Please help me decide on a CF wireless card.....

[ChunkyMonkey]

I have a iPaq 2215. The only thing that is lacking for me is built in WiFi. I bought an AmbiCom CF WiFi card for it about a year ago and half ago. About 6 months later it would have problems connecting. At first, it would take 2 or three tries of removing and reinserting the card before it would connect....then 9 or 10....then it wouldn't connect anymore. I contacted their tech support and they suggested that I returned it.

Now the replacement card is doing the same thing. Only this time, I think that I might have broke it myself. It got lost under my recliner and by the time I found it, it got scratched up a bit....

Now it's time to find a replacement. Here are the three the I am considering:

1. Linksys

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=36&prid=434

I considered this because of brand name and because of cost. But after reading through the forums, I found that there were alot of disatified people about the lack of WM2003. Since then, the drivers have been updated.

2. Socket

http://www.socketcom.com/product/WL6004-322.asp

These seem to be a little bit on the pricey side. I have heard positive things said about this little card. Mostly about the little power that it drains. I mainly use the wireless card so that I can sync it with my pc upstairs.

3. Ambicom ....again

http://www.ambicom.com/products/wave2net/wl1100c-cf.html

These seem to be priced about right and the support was good when I delt them. But I don't really want to feel like a fool if the third one goes bad. But I'm not certain if I broke the second one myself.

I would like to buy something very shortly. Please give any input you can provide.

Thanks!!!

[Stik]

2. Socket

http://www.socketcom.com/product/WL6004-322.asp

These seem to be a little bit on the pricey side.

FWIW, I wouldn't buy Socket's card thru the Socket website store.

A much better deal can be made going thru this site and buying the card thru Mobile Planet before 12/31/04. After a $30 mail in rebate, the Socket card can be had for $49.95, the least expensive I've EVER seen. The card being offered at Mobile Planet is also Socket's new version CF WLAN card that offers WLAN Tools on WM2003, which wasn't the case w/ their previous version CF WLAN card.

http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=5040&pf%5Fid=MP580132&listing=1

[ChunkyMonkey]

2. Socket

http://www.socketcom.com/product/WL6004-322.asp

These seem to be a little bit on the pricey side.

FWIW, I wouldn't buy Socket's card thru the Socket website store.

A much better deal can be made going thru this site and buying the card thru Mobile Planet before 12/31/04. After a $30 mail in rebate, the Socket card can be had for $49.95, the least expensive I've EVER seen. The card being offered at Mobile Planet is also Socket's new version CF WLAN card that offers WLAN Tools on WM2003, which wasn't the case w/ their previous version CF WLAN card.

http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=5040&pf%5Fid=MP580132&listing=1

Thanks for information, Stik!

After a bit more research, I found that using the socket card required me to update the ROM to the latest revision on my iPaq 2215. I'm still using 1.00 and it has been working very well for me. I never upgrade a ROM on a PDA unless I really have to.

I decided to go for the Linksys at Amazon for $60. Not sure if it was the cheapest site. But the shipping was free and I've always had very good luck with them.