Socket Updates WLAN Drivers For Pocket PC

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.socketcom.com/about/press/read.asp?ID=139">http://www.socketcom.com/about/press/read.asp?ID=139</a><br /><br /><i>"Socket Communications, Inc., the Mobile Connection™ Company, today announced its WLAN Tools Mobile Edition software for its Low Power CompactFlash and SDIO Wireless LAN cards for Pocket PCs. The software provides a new easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI) with advanced network monitoring capabilities for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system as well as support for WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA-PSK (Pre-shared) security. WPA offers enterprise-class security – an industry standard instituted by the Wi-Fi Alliance – that combines strong encryption, message integrity checking (called “Michael”), and 802.1x authentication."</i><br /><br />Unfortunately, they don't have the new drives and UI for their original CF WiFi card, which is, of course, the one I have. Maybe they are just late with that one. Drivers for the newer thin CF WiFi card and the SDIO WiFi card are available for download now.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20040916-socketwifi.gif" />

[Derek]

Hmmm, Socket, SanDisk, i-Mate, they all create SDIO WiFi cards. I suppose this means they create it in the same factory, meaning they will have the same hardware. So, my question is, will this work on a SanDisk SDIO WiFi?

Greetings,
Derek

[st.tom]

I have Socket SD WLAN card. I install this drivers on my XDA II and system is slowly... :(

[gabrandt]

why won't socket provide some "legacy" support for the older CF card? the new one came out weeks after I bought the original one and now I get no support!

[Underwater Mike]

Looks like some interesting reporting, but I have never been very impressed with Socket's software. RE: lack of support for older cards, that's the Socket way! But they do offer partial trade-in toward a newer model! :wink:

[lhauser]

Looks like some interesting reporting, but I have never been very impressed with Socket's software. RE: lack of support for older cards, that's the Socket way! But they do offer partial trade-in toward a newer model! :wink:

I couldn't find any information about a trade-up...can anyone point me at the right page for that?

Lee

[Underwater Mike]

I did not find a page either. But if you write to Socket support and complain a lot, they will usually offer you a 50% discount on the new version if you trade in your old one. It's worked for me before...

Looks like some interesting reporting, but I have never been very impressed with Socket's software. RE: lack of support for older cards, that's the Socket way! But they do offer partial trade-in toward a newer model! :wink:

I couldn't find any information about a trade-up...can anyone point me at the right page for that?

Lee

[Gerard]

Has anyone tried the driver for the newer model card with an older model? I'm about to do a backup and then test this, just for the heck of it, but wondered if it's been tested and failed.

I have tested just about every card driver set out there, with either my SparkLAN CF or Symbol CF wi-fi cards. Why? Because the recommended software for both really really sucks. Connections drop all the time, especially with the Symbol LA-4137 card, which is identical hardware to the Socket older model. In trying various versions from the Symbol site I found that they all work, sort of, failing in various interesting ways to completely satisfy. So I recently tried the newest driver from Socket, about 2 weeks ago. Turns out the same interface, identical look and tools, but it was missing one dialogue. Probably just an older version of one of the Symbol softwares.

So yeah, I'll go ahead and run a Sprite Backup and then try this thing out, see if it'll install at all and if it does, just how well it works. Get back to this thread later with my results.

[Gerard]

Nope, didn't work. Figured as much, but had to try. The interface is very nicely done. Tons of new features. Even the Help page was sweet, with lots of diagrams and explanations for all sorts of configurations and problems. Too bad it won't work for the older card... And I really doubt that they'll put out a version for the older hardware, as they call it "end of life" on their site.

[gpspassion]

I have Socket SD WLAN card. I install this drivers on my XDA II and system is slowly... :(

Same here, painfully slow and mp3 streaming is barely possible, uninstalled and back with the old Pegasus driver.

[Wingnut]

Not to brag, but it really is a nice upgrade. It helps to make it feel like a part of the OS, not just some add on piece of software. One question though, does anyone know what happend to the site monitor part of the application? I used to be able to see all the local wireless networks that were in my vacinity.

Overall though, nice update. And for the record, it seems to have fixed an issue I was having with power saving mode.

[kao123]

It is indeed a nice new "look" it still did not fix my connectivity problems i.e. not being able to connect to my DLINK AP900+ using the sandisk wifi sd card in my iPAQ2215
However after reading through the socket forums, I found the most ridiculous solution..... which can be seen here http://www.socketforum.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2109, check the post by mikem (I can't take credit) I laughed when I saw it but then I tried it and bingo
I had tried all permutations possible on the access point and the sd card itself, but never once managed to connect. now by using my finger I can.
I'm still pretty annoyed with this card and the amount of hassle and frustration it has caused me.

[k_kirk]

Anyone else annoyed by the little bleep sounds emitted each time signal strength goes up & down? Turns out there is a new event in the Sounds / Notifications section of the Settings area. Its called WIFICON. If you wish to get rid of this bleep sound simply pull up this event and disable the sound assigned to it. Worked well for me. Cheers

[Cybrid]

Nope, didn't work. Figured as much, but had to try. The interface is very nicely done. Tons of new features. Even the Help page was sweet, with lots of diagrams and explanations for all sorts of configurations and problems. Too bad it won't work for the older card... And I really doubt that they'll put out a version for the older hardware, as they call it "end of life" on their site.
D@mn, When I saw this I was about ready to email you. Oh, well. Next idea.
Any programmers out there.., since a network card would have to meet a criteria in order to be certified as 802.11b....Is it possible to make a generic utility (with GUI interface) which could be used over top of original drivers? I mean I can understand that different drivers are well...different but the I/O protocols are the same? There maybe several chipsets to contend with but as Gerard's card symbol is similar to a socket, I've noticed my Sandisk's card is also quite similar to D-link's.
Sandisk's utility is quite nice, scans for ap's, support many different wep protocols, ping utility, signal strength indicators...Only thing I need is DCHP release renew. Could the GUI not be "ported" Hypothetically, copyright issues aside