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Dca-510
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Posted by: Mr. Kobayashi

So I know these boards are pretty reliable and I would like to ask if anyone knows what's up with the Siemens DCA-510 USB Data Cable. I bought one of these from "Lets Talk" as directed by the siemens.com USA website. To make a long story short, I returned the items twice due to the fact that both of the cables they sent me would not work properly. After an hour's attempt and carefull installation directed both by the worthless included directions and by the notorious equally worthless Siemens USA based customer service/support, XP would only recognise the cable being plugged in and not the phone (S66) plugged into the cable (tried eveything including changing USB ports etc).

Absolutely frustrating and I am wondering if anyone knows about this problem or can point me to where I can by a perhaps more reliable cable.

Posted by: Fyle

I just got my cable about 30min ago. I bought if off Ebay, and I'm starting to doubt whether that was such a good idea.. I got the cable, alright, and it *is* the right one.. fits nicely into my S65 and it's USB.. but it's got some weird "transformer" in the middle of it. A little black box with a switch on it! The two options of the switch are L and R. I have no clue what that's supposed to be.. there's no manual included.. only a driver disc. Installed the drivers, plugged the cable into the phone, then into the USB port.. and then something weird happens.. the display of my phone just dies. I was shocked at first because I thought I killed the phone or something.. but it's just the display.. it loses color and fades out to nothing.. or sometimes it just goes out and there's a grey horizontal line at a random position on the screen.. I doubt a connection will work like this. Did you go through the same.. or did the cable simply refuse to connect at all with your computer? I'm not quite sure what to do about this..
This cable came with its own drivers, and the disc says it's version 3.01.. whereas the latest official Siemens drivers for the DC-510 say the version is somewhere in the 2.xx range if I remember correctly.. confusing stuff

Posted by: Mr. Kobayashi

I think that thing in the middle tells you what the cable is doing, send/ receiving/ charging. You can recharge your phone through the USB 2.0 and that is what the switch is on it, if yours has a switch. My phone didn't take a crap on me or anything: just after I installed the USB drivers from the disc and even the ones from the website, which I suspect are the same as the disc's, only the cable would be recognised by XP and the phone showed up nowhere as a drive, in "my computer" etc.

So dude right now I am at the same place as you, the WTF stage, except I returned the cable (shipping free o/c.) Maybe if you call Siemens you may get lucky and talk to someone who know's their sh*te, probably not though.

Posted by: Fyle

My god.. I'm in the OMFGWTF!!!!!!!!!!!! stage right now. I'm SO confused.

Ok check out my story.. I bought this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=5749121297

It says DCA-510, right? And it looks like it too, all the compatible models are listed.. my S65/S66 (can't tell) is listed, so I went for it. I got it about 2 hours ago now.. and have tried connecting the phone with it at first.. which didn't work and resulted in killing my phone and stuff. I then decided to try to find the latest drivers for the cable. Guess what.. my cable is made by a company called Prolific (apparently?) and there are three models of the cable: the PL-2303, the PL-2303X and the PL-2303HX.. and the best part: I don't have a **** clue which one of the three's mine. Why? Because the cable's all no-name and doesn't have ANY brand-name on it.. or model-info or anything of the sort.

It gets better.. check this out: http://pc-mobile.net/usb2s.htm.. it mentions it there, right? PL-2303? What the hell is that? That's USB2SERIAL conversion! Has absolutely nothing to do with my cable..

Why I think mine's a PL-2303? Well.. because the driver-disc that came with the cable says so.

The switch, btw.. isn't a LED, just to set that straight. It's an actual switch that you can move left and right.. and the two options are L and R. Now.. I haven't seen any mention of any switch anywhere.. not in the installation guide PDF file.. nowhere on the auction page at eBay.. nothing. I have no clue if I'm installing the correct drivers and so on.. this is why it's the OMFGWTF stage for me.. getting a headache over this crap

Posted by: 4mula1

The DCA-510 is a USB to serial conversion cable. On the actual DCA-510 (not aftermarket) the black box in the middle contains the USB to serial conversion hardware, the transmit and receive status LEDs, a switch to control whether or not the phone is to be charged while plugged in, and an LED to show the switch status.

To Mr. Kobayashi: You need to install Siemens Mobile Phone Manager to use the phone with Windows. Just plugging it into the cable is not enough. Install MPM and then plug the phone into the cable and start MPM. The phone should then be recognized.

MPM contains all of the software you need to sync with Outlook, transfer files, etc. It's a free download from Siemens.

Fyle: I don't think I would be using that cable if it's causing your display to go wacko. See if you can return it and get a genuine Siemens cable. Many aftermarket cables do not work properly.

Posted by: Mr. Kobayashi

4mula1,

Cheers. Why the F Siemens Support couldn't tell me that little "essential" fact is absolutley unacceptable. Nonetheless I'll give it another whirl and find another proper Siemens brand DCA-510. Only really need the ******* to unlock my horn, whateva.

Fyle,

Sorry to hear it but you may be f'd with that cable. Saw it on yer Ebay link. Hope you can get your money back, that's gonna be another headache, OI! But the add says it'll work with the S66 so if you used Paypal you should be alright, even for the shipping. Stick with Siemens I guess as these things and Siemens' gear are so subjective. Hope it works out.

Posted by: Fyle

I'll try again and see what happens.

One question.. do you NEED to install the drivers for this cable? What if my system is recognizing it automatically after I plug it in? It's plug and play works flawlessly.

Posted by: WebConsultant

I'm quite interested in this topic because I'm actually looking for a data cable for my M55. Can anyone recommend one that would be compatible with this phone?

Posted by: goldhead

Quote:

Originally posted by Fyle
I'll try again and see what happens.

One question.. do you NEED to install the drivers for this cable? What if my system is recognizing it automatically after I plug it in? It's plug and play works flawlessly.

Fyle, what exactly are you planning to do with your cable? Just transferring files? Anyhow, you have to install the cable drivers. Those PL-2303 drivers are perfectly ok. I use the same ones for my data cable. They emulate a COM port on your USB cable, that means that the USB cable appears as a serial device on one of the COM ports.
If you just need to transfer files, you have to install the Simens Mobile Phone Manager and run the main application Mobile Phone Manager. After a few seconds you will see if it connects with your phone or not. Your phone must be turned on of course.

Posted by: evanichka

Quote:

Originally posted by Fyle
My god.. I'm in the OMFGWTF!!!!!!!!!!!! stage right now. I'm SO confused.

Ok check out my story.. I bought this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=5749121297

It says DCA-510, right? And it looks like it too, all the compatible models are listed..

thats not the dca-510. looks different to me (packaging, the cable itself, etc)

im sure it will work for just about everything... but can you update firmware with it? i assume the L-R switch is to turn the charging function off so you can flash your firmware?

i really dont think ppl should be buying non-siemens data cables

you can get genuine siemens cables off ebay too, just harder to find because its flooded with all these 3rd party ones

Posted by: WebConsultant

Quote:

Originally posted by evanichka
i really dont think ppl should be buying non-siemens data cables you can get genuine siemens cables off ebay too, just harder to find because its flooded with all these 3rd party ones

Yeah, some sellers on eBay make it hard to distinguish between the Siemens genuine and non-Siemens cables. I'd consider buying a Siemens genuine cable off eBay, but I'm not even sure the ones listed as "DCA 510" are the real deal. How can I be sure they're legit? Any tips?

I'm really confused. So frustrating!

Posted by: paul34

Some things everyone here needs to know about US Siemens:

1) I have the same cable, and it will not recognize my phone. The problem (might not apply to you) is that with some motherboards with a nForce chipset the DCA-510 does not work correctly. Way to go, Siemens. Not a biggie for me, I just use my old computer (Intel chipset) for any cable-related tasks.

2) Exploring the phone's memory using a cable will not work. No matter how you try (whether by bluetooth, IrDA, or whatever you try), that function is disabled on US versions of Siemens phones.

3) You cannot transfer files directly to the phone over the cable. However, you can send to the phone using either BT or IrDA.

Hope that helps you out.

Posted by: goldhead

Quote:

Originally posted by paul34
2) Exploring the phone's memory using a cable will not work. No matter how you try (whether by bluetooth, IrDA, or whatever you try), that function is disabled on US versions of Siemens phones.

That is not true. I have a US phone (S66) and browsing the phone memory works just fine.

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Originally posted by goldhead
That is not true. I have a US phone (S66) and browsing the phone memory works just fine.

Must've changed in the S66 then.

Posted by: evanichka

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ssPageName=WDVW

that is the one I use... exactly same as the dca-510... its a genuine siemens part, just an OEM part number

below are the real dca-510s (at least from the picture provided) seems like only one seller has the real retail dca-510 at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6368388338&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6368388339&rd=1

Posted by: WebConsultant

Quote:

Originally posted by evanichka
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ssPageName=WDVW

that is the one I use... exactly same as the dca-510... its a genuine siemens part, just an OEM part number

below are the real dca-510s (at least from the picture provided) seems like only one seller has the real retail dca-510 at the moment

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6368388338&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...6368388339&rd=1

With the eBay cable that you use, are you able to make firmware updates to your phone without any problems? Does the cable work perfectly?

Posted by: evanichka

ive updated firmware for sl65 and sl55 and sl56 using the dca-512. as with all siemens cables... make sure you put the charging function to "off" position, otherwise the flashing program will not see the phone.

also do make sure that the dca-510/512 is what youre looking for... as in make sure your phone is compatible with it (according to the siemens website)

Posted by: WebConsultant

Thanks for the advice.

Posted by: weiweiwei

just install the driver
find out what COM port it is in
install the siemens software
choose the same cOM port
then it works

Posted by: SCUD001

Well I use a non Siemens data cable for my M55 and bought it right off of EBay.

EBay Cable

It works perfectly for me, in the M55 Data suite I have to usually explore for the phone in order to find it. But in the newer Mobile Phone Manager it recognizes the phone on it's own, but since it doesn't used XTND PC I can't sync my calender in Outlook with it.

I've flashed my phone with the cable as well and it works like a charm and it costs HEAPS less than an official DCA-510.

Hope this helps you out some.

Posted by: goden99

I just bought a Simense RS-232 serial cable. I was suggested by the phone store to get that one so i get no head aechs.
says DCA-500 when i connect it.

anyone have any experiance with those?

By the way if you want to see what the phone sees do this. do the following
*#06#
then click on more then on the next page scroll all the way down under ACC it would tell you if its connected to something

Posted by: WebConsultant

Quote:

Originally posted by SCUD001
Well I use a non Siemens data cable for my M55 and bought it right off of EBay.

EBay Cable

It works perfectly for me, in the M55 Data suite I have to usually explore for the phone in order to find it. But in the newer Mobile Phone Manager it recognizes the phone on it's own, but since it doesn't used XTND PC I can't sync my calender in Outlook with it.

I've flashed my phone with the cable as well and it works like a charm and it costs HEAPS less than an official DCA-510.

Hope this helps you out some.

Thanks, scud001, for the info.

It seems like people should be careful when buying a generic non-Siemens data cable, as not all of these cables were created equal. So a couple of questions to anyone else using a non-Siemens data cable for their M55:

1) Have you been able to use the cable to sync your Outlook calendar? If yes, how easy/difficult is this to do?

2) Have you been able to use your non-Siemens cable to update the firmware on the M55?

Just interested in knowing what other folks have to say about these two issues.

Posted by: Blu3t00th

Got my cable from Cingular store. Not all stores had it, I may have stopped at 10 stores or so until I found it in a store at the mall. Cable packaging does not mention s66, but it works great! Cost - $24.99

Posted by: cai-1

Caution! If your computer has Win XP service pack 2 installed and you then install the Siemens Phone Manager, it is very likely that the telephone will not be recognized and the synchronization will not work. I have that set-up in various computers and the only time my synchronization works is when I have Win XP-SP1 alone.

If you install the Siemens software first and then install the Win XP-SP2, there is a chance that the synchronization may work. There are a lot of programs that are experiencing problems because of SP2. If you are running SP2, your problems may not be with the cable.

Posted by: SCUD001

Well I have SP2 installed on my comp and have had nothing but sweet success when it comes to using the non-siemens brand cable that I have. It might be your chipset, I know at siemens-best forums someone posted something about the nforce chipset and having problems syncing phones.
Running on good ol intel 865 chipset here so I have had no problems at all with SP2.

Posted by: goden99

you sure?
just disable the sp2 firewall you should be fine.
Start>control panel>Security center>Windows firewall. OFF

Posted by: 4mula1

I have XP SP2 with MPM and am using both the DCA-540 for my SX1 and the DCA-510 for my wife's SL55 and SL65 and have had no problems. The DCA-540 came with my SX1 and I was given a genuine DCA-510 by a very nice lady who didn't need hers.

Posted by: Blu3t00th

I have XP Pro SP2 with Cingular Data Cable. Works beautifully. However, when McAfee is running, it may take 5-10 minutes to discover the phone. And when discovered the antivirus tremendously slows it down. I just disable anti-virus when plugged in.

I do not think a firewall has anything to do with it. Firewalls have no control over COM port access. As long as TCP or UDP is not being used, firewall should have no effect on it.

Posted by: goldenwarriorki

I haven't been able to find the software for my phone, the siemens download for this file is S66 MPM Setup but when I click on it, it says the page has been moved or some junk. Does anyone have the program they can send me?
I got the usb cable but can't do anything without the program to retrieve my photo's with. It's for the CT66. Thanks
kimweems2@hotmail.com

Posted by: 4mula1

Go to www.siemens-mobile.com/s65 and go to the downloads area. For your device use the S65 instead of the S66.