non cell based PDA online?

Want online away from my WAPs

[SEOMike]

I have a really nice PDA... I absolutely love it, when I'm close to a WAP that is. I've seen cards for Laptops to use that hook them to cell provider’s networks for internet access... anything like that for PDAs? I hate to dig out my laptop and dial through my cell phone every time I want to check email on the go. I didn't buy a cell phone PDA because I don't like any of the current models.

My PDA has a SDIO slot... Kind of limits me, huh?

Any ideas would be appreciated!

[Brett_Tabke]

I use an ipaq with a pcmcia sleeve. A Seira Wireless AirCard fits into that. With unlimited internet access for $80 a month, I can run WebmasterWorld from my shirt pocket, almost anywhere in the USA.

[davescompaqipaq.com...]

[digitalv]

Funny you should mention this, last year I sort of developed my own "internet add-on" for my PDA using two-way Satellite Internet access. I made my own dish to mount on the RV - I wanted it to be smaller and needed the base to be on a compass so it always points in the proper direction for best signal. Using a Linksys WAP I can send/receive through the satellite and pick it up on the PDA.

Down side ... gotta be within so many feet of the RV for it to work. But for traveling around the country it's great because I can use the Laptop and PDA on the Internet wirelessly.

The satellite service is DirecWay ... it doesn't support "mobile" installations out of the box, but if you've got a little bit of time and the right tools & supplies, you can make it mobile :)

The signal isn't too great when moving but it's still faster than any cell phone solution I've seen. It will drop out completely when turning, but reconnect in a few seconds because the truck turns faster than the compass. That could be updated I suppose. Right now I'm working on making the dish smaller and having a cable that "plugs in" directly (wired into the PCMCIA card) so I can just plug in and go without the Linksys.

[SEOMike]

Wow Digitalv... That's quite the solution! I don't think that type of system would work on my '01 Taurus!

Brett-
Great post! That's a sweet solution! I wasn't sure if that would work or not! I smell a great write-off!

Thanks a lot guys!

[digitalv]

Oh come on Mike, it would work! Plus having a satelite dish on your Taurus would make it look like the Millennium Falcon!

Actually it's kind of a cross between the Falcon and the Jetsons, since the "Wind bubble" goes over the dish to prevent the wind from turning it.

A stem off of my next plan is to make it even smaller and encapsulate the hardware - so it can be a small portable box with a small dish mounted on it for non-moving or minimal movement use. You would just set this little "internet station" down somewhere, point it the right direction, and whip out the PDA or laptop and instant wireless Internet. I'd like to get it down to a 8" Dish mounted to a hardware box about the size of one of those Cube PC's. Once I get a little further with it, I'll set up a website & show it off :P

[SEOMike]

That sounds pretty cool... maybe you could make one like a laptop case... just unfold it, use the attached compass to align it, set id next to you, and go. I'd buy one like that.

[mifi601]

digitalv - you make my mouth water ...

i am on a boat and have a Sierra card with which I am very unhappy. when I started out on this trip I was inquiring about 'mobile' two way satellite solutions, which out of the box did not exist OR where extremely beyond my budget.

I guess the fcc has something to say about hooking up on the go, but maybe that is just propaganda to sell really expensive 'mobile' solutions.

since I had no experience hooking up a satellite I was afraid to purchase all kinds of equipment and then it would not work.

also the fact that i do not have unlimited (=very limted) electricity makes it kind of tricky.

what are your estimates in terms of electricity draw? 5, 10, 20 amp hours for the whole rig?