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Wireless connectivity for PocketPC at home, office,
Starbucks and beyond...

Subject: Wi-Fi^TM 802.11b Wireless Networking for the PocketPC

By: Brett P. Cooper
Bcooper3@nc.rr.com

For those of you who want to go wireless with your PocketPC, but don't want to spent the $50 per month for a portable wireless service look no further than Wi-Fi™ (802.11b) support for your PocketPC. This wireless solution is affordable, easy to use, and provides support, not only for your PocketPC, but also for your notebook, desktop, and even your printer.

Some of the features of Wi-Fi include:

Up to 150 Feet (50 meters) distance coverage

Signal goes through walls/floors

Up to 11Mbps transfer rate

Any to any connectivity

Sharing of resources as if on an Ethernet network

In other words, you can surf the net or answer email from anywhere in the house, including outside on the porch. You can keep tabs on work while you sit on your couch with your kids and watch videos all night. You can forget about searching the walls of your house for a phone jack or tripping over phone cords. You can also use it at the airport, Starbucks, and anywhere that provides wireless access.

Wi-Fi Wireless Technology
Wi-FI works like a wireless Ethernet. Rather than running a mile of cable throughout your home (CAT-5 or a home automation system) for Ethernet use. It is an open-standard technology that enables wireless connectivity between handhelds, laptops and local area networks. Wi-Fi standard products are being developed to cross all market segments, including enterprise, small business, home, public access, education, and others. Today's environments rely heavily on mobile devices - and Wi-Fi brings everything together.
In any environment, Wi-Fi technology enhances the existing LAN infrastructure, such as a home cable modem or DSL connection, providing true mobility, reducing expenses and freeing valuable resources. At home or at the office, you can use Wi-Fi to access an existing local area network to:

Obtain network and internet access to your resources whether for home or office use

Access the internet, e mail and up-to-date calendar information from anywhere in the organization

Wi-Fi operates in the 2.45 GHz spectrum, (the same as a microwave oven) at speeds of up to 11 Mpbs and gives you Ethernet levels of performance, throughput and reliability.

A transmitter/receiver device called a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) connects to the wired network. The AP is usually sits on a desktop or can be mounted. A user accesses the wireless LAN with Wi-Fi adapters that are built into notebook computers, or with Wi-Fi PC Cards that can upgrade current handhelds, desktops, and notebooks to wireless.

The equipment that you will need for a wireless PocketPC:

PocketPC with PC Card Enabler Installed (or CF)

Compaq Wireless PC Card (or other PCMCIA or CF cards)

Lucent Orinoco Residential Gateway 1000 (RG-1000)-Don't forget an ISP connection-Either Cable/DSl or Dialup account

Each wireless network typically covers up to 100 meters. One Access Point can support up to 30 wireless stations and more can be added to increase capacity. In fact, the network can be expanded easily or re-designed as your needs change. Home users or office users with multiple systems will appreciate this flexibility, since a wireless network virtually eliminates costly cables and installation. A wireless network is also ideal for a PocketPC user since the PocketPC is designed for mobility.

The following illustration shows how Wi-Fi works?

© Copyright Linksys Corporation, 2000

Security issues:

Since any networking technology has inherent security issues, the Wi-Fi specification calls for encryption using WEP, use of a spread spectrum, and authentication. Recently there has been some concern over the WEP security algorithm used by the Wi-Fi standard. Several educators and AT&T proposed a way to break the code and a few smart hackers made the theory a reality by introducing a breaker that will break the encryption algorithm and allow access to the data. The Wi-Fi™ community is scrambling to provide a new algorithm to upgrade the security. The good news is that all PC Cards are upgradeable to the latest algorithms, but the bad news is that not all Access Points are upgradeable, which may mean that to get the highest level of security you would have to buy a new Access Point. In fact, my corporation removed all of their Access Points as a result of this security issue and is in the process of reevaluating the technology and its security implications.

Setup Concerns:
Most people who set up a wireless network will use an Access Point, such as a Lucent Residential Gateway (RG). These Access Points serve multiple purposes: first they are the communication point (send-receive) for wireless clients, and second, they have a built-in NAT server that provides the virtualization of a single IP address into multiples, much the same way a router would provide multiple addresses. This second capability lets wireless resources use a single Cable Modem or DSL IP address.

Many people who are making the move to a wireless network have already installed a switch or router on their regular network and added a wireless access point after the fact. Most people are not aware that they have to make configuration changes for this setup to work properly, because the switch/router has its own built-in DHCP and NAT server, and adding the Access Point with its own NAT server stops the router from being able to assign an IP address. For those who don't understand what a DHCP or NAT server does, it simply takes a single IP Address and virtualizes the IP Address as well as acts like a server device on the network. This situation is easily remedied by turning the Access Point into a Bridge with the configuration and management tools for the Access Point. A quick call to the provider's technical support line will also makes this a simple fix. Lastly, the Access Point may contain a modem for sharing a common dial-up connection to an ISP. For those that do not have a Cable modem or DSL line, the wireless options are still a compelling solution. Otherwise, setup is a breeze. The Access Point installs in a few minutes and most, if not all, have easily labeled ports for connecting the local network cables (cable from cable modem or DSL modem to Access Point and power connection). There are also lights on the front of the Access Point that shows the function on the device, much like the lights on a modem or router showing status, send-receive, etc.

Only use drivers with your PocketPC from the manufacturer of the PC Card. Don't use the drivers or firmware provided by the PocketPC maker unless you bought the PocketPC and PC Card from the same vendor. (Each card's drivers are specific to that card) I tried this myself initially and had to load the right drivers from Lucent (Agere). When I did that I was up and running in moments. Install the driver by synchronizing your PocketPC before installing the PocketPC Card Enabled, then, insert your Wireless PC Card.
Once set up correctly, you will see a new icon (on the Lucent solution) for the wireless network. Note the new Green Bar icon in the lower right hand corner of the Today screen on my IPAQ.

The number of green bars in the icon shows the quality of the signal strength between the Wireless PocketPC Client and Access Point. In this case the signal strength is at its maximum and there is an 11Mbps connection between my IPAQ and my Access Point. If the signal strength were degraded, the color and number of the signal status bar changes from green to yellow with 3-4 bars (medium signal strength) to red with 1-2 bars (poor signal strength).

By selecting the signal strength indicator, you can create multiple profiles to connect to your wireless network in your home, at the office, in Starbucks, or at your frequently accessed airport.

In the Settings for your PocketPC you will see a new icon for "Wireless Network." This program lets you to set up your network as you would on a Windows notebook.

Select your wireless card driver.
You can define a specific IP address or obtain one from your network servers.

You can define a specific IP Address or get from your network of choice using DHCP.

You can also supply DNS and WINS information if required. For my connection using my Cable Modem I had to provide the DNS and Alt DNS information. I got this information by calling the cable modem service provider or by using the IPCONFIG command on the Command Line of a Windows system connected through the Cable Modem Service.

The benefit for all of this is the ability to cruise the internet, check e mail, all without wires. Above is the new Windows Media page designed for PocketPC as viewed on my PocketPC using the wireless solution.

Pricing:
For under $500.00 (US) you can have not only wireless services for the PocketPC, but even a print server and a four port router for sharing resources with direct-wired systems. The PC Card Enabler from Compaq costs about $150.00 US, an 802.11b PC Card is about $139.00, and the Access Points range from $200.00 to $300.00, depending on the manufacturer and desired features. The $200 option is just a wireless access point, while the $300 option may include a four-port router/switch and a print server. Don't forget, there are no recurring monthly charges (other than your ISP) for this service: it is a one-time fee for the equipment only.

Clunky integration with PocketPC:
A standalone PocketPC is a svelte and handsome device, but add to it the PC Card Enabler and the Wi-Fi PC Card and you have a small brick-sized device that doesn't easily fit into your pocket or your briefcase. However, weighing in at just over a pound and some two inches thick, the bulk is well worth it for being able to wirelessly read e mail, surf the web, or use Instant Messenger with your friends from wherever you are. The PC Card draws 5 volts of power so expect your battery life to be less than what it was without the wireless. However, the PC Card enabler does have its own battery, and as a result the useful battery life is still good. I have used my PocketPC with the wireless option for over 3.5 hours at a time without totally draining my fully charged IPAQ.

Next generation integration and other options:
Future generations of the Compaq IPAQ and other PocketPCs are slated to be equipped with 802.11b right from the factory the way many notebook computers are today (like those from IBM, Compaq, HP, Toshiba and Apple). That means there won't be any requirement for a PC Card enabler or a stubby card sticking out of the top of your PocketPC.

Where to go for more information - Links to the Wide World of Wireless:

Standard Organizations for Wi-Fi (802.11b)
The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance-Wi-Fi
http://www.wirelessethernet.org/
Standards Organization that promotes Wi-Fi (802.11b) compliance. Companies in the organization including 3Com, Compaq, IBM, Casio, Toshiba, Apple, and many others.

Where to get the Wireless Access Point and Wireless Cards
Agere (Spin-off from Lucent)
http://www.agere.com
Look for the Orinoco solutions, these are the Wi-Fi (802.11b) products.

Compaq Wireless Solutions for IPAQ
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/wireless_solutions.html
Checkout all of the wireless solutions available from Compaq for the IPAQ. The Compaq Wireless Wi-Fi PC Card looks a lot like a Lucent (Agere) PC Card. Check the pricing and see who has the best price.

Compaq Expanion Packs
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/expansion_packs.html
Checkout all of the expansion pack possibilities for your Compaq IPAQ.

HP Jornada's Wireless Offerings
http://www.hp.com/jornada/
HP offers their latest PocketPC offerings with Wireless options.

Casio
http://www.casio.com/personalpcs/section.cfm?section=19
Casio offers a full line of PocketPC's with wireless connectivity

Symbios
http://www.symbol.com/news/pressreleases/pr_retail_compact_flash.html
This compnay has created a CF Card 802.11b spec adapter. (Check to be sure that the PC Card that you are buying is compatible with your PocketPC)

GISMO Communicator
http://www.abrandnewworld.com/
The GISMO Communicator provides full access to the Internet, e-mail, company intranet, telephony, SMS etc. wherever you are via the GSM/GPRS network and on location specific basis via Wireless LAN coverage. The GISMO Communicator gives you as a mobile individual the freedom of wireless access to the specific content, services and applications in one single device. Your iPAQ™ Pocket PC becomes a tool that turns any location into a virtual office, and it reduces the number of devices that you carry (cell phone, phone, pager, laptop/pc, pda etc..). I would like to get one of these to do a review as it looks promising as a solution to the all important convergence question that many companies haven't done well providing in the PocketPC space.

SMC
http://www.smc.com
Offers a full line of Wi-Fi (802.11b) access points and PC Cards (Check to be sure that the PC Card that you are buying is compatible with your PocketPC).

Apple Computer Corporation
http://www.apple.com/airport
If you have a Mac desktop then you can use the Apple Airport to wirelessly connect your Mac and your PocketPC. You can also use any of the other Wi-Fi certified solutions as well.

Cases for your Wireless equipped PocketPC
Vaja Cases
www.vajacases.com
Cases that support a Wi-Fi™ Card and your PocketPC. I would love to get one for a review with my PocketPC and wireless solution.

Cool places to go and try out your wireless PocketPC
Starbucks Coffee
http://www.starbucks.com
Starbucks provides Wireless connectivity for 802.11b equipped devices including PocketPCs at many of their storages so you can enjoy a latte' and surf the web all without wires.

American Airlines
http://www.americanairlines.com
American Airlines provides 802.11b connectivity in all of their Admiral's Clubs around the globe. You can catch up on the latest news and information while waiting for your flight.

Wayport, Inc.
http://www.wayport.net/
Wayport services are a great choice for the frequent traveler for high-speed Internet service on the go using Wi-Fi™. Wayport services are available for a fee and are provided in many locations, including many airports, hotels, and meeting places. Check out the Wayport services if you would like to use your wireless PocketPC or notebook on the go.

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