GSM/GPRS CF/PC Cards

[bdegroodt]

Looking for opinions about a couple of possible scenarios from users.

Moving to the west coast soon and plan to take a month to see just what's in between the 2 coasts and drive from NY to CA. However, I can't be out of complete contact while I'm gone for the month...So, I've been brainstorming my communications plan and here's what I have as options.

1- Use existing T68i and iPAQ for email and phone communications.

2- Use existing T68i and add Bluetooth dongle to laptop and use for email/phone.

3- Buy GSM/GPRS CF card for Ipaq and use single compact unit for email/phone.

4- Buy GSM/GPRS PCMCIA card for laptop and use for email/phone.

What say the group? I'm attracted to the GSM/GPRS CF card, but I'm unsure about the reception and quality of them (Specifically looking at the Audiovox card). Are there any speed or reception advantages to any of the alternate scenarios (2-4)? Would the PCMCIA data speeds be faster? Would reception suffer on the CF? Do people really take out their SIMS from the back of their phones and switch units all the time (I always feel like I'm about to snap mine when I take it out of my T68).

I'm all eyes...

[Janak Parekh]

The big problem with the CF cards, IMHO, is that the Pocket PC must stay on in order to receive calls. Unless you're going to be cradled/powered during the trip, this doesn't work so well.

--janak

[bdegroodt]

The big problem with the CF cards, IMHO, is that the Pocket PC must stay on in order to receive calls. Unless you're going to be cradled/powered during the trip, this doesn't work so well.

--janak

Yeah. Should have mentioned that. I intend to power either device with an iGo cigarette charger.

[Martin I Pettinger]

Hi

Just a thought but if you are going for the option 1) iPAQ and T68i then I'd recommend a portable keyboard - i.e. stowaway if you need to reply to a lot of e-mails.

Martin

[Janak Parekh]

Yeah. Should have mentioned that. I intend to power either device with an iGo cigarette charger.
Hmm. Well, any of the options would work then. But why switch? Is your existing solution lacking in some way that's motivating you to buy a CF or PC card?

--janak

[bdegroodt]

Yeah. Should have mentioned that. I intend to power either device with an iGo cigarette charger.
Hmm. Well, any of the options would work then. But why switch? Is your existing solution lacking in some way that's motivating you to buy a CF or PC card?

--janak

Got the bug Janak :D That's why I'm searching to see if there are any advantages in options 2-4. Of course, if the GSM/GPRS iPAQ ever sees the light of day, that may be the solution.

I go through phases of gotta haves. Lately I've been eyeing the Moto T720, even though it's half the phone my T68 is. I'm curious to see if the clarity is better on it than my T68 and I like the clam shell. BUT, no BT and no POP email polling is a real bummer on that thing.

[Janak Parekh]

Of course, if the GSM/GPRS iPAQ ever sees the light of day, that may be the solution.
Well, there is the GSM/GPRS sleeve available internationally... :D Apparently, recent firmware releases have improved it substantially. No 54xx compatibility though.

I go through phases of gotta haves. Lately I've been eyeing the Moto T720, even though it's half the phone my T68 is. I'm curious to see if the clarity is better on it than my T68 and I like the clam shell. BUT, no BT and no POP email polling is a real bummer on that thing.
Yeah, the T720 is a no-go in my opinion. Not worth it--the unit is actually quite a bit larger than it would first seem. The new Siemens S46 is cute, basically the T68 + J2ME support. However, none of these are really revolutionary enough to satisfy my bug. I'm playing with a Pocket PC Phone Edition, and may switch to that as my primary device, but IIRC you didn't like the HTC/T-Mo PPCPE.

--janak

[bdegroodt]

Yeah, the T720 is a no-go in my opinion. Not worth it--the unit is actually quite a bit larger than it would first seem. The new Siemens S46 is cute, basically the T68 + J2ME support. However, none of these are really revolutionary enough to satisfy my bug. I'm playing with a Pocket PC Phone Edition, and may switch to that as my primary device, but IIRC you didn't like the HTC/T-Mo PPCPE.

--janak

You recall correctly. Even after the upgrade, I couldn't get it to be the reliable phone that I needed it to be. There are some real cool features of the PPCPE, but I found them to be outweighed by the device flaws (I think asking that little processor to do everything it is supposed to do is a stretch for a PPC alone. Add in the phone portion and all the additional software that TM throws on it and it's asking too much of it.). Plus, I got horrible reception in the city (People used to talk about the reception of the T68, but that PPCPE had reception issues way beyond my current T68-Something I've never criticized it about.). I was constantly getting complaints about the sound qaulity. The straw that broke my back was the paint peel. Made me mad to shell out $600 and see the paint peeling.

Maybe I'll just hold out for a G100 from Good and add it in addition to the PPC. I need my fix man! It's been over 6 months since I bought any tech stuff. Added another half gig of RAM to my laptop last week, but that wasn't worth much mileage for me. I really wanted the new keyboard for the iPAQ too...

[Janak Parekh]

Maybe I'll just hold out for a G100 from Good and add it in addition to the PPC. I need my fix man! It's been over 6 months since I bought any tech stuff.
:lol: I was about to buy a 5450 two months ago for that very reason... but I really couldn't justify it, and the reports of poor audio turned me off.

Have you considered getting a Danger Hiptop or a voice-enabled RIM device? Those two have been appealing to me, if for no other reason than always-on email. Unfortunately, they both lack Bluetooth :cry:... but I've wondered if I could live with a disconnected Pocket PC and a super-connected email device. I've not managed to convince myself yet, though.

--janak

p.s. With the ROM update, I'm having virtually none of the problems you were referring to. This little puppy now spanks my T68 receptionwise (even with R5D MMS firmware on the T68), and it's known that the paint peeling is due to the magnets on the bundled case. You might want to keep an eye on the new upcoming CDMA PPCPEs...

[bdegroodt]

Maybe I'll just hold out for a G100 from Good and add it in addition to the PPC. I need my fix man! It's been over 6 months since I bought any tech stuff.
:lol: I was about to buy a 5450 two months ago for that very reason... but I really couldn't justify it, and the reports of poor audio turned me off.

Have you considered getting a Danger Hiptop or a voice-enabled RIM device? Those two have been appealing to me, if for no other reason than always-on email. Unfortunately, they both lack Bluetooth :cry:... but I've wondered if I could live with a disconnected Pocket PC and a super-connected email device. I've not managed to convince myself yet, though.

--janak

Looked at the Hiptop. Just feel like the OS is too off the beaten path and getting the native support that I'm used to on the PPC would be a bit of stretch it seems. Plus, I'm not real into the idea of all my data residing with Danger's servers (Or T-Mobile). I have thought about the RIM again, but getting T-Mobile to return a call on those things is like pulling teeth. They only seem to be interested in sales of 100+ units at this time.

I like the G100 for the email connectivity and the back light on the keyboard. I'm really afraid that if I got back into a RIM/Good that I'd find either the PPC or the RIM sitting most of the time. I'm heavy on email, so my logic says RIM/Good. BUT, I do love the PPC OS features and that makes it a real hard rock.

I wouldn't dare carry all 3 devices at once. I'm going to stand still until I see what the new PPC OS looks like (When it comes) to make my next decision. If it lacks always on connectivity, I may have to find my way over to Ebay and sadly depart with my beloved 3975.

I understand your BT issue. It's at the top of my favorite features list of my 3975. Especially with the T68. I was reading a NG post by Ed recently about sending emails out from the airport instantly and he's so right. The T68/BT enabled PPC is a hard combo to beat on some fronts. Not being constantly connected though is a huge gap for me.

The best solution I can think of is not yet available, but if the PPC could stay in an active hibernation mode and continued to poll for email and GPRS really was "always on" (As in it reconnected when it dropped the signal) and you weren't beat over the head with the meg meter for polling email constantly then I'd be happy as a clam...for a month or so.

[Janak Parekh]

I like the G100 for the email connectivity and the back light on the keyboard. I'm really afraid that if I got back into a RIM/Good that I'd find either the PPC or the RIM sitting most of the time. I'm heavy on email, so my logic says RIM/Good. BUT, I do love the PPC OS features and that makes it a real hard rock.
Heh. You should probably do what I'm doing-- waiting patiently for the Sprint/Hitachi Communicator. I might be able to deal with the size, given the thumbboard. But it's so hard to wait. ;)

--janak

[ryanmjones]

Personally . . . I think you should get a satellite internet connection, and mount a dish on your roof. You could then take full advantage of your laptop and the high speed connection.

. . . But boy . . . wouldn't that be cool!

[Jan Willem]

Make a double purchase: the audiovox Triband/GPRS CF card and get a duo sim card. That way you can check both functionality of the CF and whether you realy need the always-on when travelling.


The CF card is something I'm druling over as well. GET IT ;)