[UALOneKPlus]

I purchased one of the mythical true Sprint USB data cables for the LG 5350.

I was blissfully ignorant of how difficult it can be to get ahold of one of these. I got mine on the first try at a Sprint store (I will not mention where). When I inquired at other Sprint stores, I found they were not supposed to even get them.

With the USB data cable, there was the Sprint PCS Connection Manager Business Software. The USB cable is a true USB cable, meaning that the cord has one end which is the USB connector, and the other end is the LG 5350 connector. This is a straight USB to LG 5350 connection.

You may see some other cables which are USB to Serial cables, which has a squre box in the middle of the cord that supposedly convert the USB connection to a serial connection on the LG 5350 end. Some people claim that this USB to serial cable may be slower than the USB cable, and other claim that it is just as fast. If you can get a serial cable, I suggest you try it first, as it can be much cheaper than the true USB cable. Unfortunately for me, I was not able to locate one of these cables, and I'm a very impatient person and didn't want to wait to order from the web.

The instructions in the package specified that I need to first install the Connection Manager software. However, I learned that this is not necessary. I installed only the LG usb drivers, which are included on the PCS Connection Manager CD-Rom.

The directory on the CD is: \drivers\LGdrivers\

I clicked on the "setup.exe" file and in a few clicks it installed the LG 5350 drivers.

I then connected the USB data cable to the laptop, and the other end to the LG 5350. The PC proceeded to immediately configure the USB connection such that the LG 5350 was recognized as another modem.

I then created a dial-up connection for the LG 5350. Using the Network Connection Wizard in Windows 2K, I set the local number to #777. Then I set the username to my Vision user name, and the password to my Vision user password. A few more clicks and it was all set up.

I attained Vision nirvana on my first attempt to connect via Vision. I clicked on the Sprint USB dial up connection, and it connected very very quickly, much faster than most dial up modems via analog phone lines. My connection speed was 115.2kbps, which is roughly double the optimum analog dial-up connection, or 3-4 times the average dial-up connection speed, often just a lousy 40kbps.

My experience with the Vision data connection has been very positive, latency is not too bad. I can tell that the Vision connection is at least twice as fast as any dial up I've used, and even in comparison to my cable modem it's pretty fast.

All web sites I've navigated to have come up with no difference than if I was on a broadband connection.

All in all this is a blissful experience, and indispensable to a frequent traveller like myself who need to connect to check email at the airport or on the road.

I do use Vision very sparingly, however, no more than once or twice day, 10-20 minutes each session. I do not want to be utilizing Vision excessively, such that either I get penalized by Sprint, or spoil this wonderful tool for other Sprint users. I therefore practice high self restraint and curb my time on it very carefully.

Note: if you do have the USB to Serial cable, you will not be able to follow the directions above, you will have to download separate drivers. http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/sho...&threadid=5613

A final note: I had serious doubts about paying for Vision after the 3 free months. Now I am so grateful for Sprint's Vision service. THANK YOU Sprint!!! This is the best Christmas gift of the season!!!!