Socket Releases 802.11g SDIO Card

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.socketcom.com/about/press/read.asp?ID=214' target='_blank'>http://www.socketcom.com/about/pres...read.asp?ID=214</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Socket Communications, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity products, today announced the availability of the Go Wi-Fi!™ P300 – 802.11g SDIO card. Designed for Pocket PCs or other mobile devices running Windows Mobile 2003/2003SE or Windows Mobile 5.0 software, the Go Wi-Fi! P300 provides a secure wireless connection that is five times faster than previous versions."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20060808-SocketWL6207.jpg" /><br /><br />I think it's worth pointing out that Pocket PCs and most other handheld devices can't make much use of the speed boost. In general, it'll be faster, but don't expect it to approach desktop speeds. Also, while I think this is a useful upgrade for those who want their networks to go "g-only", it's still no substitute for integrated wireless. Still, I'm sure there are plenty of you interested, and the unit costs $99 and is supposedly available now.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Ahhh my son. Don't think speed. Think range :-)

[Darius Wey]

Ahhh my son. Don't think speed. Think range :-)

Actually, both 802.11b and 802.11g use the same 2.4GHz band. They have similar operating distances and are both subject to the same amount of interference.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Wow. And all this time I've been believin' G was longer range.

Sure would explain a lot of why I'm having issues at home now...

One question, though. Is there something in G that makes it inherently more robust? Reason I ask is a B connection, in my general experience, doesn't seem to have the range a G connection does (case in point, my apartment).

[Janak Parekh]

Wow. And all this time I've been believin' G was longer range.
No. If anything, the maximum performance of G is at a significantly smaller range than the "full" range of B/G.

One question, though. Is there something in G that makes it inherently more robust? Reason I ask is a B connection, in my general experience, doesn't seem to have the range a G connection does (case in point, my apartment).
Nope. May have been your router. I've had plenty of B routers that were "just as" or "more" robust than a G router.

If you really want range, you gotta go N (well, pre-N). I've been blown away by some of the new pre-N implementations on the market.

--janak

[ctmagnus]

Is N perchance backwards with G?

The reason I ask is because I picked up an AP on my JAMin that I know was well over a kilometre away. I've never experienced range like that with any other wifi equipment I've used.

[Darius Wey]

Is N perchance backwards with G?

Yes, it is.

The reason I ask is because I picked up an AP on my JAMin that I know was well over a kilometre away. I've never experienced range like that with any other wifi equipment I've used.

There has been talk of G clients experiencing slight improvements in range with a pre-N AP. However, one kilometre sounds a bit out-of-this-world. You may have picked up an AP with the same SSID, or the AP you're thinking of has multiple extenders lending a hand.

[Dyvim]

I get significantly improved range using a Belkin Pre-N router (AP) with plain old fashioned b and g devices. My AP is located in my basement and I live in a 2-storey house. With a b router, I'd get a strong signal in the basment, a medium signal on the 1st floor, and weak to no signal on the 2nd floor (esp. with the b radios in my pdas). With the Pre-N router I get strong signals (all bars) all over the house and my yard. The problem is actually that you need to make sure your network is secure because it is easily accessible from several houses away!

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Unfortunately for me, N isn't really an option. My Macbook has built in G and I ain't pluggin' no USB dongle into it for WiFi. Wife also has built in WiFi on her Presario, not to mention I have G on my MDA...

Oh well...

[Janak Parekh]

Unfortunately for me, N isn't really an option. My Macbook has built in G and I ain't pluggin' no USB dongle into it for WiFi. Wife also has built in WiFi on her Presario, not to mention I have G on my MDA...
You can get a couple of repeaters for the time being, then?

As for my experience, N range is fantastic with N devices and improved with B/G (although that improvement varies). Do note that some of the pre-N solutions are sometimes a bit finicky compatibilitywise, especially with older equipment.

--janak