Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Xircom 802.11b springboard speeds

Hi,
I am wondering what is the maximum throughput of your Xircom springboard. Using lftp, palmVNC, and FireViewer, the data suggest that I cannot get more than 8KBps (64Kbps). This is kinda depressing, since 802.11b should be capable of 11Mbps, and I am getting only slightly more than dialup.

For anyone who has a visor and a 802.11b Xircom springboard, please post your experience. And if you are able to get more than 8KBps, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

Through my experiences it seems as though the bottleneck is in the speed of the visor itself and not the xircom module. Also, I've noticed that when I use blazer it tends to have bursts of speed but at other times seem really sluggish. This could be HS's proxy server also. I have not yet clocked the throughput through something like LFtp although I think I should for my own benefit.

I think once faster devices start coming out, then this won't be as big of an issue.

I love my xircom module.

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You know it's bad when your Calculus Professor uses the word "Unpossible"

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

That's really disappointing,

I was hoping that the issue with the wireless Xircom would be some type of serial problem, but it is not. I did a couple of test, and I found that changing the encryption, flow control, and connection speed made absolutely no difference in transfer speeds.

However, I ran another test with X-Master, Afterburner, and Lftp. I changed the CPU MHz and measured its downstream KBps. Here are my findings:

File Size: 170K

MHz Avg DL Speed (KBps) FILE SIZE: 170K
10 3.575
13 3.622
16 3.598 3.611 4.568
20 3.493
22 3.624
28 4.256
33 4.753
40 4.771
46 4.541
47 4.560
48 5.174 5.188
49 7.147 7.175 7.173 7.153
50 7.074 7.064 7.071
52 6.885
54 6.699

It seems the maximum is consistantly on 49Mhz. The Afterburner docs says that you could overclock the Prism to 46Mhz, so I do not know what the consequences may be to keep it at 49Mhz.

The only thing is, will Handspring release another handheld that will have a faster CPU? I was hoping to get a Linux-based PDA, but I guess I am stuck because of the propietary springboard. Unless someone can create a Springboard to PCMCIA adapter...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 99

What do you use your 802.11 card for? Is it just to "surf" from your couch? I can't figure out any useful applications for it (hence, I'm trying to justify the cost of a wifi switch)

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

Wireless hotsync, AIM while studying in a different room from my computer, check/send email while on campus, visit class websites to get homework/class information.

__________________
You know it's bad when your Calculus Professor uses the word "Unpossible"

"It's a long way from my thoughts to what I'll say, It's a long, long way from paradise to where I am today." -Switchfoot, Home

Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Usefulness?

Here's what I want to do, in addition to ashmed's comments,

Streaming Video: already possible through FireViewer, however due to the slow bitrate of the Xircom card, it's not that good. Think about being able to broadcast your tv tuner's signal to your palm, that's cool.

VNC: Control my PC from wherever. Sucks to have to wait 1-2 seconds for screen refresh.

Remote Data Storage: Instead of a flash card, I could use my home computer to store all my documents and access them through 802.11b. But it's a headache considering the speed once again.