able to connect to WML/HTML pages using HTTP.

* If not, thn try try proxy 193.30.163.3, Type=WAP

Guest jamescj
Posted

Martin, thanks for the swift reply and your welcome!

Well, I have introduced the proxy server info - and now IE takes a lot lot lot longer saying "Searching ..." when I try to connect to (say) Google ... but eventually returns with "this page cannot be found"

I tried both address you gave with the same result ...

Some minor checks:

- In "Data connections" do I set "GPRS: automatic" ?

- under the proixies page there is space for a username and password (blank?)

- Under the http://www.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=4861>GPRS settings do I set the primary and secondary DNS to 0?

It is quite frustrating as I cannot see any logic in this, but perhaps this is part of the fun :-)

Many thanks for your help.

Christopher

Guest martin
Posted

The 'Page not found' means that GPRS connection is data is correct (successful PDP context activation) but there may be a problem with the proxy server data.

I went on to the Virgin site and tried the OTA setup

http://www.virginmobile.com/mobile/service.../fastwap/public

Try the above setup and select MPX200 but first delete any existing proxy connections.

It looks like the proxy server may actually may require a username 'user' :?: Strange as operators don't generally bother using usernames or password for the proxy server.

If it works OK, I'd probably then try editing the Proxy and using IP=193.030.166.004:8080, Type=HTTP as I believe this may be for WAP 2.0

Guest jamescj
Posted

Hi Martin

I've already tried selecting that phone setting on the Virgin website and having them sent to my mobile number (although the text message never actually arrived?) - I have just tried again anyway, for what it is worth. The settings Virgin list (below) are the ones I have entered manually anyway:

Name: Virgin WAP GPRS

IP Address: 193.030.166.003

Username: user

Password: (none)

Homepage: Virgin Mobile Bites

Server Address: http://www.virgin.com/mobile/wap/

(Although I don't know if the server address needs to be entered anywhere) and also I am not sure if the msg from Virgin would contain more than the above settings ...

Still no luck - encouraging that I might be 'almost' there though ... although equally frustrating!

Thanks again.

Christopher

Guest martin
Posted

This is what I got for the proxy connection using http://www.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=102618>OTA

Connects from: The internet

Connects to: WAP network

Proxy: 193.30.166.3:9201

Type:WAP

User: user

I would try deleting all existing proxy conenctions and re-entering it. This will delete and re-create the settings in the registry.

I don't know what restrictions Virgin have set via port 9201 but I would probably start with a simple WML page like www.google.com/wml

Also try their homepage www.virgin.com/mobile/wap/

Guest jamescj
Posted

Thanks Martin, I've entered these settings and tried both pages - still getting the same "the page you are looking for cannot be found" after a few minutes of "connecting..."

I am doing a 'soft' restart now to see if that helps (although I have tried that a number of times in between settings and it didn't help)

Thanks for persevering :)

Christopher

Guest martin
Posted

I'm not sure why it's not working.

The only think I can think of is that that Internet explorer has to have the 'Auto settings' unticked and 'Select network:WAP network' otherwise it won't use the proxy server.

You can utick 'Auto detect settings' if you are using WAP with proxy port 9201 but then WAP automatically uses WSP i.e wsp://www.google.com/wml and all HTTP addresses automatically go via the Internet connection.

When using WAP with port 8080 both the Internet connection and WAP connection use HTTP so you have to then force the WAP connection in IE.

Have you tried you SIM in another phone to make sure that Virgin GPRS is working OK ?

Guest jamescj
Posted
I'm not sure why it's not working.

The only think I can think of is that that Internet explorer has to have the 'Auto settings' unticked and 'Select network:WAP network' otherwise it won't use the proxy server. 

You can utick 'Auto detect settings' if you are using WAP with proxy port 9201 but then WAP automatically uses WSP i.e wsp://www.google.com/wml and all HTTP addresses automatically go via the Internet connection.

When using WAP with port 8080 both the Internet connection and WAP connection use HTTP so you have to then force the WAP connection in IE.

Have you tried you SIM in another phone to make sure that Virgin GPRS is working OK ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, in fact I have tried with auto unticked and wap selected and without - still no difference! I have been struggling for a few days now and it is quite perplexing!

The SIM was in my SE T610 and worked fine, and my wife's SIM which nows rests inside the T610 she has inherited works just as well as mine did???

The only thing I can think of is that could it be that there is some 'firmware' that is specific to the 'virgin' branded T610 (where I bought it from) - whereas the SP3i was bought 'sim free'?? (in fact the Network shows up as generic 'T-mobile' as opposed to 'Virgin')

Other than that I am clueless???

All the best

Christopher

Guest martin
Posted

There must be something causing a problem at Virgin end with the SP3i. Possibly the proxy server.

The only other thing I would try is to create the WAP CSD connection and attach it to the WAP connection. See if that works via the proxy server.

Dial Up connection

Connects to: The internet

Phone Number:447953968988

User name: user

Password: wap

Other than that it sounds like you might need a SIM from another network :)

Guest jamescj
Posted

Thanks Martin.

The dialup connection works - which will do as a stop-gap measure but obviously it is GPRS I want!

I have an orange (PAYG) SIM in my Aircard 755 PC-CARD in my Tablet PC which works no problems. Next step is to take that sim and try it in the SP3i - at least to try and verify the phone has no 'problems' and that the fault indeed lies with the provider?

I am reluctant to switch as Virgin offer a good deal in my view and all the family is on Virgin as a consequence ....

Cheers

Christopher

Guest jamescj
Posted

PS: Do you reckon it is worth doing a 'hard' reset and trying the settings once more?

I don't know enough about the 'vulnerability' of smartphones getting 'confused' in this way, perhaps a http://www.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?p=97945#97945>Hard Reset does sometimes perform miracles with these things! :|

Christopher

Guest jamescj
Posted

OK - An update:

Took the Orange (PAYG) SIM out of my SW755 Aircard datacard from my tablet PC - placed it in the SP3i, set just the APN and Gateway IP - and hey presto - GPRS internet access worked first time, browsed the web, downloaded my emails - no problems ... that would imply that my phone is OK :)

Placed the Virgin SIM into the Data-card on the Tablet PC and entered the APN and gateway into the settings - that *does* allow me to 'connect' and I get assigned an IP address. However that is as far as it goes - bytes get Txed but bytes received stayed stuck at 0. Couldn't ping or tracert etc... I though perhaps the DNS wasn't working .... I stumbled across the DNS gateways for T-mobile (149.254.1.14 / 149.254.1.15) entered them in ... BANG ... instant access to my email and web browsing through the Virgin SIM ... could 'tracert' etc now too ...

Got all excited had I cracked it?? :?:

Place the SIM back into the SP3i entered the above T-mobile DNS settings into "The Internet" settings (instead of 193.30.166.3) and left this proxy in place:

193.30.166.3:9201

Type: WAP

User: user

I have internet access ... to a fashion .... I can only access wsp://www.google.com etc. no: "http:" access (although if I try to access a non-existant web page I get that web-server's "404" page come through loud and clear ...

I have tried changing the port to 8080 and type to HTTP but no luck ....

So, things are a bit better - I am still perservereing as I want full http access (The Orange SIM gave me that) and I could access full http on my T610 on Virgin with the same SIM ....

Edging a bit closer perhaps :?:

Guest martin
Posted

Sounds good :) Usually the DNS addresses are set by the network provider at the server.

Did you try the proxy server with the following (and using the WAP conenction)?

Connects from: The internet

Connects to: WAP network

Proxy: 193.030.166.004:8080

Type=HTTP

The other proxy address with port 9201 will be limited hence why you can access WML pages via WSP.

The way the Smartphone works is that the Internet connection (in data connections) does not use the proxy connection. It's for an Internet service either via CSD dialup or GPRS. I don't think that Virgin offer a GPRS internet service - GPRS WAP and GPRS internet are usually different APN's.

The WAP connection (in data connections) does automatically use the proxy connection if it's created.

You could also try attaching your GPRS connection (with DNS addresses) to the Internet connection and set IE to Internet only. It would be interesting to see if Virgin allow access without using the proxy server using APN goto.virginmobile.uk

Guest jamescj
Posted

I was just coming back with an update:

indeed using 193.30.166.4:8080 and type:HTTP

lets me access HTTP addresses .... :(

However I cannot connect to my pop server for my email...

In fact - I can drop the proxy altogether, change the IE setting to "The Internet" (from WAP) and I can still access HTTP .... no need for the PROXY at all!

However I *still* cannot access my pop server ... (bearing in mind that I *can* on the T610)

So much improvements ... just that little bit more. :)

Guest martin
Posted

Have you checked that the Email settings are using 'The Internet'.

Guest jamescj
Posted

Alas, it *is* set to "The Internet" (the orange SIM connected straight off using these email settings so these are *verified*)

Is there any way of keeping the mail prog checking for longer? (extending the time-out period?) I have noticed with the T610 it can take a while for it to "find the server" once it has done that it quickly downloads the emails ... it could be that the mail prog is giving up too soon ... ?

c.

Guest martin
Posted

The only timeout I usually set is for GPRS is in Data Connections, Menu-Options. I set the idle disconnect timeout to 5 or 10 minutes but this is for the active PDP context (small g).

What settings do the T610 use ?

Guest jamescj
Posted

I'm afraid I cannot access any such settings on the T610 - although it will keep trying to connect until well over a minute ...

on the SP3i it seems to give up after about 20-30s(?)

As before, I can offer no explanation as to why email would not be accessible (remember that this same Virgin sim in the gprs PCcard allowed me web browsing and email access - using the DNS settings I discovered) :exclaim:

Guest martin
Posted

I wonder if the delay is causing a problem ?

I would be tempted to sign up to a free ISP for E-mail and see if you also have problems with POP3. I often used Freeuk for testing www.freeuk.com

This connects for me instantly every time (no delay)

I have the following setings for POP3

Your Name: (anything)

Email address: (yourname)@freeuk.com

Untick automatic setup

Username: (login user name E-mail)

Password: (login password for E-mail)

Server type: POP3

Account Name: FreeUK

Network: The Internet

Incoming server: pop.freeuk.com

Could be worth a try. Just to make sure it's not POP3 at fault via SP3i and Virgin.

Guest jamescj
Posted

Update: I tried connecting to another pop3 account I have with my adsl provider - no joy (with the Virgin SIM) ...

what is more ... suddenly, and before I made any changes to the settings, I can no longer access http: webpages, even with the settings as I outlined previously ... web browsing is once again not available ...

This has *got* to be due to Virgin's unreliability ... not too pleased, am reluctant to admit defeat and change service providers .... I know that Orange works!

Guest jamescj
Posted

OK, I have 'a workaround' - both HTTP web access and Email access working OK for 4 days now.

Thanks for all the help - Martin especially.

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