Wireless Internet & PDA

[Signal1]

A question if I may...

I've been given wireless internet to trial for 7 days by Optus. I currently have Optus ADSL running around the house via a wireless router which works perfectly.

I'm not convinced with wireless, it's downloading slower though having 97% signal strength. Given that I was happy with my existing setup I'm considering returning it.

Anywho, the question...

Can one use a USB Wireless Internet Dongle with a PDA? I have an old HP iPAQ 1710 PDA running Windows. Can it be done? The only ports on the PDA are SD Slot, Headphones and HP specific docking port in the bottom.

Thanks,
Peter

[mikehzz]

You can't use a USB dongle on a PDA. The device needs a driver and they don't bother writing them for PDA's. Better to use a PDA phone where the sim goes into the phone itself instead of the dongle. For a PDA, you need to either connect to a wireless network or you can connect to a phone with a data plan using bluetooth.

Mike

[Signal1]

Great thanks Mike.

[mike_ie]

There is a SD wifi card available for the iPAQ 1710 - that's pretty much the only way you are gonna get it to connect.

[richard4u2]

how safe is this wireless stuff from people hacking into it ?

[mikehzz]

Most wifi networks like the free ones at all maccas have some sort of security system like a key or passphrase. I wouldn't be worrying about security on the PDA there's not much on them and it's not shared anyway. It's the people providing the wifi who have to worry about security.
Wifi is different to 3G which runs on the mobile phone network but both are 'wireless'.
Mike

[loanrangie]

I'm surprised the connection speed is that low, i have a spare pc in my downstairs bedroom on my network using a usb wifi adapter and i get 300kbps download speeds on it and its behind a wall, a slate floor and about 15m away direct line. Speed shouldnt be an issue on a pda as you dont have enough storage space to require any real bandwidth ?

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Normally wireless routers work faster than your internet connection. You should only notice that wireless is slower if you are transferring large files between pc's.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

To illustrate the point, I have a wireless network here. My internet is Telstra Cable.

Imac (plugged directly into router). 9.49 mb/s (800mb movie 11 minutes)
macbook (wireless N). 9.29 mb/s (800mb movie 11 minutes)
Iphone (Wireless G) 7.4 kb/s

As you can see there should be very little difference between wireless and wired for internet. :)

As to the PDA on wireless... maybe it's time to update :o A $250 ipod touch has built in wireless. ;)

All tests were done with speedtest.net. The test on the iphone was done with speedtest.net's iphone app.

[hoadie72]

Most wifi networks like the free ones at all maccas have some sort of security system like a key or passphrase. I wouldn't be worrying about security on the PDA there's not much on them and it's not shared anyway. It's the people providing the wifi who have to worry about security.
Wifi is different to 3G which runs on the mobile phone network but both are 'wireless'.
Mike

Hmmm... Wifi at Maccas is about as secure as their EFTPOS PINPADs (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/two-charged-over-4m-perth-mcdonalds-eftpos-scam/story-e6frf7jx-1225813065527). ..

Anyone within proximity of a store could capture information being sent between your PDA and your bank, for example..

Tip: don't send any personal stuff over public wireless internet hotspots.

[hoadie72]

To illustrate the point, I have a wireless network here. My internet is Telstra Cable.

Imac (plugged directly into router). 9.49 mb/s (800mb movie 11 minutes)
macbook (wireless N). 9.29 mb/s (800mb movie 11 minutes)
Iphone (Wireless G) 7.4 kb/s

As you can see there should be very little difference between wireless and wired for internet. :)

As to the PDA on wireless... maybe it's time to update :o A $250 ipod touch has built in wireless. ;)

All tests were done with speedtest.net. The test on the iphone was done with speedtest.net's iphone app.
Agreeed.. I find that internet banking on my iPhone and iPod Touch (using the bank's iPhone App) is actually quicker than accessing their site via the web.

[HowardSmall]

Hmmm... Wifi at Maccas is about as secure as their EFTPOS PINPADs (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/two-charged-over-4m-perth-mcdonalds-eftpos-scam/story-e6frf7jx-1225813065527). ..

.

That was skimming, nothing to do with the wireless link. Notice it only applied to the pin pads used at the drive through where it had to be passed to the driver allowing them to physically modify it for skimming, similar to ATM skimming. Pin pads have high level encryption built in so they are quite safe.

Howard

[HowardSmall]

A question if I may...

I've been given wireless internet to trial for 7 days by Optus. I currently have Optus ADSL running around the house via a wireless router which works perfectly.



Peter is asking about using a USB wireless device for accessing the 3G network, NOT wifi - seems a lot of answers were focussed on the wrong type of wireless connection.

Peter you have the answer about the device not being suitable for your PDA. Note though that answers such as those telling you that a PDA with this facility can be purchased for $250 are incorrect - they are talking about WiFi access.

Your USB device should be getting good performance if it has a 3G connection. It may be that where you are it is connecting with the GPRS service which has poor performance even though the signal strength is high.

I tried one at my home and it was hopeless but when I took it down to Cairns it was great - I could only get GPRS at home.

Howard

[hoadie72]

That was skimming, nothing to do with the wireless link. Notice it only applied to the pin pads used at the drive through where it had to be passed to the driver allowing them to physically modify it for skimming, similar to ATM skimming. Pin pads have high level encryption built in so they are quite safe.

Howard

Actually, the weren't physically modifying them in the car, they were just doing a switcheroo while the Maccas staff weren't watching. The units were sending card information wirelessly to someone sitting nearby.

Anyway, my point wasn't about skimming, just saying that just as EFTPOS devices aren't physically secure, WiFi isn't secure either.

[HowardSmall]

THat's really interesting. I wonder how they got hold of one with the encryption key included? And how did they modify it - they are supposed to destroy the key when tampered with (which includes opening it).

Do you have any more info on this? (I am interested as I used to manage a company that wrote software for large banks).

Howard

[Signal1]

Your USB device should be getting good performance if it has a 3G connection. It may be that where you are it is connecting with the GPRS service which has poor performance even though the signal strength is high. I tried one at my home and it was hopeless but when I took it down to Cairns it was great - I could only get GPRS at home. Howard

Thanks Howard. I live in a new estate (been here 4.5yrs) and unfortunately the Optus mobile service has actually dropped off! I can only make a call from a certain spot in the house now. I've been with Optus for 14yrs and have been very happy but am now looking to change to Telstra just for the NextG network - kills me that that is the case.

Optus promised me their wireless had been upgraded in the area which I was sceptical about as my mobile hadn't improved. Sure enough when talking to tech support they said, "Well if your mobile doesn't work in the study, the wireless won't!" Well um yeah!!

Peter