By: Davy Fields (davy@davyfields.com)
November 2, 2002
The Compex iRE201 is a box that allows you to plug an internet connection through Ethernet to any Palm with and infrared port. With minimal set-up, cheap price, and a small, sleek design, the IR201 is a great product for an individual or business who'd want to use the internet on their palm.
To begin, before everyone dismisses the idea, some explanation of context is needed. The point of this device is not to stick on your desk and point your Palm towards it, although it does work great for it. The real idea behind this device is the same as the “WideRay” boxes you see in high-tech locales. The IRE201 allows you to easily use the internet functions of your palm, check your e-mail, surf the web, and even synchronize your Palm’s clock, all on the fly. With a minimum amount of preference settings, any palm can be configured to use the iRE201. It brings the internet quickly, easily and cheaply to any palm with an infrared port. Setup of the device is easy, and overall, it’s a killer device.
Installation: The Compex iRE201 can be purchased for $89.95, from their website (www.cpx.com), or in your local electronics store. Setup is quite easy, pop it out of the box, choose between Ethernet or Modem connection, and plug it all together. It comes with a stand to use it vertically, or you can just set it flat. I prefer it flat, but more on that later. Anyway, setup from the computer is accomplished from a web-based interface, which is quite easy to configure. After that, the device is ready to go. From the palm perspective, all you have to do is go into the network preferences, and create a new profile, name it whatever you want, and choose IR to a PC/Handheld connection. That’s it! You’re on the Internet!
Usage: Well, the main part of the device is obviously for the connection itself. The device has a nice range, but in the vertical position, there's not much in terms of side angles, the infrared port is parallel to the unit, and doesn't pick up anything on the sides. The port does a conical coverage area, so in order to be able to set the palm down and surf, I use it in the sideways position. This isn’t so much of an issue, but it is a little confusing at first. If you use it in the upright position, it can become tiring to hold it pointing at the base station, but it’s not much of a problem. Compex generously packs in a second Infrared Receiver for twice the coverage area, so it’s not much of a miff. You can plug in the secondary receiver, and Velcro it to a side wall.
In terms of the applications it can use, it's basically anything Internet related. Obviously, you can't place a call through it, but you can run plenty of web browsers, Instant Messaging Programs, myriad utilities, and, of course, check your e-mail. Honestly, the e-mail part is the most attractive part of the package. If you’ve got one of these set up, with a pop e-mail account, you can write messages, stroll up, synchronize and be on your way, no wires, no wait. E-mail access is a breeze, and is definitely one of the best features.
In terms of speed, it was more than decent, but it wasn't breathtaking. I suppose this is more of a Palm limitation than the device, but it’s a little disappointing to pump a cable modem into the box and then have the Palm be limited to a significantly slower rate. From my old experience with Palm Wireless Modems, it was faster than that, so more likely than not, this will be fine for most people. After all, the main point of this device is the sync-and-go; you're not going to be browsing any online art galleries standing in front of the iRE201.
But, in conclusion, standing around is not the point of this device. It delivers easy, cheap, and fast wireless access to any Palm. If you've ever held your Palm Pilot and wished it could do the internet without all the expensive modems, or bulky cables, this is truly the device for you.
PROS
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CONS
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RATING:
9.1 / 10
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||
Design: | looks nice, sleek design | |
Features: | Provides Internet to any Palm Device | |
Infrared: | Works great within coverage zone | |
Setup: | Web-based setup that can be accessed from any computer. | |
Value: | Easy Internet for any Palm for only $89 |
Product website: www.cpx.com
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RE: Plug?
RE: Plug?
RE: Plug?
~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~
RE: Plug?
---------------------------------------
BACK OFF! I'll make you fun size!
RE: Plug?
-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com
RE: Plug? Use of terms
Probably it got something to do with being located outside of the US, not being exposed to many of the daily used terms which allow me to read this thread and smile.. All that the original poster have meant was - is this a real device with some inteligence behind it or simply a plug - at least this is my understanding.
Moshe
RE: Plug?
Nope, "just a plug" referred (jokingly and incorrectly, as noted above) to the review. "plug" is an idiomatic expression for (roughly) an advertisement.
-bp
Cool Idea
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Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)
RE: Cool Idea
RE: Cool Idea
-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com
RE: Cool Idea
------------------------
Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)
RE: Cool Idea
RE: Cool Idea
Serving Christ,
Aaron Jackson
www.clearlycreated.com
RE: Cool Idea
http://www.streetprices.com/Electronics/Network_Hardware/Wireless_Access_Point/SP711653.html
RE: Cool Idea
-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com
RE: Cool Idea
>sync base than an "access point"
I kinda disagree with this idea. Since the irda port on most (if not all) pdas uses the SIR standard, hotsyncing can be painfully slow. If someone wanted to do wireless syncing with their pda/desktop, a usb irda adapter would be a whole lot cheaper. This irda wireless ap would be useful for conference rooms though.
What about battery ...
Having the IR port operating at all time in full load can put a lot of load on the battery, I guess.
Love isn't about becoming somebody else's "perfect person." Rather, it's about finding someone who helps you become the best person you can be.
RE: What about battery ...
-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com
Why, I ask?
Why, I answer!
(1) Imagine you have to leave for a trip, or to a meeting, or to the bathroom...whatever. It would be nice to grab your email using your Palm's email program just before you go. Most Palm email programs don't have a PC Sync feature.
(2) I won't need to bring the cradle anymore. I can now do a network sync to any designated PC on the network using this device. Cool.
(3) Travel Groups: WHile traveling, make it dial-up a connection. Everyone pulls out their Palm and takes turns grabbing their email and news from within a hotel room.
(4) Want to travel with your Palm without cranking up a cell-phone bill? How much does a Palm Modem and an ethernet sled cost together? Look at the price of this. Nice!
This thing has good potentional. I wonder if they have a BlueTooth version in the works? I just might add this to my Christmas wish-list.
Jim
-------
James Sorenson
RE: Why, I ask?
RE: Why, I ask?
------------------------
Mario Masitti
O/T Mod
I Love Tennis :)
Why no Bluetooth access point?
RE: Why no Bluetooth access point?
RE: Why no Bluetooth access point?
Man, that would be schweet.
Michael T. Ashby
Director
InterPUG
http://www.interpug.com
RE: Why no Bluetooth access point?
cheers
matt
RE: Why no Bluetooth access point?
Perfect for our School
RE: Perfect for our School
Can you please contact me regarding your PDA deployment in schools? (robman AT mail.utexas.edu)
Thanks!
Palm Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/pda
Beamable Apps?
Michael T. Ashby
Director
InterPUG
http://www.interpug.com
RE: Beamable Apps?
-Davy Fields
http://nr70.davyfields.com
RE: Beamable Apps?
Michael T. Ashby
Director
InterPUG
http://www.interpug.com
cheap obsolete technology
this is going to be slow. have you guys EVER sync using IR? it's slow, very slow. would i used it? may be, only if i have no choice.
the speed would be perfect for web surfing. i have had fun surfing with IR and celphone. but it's really anoying since i could not move pda even a bit, its IR would fall out of sight.
if you have 802.11a in your company. it's fast and not that expensive. it's consume quite a bit of power, so forget about surfing, but syncing? you bet.
this is just a very very cheap cheap cheap version of wireless. seriously, it's quite obsolete.
the only place that i could think of is, well, school. the reason.... have i said it's very cheap?
if it's not practical, it's a cult.
RE: cheap obsolete technology
Okay, irda to a phone line has been around for a while, but most the innovative Psion company realized it's potential. Some smart Plam folks picked one up too.
Until computer's with your specific palms cradle become as common as phone jacks, this will be an extremely simple, obvious way to get your online business done on your palm from anywhere.
The only wish I would add would be for a unit small enough to pack with me so that ANY jack could be used and not just where I park this thing, like at my desk.
Also
DAVY?:
how good is the range on this thing? i'm thinking specifically about my Clie with enhanced irda.
thx. George4
RE: cheap obsolete technology
-Davy Fields
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Palm_OS_5/
specs
Look like this does both (I'm assuming PPP over) IrCOMM and IrLAN for accessing the network. I have an old HP NetBeam IR that did IrLAN, but only a few OS's (Win 95/98 and Linux) support it. IrCOMM basically acts like a serial port, and I assume you configure the Palm to set up a PPP connection with it.
If you have a PC nearby and don't need something that hooks right into Ethernet, you can pick up a USB or serial IR dongle much more cheaply and do the same thing. Might be good for hospitals or other offices where people have older Palms and want to sync up on the go.
Can't this be achieved with an IR equipped computer.
I read the review and liked the functionality. I personally think this can be achieved for free by correctly setting you Win2K/XP box to serve as a dial-in server over IR. The problem is - I never got to set it up to work correctly.. I read many how-to articles that "almost" dealt with this issue (and pointed me to links that did not work) - but could not get the damn machine to work..
Anyone who succeeded?
RE: Can't this be achieved with an IR equipped computer.
and if you are using an nt based system (2k/xp) then you need these ir drivers available at www.ircomm2k.de
Post in the forums if you want more details
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Plug?
---------------------------------------
BACK OFF! I'll make you fun size!