By Ray Rischpater
I've been a self-diagnosed wireless nut since I was a kid watching my father use his ham radio. After getting to review the Xircom Wireless Ethernet Module for PalmPower's July 2001 issue at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200107/xircom001.html, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do the same with Xircom's new Wireless LAN Modem for the Palm m500 series (at http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/0,1298,0-0-1_1-1730,00.html). It's pictured in Figure A.
FIGURE A
The Wireless LAN Modem attaches to my Palm m505. (click for larger image)
Like the Xircom SpringPort, the Xircom Wireless LAN Modem (or PWE1130 for short) uses the WiFi (also known as IEEE 802.11b) standard for local area wireless networking. Using the module and one or more WiFi wireless access points attached to your office or home LAN, your Palm m500 or Palm m505 handheld can access your LAN wirelessly to download email, access the Web, or synchronize with your desktop or enterprise server.
Setup
After unwrapping the PWE1130, my first impression was of its size and construction. It's larger than the Palm m505 itself, as shown in Figure B, but it's disturbingly lightweight.
FIGURE B
The PWE1130 is pictured beside my Palm m505. (click for larger image)
If you've ever shopped for a cell phone and felt one of the demo mockups at a large electronics store, you know what I mean. The only difference is that the PWE1130 actually has the 802.11b adapter and a battery inside! It's a sharp contrast to the heft and feel of the small Palm m505, which feels heavier than it looks. It's also slightly thicker than the Palm handheld, as shown in Figure C, giving it a comfortable feel in your hand.
FIGURE C
The Xircom PWE1130 module is seen here from the side, again connected to the Palm m505. (click for larger image)
Inside the box you'll find the manual, registration card, and warranty slip. The manual is thin, describing only the setup application without much depth or detail. Interestingly, there's no software enclosed, because the module transfers the drivers to the handheld the first time you connect it.
"You don't need to go around and ensure that each Palm handheld already has the drivers; the PWE1130 does the work for you."
Connecting the module to the handheld is much like connecting your Palm handheld to its cradle: it slides straight on, and it comes off at a slight angle. The connection has a much better feel than the Palm m500 series cradles I've used, requiring very little force for insertion and removal. As you insert the handheld into the PWE1130, the handheld shows a brief splash screen and downloads the driver software from the module, if necessary. This is a great feature, especially if you're planning on deploying dozens of PWE1130s, because you don't need to go around and ensure that each Palm handheld already has the drivers; the PWE1130 does the work for you.
