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wireless networking a PDA?

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I need to setup a wireless network using a PDA running a Palm OS.
Does anyone know if this is possible yet? If so, what brand would you recommend?

Inside look:
What I need to do is to allow a person in my factory to update the current location of a product as it is being produced. We are running File Maker Pro as our tracking database program on a Windows Network. We have 10 workstations that are currently being used to enter data. ?I?m thinking a PDA would be much more convenient.? The PDA will be using either the html interface or the File Maker Mobile (for Palm OS).
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks Jack Flack

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wireless networking a PDA?

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You can update product with a PDA. For instance, Nike uses a bar code program that they scan into a Palm then upload the information after each sale. They sync to a server running their inventory program. The information that they have on their PDAs tells them where specific model and sizes are located plus price and other information.

Another company I was reading about used a PDA that had a wireless modem to update inventory in real time. Yet another company had a stationary PDA attached to the network. Then the mobile PDAs would beam the information via infared to the stationary PDA, with the stationary PDA acting as a conduit to the network.

I’m sorry I don’t have specific technical information on how the network is put together. I would guess that with a wireless modem, it would be the same as connecting with your e-mail server or web server.

Other PDAs that were used in real time situation were the Compaq iPaq and the Rim Blackberry, both of which have modems. The OS of the Compaq is more complex than a Palm OS and may have features that you need. Though this may not help you set up a system, at least it can be done as many companies are using them.

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One possible product is the Novatel Minstrel 540? Wireless Modem; it enables secure, 2-way wireless access to email, corporate LANs and the Internet. The Novatel Minstrel 540 modem is compatible with the Jornada’s bundled Pocket Inbox and Pocket Internet Explorer applications. It uses Cellular Digital Packet Data technology – a secure, open standard network – giving you reliable, real time data transmission at speeds up to 19.2 kbps. The Novatel Minstrel 540 is perfectly mated to the Jornada520/540 Series. It has comprehensive coding and encryption methods to ensure security. It costs about 350 dollars. It can be combined with the Hewlett Packard Jornada 540. The Jornada 540 costs about 500 dollars.

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I don’t know how married you are to the Palm OS, but we use an HP system here for that. The handheld unit is based on the Jornada, but it has an integrated barcode reader. Can find out more if you want.

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wireless networking a PDA?

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We have done this with the HP Jornada using our standards based RF systems and WINDOWS CE. It works great. As far as I know, after researching the same issue with PALM OS and talking the PALM developers at trade shows, the PALM does not support the RF yet. You might check into HANDSPRING, if anyone has a solution they will.

The good news is that PDAs can do what you want, the bad news is the PALM is limited. This is, in my mind, the demise of PALM. Not that I am a Microsoft fan.

GoodLuck.

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The current batch of 3Com Palm – V series and M500 series should be able to meet your demand.

Most of the above posting recommend a Pocket PC with Windows CE. Like most Microsoft/Windows product, the software is bulky. I have a Jornada 420 with 4 MB, after installing a couple of application, it run out of memory.

wireless networking a PDA?

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I have never found any wireless network devices for the 3Com M500 Series.
Thanks for the Input on your Jornada…
[8^)

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wireless networking a PDA?

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One other possible solution for you, is that you can get a wireless nic for the handspring, which uses the Palm OS. The downside is that I’m not sure how you would sync your software. Maybe you already have that part figured out and just need to set up the network. besides the wireless nic, I have a Xircom, you would need an access point. I am using a Linksys Access Point for that.
If you need specifics on my equipment, email me at [email protected]. I can browse the Internet, just not the local LAN. For that I’ve been told I would need some type of WAP browser. But that holds true for both Palm OS and PocketPC. Hope this helps. Roger

wireless networking a PDA?

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Thats it. I have been following HandSprings also. I was real excited a few weeks ago when I first saw the Ads for the Xircom nic. Thanks for your Help.

[8^)

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