VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- SpringPort Wireless Ethernet (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=12693)

HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THIS YET?
http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/1,1298,0-0-1_1-1633,00.html

check out the link.

This seems like an awfully large springboard module. There are PCMCIA cards out there that are 802.11b compatible and are a lot smaller than this. I was considering buying this module for my home network to interface to a 3com wireless network hub/firewall, but it way to big for around the home use. The blue tooth module is a standard sized module, why can't this one be? It's not like we're trying to communicate with NASA from the international space station here, we're talking about 300 feet, so I can't imagine it's packed with RF stuff. It seems to me that Xircom modules tend to be on the larger side. I wonder if they even attempt to minimize the form factors at all.

BTW posting the web link was sufficent you didn't need to post the whole spec listing.

On the large size of some springports: Suspect batteries. Every device I have that emits RF or IR requires batteries. I suspect for useful range on an 802.1 network the device needs more juice than the Visor can supply.

Dave

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quote:

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Originally posted by bimmerbusa
HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN THIS YET?

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Matt Nichols
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I guess I'm still not convinced that this thing couldn't be smaller. As far as the battery idea, maybe, but if you design this with low power in mind you could just run off the Visor's batteries. I mean how often do you need to access the network? The communications would be in short burts of data.

As far as the antenna idea, take a look at the PCMCIA card that 3COM has for 802.11b. It's antenna area is no where near the size of this springboard. It doesnt take a whole lot of antenna area to transmit 300 feet. My cell phone has a tiny antenna and it travels a couple of miles to the nearest cell location.

http://www.3com.com/mobile/wireless...homepccard.html

I still believe that they are not doing a very good job of space compression and power savings. For instance look at their modem module. It's hug in comparison to the Thinmodem Plus. This is a 56K modem with 7.5M of flash in a standard size module. It also pulls power from the Visor batteries.

I forgot one other issue. The RF interference. I don't think this is an issue either. There is no way that a Visor creates as much RF interference as a laptop or desktop PC.

I checked out that 3com card and you're quite right, this Xircom module should be smaller. As for batteries, the Visor should definetly power this thing, 3com FAQ says they got power consumption down to 60ma, a ThinModem consumes 50ma. Thats not too big a difference. Prism, and now Edge users, could care less anyhow.

There is apparently some RF interference because of the need to replace Deluxes & some other stuff, how bad it really is I don't know.

Looking at the module...you really can't get a good view of how thick it is. I don't really mind how tall it is, its thickness that matters.

They pictures of their "credit card" sized card for laptops and while that has a larger antennae than 3com its still tiny compared to to the Springport, whats up with them?

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Matt Nichols
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