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Using Xircom Wireless on a College Campus
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Additional applications that are useful

I'm also using PalmVNC, a remote control tool, so that I can remotely control one of my NT management stations.  Yes, it's a bit clumsy with the small PDA display, but it does work.  For instant messaging, I use ICQ for the Palm, a great little messaging application that has migrated well to the PDA format and I understand Yahoo's IM is also available for the Palm OS, but I have not tried it.  Most of these utilities are small enough to be stored on the Xircom module, saving main Visor memory for other things.  Use the included FileMover to move these over to the Xircom module.



Operating range

Its operating range is comparable to different wireless laptops I've used.  Range specs are close to what is advertised, but since wireless at that frequency can have wide variations, depending on location and antenna types, your results may vary. If you have good documentation on your wireless coverage, this device will fit in with other 802.11b devices. 

One interesting thing that I noticed while using the Xircom for site surveys is that in "fringe" areas the Visor usually got a better signal than did the laptop I carried.  I imagine that is because our access points all have external antenna's that are vertically polarized, which matches the orientation of the Visor, more than the horizontally placed antenna's of the majority of laptop PC cards.

We've probably all heard or witnessed how turning a laptop on its side will increase the signal strength of wireless cards.  Of course, it's a bit hard to type like that!  The module contains a software signal strength meter that seemed to be pretty close to the laptops I used for our site survey.  It uses a bar graph, but I wish it had a direct numeric readout as well.

Battery life

Battery life is much better than expected.  A software meter, exactly like the one built into the Visor, is used for showing the battery status of the module.   If the battery gets critically low, pop-up messages remind the user to recharge the battery.  The manual quotes 2 hours, and that's about what I get using it pretty hard.  On most days, I can usually go through the day without a recharge.  The disadvantage to that long life is it almost gets too warm to hold continuously for that long because of the power dissipation of the high frequency radio waves it emits.  In amateur radio, we call such devices "hand heaters".

Wireless HotSyncing

Another advertised feature in the manual was the ability to HotSync across the network to your desktop PC.  After configuring HotSync for networking, this feature worked flawlessly.  It has become so convenient, I can't remember the last time I've actually used the cradle to HotSync!   Using the HotSync options, chose the LANSync Pref and select LANSync, then from the Primary PC Setup, enter in the IP address of your host computer.

Computer name and network subnet mask are optional.  Make sure the Service option is correct for the network you are on at the main HotSync screen.  Also make sure the Network option is enabled on your host computer's HotSync manager software.  One word of warning on this setup, if you are getting your IP address from a DHCP server, you may find, over time, your address can change.  You may want to ask your administrator if it's possible to "reserve" your address, so that it doesn't change. 

In using this feature, I have found only one program that would not Hotsync across the network, but was able to use the conduit setup in HotSync to correct the problem.  Network HotSyncing is a bit slower than a USB cradle, but once you start the HotSync, you can just lay down the Visor and do other things.  A normal HotSync, with AvantGo, Outlook and Docs-To-Go synchronization takes about 28 seconds on my USB cradle.  On the network, the same operation takes about 41 seconds, but when you are a half mile from your desktop, the extra seconds are well worth it!

It's very convenient to be able to HotSync across the network and see any updates to my Outlook calendar and / or check for new email. Using it with a portable folding keyboard, I can easily work with documents or email.  I've managed to find a few utilities (ping, telnet and terminal) that allow me to reach my network devices should I need to do so quickly. 

Performance

Although the module specifies the standard data rates of 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mb/s, Xircom states that actual throughput is only about 100 Kb/s.  Although some people may think this is unacceptable, it's really not that bad in actual use.  Both browsers I use support caching and AvantGo's pages can be updated from your PC's Internet connection and then uploaded during a HotSync.  Pages load quickly, especially pages specifically formatted for PDAs.  But even fresh pages or Internet searches are acceptable to me for casual surfing.

I had no problems with access point compatibility, connecting to five different brands of access points.  It has been reported however, if you use the LinkSys wireless router, BEFW11S4 (which is not WiFi certified), the Xircom module will not work.

Additionally, I have found the Xircom useful for "quick and dirty" site surveys, and have also discovered a few rogue access points that have been set up, violating our airspace policy.

Nits

I think the manual is somewhat weak in explaining all the features and settings.  Since I had a pre-release model, it's possible that newer ones are better.  If not, be prepared to spend an evening with it, learning all the ins and outs.  Also, it would be nice if it were able to charge through the USB cradle, instead of the serial cradle only.  The AC adapter works well, but it's one more thing to carry around. These are small issues though, the main thing is the product does well in what it was designed to do.

No more laptop?

Has it replaced my laptop?  Well, almost. Due to the nature of my job, there are times when I have no choice but to fire-up the big boy, but its usage has dropped since I started using the Xircom.   On some weeks, I'm able to go mobile four out of five days with only the Visor.

At home, I use it for relaxing on the deck and having my morning coffee while catching up on news and email.  It's also likely you'll find me out in the backyard at night, tracking the ISS by surfing astronomy related web sites and using a tracker program on the Visor.

Final thoughts

Overall, I love this product!  Each workday I throw it, along with some other modules, into a RhinoPak 2000 case and it goes where I go.  The Rhino 2000 fits the added height of the module, and includes space for extra stuff.  It has taken its share of bangs and bumps with no problems.  We have some type of meeting almost every day, some of which change from time-to-time. 

Despite its somewhat premium price, this is a quality product. Its battery life is more than adequate and its design has been well thought out.  It has features robust enough to fit into an enterprise network, but also simple enough to use in small office and personal network environments.

If you have a Visor product, and need or desire this type of connectivity, I can highly recommend it.  I own several of the Springboard modules, including the MP3 player, which I love, but if there's ever such a thing as a killer module for the Handspring, this could be it!