Enfora Wi-Fi impressions
by Nicole Lee
When I first saw that there was a wi-fi solution for the Palm, I immediately latched on and bought the Enfora Wireless LAN Portfolio. Sure it’s pricey, but seeing as it comes with its own battery source, I think it’s fairly reasonable for a first-run product. It’s basically wi-fi built-in a case, which you connect your Palm to. Not a bad idea.
It arrived today, and I expected the bulky size, but decided it’s not too bad. Then I installed the software, and upgraded the drivers and so forth. I started up the Enfora Wi-Fi Manager, saw that it was smart enough to detect my SSID and surrounding SSIDs, and I was glad. I then configured it and entered my WEP key, and all of that. It seemed fine. The status seemed great, the signal strength was great.
However, it all sorta went downhill from there. Basically, even though the status is associated, you still have to actively connect the wireless connection. It’s not an automatic thing, even if the devices are associated. This means having to select “connect” every time you go to your web browser or something like that. Compare this to a laptop with wireless capabilities: If the wi-fi network is already configured, the detection is automatic, and there is no need to actually say “Yes, I DO want to connect.”
But even then, I thought, okay, I can live with that. Let’s try surfing about abit and see how it goes. I then accessed my blog, and it was very speedy, which is great. However, I then inexplicably lost my connection. I had to go back to the Enfora Manager, and select “connect”. Back I went to the web browser, accessed another site, and the link was lost again. It’s not like the signal strength was bad or anything either — I was right next to my access point. Pretty soon it was getting tiresome. I surf to one page, and the link was lost, and I had to reconnect. Then I go to another page, the link is lost, I had to reconnect. What the hell? I was starting to feel like I was connecting via GPRS and not wi-fi.
So, all in all, the cons outweigh the pros. This is NOT worth the money. I am returning this device as soon as possible. Those who have been waiting for a wi-fi solution for the older generation Palms just have to wait a little longer, or just connect via an affordable GPRS (like T-Mobile).
Update: Okay, the link is lasting a little longer now. But it still disconnects like every few minutes.
You use a linksys router right? Try this. Instead of using WEP to secure your network, use the Station Mac Filter option.
It might be called something else, since your using a G router. But basically what this option does is only allow certain MAC addresses on your network. And this is for wireless only.
Add your PowerBook and Enfora’s MAC Address to it, and disable the WEP for now. The filter itself won’t let anyone log on the base station, so that in itself makes WEP useless and pointless.
WEP is also crackable, but we won’t get into a discussion on that now…
You know what, you’ve got a point. I actually had WEP AND MAC filtering turned on. And you’re right, the WEP thing is thus rather pointless.
Alrighty, let’s give this thing another whirl…
I also purchased the ENFORA wireless for my Tungsten W. THe first unit did not connect to anything and I returned it – they said the antenna (internal) had come unattached. They replaced it but quite frankly, this equipment is utter crap.
I get exactly what you get – can’t connect to modem, or drops the link after a hit. I’m NOT WEP encrypted – standard stuff.
My feelings is that it is the lousy connection to the wireless. I’ve noted that just a bit of movement (like clicking a button or tapping the screen) causes the *(@#$@( thing to drop the connection.
Utter garbage
Bought it and in about 4 days time the modem would not connect anymore. The connector seems to have cam loose a bit, ther is some play. 150 euro’s for 4 days of fun……will return it of course
Perfect service, got my unit replaced in no time. Only reason for delay was UPS delivering to the wrong adress, but that is not enfora. Connection at work was no problem even with WEP.
Of course there is always something to wish for. Software is simple and limited but is does the job
I bought the Enfora portfolio about 2 weeks ago for my Palm Zire 71. Initially, I was fairly unimpressed. It seemed to continuously give me the “No communication with modem” message – It would pop up for no apparent reason after I had already been connected to my router for a few minutes.
I *think* I may have solved that issue – The thing came with two of the little plastic “buttons” for holding the palm to the case, so I used both. Well, it appears that using both at the same time may keep the palm from seating quite tightly enough in the connector, making it very easy to break the connection. One “button” my work against the other. I’ve since peeled one of the “buttons” off and it seems to be working much better.
When I put the single “button” on this time, I placed it into the backing on the portfolio (sticky side up, of course) and then pushed the PDA down into the connector while tilting it back into place against the sticky “button”. That seems to have done the trick, as I very seldom get the “modem disconnected” messages anymore.
My biggest issue is the chintzy WiFi Manager – On virtually every other WiFi platform, PDA or otherwise, when scanning for a list of accessible APs, the list always has some sort of icon beside each SSID to show whether or not the AP is WEP encrypted or open. (Usually a little padlock or something) – In the city where I work, it’s not unusual to pick up 10-15 hotspots in a scan, but there is no way to know which are usable without actually trying to connect to each one one at a time until you don’t get the “WEP Key Failed” message. VERY irritating! I would LOVE to find a more intuitive WiFi manager that provides at least the minimum basic information to make it easier to choose which hotspot to connect to.
Besides that, I’m just elated to finally be able to use my Zire 71 wirelessly! Even with the irritations with the WiFi Manager, so far it was still worth the purchase price. With any luck, Enfora will offer a more usable program in the near future.