Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Other Uses For Palm VII's Wireless Functionality?

Posted by Cliff on from the things-not-in-the-"approved-uses"-list? dept.

And the endless parade of questions from Anonymous Cowards continues: "I just got a new Palm VII and I got to thinking, 'Hmm, can I use this little antenna for anything other than the built-in service through Bell South?' This is what I was wondering if the /. community could help out with. Can I make two Palm VII's talk directly to one another? Can I rig a PC or other type of receiver to communicate with a Palm VII or multiple Palm VII's? My vision is a large corporate campus or building, where the company has its own receiver, and has lots of employees running around with Palm VII's checking e-mail and doing other productive stuff without having to use the provided Internet access. Any other cool ideas are welcome. If you want to see what Palm is offering as far as development ideas, check out their development area."

7 comments

  1. Re:Not going to happen... by goaliemn · · Score: 1

    It doesn't use GSM. It uses the RAM data network run by Bell Atlantic (at least I believe they own it all now). It won't work outside the US, unless they have other models developed that will.

  2. Handspring has (Vaporware) Roll-Your-Own Wireless by fredz · · Score: 1
    Handspring is a Palm clone which allows an accessory card to be installed. Zilog is advertising a roll-your-own wireless kit which can be used with a handspring to create a local wireless network. The problem is that it "will be available Q2" and that it appears to you will have to do a lot of the engineering yourself. The web site says the kit includes:
    • Schematic
    • Bill of materials
    • Sample printed circuit board layout
    • VISOR interface software
    • Wave Communicator User's Manual
    • Z87L02 Emulator User's Manual
    The web site says "These kits enable you to embed Internet connectivity into appliances at an extremely low price," so if the price really is low they might be a lot of fun. I don't know if anyone will be selling these as a higher level assembly, so they might not be very practical even if the cost is low.

    Fred

  3. Ericsson Mobitex by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 2

    No, it uses the Ericsson Mobitex design. Slow as molasses (9600 bps), and you pay by the packet, but it's got decent coverage in the US, thanks to the billions sunk into the network by RAM Mobile Data. Other nations have similar networks, e.g. Canada, and I presume Sweden. By the way, Sweden is spelled Sweden, not Sweeden. Not that you mis-spelled it, but sheesh.
    -russ
    p.s. Clarkson's hockey team tanked this season. Worst I've ever seen. Somebody stole the team and replaced them with space aliens from a universe where ice doesn't freeze.

    --
    Don't piss off The Angry Economist
    1. Re:Ericsson Mobitex by Mark+F.+Komarinski · · Score: 2

      Ow. I'll have to go beat up the wireless person that told me the wrong information.

      The hockey team is full of aliens now? First the administration, now the hockey team, what next? I hear SLU did rather well though.

      --
      -- Ever notice that fast-burning fuse looks exactly the same as slow-burning fuse? I didn't... (Edgar Montrose)
  4. Re:Handspring has (Vaporware) Roll-Your-Own Wirele by RGRistroph · · Score: 2
    For playing around with a litle roll-your-own stuff, I have been thinking about the cybiko. You can check it out at www.cybiko.com. The problem is that it is not clear that the development kit (libraries and etc so you can cross-compile and executatble and download it onto the device) includes access to the networking stuff. (In this case, the roll-your-own part would be in software, the hardware is already there.)

    The price is $150, which is several times the impulse buy level, so I can't just buy it and see. Also, you'd need more than one to really do anything.

    My interests are in mobile wireless routing protocols; this little toy actually does some of that, because messages from two disconnected devices will hop through a device that can talk to both. It sounds really cool.

  5. Not going to happen... by Mark+F.+Komarinski · · Score: 2

    The Palm VII uses a GSM chip, meaning it'll only work on GSM networks. In the US, that means Bell South in the south, Omnipoint in the NE, and Pac Bell in the west. There are no other GSM networks here in the states. Now, you could set up your own GSM network in a building, provided you're under the FCC limits. But, that means that you'll be interfering with other GSM services within that area.

    --
    -- Ever notice that fast-burning fuse looks exactly the same as slow-burning fuse? I didn't... (Edgar Montrose)
  6. Server control by cvincent · · Score: 2

    I made a simple palm clipping application that I can use to control/monitor my servers via a ksh script/cgi on the server end and a simple form on the palm end of it. I can do things like view processes, run commands, reboot ect..ect... If you want the code, contact me and I will send it to you. Its very handy when someone calls with a problem and you are without access.