The promise of faster wireless
Ricochet high-speed network -- I was hoping to be able to fully test the Ricochet high-speed network in this issue, but network reception wasn't ideal for me here in Houston when I finished the article in early January. Both Sierra Wireless
(www.sierrawireless.com) and Novatel Wireless (www.novatelwireless.com)
offer wireless cards dedicated to this network.
Novatel Wireless Merlin Ricochet
At COMDEX 2000, the Ricochet network (www.ricochet.com) set up demonstration sites in Las Vegas. I was duly impressed with wireless speeds of up to 200kps on an iPAQ. However, there are only 11 cities currently set up for the Ricochet network. Houston, my home domain happens to be one of them. (Go to their Web site,
www.ricochet.com if you wish to see the other 10 cities currently online, and those lined up for the future.) The bad news is, even though I live in a Ricochet "wired" city, I do not live close enough to a cell tower to get a usable signal. I tested the Sierra Wireless AirCard 400 and the Novatel Wireless Merlin Ricochet. Both worked under ideal conditions, but I discovered that if you are going to browse the Web or download e-mail at broadband speeds, you MUST be at least .25 to .5 miles from the cell tower. (This is very similar to DSL requirements. If you are not within a critically close distance to DSL tower, the phone company will not qualify you to get the service at your location.) I am hoping that the bugs will be worked out in the next several months and I'll be able to review the system and the two wireless cards.
Slower wireless solutions
Note: All of the modems described below use Type I Compact Flash card technology and are compatible with all devices that use a Type I or
II CF card slot.
Targus Wireless Web Card -- This kit contains a Type I Compact Flash card with a built-in cable, specific to your cell phone. For example, I have a Samsung 8500 cell phone. The package I ordered has a "dongle" that attaches only to Samsung phones that can use that cable. (Check with Targus to see if the cell phone you own has a compatible card
kit.) Once the software is loaded, you can use your cell phone (and the airtime from your provider) to browse the Web, and check e-mail on your Pocket PC, Handheld PC (such as the HP Jornada 720), and/or laptop computer. While the speeds are not blazing, they do clock in at around 19,200 bps. Since the card Targus uses is a Type I CF, it is compatible with the HP Jornada 540 series, as well as all other Pocket PCs available today. If you have a compatible cell phone, and find yourself unable to use up your cellular airtime each month, the Targus Wireless Web Card may be the perfect, inexpensive wireless solution for you. Targus prices the Wireless Web Card at $129.99. It is available from Targus direct (www.targus.com) and
other vendors. The Wireless Web Card is Socket Communications' Digital Phone Card (DPC) with a Targus label. Both the Socket and Targus cards work with data-capable CDMA, GSM or Nextel phones. But you need the correct cable to connect to the phone. When you order, be sure to specify that. (For more information on Socket's DPC visit
www.socketcom.com/dpcprods.htm.)
Targus Wireless Web Card
Printer-friendly version