Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

I have always wanted a quick, non-wireless way to connect to my network (or any LAN) with my Visor Prism. Now, thanks to Clarinet Systems, it's possible!

It's called the EtherIR LAN (EB101) and all you do is plug your ethernet cable into the back and it converts the ethernet connection into an IR network link. It comes with 2 parts, the "hub" which accepts the network connection and a module that extends out with the actual IR transmitter/receiver. It works great on our corporate LAN, it's pre-configured for DHCP but you can set it up with a fixed IP as well.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

Looks Cool but $$$$

I was excited until I saw the price. If you need their hub/switch (appears you do) it's a bit pricey.

See:
http://www.connectronics.com/clarinet/

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

Re: Looks Cool but $$$$

quote:

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Originally posted by pda4you
I was excited until I saw the price. If you need their hub/switch (appears you do) it's a bit pricey.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

Reply to last

Don't make the same mistake I did and think the IR node is the only thing you need. The nodes ($60) are ONLY for the IR hub, what you want is the EthIR LAN 101 (for single network connections) which includes a special ethernet to IR interface and an IR node that has a three-foot cord. It operates at about 2 MB / sec on the IR link and works really well. On the Prism, you just select IR to a PC/Handheld as your connection method. No need to set up IP information since the hub takes care of it for you. Remember, it is pre-configured to use a DHCP server, though they include instructions for setting up a fixed IP address in it.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 15

What exectly is the "special ethernet to IR interface"? I assume the "IR node that has a three-foot cord" is functionally the same as the EthIR Beam, except that it connects to the "special ethernet to IR interface". I'm also assuming that the ethernet to IR interface plugs into any hub/switch.

Can you provide more details?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

Sure! Basically, you get a power supply, a small white box with three LED's on top (uplink, status, and power). Plug in the ethernet cable into the back and assuming you use the default DHCP settings, the uplink LED blinks a couple of times and finally stays green. Next you plug one end of the other included cable into the back, looks like a PS/2 connector, and this connects to the EthIR Beam module.

If you bought the EthIR Hub, which is significantly more $$, you can plug multiple EthIR Beam modules in for multiple connections. The EB101 model which I have only has one Ethernet connection, and only one EthIR Beam module connection. The EthIR Beam module has the IR transmitter/receiver with a little LED on top to let you know when you have connection (the equivalent of a 'link' light on a conventional network card).

For $269, it's extremely flexible, since it can be used on any network with any IR-equipped device, not just PDA's, with little or no configuration. For us die-hard connectivity guys, it's easier than messing with hotsync cradle networkiing (etc.)

Hope this helps....

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

I sent this email to Michael at connectronics:

Will your EthIR Beam product work plugged into a standard ethernet twisted
pair jack or hub?

I believe you could sell thousands of EthIR Beam modules to Palm, Handspring
Visor, and related handheld PC owners if they could connect to anyone's
existing network.

If they don't, please consider making a version that does.

Sincerely,

Dave Brown

I got this response:

That product does exist and we will be working on our web site shortly to better define that. The part numbers are 29-3153 and 29-3154. You will find pricing at http://www.connectronics.com/clarinet/index.html.

The 29-3153 provides a single INFRARED port and the 29-8154 provides a 10/100 and INFRARED port for connection of both an PC and IrDA device.

All I can say is "Too damned expensive!"

Dave

[Edited by DBrown on 01-26-2001 at 02:12 PM]

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

Yeah but the xfer speed isn't going to be anywhere near what a full ethernet module would be.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

Guys,

I already explained that the EtherIR LAN 101 kit does connect to any network and allow connectivity to you PDA. Yes, it was $269, but it's all you need if you want network connectivity with anything equipped with IR.

I will agree it'd be nice to have a wired Springboard module, but in the interim, this works great beacuase you can have any module plugged into the Visor, plus the keyboard, etc. and still have a network connection.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 20

Jason4321,

What are some of the things you've done with your Visor over your IR network connection?

Rock

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

Well, using Multimail I'm able to directly connect up to the IMAP servers here at GE. That's a great feature. Also, using Palmscape, I'm able to browse the web over the network, use Ptelnet to login and monitor my servers, use the various IRC programs available for the Palm to chat. Whatever you'd want to do using a laptop, basically. I just tested FireProducer and it works great over the LAN connection as well (by this I mean running the FireProducer video streaming software and watching the video stream on my Prism using FireViewer). And yet another cool function is running a web server on the Palm (haven't tried this yet) or usin the latest PalmVNC program to control all my systems running VNC. Nothing cooler than panning around your Windows desktop on your Visor Prism. Over the network, this is really fast and useful!

Any other ideas?

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

$269.

I paid $259 for my Platinum (Staples.com with a $40 web coupon).

I have an IR wireless keyboard, complete with the IR receiver that connects to my PC. It cost $40.

I paid $15 for the 10/100 nic I put in one of my home computers. Works like a charm.

I assume both the companies I bought these devices from made a fair profit on them. The sum total electronics in these devices should be more than enough to construct an IR/ethernet connector.

Why should an IR/ethernet device cost more than a Visor costs? It shouldn't. Jason, you've been ripped off. If your company bought it for you, and it serves several users, then the price might be more justifiable. For individual Visor owners who just want an easy connection to their home or office networks connectronics device is grossly overpriced.

That's my opinion and I'll wrestle you over it!

Dave ;-)

[Edited by DBrown on 01-26-2001 at 11:29 PM]

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

You're right, of course. If you add up the sum total of the components that make up this kit, I'd definitely feel ripped off. However, since my job is evaluating alot of this technology, and I didn't buy it myself, it somehow seems really okay. Peaceful, easy feeling, ya know?

To your point, if you really need this kind of connectivity, maybe you, the consumer, need to evaluate what your priorities are. I felt the EB101 is a great product/solution, in light of Xircom's product decision concerning their wired Ethernet module, and also considering the engineers I support are working in hospitals around the world (meaning wireless RF devices are not an option); with all the above factors, this device looks much more appealing.

So, yeah. We do support multiple users so the price may be justified, just like all the other cool toys, er.. tools out there that cost alot (i.e. Soundsgood) but provide a solution not found readily elsewhere.

Thanks for the great feedback!

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

And of course, your 10/100 NIC may have cost $10 but competition have driven NIC prices down this low - how many companies do you see competing for this product? I would assume that this is also more advanced than your keyboard, which I would think has more in common with my TV remote than actual data transfering.

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Matt Nichols
[email protected]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

I've tested Clarinet Systems's IR products, and they do not allow you to perform a network hotsync with either the Visor or the VDX (another OS 3.1 deficiency). However, they should work with the VPL and VPR. Can any VPL or VPR users confirm successful network hotsyncs via a Clarinet System's receiver?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Network connection?

Hi Jason 4321,

The EthIR device sounds interesting, but how does the your Prism connect to it? Do you have to "sign on" to the IR port and establish a PPP link? I've been able to connect to my computer's infrared dongle via an IR PPP link but having to re-establish the link everytime I want to grab something off the network is a little tedious.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Nichols
And of course, your 10/100 NIC may have cost $10 but competition have driven NIC prices down this low - how many companies do you see competing for this product? I would assume that this is also more advanced than your keyboard, which I would think has more in common with my TV remote than actual data transfering.

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

To DBrown.

Are you saying that you are using the wireless keyboards receiver to connect you visor to a PC that is connected to a network? Can you use the receiver for the keyboard and Visor at the same time? Does this configuration require additional software? Your post was interesting but I did not fully understand how all these HW devices were intergrated and how they were configured.

Thanks.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

quote:

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Originally posted by gordons_m
To DBrown.

Are you saying that you are using the wireless keyboards receiver to connect you visor to a PC that is connected to a network? Can you use the receiver for the keyboard and Visor at the same time? Does this configuration require additional software? Your post was interesting but I did not fully understand how all these HW devices were intergrated and how they were configured.

Thanks.

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There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 28

Re: Network connection?

quote:

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Originally posted by dvIceT
Hi Jason 4321,

The EthIR device sounds interesting, but how does the your Prism connect to it? Do you have to "sign on" to the IR port and establish a PPP link? I've been able to connect to my computer's infrared dongle via an IR PPP link but having to re-establish the link everytime I want to grab something off the network is a little tedious.

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