Nextel 56K iM1100 wireless modem

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.nxtlphones.com/clc_q202/wireless/default.html">http://www.nxtlphones.com/clc_q202/wireless/default.html</a><br /><br />Jeff McKean was the first of several people to send us information on this new Nextel PCMCIA modem that offers an interesting solution to wireless data: a 56 kbps (roughly the same as GPRS speed) wireless data modem that functions on a flat rate plan. If only it was a CF card!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/nextel.jpg" /><br /><br />"Introducing true mobile connectivity with Nextel Online® Packetstream Gold and the iM1100 wireless modem. With it, every location within Nextel’s nationwide coverage area offers you a high-speed connection to the Internet without any dial-up ... ever.<br /><br />• Pay one flat rate for unlimited wireless access to the Web and internet-based email from your Windows laptop, WinCE/Pocket PC or Palm OS device. <br />• Connect at speeds up to 56kbps — as fast as phone landlines, and as much as three times faster than the average wireless browser speed. <br />• Access the same browser, POP3 email software, and Web-enabled applications you use at home or in the office from anywhere in the Nextel Nationwide Network. <br />• Continue to receive calls on your Nextel phone thanks to Packetstream Gold’s always-on* packet data network."

[Brad Adrian]

From the photo it looks like this thing protrudes from the Pocket PC quite a bit. The size alone could kill this as a viable option for me. However, I'd still like to know from people who have used Nextel service how good the nationwide coverage is.

[captgoodhope]

Nextel is great if you use the two-way radio service; stinks for the phone. I've gotten spotty connections in Brooklyn, Staten Island, suburbs of Washington DC. Parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey don't have coverage at all.

[Perry Reed]

Looks kinda like the old Ricochet service, which I had and still dearly miss. The Nextel modem is actually a little smaller than the old Ricochet, and the service is a bit more expensive.

(I'm talking about the older, slower Ricochet service, not the newer one they had when they went under.)

The best thing about Ricochet, other than the flat rate, was the stability of the connection. I could connect on Friday evening when I got home from work, and it'd stay connected until I disconnected on Monday morning.

If Nextel releases a CF card version of the modem, I'm all over this.

[Mobile Bob]

If Nextel releases a CF card version of the modem, I'm all over this.

I agree. Even thought the service is expensive, if they were to release a CF card modem, I would sign up in an instant.

[disconnected]

Does any national carrier have anything in CF form? I read last year that a company called Yiso, I think, was doing a CDMA CF card for Sprint, but I haven't seen any mention of it lately. I think all the Sierra cards are PC? I have a CF silver slider for my iPAQ, which I wouldn't mind carrying around all the time, but the PC sleeve is just too big.

[JonnoB]

However, I'd still like to know from people who have used Nextel service how good the nationwide coverage is.

I have only one spot travelling over a winding hill where I lose a connection to and from work. I have not had to roam in over a year. I wish I could combine it with my Nextel Online service I already pay for... maybe I can? - I am going to check. With an IP telephony solution into the office, I can use a PocketPC using a Bluetooth headset as a mobile phone solution.... that would be cool.

[crutcherk]

If Nextel releases a CF card version of the modem, I'm all over this.

I agree. Even thought the service is expensive, if they were to release a CF card modem, I would sign up in an instant.

I have been using the Nextel dial-up service withe my I90 and a serial cable connected to my HP548.
I spoke to customer care at nextel and they said this packet data service will work with the pocket pc. You have to have a seperate account if you use the pc card but you can use the cable and connect it to your notebook or pocket pc.
You can still use the phone when you are online too.

[clusey]

The pc card can be set up as an additional unit on the same account with your handset. The card has a SIM card just like your handset. You can also activate the PacketStream Gold (Compression overlay on Nextel's iDEN network) on your i90c handset and continue to use your data cable. Nextel has the largest Wireless IP network in the US. Keep in mind this a a 2.5G digital technology and can not render the same speeds as a 3G network, but it's available today in most cities, unlike 3G. The card sells for $349.99 and the service is $54.99 per month unlimited access no roaming fees. I tested it head to head with Voicestream's GPRS service and AT&T's CDPD (Only other Wireless IP services available in my city)...no contest. The card can be set up with any PocketPC handeld with a PCMCIA Expansion pack. (Set the dial string to s=2)

[duggan]

I ordered one of these the day I got the announcement and received it the next day (Friday). Unfortunately, there is some kind of problem with the compression (Gold) portion of the system so anyone on that rate plan gets nada. Bupkiss. The modem connects to the network, name resolution works, but no traffic flows. Apparently the normal Packetstream 950 (19.2k) system is working fine but there is a nationwide problem with the Gold system. I'd hate to be the techs responsible for this rollout!

I have had good results with my Nextel phone service and have noticed steady improvement in coverage (Philadelphia tri-state area). Having the same, no-roam data coverage will be outstanding.

As far as PocketPC goes, there are no drivers for this device despite what the Nextel site says about "your PDA". The current drivers only support Win 95, 98, NT, and 2000. Windows XP and CE are not currently supported. Anyone got a PDA that runs Win2K? I didn't think so.

I have an iPaq 3650 and am currently using a SierraWireless CDPD card. Definitely a more elegant solution in terms of form factor, but coverage and speed both stink. I expect to give up the CDPD as soon as WinCE drivers for the iM1100 come out. Both Nextel and Motorola are mum on this.

R

[clusey]

To my understanding your iM1100 takes 24 hours after activation for the proxy server that performs compression to recognize the non-routable IP address on your SIM card. They state that the compression is running 2:1 (38.4kbps) and will be up to 3:1 (57.6kbps) by months end. As to using with your iPaq, you need to set up on laptop first (using installation CD) and then insert into your expansion pack. The PPC2000 or 2002 will recognize the correct modem at that point. (Loaded directly from device, but must be authenticated to the Nextel network from PC first) Hope that helps! I have one loaded on my 3835 and it works great! :D

[duggan]

Wow, where are you getting this information? I called Nextel again today and they told me they were having problems with the proxy server that they didn't expect to resolve until the end of the month. They didn't say the service would be slow, they said there would be NO service, and that's what I've still got. The first time I called them, they told me to expect it to work in 24 hours, but when I called on Saturday they said it was a nationwide outage and it wasn't working for anyone. The guy I talked to today said he thought it might be working for the few people who successfully registered before the proxy problem developed (I guess that's you!).

As far as activating for the iPaq, are you saying you have to start out with the card in the notebook, then move it to the iPaq every time you want to use it? An interesting demonstration, but hardly practical!

R

[clusey]

As far as it being a nationwide problem for Nextel, I'm pretty sure they are just having some difficulty getting the right info from technical/network ops to the people that get paid to answer the phones.

About the iPaq, I meant that the card only needs to be inserted into a laptop one time. Sorry, guess I didn't spell that out well. After the initial setup, you will never have to do that again. Good Luck! :lol: