The Stuff Dreams are Made Of - MiniSD Wireless LAN Card

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spectec.com.tw/en/sdw-820.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.spectec.com.tw/en/sdw-820.htm</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050625-WlanMiniSD.gif" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br /> 8O Anyone interested in adding WiFi to their device?? This miniSD card supports 802.11b and Windows Mobile 2003. Ok, I'm seriously excited about this, but I'm concerned about giving up my 512 MB memory card. I've got loads of programs and music on it. Where would I put all that? :? Even still, I <i>want</i> one! If anyone finds a store selling one of these, be sure to let us know. ;)

[PPCMD]

Sweet. It will fit nicely into the upcoming HP Mobile Messenger (WMPE2003SE) which has SD and miniSD slots so I could use it either way and still have memory to burn, yeah baby, yeah.

[jfreiman]

Ok, assuming this isn't a joke, where is the antenna?

Is the antenna external? How does it connect to the mini-sd card when it's in the phone?

[Jason Dunn]

Ok, assuming this isn't a joke, where is the antenna? Is the antenna external? How does it connect to the mini-sd card when it's in the phone?

Internal, wound around inside the card. Having an external antenna on your phone would suck - I doubt anyone would buy this if it had an external antenna. It connects via the contact points on the miniSD card just like with memory.

[jfreiman]

Ok, assuming this isn't a joke, where is the antenna? Is the antenna external? How does it connect to the mini-sd card when it's in the phone?

Internal, wound around inside the card. Having an external antenna on your phone would suck - I doubt anyone would buy this if it had an external antenna. It connects via the contact points on the miniSD card just like with memory.

So, what kind of range will this unit have AND how much power will it use if it has to send the signal either through the battery or the circuit board, etc of the phone?

[Jason Dunn]

So, what kind of range will this unit have AND how much power will it use if it has to send the signal either through the battery or the circuit board, etc of the phone?

Units with internal antennas tend to have worse range than external ones, but since none of us have it, it's a little hard to give you answers. ;-) And it's not sending the WiFi signal through the phone, it's just sending the data. Though it would be rather interesting if the WiFi card was able to use the antenna of the phone to boost range. Now THAT would be something else! :D

[Mike Temporale]

So, what kind of range will this unit have AND how much power will it use if it has to send the signal either through the battery or the circuit board, etc of the phone?

According to the website:

Operrating Range Outside 400m / Inside 100m

Operating Voltage PA: 3.0 ~ 3.6V, TRX: 2.7V
Avg Operation 185mA (While viewing Web)

;)

[jfreiman]

So, what kind of range will this unit have AND how much power will it use if it has to send the signal either through the battery or the circuit board, etc of the phone?

According to the website:

Operrating Range Outside 400m / Inside 100m

Operating Voltage PA: 3.0 ~ 3.6V, TRX: 2.7V
Avg Operation 185mA (While viewing Web)

;)

Well, I looked at the web site as well, and to me, it looks like the specs are ONLY for the SD card, not the Mini-SD card.

[Sven Johannsen]

Would be nice if this thing actually exists or is made. I don't think there is a CF or SD WiFi card out there that has the antenna embedded, like this does. Maybe they would extend the leap in technology back to SD and CF formats so that we coud put a CF or SD Wifi card in our 2215s or X5s or others and not have it stick out or remove it to close the case.

I agree totally on the HP Mobile Messenger. Would be nice to have the option of WiFi without it sticking out. There are rumors of a WiFi 6500 (6700?) but some have that loosing the GPS.

[Rebecca]

Looks like it is going to be a battery eater, but the concept is cool.

[nedge2k]

It's no joke, its real and i have one on its way to me ;)

I can also confirm that:

"It will be Mass production arround in Aug, 2005. "

[Cellwireless]

This is great news that it's real! The specs on the Spectec site was for the SD Wifi Card and not for the MiniSD Wifi Card so there was some doubt there.

Any idea if it'll have drivers for the Windows Mobile Smartphone platform and be compatible with the HTC Smartphones (e.g. O2 Xphone II/C500)? Will it be the same size as the standard MiniSd and fit in a regular MiniSd slot without sticking out?

Guess this brings us closer to being able to use our smartphones for Voip applications if Skype would release a Voip version that can run on slower processors (200mhz)...what say you Skype? :wink:

Please whip up a review once you get your hands on it and test out this baby on the HTC Typhoon phones! Thanks.

[Mike Temporale]

It's no joke, its real and i have one on its way to me ;)

I can also confirm that:

"It will be Mass production arround in Aug, 2005. "


Where did you get it from? I wouldn't mind testing this out too.

[nedge2k]

I'll tell you after i've reviewed it ;)

BTW, absolutely no idea whether it has Typhoon drivers yet, will just have to see when it turns up and if not, at least i'll be able to help them develop one ;)

[Cellwireless]

Just read a forum post at msmobiles by the username of ST from Taiwan on the SpecTec MiniSd WLAN Card. I presume ST stands for SpecTec and that he's someone from the company in Taiwan as he knew quite a bit of info on the card and release dates.

ST made some corrections on the dimensions of the card. The correct dimensions of the Spectec MiniSd WLAN Card are: 28mm x 20mm x 1.4 mm.

My understanding is that standard MiniSd format is: Dimension (LxWxT): 21.5mm x 20mm x 1.4 mm.

It looks like the MiniSd WLAN Card is about 6.5mm longer in length than a regular MiniSd :!:

This might mean that the antenna part of the card will stick out of some MiniSd slots :?

This also means that a lot of the very popular HTC Typhoon phones (e.g. i-mate SP3i/C500/XphoneII) won't be able to use this MiniSd WLAN Card as they have a regular sized MiniSd slot behind the battery :(

Can anyone confirm this? You can read more on the post here....

http://msmobiles.com/f/viewtopic.php?p=12477#12477

Regards,
Howard

[Sven Johannsen]

Gee, if they can do this, maybe they could build a regular SD or CF WiFi card that doesn't stick out. People have been asking for that for years. Biggest issue I see is that the majority of things that have a MinI SD slot, have only a MiniSD slot and are lacking in internal memory. I have no use for it in either my SMt5600 (in which it likely wouldn't fit) or in my MPX220, if I have to lose memory.

I would consider it for a HP 6500, but would prefer an enclosed SD card, as I would plan to use a miniSD for memory leaving the SD slot for peripherals, like the WiFi card, bar code scanner, etc.

[Cellwireless]

Spectec has just confirmed via email today their MiniSd WLAN card will indeed be 28mm x 20mm x 1.4 mm.

This means there will be a 6.5mm antenna protrusion when inserted into a standard MiniSd slot.

HTC Typhoon (C500/XphoneII) phone owners won't be able to use this card in their MiniSd slot which is exactly (LxWxT): 21.5mm x 20mm x 1.4 mm.

There's just no room for the additional 6.5mm antenna behind the HTC Typhoon battery. Maybe it's possible to modify the HTC Typhoon MiniSd slot (there goes the warranty) or the MiniSd card itself.

Any idea folks?

[Mike Temporale]

:cry: Way to make a grown man cry CellWireless!

6.5mm is a fair amount. It would require a fair amount of modification to the plastic of the phone - and that's assuming that nothing else is in the way once you peal the plastic back. :(

[Cellwireless]

:cry: Way to make a grown man cry CellWireless!

6.5mm is a fair amount. It would require a fair amount of modification to the plastic of the phone - and that's assuming that nothing else is in the way once you peal the plastic back. :(

Believe me, I'm crying with you Mike :? Just the thought of having to go into my XphoneII (HTC Typhoon) and cut out a big chunk of plastic is making my stomach churn. But if there's a will, there's a way.

That plastic area is also the part where the clip holds the MiniSd card in the slot so that's the other problem. Will have to see if my tech guy can do a good job in modifying the slot.

My company will be getting a sample of the Spectec MiniSd WLAN card in about 3 weeks so will post photos if I do any modifications. I want to confirm the drivers work well with the Windows Smartphone OS before I do the cruelest cut of all :wink:

Now, does anyone know which Windows Mobile 2003 SE Smartphone (not a Pocket Pc OS) on the market that has the MiniSd slot on the outside of the phone?

[Sven Johannsen]

Now, does anyone know which Windows Mobile 2003 SE Smartphone (not a Pocket Pc OS) on the market that has the MiniSd slot on the outside of the phone?

Yea, the MPX 220 does. That may not be great news either though.