Introduction:-
Most people nowadays want to be able to ask something of the Psion Siena that it wasn't designed to do - and that is communications with the outside world other than through a small screen. However, armed with the knowledge below, it should be possible to send faxes, surf the Internet or read e-mail! If you have any success at using your Siena for the outlined purposes, why not let me know! Hopefully, I'll be able to set a page up describing people's experiences of using their Siena to send faxes, surf the Internet or read e-mail.
This is relatively easy. Simply, buy (or make) a serial cable and connect one end to the Siena and the other to the PC. Then, install the communication software called RCom, which you are free to download now:
RCom (Communication software) - 995KB
After a small amount of setting up, the user should be able to transfer files relatively easily. Please note that the program is DOS based unlike the Windows based program called PsiWin designed by Psion. However, the Windows software is not free like the RCom software. Note that you can download an update to PsiWin 1.0 from Psions web site at http://www.psion.com/year2000/upgrades/psiwin1.html.
PsiWin 2.1 can be downloaded at Psion's website at http://www.psion.com/downloads/pc/psiwin2/
If you are looking for a serial cable, then I suggest going to this website: http://www.kerswell.demon.co.uk/cables.htm
PassThru32:
This shareware program by Kevin Millican should allow Siena users to use their PC's modem or printer! I have been informed by Fernando Corrêa (of Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil) that the above software can be used on the Psion Siena! To find out, I suggest going to the author's website:
http://website.lineone.net/~millican/PassThru.htm
If you manage to use PassThru32 successfully on the Psion Siena, then please let me know.
A Class 2 or Class 2.0 fax modem is required as well as the appropriate cables. Either a specifically designed modem cable can be used, or alternatively, an extra cable could be added to the serial cable. The following serial adapter cable should work:
Using 25-way connectors:
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Using 9-way connectors:
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With the Siena connected to the modem, the next stage is to add some fax software. I recommend using FaxIT.
I am very pleased to be able to announce that I have received details on how to send and receive e-mail on a Psion Siena using PsiMail, which was never intended by Psion for use on the Siena!! To download the Word file with all of the details and tips prepared by Mr. T. R. Smith click here.
If you have been able to send and receive e-mail on your Siena then please drop me an e-mail at psionsiena@iname.com as I am interested to know whether other people have had success with it. I would especially like to know if you have managed to check your e-mail using a mobile phone connected to a Siena.
Firstly, you will need the Psion connected to a modem. Either the Psion Travel Modem is required or an external modem normally used on PC's, but unfortunately, I don't have either so I can't test it. The connections shown above can be used to make a cable that connects from the Psion to the modem. The special connects that go into the Psion can be sourced from the electronics CPC.
I have seen browsing done using TermIT which can be downloaded from this site. The web sites are then viewed using CIX's built-in text browser (sadly no graphics). CIX is CompuServe's text based access, but unfortunately, it is being gradually phased out.
The main problem is that there isn't an Internet browser
for the Siena, but there is a browser that allows you to look at saved
pages and images. The software is called HTML
Viewer can can be downloaded from this web site. If you're a
programmer and want a challenge, why not try and create an Internet browser
for the Siena? All it needs to do is interpret HTML files and convert
the GIF and JPG files to the Psions PIC format.