Spectec's SDW-820 Wireless SD Card Reviewed

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=2338' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=2338</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I have no doubt that Spectec has found the trick on how to shorten the card substantially and at the same time lower its power consumption, all that without damaging the working range. Looks impossible, but it has been done. The card works greatly most of the time."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050429-Spectec.jpg" /><br /><br />An English version of Helio Diamant's review of Spectec's SDW-820 Wireless SD Card (originally at <a href="http://www.pocketpcfreak.com/archive/00003631.htm">Pocket PC Freak</a>) has surfaced on the::unwired. This card, which we posted on a few weeks back, is one of the smallest SD Wi-Fi cards available in the market. Yet how does it rate? Read the review to find out! :-)

[Kowalski]

all i can say is wow!
how do they manage to make a small sdio card with lower power consumption without loosing performance.
well, i know that nothing comes without a price!

[beq]

the::unwired comments mentioned Kodak will be bringing this to retail this June, sounds good :)

[Paragon]

Impact Wireless and Expansys are going to be selling this card with different branding. I believe Impact wireless is expecting stock to arrive tomorrow (Friday)

http://www.impactwireless.ca/accessorydetails.aspx?id=1182

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=121110

[beq]

Thanks Paragon, pre-ordered...

[Paragon]

Cool! 8)

[henri_smeets]

All looks very promising but how does it actually perform. Due to some problem with firm/hardware my Sandisk SD WiFi card maxes out at 300 kilobit per second!

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article82-page1.php

you can test the throughput at:
http://download.banetele.com/speedtest/

Any tests with other Wifi Cards are welcome!

Henri

[thanos255]

Impact Wireless is a great company. I ordered my first PDA2k from them when it came out. They are VERY helpful and have great service and prices.

Thought I would mention that.

[Paragon]

Impact Wireless is a great company. I ordered my first PDA2k from them when it came out. They are VERY helpful and have great service and prices.

Thought I would mention that.

And, there price is in Canadian funds. 8)

Dave

[beq]

Impact Wireless is a great company. I ordered my first PDA2k from them when it came out. They are VERY helpful and have great service and prices.

Thought I would mention that.

And, there price is in Canadian funds. 8)

Oh I didn't realize that. I saw Impact offering for $104.95 and Expansys USA for $100.95, and I figured shipping from Canada might take longer and/or more expensive to boot, so I ordered from Expansys USA (and also because I'd ordered from Expansys before -- including a PDA2k).

But if the Impact price is $104.95 Canadian, that's only $84 US, argh.

[Paragon]

Impact Wireless is a great company. I ordered my first PDA2k from them when it came out. They are VERY helpful and have great service and prices.

Thought I would mention that.

And, there price is in Canadian funds. 8)

Oh I didn't realize that. I saw Impact offering for $104.95 and Expansys USA for $100.95, and I figured shipping from Canada might take longer and/or more expensive to boot, so I ordered from Expansys USA (and also because I'd ordered from Expansys before -- including a PDA2k).

But if the Impact price is $104.95 Canadian, that's only $84 US, argh.

Yup! Right on their front page they state all prices in CND funds.
http://www.impactwireless.ca/

[beq]

Impact Wireless is a great company. I ordered my first PDA2k from them when it came out. They are VERY helpful and have great service and prices.

Thought I would mention that.

And, there price is in Canadian funds. 8)

Oh I didn't realize that. I saw Impact offering for $104.95 and Expansys USA for $100.95, and I figured shipping from Canada might take longer and/or more expensive to boot, so I ordered from Expansys USA (and also because I'd ordered from Expansys before -- including a PDA2k).

But if the Impact price is $104.95 Canadian, that's only $84 US, argh.

Yup! Right on their front page they state all prices in CND funds.
http://www.impactwireless.ca/

I just cancelled my Expansys order and ordered again from Impact :) Wasn't familiar with "Canada Postal Service" but there was a delivery option called something like US Air for free, so I chose that (supposedly up to 2 weeks delivery). I must say Expansys cancellation was painless though -- called the number listed on the order page, and seconds later that order is already cancelled.

[Paragon]

I must say Expansys cancellation was painless though -- called the number listed on the order page, and seconds later that order is already cancelled.

I think they are used to it. :rotfl:

[thanos255]

I must say Expansys cancellation was painless though -- called the number listed on the order page, and seconds later that order is already cancelled.

I think they are used to it. :rotfl:

LOL :mrgreen:

[sabesh]

I think they are used to it. :rotfl:
True dat. Look at all the Benq P50 cancellations :twisted:

Hey, how come Paragon is a "Pocket PC Mystic" and I'm just a "Pocket PC Pupil"? :|

[Paragon]

I think it's for the same reason that ctmagnus is a Pocket PC Swami and I'm only Mystic. He has hit the submit button many more times than you or me.

That and the fact that you only have one.....;)

...btw sabesh, I should have my WiFi card on Tuesday.

Dave

[sabesh]

...btw sabesh, I should have my WiFi card on Tuesday.

I'm kicking myself for ordering from Eastgear :cry: .. They'll only ship it out on the 3rd. Has Chris got them in stock right now, oh Mystic? -- Sabesh the Pupil :lol: BTW, what's the highest level of "enlightenment" here? (Maybe "swami"?).

[Paragon]

They were clearing customs in Edmonton on Friday.

[sabesh]

They were clearing customs in Edmonton on Friday.
Thanks Dave.

[sabesh]

http://files.photojerk.com/sabesh/SPECTEC_006.jpg

[henri_smeets]

Thanx for the pic Sabesh, can you tell us at what speed the card actually communicates with the iMate?

http://download.banetele.com/speed

Thanks

[Paragon]

Cool, sebesh. Lucky you...mine's stuck in customs still...hehe!

Dave

[beq]

http://files.photojerk.com/sabesh/SPECTEC_006.jpg

Now that's a thing of beauty... Still waiting for mine too.

[sabesh]

Thanx for the pic Sabesh, can you tell us at what speed the card actually communicates with the iMate?

http://download.banetele.com/speedtest
Hi,

I got 509 Kbps with this speedtest (Spectec SDIO WiFi card).

Just for kicks, I tried this test with the Sandisk 256MB WiFi card as well and got 231 Kbps. Couldn't believe it. I ran it again using the Sandisk card: 254 Kbps. Ran it many times and got results in the range between 225 Kbps - 273 Kbps.

Then I switched back to the Spectec card and got results in the range between 424 Kbps - 636 Kbps.

It's official: The Spectec card smokes the Sandisk card. BTW, I used DinarSoft MemMaid 1.41 to clear IE cache &amp; history files between each test-run. I'm also using the latest Sandisk driver.

Thanks for this excellent test site, henri_smeets. Cheers,

Sabesh

[sabesh]

Cool, sebesh. Lucky you...mine's stuck in customs still...hehe!

Dave, they dinged me with CAD $23.45 for customs/duty charges. So, I've paid a total of CAD $144.87 for this card. There ya go, don't ya feel better about ordering from impactwireless now? :lol:

Chris owes me lunch for pointing him towards getting these cards from Spectec. BTW, the Piel Frama case Chris threw in as part of the Jam deal now comes in handy, as I can close the case with the Spectec card installed in the Jam.

http://files.photojerk.com/sabesh/piel_frama.jpg

[henri_smeets]

Good to know some developers still make good/better soft/hardware. I've got the Sandisk and you can imagine my disappointement with the speed, not even enough for some decent streaming video-content!!!

Still, the throughput is on the low side for a 11 Mbit device, partly due to the SD hardware definition an embedded Firmware. See:
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article82-page1.php

I'll put my Sandisk up for sale and am getting the small SD card as well!

[Paragon]

Cool, sebesh. Lucky you...mine's stuck in customs still...hehe!

Dave, they dinged me with CAD $23.45 for customs/duty charges. So, I've paid a total of CAD $144.87 for this card. There ya go, don't ya feel better about ordering from impactwireless now? :lol:

Chris owes me lunch for pointing him towards getting these cards from Spectec. BTW, the Piel Frama case Chris threw in as part of the Jam deal now comes in handy, as I can close the case with the Spectec card installed in the Jam.

http://files.photojerk.com/sabesh/piel_frama.jpg

Yeah, I saved a few bucks...but I'm still waiting. Murphy's Law seems to be involved here.....aarrrgggg!

[maikii]

Dave, they dinged me with CAD $23.45 for customs/duty charges. So, I've paid a total of CAD $144.87 for this card. There ya go, don't ya feel better about ordering from impactwireless now? :lol:



At first I thought you were in the US, and ordered from Impact Wireless in Canada, and therefore had to pay the duty charges. But now I see you are in Canada, and the duty charges are in CAD. Did you order from Expansys, at the higher price? Why?

Has anyone here in the US ordered from Impact? Did you have to pay any duty charge to order from Canada?

I guess the credit card companies charge a fee to convert currency, and I believe I've read that they recently upped those fees. In buying something to be charged in a different currency, it might be a good idea to research which credit card to use, which will ding you more for the conversion.

There is another company selling these from Taiwan, on Ebay. For instance, at

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=5787553427&amp;category=45003&amp;tc=photo

They have several for sale. Their given price is lower, about $63-$66 (charged in Euros). But with the high shipping prices, the total cost would not be any less than Impact with the free shipping option. And again, I don't know if there would be any customs duties to pay. ANd, if something went wrong with it, more trouble and expense to send to Taiwan than to Canada, I think.

So, I'm leaning to Impact, if there would be no duty charges shipped to the US.

I'm wondering why most US retailers are not carrying this yet? Has it not been approved by the FCC?

[Paragon]

I'm wondering why most US retailers are not carrying this yet? Has it not been approved by the FCC?

Here is a link to a good USA retailer for you, maikii:
http://www.dweiniger.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=76&amp;osCsid=776fbafdc21a10d70c5f70a1aa4fa01f

[sabesh]

maikii,

I bought this from eastgear.com located in Singapore. Highly recommended seller. I'm located in Canada (Mississauga, Ontario).

Cheers,

Sabesh.

[maikii]

maikii,

I bought this from eastgear.com located in Singapore. Highly recommended seller. I'm located in Canada (Mississauga, Ontario).

Cheers,

Sabesh.

Why didn't you buy from Impact Wireless in Canada? Is there a problem with them? Or--did you get a better price from the Singapore company?

[maikii]

I'm wondering why most US retailers are not carrying this yet? Has it not been approved by the FCC?

Here is a link to a good USA retailer for you, maikii:
http://www.dweiniger.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=76&amp;osCsid=776fbafdc21a10d70c5f70a1aa4fa01f

Why do you call that a "USA Retailer"? There is actually no info at all on the ad about where the retailer is located, no phone number or address, it appears to me that it is probably located overseas. (Strange web site name: "Mad Monkey Boys Gadgets"!) There is some mention of Dubai in the page called "Returns Policy", so it might be located there.

Pretty bad return policy at that. Only within first three days, only if defective. Again, no address or phone number given.

I don't think I would trust my credit card number to that seller. Why do you recommend them? (Would you give your credit card number to a "mad monkey boy"? :lol: )

I'm still leaning towards Impact Wireless there in Canada. I'd like to find out if anyone reading has purchased from them from the USA, and whether customs duty charges were incurred.

My question about US retailers was not referring to whether or not a company will sell to a US buyer. Every retailer mentioned in this thread will do that. I was just curious regarding why none of the major USA online computer and PDA retailers carry this card, although the Sandisk and Socket Wi-Fi SDIO cards are carried? I wonder if it has not yet been approved by the FCC?

Expansys-USA has USA in the title, but it is actually a British company, which specializes in items that one usually cannot purchase in the USA, phones that have not yet been released here, etc.)

[sabesh]

Impact wireless didn't have it at that time.

Sabesh.



maikii,

I bought this from eastgear.com located in Singapore. Highly recommended seller. I'm located in Canada (Mississauga, Ontario).

Cheers,

Sabesh.

Why didn't you buy from Impact Wireless in Canada? Is there a problem with them? Or--did you get a better price from the Singapore company?

[Paragon]

I'm wondering why most US retailers are not carrying this yet? Has it not been approved by the FCC?

Here is a link to a good USA retailer for you, maikii:
http://www.dweiniger.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=76&amp;osCsid=776fbafdc21a10d70c5f70a1aa4fa01f

Why do you call that a "USA Retailer"? There is actually no info at all on the ad about where the retailer is located, no phone number or address, it appears to me that it is probably located overseas. (Strange web site name: "Mad Monkey Boys Gadgets"!) There is some mention of Dubai in the page called "Returns Policy", so it might be located there.

Pretty bad return policy at that. Only within first three days, only if defective. Again, no address or phone number given.

I don't think I would trust my credit card number to that seller. Why do you recommend them? (Would you give your credit card number to a "mad monkey boy"? :lol: )

I'm still leaning towards Impact Wireless there in Canada. I'd like to find out if anyone reading has purchased from them from the USA, and whether customs duty charges were incurred.

My question about US retailers was not referring to whether or not a company will sell to a US buyer. Every retailer mentioned in this thread will do that. I was just curious regarding why none of the major USA online computer and PDA retailers carry this card, although the Sandisk and Socket Wi-Fi SDIO cards are carried? I wonder if it has not yet been approved by the FCC?

Expansys-USA has USA in the title, but it is actually a British company, which specializes in items that one usually cannot purchase in the USA, phones that have not yet been released here, etc.)

His name is David Weiniger. He is locasted in New Jersey. If you do a search on him or his user name at Howard Forums, you will not find a single negative comment about him. Quite the contrary, which is why I did not hesitate to recommend him.


Good luck
Dave

[maikii]

PS> I don't recommend Impact Wireless. They're not very reliable.
.

Sabesh, could you be more specific, please? Did you have a bad experience with an order from IW? Please give us the details. Thank you.

[sabesh]

PS> I don't recommend Impact Wireless. They're not very reliable.
.

Sabesh, could you be more specific, please? Did you have a bad experience with an order from IW? Please give us the details. Thank you.

[maikii]

PS> I don't recommend Impact Wireless. They're not very reliable.
.

Sabesh, could you be more specific, please? Did you have a bad experience with an order from IW? Please give us the details. Thank you.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=677051

I read the thread. Sorry that happened to you, and I can understand you being mad at IW as a result. Was there ever any resolution to that problem? Were you ever reimbursed?

Yet, I doubt a problem like that could occur with the purchase of something like this, a tiny SDIO card. I would order with the free shipping method, which would be through the postal service. If it came damaged, besides contacting IW and the PO, I could easily contact my credit card company for a chargeback.

DHL sounds terrible. I don't think I've ever had anything delivered by them. I think they are very expensive to use here in the USA. (I doubt anyone uses them for domestic use here, but only for international shipping.)

It still looks to me like IW would probably be the best deal now for ordering this, with their free shipping method. Places in Asia that advertise it for a lower price, have very high shipping charges, which makes it more expensive that way. Also, if something went wrong with it under warranty, I think it might be better to deal with a company in Canada than in Singapore or Taiwan. (Again, I don't know why this card is not yet commonly available in the USA.)

But I understand that with the experience you had, Sabesh, you might not want to deal with them at all again. (I would guess that after what happened to you, however, they may have stopped using DHL entirely.)

(BTW, did you try asking your credit card company for a chargeback for the cost of the repair?)

[beq]

^ In terms of international shipping though, I've learned the hard way (multiple times) just how much FedEx and UPS charge :( For example, shipping a $50 board game to a friend had cost like $90 shipping as I recall (economy shipping)...

As you say I think DHL/Airborne Express seems cheapest in that regard when you have to ship something, but in terms of receiving packages from them, they don't seem as customer friendly...

[indiekiduk]

I've tried the Spectec SDW-820 on my Qtek S100 and my HP iPAQ hx4700 and when the wifi sd card is inserted my PDA won't power off automatically at the time period I set. This is particularly annoying on the Qtek as when I miss a phone call the phone wakes up and the battery will just run all the way down since the wifi card is activated. Any Ideas? I've tried driver 1.24 and 1.25 which came out the other day.

Note I have this same problem with my Sandisk wifi+256mb, perhaps this is just a feature of all sd wifi cards?

I'm on the hunt for an app which will auto power off...