D-Link DCF-650W Compact Flash Wireless 802.11b Card $72.97 shipped ($77.39-$10 coupon+$5.58 S/H)

[fxsts]

I was looking for a wireless card to go with the Audiovox Maestro PocketPC, which I just got from Staples and found this on Amazon.

D-Link DCF-650W

It's not that much of a deal, but it's the lowest for compact flash I could find. No tax for CA residents worked well for me.

It seems that it does not come with PocketPC driver, but you can download it from their website.
PocketPC Driver

It's a little bigger than Linksys or other Compact Flash 802.1a cards, but , hey, it's cheaper.

[UPDATE]
Now, they got $10 off $75 coupon to make the deal sweeter!!

 

[Sensor]

Be forewarned, I bought that DCF-650W for the exact same PocketPC from Audiovox -- it blocks the headphone jack and stylus slot completely. Linksys one does also. I wound up purchasing a more expensive (but smaller) SMC2642W Wireless card. Smallest one I've seen, possibly smaller than those Socket Communications wireless CF cards.

--Ed

 

[emonkey]

Thanks for the heads up sensor. I guess I'll pass then.

But I am curious on what people expect to do with this thing if its wireless. Why would you want to surf the web or IM or whatever if your computer is probably only a few feet away? (Im sure i'm missing the point so clue me in...)

 

[captaindrewle]

<< But I am curious on what people expect to do with this thing if its wireless. Why would you want to surf the web or IM or whatever if your computer is probably only a few feet away? (Im sure i'm missing the point so clue me in...) >>



Public 802.11b access points can be found in many open places - such as the Baltimore harbor. Supposedly Starbucks and airports have them (though I haven't tried any of them). If you're using it solely in your own house, I guess instant messaging from your living room couch may be fun. I personally use a laptop as my choice for 'roaming' within the house.

Other than that, hunting for open, but non-public, access points can be fun - and the task is made easier with a PDA as opposed to a bulky laptop.

-Cpt'n

 

[fxsts]

Losing headphone and stylus accesses would be a little bit of a problem, but I definitely do not want to spend over $100 for the PDA wireless internet connection.

I guess that it's for the reason that emonkey brought up. I got this toy, so I want to have more use of it other than having it sit next to my computer all the time on the cradle. Let's see how useful it's going to be.

My Palm V pretty much sat on the cradle throughout the past 2 years being pretty useless.

 

[emonkey]

<< Public 802.11b access points can be found in many open places - such as the Baltimore harbor. Supposedly Starbucks and airports have them (though I haven't tried any of them). >>


Hmm. I guess thats a good idea. I remember reading an article on how some airports have 802.11 connections now. Does anyone know of an accurate list of which airports and all? Because if many places are using wireless now then that would be great. No real need for lugging a laptop around when I can just use a PDA.

Just gotta wait for MS to get that stupid hotmail app for PPC and I'll be a happy traveler.

 

[malt]

I've used Mobilestar in NYC, and I know they have access points in hotels and airports outside of New York. They're the ones who provide 802.11b access in most Starbucks in the city. I think they've been bought by Voicestream now, so I don't know if they'll continue offering the service in the future, but right now I really enjoy browsing at high speed from my iPaq in a comfy Starbucks armchair... And if you think the coffee is too expensive, you can even stand outside on the sidewalk and use their access point.

New York also has some free public wireless internet access points set up by the guys at NYCWireless, and more nodes keep coming up.

 

[emonkey]

I picked up the dlink card at frys to test out. The price you gave actually is pretty good because i paid 99.

Anyway, I have a maestro and youre right. The thing just makes the headphone jack and stylus holder useless. I saw the SMC version and thats so much smaller but costs around the $120 range.

As for the dlink card and wireless. Its pretty nice to have because i'm able to access my shared drives (but not play directly off them), im on the internet (with a very very limiting screen), able to get my email (but thanks to yahoo then that was only temporary), and AIM and MSN work perfectly. If places really are rolling out 802.11b at common areas for free then investing in a wireless card is worth it for those who dont want to lug around the laptop.

But with my combo of the Maestro and this card then the battery drain is digusting. At low light settings I lost 50% of my juice in 30 minutes. I'm assuming that the whole wireless by any brand will drain the battery quick but if anyone has stats or tips then bring it on.

EDIT:
I just read my first post where I was clueless on the use of these things. But now that I've tried it around the house I totally get it. Toss in the card at the airport or at your local cafe and you're connected. These things really are the future once they figure out how to make batteries last longer and settle on ONE protocol.

 

[Sensor]

emonkey, and everyone else, I found this AMAZING program called "Netrunner" that maps network drives as STORAGE CARDS! I access all my network stuff just fine, everything works great, play mp3's off the wireless connection.

Netrunner 2

It's a must-have for anyone with a wireless card in their PocketPC. I heard there was another one in development by some American guy called "BizzDev" or something, but haven't tried it. I can confirm that Netrunner 2 works wonders.

Sorry if I sound like a commercial that should end with, "...only 4 easy payments of..."

--Ed

 

[jasonja]

You can get the SMC card for about $101 shipped from Buy.com .


And several airports have 802.11, Sea-Tac is one that I know of.

 

[fxsts]

I have received the D-Link, and it works pretty well, although the stylus and the headphone jack are indeed blocked. It looks that the stylus could become usable with a little Dremel work, but it does not look as easy with the headphone jack.

As far as the battery is concerned, it's even an understatement to say that it's not very good. I guess I got to get an external battery case.

 

[vladgur]

If youre next to frys, they were selling it for $79.99 + tax earlier this week. I got one but havent opened it because Im not sure if I want to keep my vox or sell it. Anyhow, those of you who noticed the battery drain, were you actively using the network card or was it inactive in CF slot? Audiovox batterry is definitely lagging, but I wonder how much more juice does this cf wireless use than a regular cf memory card...

 

[fxsts]

When the card is actively being used, the battery gets drained almost as quickly as how the gas in my Porsche goes with its turbo at full boost.

 

[emonkey]

I just returned the DLink 650W card to frys today because i picked up an SMC 2642w. That SMC card is GREAT! Its so small, but I'm returning this too and going for the SMC 2645w which is the same Wireless 2642w card but it comes with a PCMCIA holder so you can use it in your laptop as well. The best price i've seen for it is $139 at computers4sure or CDW but being a cheapo hotdeal junkie then i'm going to wait for it to be sold somewhere I can use a coupon at.

But it is really weird because both the dlink and smc wireless cards for the PPC seemed to get a much better signal than the wireless cards ive tried for the laptop. I got in my car wiht them and drove about 20 feet farther with a signal on those CF cards.

 

[fxsts]

I am gonna stick with D-Link just because I am stingy

 

[PUN]

amazon has 10% off until april 30th
so make this $70+shipping

 

[GoatHerderEd]

i just saw the dlink dcf650 at BB for $120, and there is a $20 rebate. so $100. (atually i paid $80, since i am an employee, so its a huge $60 for me)

good luck all. too bad little old bresksville oh has no 802.11b starbucks (to my knoladge). would have been cool.

 

[PUN]

hey, there is starbucks on almost every 3 blocks around my area with mobilestar, how far does the signal go?

 

[memosh]

D-link warranty is 90 days unless you register. The annoying thing is they don't warn with big prints anywhere inside the box. Unless you read all the small prints, you would miss this important detail.

 

[fxsts]

Now, it's $10 less with the new coupon.