CF GSM/GPRS Card For Your Pocket PC and Laptop

[Ed Hansberry]

With the GSM/GPRS CompactFlash card (Type 1), you can instantly turn your Pocket PC or notebook computer into a wireless communication device so you can perform voice/data communication anytime and anywhere. You can not only enjoy high quality voice communication but rapid and stable GPRS Data transmission. You can finally get rid of the tiny little screen of your mobile phone and access various on-line information comfortably. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030204-cfgsmcard.jpg" /><br /><br />Features include:<br />• Tri-band Operations: EGSM 900/ DCS 1800/ PCS 1900 <br />• GSM Voice Communications: Half Rate/Full Rate/ Enhanced Full Rate <br />• Circuit Switch Data: Asynchronous, Transparent / Non-Transparent Mode, Up to 14.4Kbps<!><br />• Short Message Service (SMS): MT/MO/CB <br />• FAX: Group 3 / Class 2.0 <br />• SIM: Small 3/5V SIM card holder <br />• GPRS: Class B, Multi-slot Class 8 (4 down/1 up/5 per frame), Simultaneous network registration of GSM &amp; GPRS<br />• Pocket PC 2000/2002 and Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP supported<br />• $252.99, plus discounts for quantities over 15

[Arne Hess]

With the GSM/GPRS CompactFlash card (Type 1), you can instantly turn your Pocket PC or notebook computer into a wireless communication device so you can perform voice/data communication anytime and anywhere.
• $252.99, plus discounts for quantities over 15
Pretty good that the Audiovox CF card is finally for sale in the US.
I got tons of feedback after my Review of it on PPCW.Net (http://www.ppcw.net/index.php?area=story&story=02/10/18/3570253), where folks asked where to buy and I wasn't sure.
I really like the card and use it from time to time with my non Wireless Pocket PCs as well as I will take it with me if I go to Redmond next week where my GSM 900/1800 MHz xda will not work… :-(
One recommendation: I suggest Running Voice 2.5 (http://www.ppcw.net/index.php?area=story&story=02/12/22/3304652) to be used with the card, it's the perfect addition for the voice and data interface!

[thanos255]

It is a good card...just don't expect ANY help from AT&T at all if you use them as a carrier. They will not support it on the phone or via email. I hope this changes....but who knows.

Otherwise then that..IF you can get it working, I am sure you will be happy.

Thanks
Thanos

[kaliwete]

With the GSM/GPRS CompactFlash card (Type 1), you can instantly turn your Pocket PC or notebook computer into a wireless communication device so you can perform voice/data communication anytime and anywhere. You can not only enjoy high quality voice communication but rapid and stable GPRS Data transmission. You can finally get rid of the tiny little screen of your mobile phone and access various on-line information comfortably.


Is this the Audiovox RTM-8000? I've read through a Brighthand thread ( http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=1e940ba08a8b1988e0167a792e755b3a&threadid=65895&highlight=gprs+cf ) where people were having difficulty getting this GSM/GPRS CF card working with the Toshiba e740. Any thoughts?

[stonepro]

ach!!! I just deleted my dumb question (what can I do with this card) becuase it's answer in the review (linked up-top). I hope no one spent any time answering me... :oops:

[Khufu1]

Right now I use my t68i via bluetooth to connect to the web. Is there any advantage switching to this guy assuming I always have my phone with me?
Khufu1

[dbrahms]

after using 1xrtt with Verizon, I'd never go back to GPRS for data.

[Warthog]

We have two GPRS cards (the AirCard 750's) in the office right now for trialing.

The speed is sufficient for our tasks (it's up to 56kbps rather than 14.4kbps, realistically it's around 38.4kbps), but the latency is terrible. There's a minimum latency of just over 1 second for doing anything. I imagine this is a limitation of the Rogers AT&T system, not the card itself, but does anyone have a definite answer on that?

Also, when do we get to see faster CF GPRS devices? 14.4kbps is better than nothing, but 56kbps is even better than that. :)

Matt.

[vincentsiaw]

$259 bucks seems a lot of money for a 14.4 kbps connection....

[RickP in AZ]

$259 bucks seems a lot of money for a 14.4 kbps connection....

Actually that is the limitation of a CSD connection (if your provider supports that speed.) CSD is data over the GSM channel, *not* the GPRS. I use the CSD/GSM for data as I am only concerned with miobile access to email and I am a really cheap person. (CSD uses your normal voice minutes rather than charging against your data bucket like GPRS does.)

Unfortunately my provider, T-Mobile, only supports CSD at 9.6kbps. :cry:

[possmann]

Is this indeed the Audivox card or a knock-off? I've never heard of petersonsales before, so I guess I'm going to wait until I see some more competition for this product out there before I plunk down $260 for it.

Providor is T-Mobile and looking to stay with them as they have the largest GPRS/GSM network in the US now and cheap prices too ;)

Did not want to buy the XDA - so I'll have to figure out which PocketPC I'm going to want to get now... the Axim? LOOX? Therea/Audiovox? hmmmmm

[jpaq]

Well, The price still seems high.

How much was the T-Mobile PPCPE promo on Amazon?

Then there are half a dozen companies that are working on the release of PPCPE devices, meaning more competition and lower prices. Plus, Dell is rumored to be working on a PPCPE and they will likley drop the market price even more.

Tell me again why I should spend $253 on this?

:?

[PetiteFlower]

How exactly does this thing connect you? Like, who's providing the connection service? I am SO confused about this whole wireless connection for PDA thing....I'd love to have it but how?

[ricksfiona]

Cost is too high. I'd rather use my Bluetooth/GPRS equipped phone for that much money.

[Gator5000e]

The Sprint CF2031 card is faster and cheaper (at least there was a decent rebate a while back - got mine for about $125). It's up to 150Mbps on the Vision netsork but actual speed is usually down ot about 70-90. Of course you need a Sprint PCS account and a decent signal (which is spotty here in Orlando).

[TopDog]

Cost is too high. I'd rather use my Bluetooth/GPRS equipped phone for that much money.
The point of this card is for us that don't have a bluetooth phone and/or don't have a bluetooth PocketPC.

I am one of those, don't have bluetooth on my phone, and are not planning on using €3-400 on a new cellphone...

I love the Audiovox RTM-8000, have been using it for tre months now.

But is this card the Audiovox, or just a rip-off?

[R K]

I don't think it's Audiovox's or a ripoff.
Many pieces of hardware are distributed by different vendors.
Take the Symbol Wireless Networker CompactFlash WiFi Card for an example.
I don't know who the original manufacturer is, but it's sold as if it was a card from the following companies.
Symbol
Socket
Dell
Sony

If you look at these cards, they're all the same shape, except they just seem to have different stickers on them, (possibly different firmware).

I think this is the same case with this card as well.

[TopDog]

I think this is the same case with this card as well.
You may be right, I talked to a guy from Fujitsu Siemens today. He says the Audiovox card soon will be sold with a Fujitsu Siemens logo on it, bundled with the LOOX :-)

But why is there no label on it?

[foreverbruin]

Hi, I have a Cingular SIM card. Pardon my ignorance with the whole wireless thing, but if I get this Audiovox add-on for my Ipaq 5450, how will I use a dial-up thing instead of GPRS? Would I need an additional internet service provider (i.e. Earthlink, AOL, CompuServe) to access the web this way? I hear GPRS can get expensive for frequent use and exchange of data.

Also, will my Pocket PC have to be on to receive calls? Or will it automatically "wake up" when a call is going through?

Thanks.

[TopDog]

Hi, I have a Cingular SIM card. Pardon my ignorance with the whole wireless thing, but if I get this Audiovox add-on for my Ipaq 5450, how will I use a dial-up thing instead of GPRS?
You need a number (ISP) you can call. It's best if it's from you mobile provider, because thats probably cheaper (at least here in Norway).


Also, will my Pocket PC have to be on to receive calls? Or will it automatically "wake up" when a call is going through?
Almost... You can't turn off your device, because then the CF-card loses the power, but in AI Dialer or preferably Running Voice GSM, you can set a hardware button to turn off the display, and keep the PPC going. This eats lots of batterypower, so don't count on long standby-times...

I used Audiovox with Running Voice a couple of weeks for voice calls, I had to charge my PPC once a day, sometimes twice a day (at the time I had a iPAQ 3850 with a CF+ jacket).

Now I just use it for GPRS and SMS. But love it :-)

[possmann]

Did I understand you correctly when you mentioned that in order to receive phone calls the pocketpc has to remain in an "always on" state with this CF card?

How would the XDA/O2 work it and get such great standby time while it provides basically the same telephonic features - GSM/GPRS?

Would be curious to hear your take on this and learn a bit more as I am seriously thinking of throwing the iPaq 3600 series and cell phone out to replace it with this type of a device/combo - eyeing the Loox and The CF flash card as a matter of fact.

[TopDog]

Did I understand you correctly when you mentioned that in order to receive phone calls the pocketpc has to remain in an "always on" state with this CF card?
YES!
How would the XDA/O2 work it and get such great standby time while it provides basically the same telephonic features - GSM/GPRS?
Thats a different story... on PPC2002 Phone Edition devices the GSM chip is buildt in the device, so you don't need to have it "always on" to give power to the GSM chip...

Get it?

[possmann]

yeah - was thinking that might be the case - thanks for confirming it!

[dennis875]

For more information about what you might expect with a GPRS device check this site.

http://www.computers.toshiba.co.uk/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/download_whitepaper.jsp?WHITEPAPER_ID=00000009ed

My personal experience with T Mobile and the Chi Mei card in my Pocket PC - "2 Wire" band width meter is to achieve between 23 - 30 Kbits/s - Dependent upon moon phase, sun spots and such

[dennis875]

The card is made by the Chi Mei Company - They are the Original Equipment Manufacturer OEM

http://www.cmcs.com.tw/product_b.htm