Is WIFI on your Ipaq a waist of $$$ or/and time?

[Iman74]

I realized after I received my WIFI NIC for my 2215 I used it to do the following:
-Surf from time to time. But that has become so troublesome that I found surfing with a PC much easier.
-Sync with my PC just to see if I could.
-Connect to my Windows 2000 Server at home just to see if I could.
-Connect with AIMs just to see if I could.

All the above mentioned I don't do anymore. Am I alone on this?

[maybonot]

When I connect to an access point late at night the wifi has been of some use -- getting e-mail or going to some sites designed for the pda
when i tried to go ad-hoc to my own computer using a wifi doggle from netwear MA111 - I had no luck
some parameters on the XP needs to be changed but i have never been able to change the values.
I would like to un-cable myself form my desktop so I can move around the house but I guess I will need to buy an AP to attach to my router.
Lastly, the screen on the pda is too small to work with for an extended time.
Typing on the screen is also a pain in the neck.
I, too, cradle the ipaq (H5555) but use a program that put the screen image on my desktop (pocketcontroller) (there is a freewear program but I like th extra features of the $ program)
While on vacation, the hotel I was at had WiFi hookup but there was a cascade of problems and most of th time I used my cellphone connected to my ipaq to get my e-mail.
I have noticed that many new public hotspots are appearing in my neighborhood
In the end I use WiFifi very little. I also have bluetooth built in to the ipaq and connect to my desktop, also of limited value.
I think for me using a cellphone as a hookup to the internet and getting my e-mail has been the most useful procedure.
This procedure makes my e-mail and the internet available anywhere my sell phone works. I travel a lot and use the procedure all the time.
a cable to hook my pda to my cellphone was not expensive and included a charger which charges both my ipaq and cellphone at the same time......

[RTAdams89]

I use wi-fi alot at night. For example when I am in bed, but stil lwant to talk to my friends on AIM/e-mail. However I have 2 desktop PCs and a laptop so if possible I use one of them befor my iPAQ. I also find I use it on vacation when at family/friends houses. Most of the peopel I stay with have wi-fi, but I don't always want to unpack my laptop, find all the cords I need, wait for it to boot up and then shut it down and re pack it jsut to check my e-mail. I can get my iPAQ out and downlaod all me e-mail i nless tiem than it would take for me to jsut find my laptop.

[Assassin]

The novelty hasn't worn off for me.

I actually find I now use the desktop PC less and less since getting the iPAQ. I check my e-mail and regular forums and a few websites I visit all from the iPAQ now. The PC only gets turned on when I have some other work to do. The iPAQ is just so much easier. In the time it would take me to walking upstairs to the desktop PC and waiting for it to finished booting. I can log in and check things on the iPAQ and be back off, its just so much quickier and I'm no longer an unsocial computer nerd who spends all his time in the computer room. (the wife's words not mine)

Some things are certainly much easier on the PC but for casual browsing etc with the ease of use of a wifi enabled PDA, I don't think you can beat it.

[Npitlor]

WiFi has become critical for me. I don't travel with a Notebook anymore; I just use my PPC.

WiFi is great, but I also use the Bluetooth connection to my phone. In a pinch it works well, especially when I can't find a hot spot.

[Iman74]

***BUMP***
This topic deserves a bump since WIFI has grown a great deal since I originally posted this. I still do not use WIFI on my Ipaq, but still carry the WIFI card w/the Ipaq incase I need to.

As far as WIFI in general, yes I use it, just not on my Ipaq.

What about everyone else?

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by Assassin
...its just so much quickier and I'm no longer an unsocial computer nerd who spends all his time in the computer room. (the wife's words not mine)

Gulp, that sounds like my wife too Assasin! Please describe to me what your setup is that you use at home? I have an XP desktop with broadband. As I understand it, I'd need a wireless router that would fit onto the end of my broadband cable?

What do I need in my desktop pc so that I can get email etc as normal? In other words could you let me know what components you have fitted so that you can use your desktop and pda?

I also have an HP laptop. What should I use in that to let me use it as well, preferably something that slots in to the PCMCIA slots (?) rather than have a bulky add-on black box.

How easy is it to configure the wifi on the pda (mine is HX4700), and did you do anything to a router to prevent any bastards outside your house from tapping into your broadband connection as a hot-spot?

[Iman74]

It's very simple:
Broadband modem to wireless router.

From there everything plugs into the router OR you can use the WIFI option. To do so depends on your equipment; desktop would need a USB or better yet a PCI WIFI card. Laptop go with a PCMCIA WIFI only if you do not have the option for an internal card. Ipaq if there isn't one onboard than a CF WIFI card; you can get SD but back then it was looked down upon, not sure if that has changed since.

[Bokkie]

To get the ball rolling, what router are you using and how did you arrive at your choice? Recommendation? Price? Previous use of the same?

[Assassin]

I have 4 desktop PC's connected via a Gateway Router.

The Router connects to my cable modem connecting the whole network to the internet.

3 PC's are upstairs which connect directly to the router within the room. The kids also have a PC downstairs which is wired directly to the router. This room is directly below mine so cable access wasn't a problem.

The router has a built in 4 port switch which allows all the PC to connect via standard RJ45 cat 5e connections. The router also has built in wireless which allows my laptop from work and the PDA to connect.

All the desktop PCs are wired to the router, but if I did want a wireless connection it would only need a PCI wireless card or USB wireless adaptor plugging into the PC. For me all the PC's are within 20 feet of the router so wireless wasn't really needed.


This is similar to my router Belkin 54MB Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Router (http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=5941&GroupID=22)

[Iman74]

My decision was based on research, asking in forums and in person, reading already asked questions, and then taking products of my choosing and seeing how they rated by consumers on sites like Amazon. I use a Linksys, but at this point in the game I suggest you get a WIFI Linksys router that uses G not B. B cards can talk on a G router, and using a G router, if you have a G card you can talk at 54mbs via WIFI.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=601

I would go with that just by reviewing their products.

But most importantly IMPLEMENT THE WIFI SECURITY. Just read the book and do what they say.

[allgire]

For me - personally, I use a Belkin WAP tied to my router, and use either 802.11 on the Pocket PC, or I use the bluetooth interface of the PocketPC and connect to the PC with a Belkin Bluetooth dongle.

Most of my associates or clients at work use the LinkSys setup, either the Wireless Router, or for those that already had a router, a LinkSys WAP connected to it.

I do use both encryption, and MAC filtering, so hopefully, it's a bit more secure than others around the neighborhood.

[Assassin]

I also have the encryption set up and Mac Address Filtering turned on

The PC's firewalls also only allow a minimum IP address range access to the local network. If someone did manage to get onto the router it would issue an IP address outside of this range and only allow them access to the internet and not through to the local PCs. (Well hopefully)

[Denier]

I just got a 4700 and got it to work with my home wifi set up one time. Since then I cannot get it to work. I have a netgear b and g 802.11 with a card in my home pc. home pc works great. broadband service. if i could get it to work consistently i would be using it in the family room during tv time all the time. i have not changed any of the settings. is anyone else having sporadic service.

thanks,

larry

[Sooner Al]

...have my current network setup. Its a combination of 100/10 Mbps wired Ethernet and 11 Mbps (nominal) wireless 802.11b.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/LAN/The_Illustrated_Network.html

In my case I added back the Linksys BEFSR41 router (wired 100 Mbps Ethernet) so I could utilize a PPTP VPN tunnel into my XP Pro box and remotely ActiveSync and grab files... Due to a firmware issue the Buffalo WBR-G54 will not pass GRE Protocol 47 traffic required by the PPTP VPN link...:(

I use the Buffalo as a wireless access point only...

I suggest you look closely at utilizing WPA on your home wireless network. It enhances your wireless security. This article by Barb Bowman, MS-MVP, explains it nicely...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_03july28.mspx

Personally I use WPA-PSK (TKIP) with a very LONG random key, ie. the key is >25 characters (alpha, numeric and special) in length...

Note that I also broadcast my network SSID since tools like Kismet can easily discover cloaked (non-broadcasting) SSIDs...

I do not use MAC Address Authentication...MAC addresses can easily be cloned...

By the way, my middle step son swears by the Linksys WRT-54G. He has installed three or four and really likes them...

As always, YMMV...:cool:

[Assassin]

Note that I also broadcast my network SSID since tools like Kismet can easily discover cloaked (non-broadcasting) SSIDs...

I do not use MAC Address Authentication...MAC addresses can easily be cloned...


I can see your point, but personally I add these additional bits to stop the casual snooper. I realise someone who knows what they are doing can easily get past these two. But the casual snooper may just drive by and not notice.

[Iman74]

Okay we have gone way off topic. The question is WIFI a waist of money when it comes to the Ipaq only?

[Npitlor]

Originally posted by Iman74
Okay we have gone way off topic. The question is WIFI a waist of money when it comes to the Ipaq only? You should probably refine your question a bit. is it a waste to spend $20 on an 802.11b router so you can connect to your current broadband to play round? Is it worth trying to connect while travelling to your hotels free wireless to check Email? Is it worth paying $40+ per month to subscribe to a hot spot provider?

Or are you asking if it's worth purchasing a PDA with WIFI already added (it's getting harder to find one without it)? -- To which I say if you find one without WIFI, you are probably losing out on some other, useful features, too.

[Assassin]

Okay we have gone way off topic. The question is WIFI a waist of money when it comes to the Ipaq only

You BUMPED the post to get people talking about it again


What harm was it doing :confused:

[Legend]

Originally posted by Iman74
Okay we have gone way off topic. The question is WIFI a waist of money when it comes to the Ipaq only?

I agree with a lot of the things you have said. The novelty has worn off for me.

I use it to check my email when I travel to my girlfriends house. I don't have to lug my laptop over there, I can just connect to her wifi network. I can't remember the last time I turned on WiFi on my 4355 at my house.

I think my opinions will change when the whole world is WiFi and we can get more funcionality out of the thing.

[amodedoma]

I had to buy 3 different CF cards just to find one that actually worked with my 2215. Once I found a card that worked I learned I'd have to change the card configuration for each AP - pain in the butt, but... I got the knowledge and the sniffer. Since wifi is still new to many there are many unprotected AP's in an urban environment - free internet! But internet does seem to be the key. I believe wifi is a transitional technology that will not last long. The telcos are already selling 3G at a reasonable flat rate in some countries and I suspect this tendency to continue. Some technologies just aren't made to last, but I can't say I didn't learn alot - even how to make homemade antennas - but just how useful this is gonna be only time will tell.

[wifi_1234ab]

I was having problems with wifi on my HP Ipaq rx3115. My IP address kept changing to 169.157.43.123 even though my SMC wireless router was set to use IP addresses in the range of 192.168.2.1 though 192.168.2.100.

The solution to this problem is to use WPA (WiFi Protected Access) instead of WEP. I also enabled "Pre-Shared Passphrase".
I set this up on the wireless router and the Ipaq. Instead of using a long code to type in the Ipaq, I just needed to enter the passphrase. WPA-PSK and the (TKIP) option is used on the Ipaq.

My wireless internet browsing has never worked better on my Ipaq. I hope this helps.

[Iman74]

This is about WIFI with PDA: period! Bringing cost of routers is silly since you can get free WIFI in general. I am talking about WIFI with PDA and that is all.

As far as trying to find one without, why would you want to do that? I am talking about PDA's that one would go out and get a secondary device to use to connect via WIFI.

Originally posted by Npitlor
You should probably refine your question a bit. is it a waste to spend $20 on an 802.11b router so you can connect to your current broadband to play round? Is it worth trying to connect while travelling to your hotels free wireless to check Email? Is it worth paying $40+ per month to subscribe to a hot spot provider?

Or are you asking if it's worth purchasing a PDA with WIFI already added (it's getting harder to find one without it)? -- To which I say if you find one without WIFI, you are probably losing out on some other, useful features, too.

[Iman74]

Very interesting thoughts. Not sure if you did this, but what I did when choosing my WIFI I read all I could on this forum only to determine which one to get. Seemed the most popular was this no name brand; if the brand was a not a no-named model, it was at least with me for I never heard of them.

Originally posted by amodedoma
I had to buy 3 different CF cards just to find one that actually worked with my 2215. Once I found a card that worked I learned I'd have to change the card configuration for each AP - pain in the butt, but... I got the knowledge and the sniffer. Since wifi is still new to many there are many unprotected AP's in an urban environment - free internet! But internet does seem to be the key. I believe wifi is a transitional technology that will not last long. The telcos are already selling 3G at a reasonable flat rate in some countries and I suspect this tendency to continue. Some technologies just aren't made to last, but I can't say I didn't learn alot - even how to make homemade antennas - but just how useful this is gonna be only time will tell.

[Npitlor]

Originally posted by Iman74
This is about WIFI with PDA: period! Bringing cost of routers is silly since you can get free WIFI in general. I am talking about WIFI with PDA and that is all.

I guess you answered at least half of the original question: If the WIFI is free, then it's not a waste of $$$. ;)

[Iman74]

Dude you are killing me. My first post, "I realized after I received my WIFI NIC for my 2215 I used it to do the following:
-Surf from time to time. But that has become so troublesome that I found surfing with a PC much easier.
-Sync with my PC just to see if I could.
-Connect to my Windows 2000 Server at home just to see if I could.
-Connect with AIMs just to see if I could.

All the above mentioned I don't do anymore. Am I alone on this?"

You are too focused on the title. Please read the post.

I don't have an issue about the "cost of the NIC card" just is it worth it with all I have mentioned.