Socket CF 802.11b WiFi for $49.98 on eBay

[Xumbi]

I just found 4 eBay auctions for the excellent Socket CF WiFi card for $49.98 with the "buy it now" option.  I bought the first one I found, but the other 3 are here, here, and here.

Now, I've never dealt with this seller before, but her/his feedback looks good.

I'll post an update once I receive it and let everyone know how it went.

[Xumbi]

Well, the card came today, and it works great!

I did have a little trouble getting it to work in pdaxrom 1.0.5 at first, but someone over in #cacko helped me out.  I couldn't get it working with the built in lan configuration software, so I wrote a script that does this:

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
iwconfig eth0 mode managed essid myssid
/sbin/dhcpdc eth0
Maybe this kind of thing will be fixed in the next release.

I've looked everywhere, and I can't find this card cheaper anywhere.  The above auctions have ended, but hopefully the seller will have more.

p.s. - I'm writing this using my Z & my new card

UPDATE: I got Kismet working last night using the instructions on pdaxrom's site, it works great with this card!

[bluedevils]

I just bought one from him.  No communication, but the card came within the week.  For me, it's a very good buy.  The socket worked as soon as I popped it in.  The profile is so small compared to my netgear and I like the flashing data light as opposed to the steady when connected lights the others have.

[Xumbi]

I just bought one from him.  No communication, but the card came within the week.  For me, it's a very good buy.  The socket worked as soon as I popped it in.  The profile is so small compared to my netgear and I like the flashing data light as opposed to the steady when connected lights the others have.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that the communication wasn't very good.  I did put that in the feedback I left him/her though.

On a completely unrelated note, I was just using my Z and this card to connect to the wifi network in Aruba's airport yesterday!  

[henrysviper]

Is the Socket card really better than the other WiFi cards? Could someone provide any pointers to comparisons with other cards on power consumption, range and compatibility? Maybe we
should make such a chart for the ZUG...

I currently have an Ambicom card (WL1100C-CF), which is working nicely, and I am considering if I should make the switch...

[Xumbi]

Unfortunately, this is the only CF wifi card I've owned, so I can't make comparissons.

[bluedevils]

If it is the usual ambicom card that many here use, then I wouldn't upgrade.  The ambicom card is working fine for you.  I do not believe or have noticed any of the power saving features with the Zaurus drivers are implemented.  Most of the power saving is supposed to be when the card is connected idle (AFAIK).  The card is much slimmer than my old netgear, though.  I'll see if I can pull up that old thread discussing low power.

[bluedevils]

you can see this before they shut the lights on devnet.  It is possible that they did a rewrite, but I did not read it in the forums.  This despite sharp and socket working together to ensure compatibility.

http://www.zaurus.com/dev/board/index.php?showtopic=399&hl=

So I should ignore the fact that the Socket one is described as "low-power": and just buy the cheaper Symbol one instead:

Yes. The "low power" functionality (just like the auto-fallback 11, 5.5, 2, 1) is all in the driver. So, if you have a PocketPC, it would matter. On the Zaurus, it doesn't. It may at some time in the future, when there are enough Zaurii around to get Symbol to re-write the firmware/driver for these cards. Same situation as all the other CF WiFi cards for the Zaurus.

[henrysviper]

Thanks for the info bluedevils, very nice post.
I'll stick to my Ambicom, since it is working well anyway.

[bluedevils]

here to serve  

[huu]

It's also worth noting that my Symbol card, supposedly identical to the Socket except for the stickers, has started having rather severe problems with certain new wlans. The current hypothesis, based on a quick comparison between the networks it works with and those it doesn't, is that the Linux driver doesn't like access points with 802.11g enabled.

[bluedevils]

yes sockets also have that problem.  If you have a G AP, then this card is not for you.  If I personally upgrading to G, I think I would keep the B around for that reason.