LG VX-3200, VX-3300 data cable, etc.
Topic: cell phones
(This information is current as of Nov. 2005)

The USB data cable for the LG VX3200 and VX3300 REQUIRES a "blob" or a "box" in the middle for it to work. It contains a serial-to-USB converter chip (usually Prolific PL-2303). VX3200 and VX3300 does NOT have a USB interface.

BEWARE: Most of the cheap cables sold in eBay that claim to support the phones simply do not work. It either does not have a box in the middle, or has a box but the circuit inside it doesn't have any chip! See this post in Howard Forums. There does not seem to be a proper working cable under $20.

As a side note, there doesn't seem to be a cheap serial cable either. The LG OEM serial cables (SGDY0007301, SGDY0008501, etc) has a box in the middle and it must be there for a purpose. This means even for a serial cable some type of conversion circuit is still required.

A cable that works:
RadioShack cable (#17-792, only the ones with a box. Identical to the FutureDial cable.) is for VX4500, VX4600 and the VX6000. But it also works with VX3200/3300, though the connector shape doesn't quite match; you need to force it in.

Cables that does not work:
VX6100, VX7000, VX8000, and VX8100 USB cables. Connector fits VX3200/3300 but has no conversion chip.

Another bit of info: VX3300 doesn't support MMS so emailing a ringtone to the phone won't work.

Useful links:
Bitpim support pages: lists compatible cables for several different cell phones
Howard forums: the largest cell phone discussion board.