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How to Connect a Palm Device to an External Modem

By eHow Electronics Editor

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Ever wonder whether you can connect your PDA to the Web using a fast, external modem? There are a few adapters and cables involved, but otherwise, it's a cinch.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

9-pin serial cable
Serial cradle
9-pin male to 25-pin male serial adapte
25-pin null modem adapter
AC adapter
Serial gender changer (male DB9 to male DB9).

Step1

Buy a serial cable that provides a 9-pin serial connection and a 9-pin female to 25-pin male serial adapter. This is the easiest route. Or try using the serial cradle that came with the Palm-size PC. You will need to purchase a 9-pin male to 25-pin male serial adapter and a 25-pin null modem adapter. You will also need a length of telephone cable.

Step2

Insert your Palm device in its cradle, connect the AC adapter to the cradle, and plug the AC adapter into a power outlet.

Step3

Connect the Palm device's serial cable to the cradle and connect the other end of the adapter into one end of the serial gender changer (male DB9 to male DB9).

Step4

Connect the other end of the gender changer into the female end of the null modem adapter (which is female DB9 to male DB9).

Step5

Connect the male end of the null modem adapter into the modem's serial cable.

Step6

Plug the modem's AC adapter into the modem and into a power outlet.

Step7

Connect the telephone cable to the port on the modem and into a phone wall jack.

Step8

Select the modem labeled "Hayes Compatible on COM1:" in Dial-Up Connection on your device. You can use an external modem from 2,400 BPS to 56,000 BPS (56K).

Tips & Warnings

Check the booklets that come with your Palm device and the Web site of the manufacturer to see if they offer instructions on how to do this. Manufacturer-specific information is always best.
Consider getting a Palm Modem, which works with a Palm Pilot Pro or Palm III/IIIe/IIIx/V/VII (or any machine upgraded to OS 2 or 3). This is the 3Com modem that "snaps" onto the bottom of the Palm unit.