Just Mobile's SDIO 802.11g Wireless LAN Card [Archive]

Len Egan

06-01-2007, 04:00 PM

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3503/Just%20Mobile%201.jpg" /> Product Category: SDIO 802.11g Wireless Card Manufacturer: <a href="http://www.mobis.com.tw/">Mobis</a> Where to Buy: <a href="http://www.just-mobileonline.com/buyhere.html">Various Online Retailers</a> Price: $49.95 System Requirements: Supports Pocket PC 2002/2003, Win CE 4.0, Windows Mobile 5.0 Specifications: Standards-IEEE802.11b/g, Connectors: SDIO. Range: 100 meters indoors, 300 meters outdoors. Physical Characteristics: 40L X 24W X 2.1H mm, Weight: 3.25g. Power Consumption: Transmission 250 mA (maximum), idle: 3mA, Sleep: 1mA Pros:<li>The device is fast and reliable;<li>Small and compact form factor;<li>Triple security support for 802.11g;<li>Extremely easy to use;<li>Includes a plastic case for storage. Cons:<li>No memory built-in to the card;<li>Limited online support. Summary: In today’s mobile world, staying connected wherever you are is essential. WiFi continues to be one of the most prevalent methods of connecting to the Internet. Just Mobile has produced the “World’s Smallest SD Wireless LAN Card with LED". Smaller than most matchbooks, the Just Mobile Wireless Card provides a super connectivity option while on the go. It is dependable and it is S-M-A-L-L. Both of these are characteristics that both the mobile warrior and the casual browser will greatly appreciate. Read on for the full review!<!> <PAGEBREAK> Compact Giant There's no question about it, I would have been much more excited about this product 3-4 years ago. When I was using my iPAQ 3820, for example, I would have killed for a WLAN card this small that was 802.11b, much less a “g” card. Back then, it was rare to find WiFi onboard a Pocket PC device, and 3G and EVDO were just dreams. Today, most handheld devices are converged. You don’t see very many stand-alone Pocket PCs. In addition, EVDO and HSDPA are taking the nation by storm. As a result, WiFi on a handheld device is not as critical as it once was. However, having said that, this compact 802.11g adapter has a place in the bag of most mobile warriors. The first thing you notice about the Just Mobile WLAN solution is its size. Or, rather, should I say, lack thereof. This baby is very small. Not only is it only slightly larger than a regular SD card, but it is almost the size of a SONY Memory Stick Pro Duo. The WLAN card only extends beyond a regular SD card by the amount of space used for the “Just Mobile” sticker on the end of the card. Like any SD card, it's a bit wider than the Memory Stick Pro Duo. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3503/Just%20Mobile%205.jpg" /> Figure 1: This thing is small - shown compared to a CompactFlash card and an SD memory card. One of my concerns about the device is that most devices have only one memory slot available. As has often been the concern with SDIO WLAN solutions, this means that you can’t have a WLAN card and a card available for memory working at the same time. You just have to hope that you aren’t going to want to download a large music or video file! Another concern is that more and more devices are moving to mini-SD and micro-SD cards. While this is irritating to me, having amassed a gaggle of SD cards, it is just the way things are going. Obviously, this card won’t be available for those devices. What‘s in the Box The packaging of the card is very clean and appealing. There isn’t much inside and there doesn't need to be. The device itself is the centerpiece, as it should be. When you open the box, you immediately see the card packed in a plastic case. The case resembles the plastic cases that SD cards ship with. While this may not seem like a big deal, it is a very welcome touch. So many of the SDIO WLAN cards available on the market do not come with such a case. This leaves the end-user with the decision of what he or she should use to carry around the device when not in use. Let’s face it; one rarely walks around with such a card sticking out of your device. It’s nice to have a safe case to store it in. I hope that other manufacturers of like solutions will take note. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3503/Just%20Mobile%206.jpg" /> Figure 2: A standard out of box experience. Underneath the card is a mini-CD that contains the device driver and the utility for your card. The only other thing in the box is a single 8 X 11 sheet of paper, folded in fours, that contains simple step-by-step instructions to use the card. A word of warning: be sure to go to <a href="http://www.mobis.com.tw/products.htm">http://www.mobis.com.tw/products.htm</a> to get the latest driver for the card. By the time I was ready to use it, a new driver was already available. <PAGEBREAK> Zero Configuration Means Zero Configuration Using the Just Mobile SDIO WiFi 802.11b/g card is a bit hard to explain because there is almost nothing to do—just install the driver, insert the card, and find a hotspot. It is really that simple! It worked flawlessly for me every time I used it. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3503/Just%20Mobile%207.jpg" /> Figure 3: The software driver install screen. The CAB file for your device does not install any new application or modify the user interface on Pocket PC 2003 and newer devices, nor does it need to; you can configure the card and connect to networks using the Wireless Zero Configuration utility built into Windows Mobile. We all know that the “Zero Configuration” from Microsoft isn’t perfect, but it is pretty close to it. If the wireless network you are connecting to requires specific information to be assigned to the card such as an IP address or DNS servers, this can be easily accomplished. Simply tap Start>Settings>Connections>Network Cards and you will see the listing for the SDIO 802.11g Adapter. Tap-and-hold the SDIO listing and you will be brought to the advanced configuration screens for the card. From here you can give the card the specific information required for whatever network you are attempting to connect to. The Just Mobile 802.11g SD card supports open networks and networks protected with WEP, WPA1 or WPA2 security. I was able to use WPA successfully on my Treo 700W. I didn’t try WPA2, but I have no reason to believe it wouldn’t work just fine. A Versatile First Remember that this card is either the first, or one of the first, SDIO solutions available to handle 802.11g. It does its job in such a small form factor. As I mentioned earlier, one of the big advantages to the Just Mobile card is its size. It extends only 5mm from the top of the device. This will lessen your chances of breaking off the card with the bumps and dings of everyday mobile life. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3503/Just%20Mobile%208.jpg" /> Figure 4: The card in a Dell Axim. While I am connected to Verizon Wireless’ EVDO network nearly all day and, in my area, there are very few areas where the reception is not strong enough to surf the web with ease, I can see that there will be times when I am thankful for the Just Mobile card. Whether I was at home or at the office, I often experienced speeds that were in excess of those available to me with the Verizon network. In addition it will allow me to share files with other devices easily. I can also see folks using this device that might even have WiFi built-in to their device. Today’s devices have 802.11b built-in and you might want to take advantage of the faster speeds afforded by 802.11g. Conclusions Admittedly for me, having WiFi built into my device is less critical than it was only a few short years ago. With 3G on the verge of blasting off in the U.S. and EVDO networks available almost everywhere, built-in WiFi or an SDIO solution like the Just Mobile card are simply not as useful as they once were. Still, having a solution like this that supports 802.11g can certainly come in handy from time to time. At the price point offered, the Just Mobile card is a solution that makes sense for almost everyone. Small, light, and easy to use, the Just Mobile SDIO 802.11G card offers a convenient solution that won’t wring out your wallet. Len Egan is a pension consultant residing in Gales Ferry, CT. He has been a mobile enthusiast since he first used the Sharp Wizard 18 years ago. In addition to his love of bright, shiny objects, Len also enjoys baseball, college basketball, and spending time with his family.

Gerard

06-01-2007, 05:24 PM

There was an iPAQ 3820? The 3830/3835, 3850, and 3870/3875 models I know, but 20? Perhaps a model distributed in a European or Asian market? Anyway, none of the 38xx series were SD I/0 capable, so such a card would not work; an important consideration for readers who may still use these models.

The size is small... it would appear to be exactly the same as the Spectec SD 802.11b card it seems, if not slightly longer. Mine measures 38.34mm end to end, compared to a standard SD memory card length of 32.00mm. A difference of 6.34mm. You say that it "extends only 5mm from the top of the device." This number is confusing. Does this number refer to the Dell Axim X5x type device in your picture? Since different devices have variable projection/depth for the SD slot, an absolute measurement of the card makes better sense.

http://www.luthier.ca/other/forum/SD_memory_and_wi-fi_cards.jpg

"Todays devices have 802.11b built-in and you might want to take advantage of the faster speeds afforded by 802.11g." Did you compare throughput, upload and download speeds, with an 802.11b card on the same Pocket PC? My guess is not. If you had, you would have found no difference, as there is a hard ceiling on com throughput in all PPCs, at least up to WM2003SE devices. This limit is approximately 270kbps in my own tests and all tests I've read. Hardware throughput is often much faster, for example transferring from a memory card to RAM (your Axim should have no trouble playing a 700kbps video from SD for instance), but via a com port the speed limit is very low. There should be zero effective advantage in using a 'g' card over a 'b' card. The only real advantage is in connecting to Access Points which have been configured to disallow 802.11b device connections.

Guess I'm bored this morning and taking it out on you... sorry. Nice review, generally.