Merlin/Ricochet

[compss]

The Merlin pc card on Ricochet at 128kbps rocks! Installation was a breeze and the drivers are stable on the Ipaq. Email and remote email(@home email with netmail enabled) working flawlessly. Those with dial-up connections who see the Ipaq surf the net at 128kbps say "Wow that's faster than my home connection!". Is it worth $74.95 /mo ?
.. yes! The speed, the wow factor and being
cutting edge has a price.

[imported_Administrator]

Yes, I will be finishing testing of the Merlin with my current Ricochet service here in Atlanta. I'll try it on the iPAQ and the @migo. Full review in about a week.

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Steve Bush
Editor-in-chief
Brighthand
www.brighthand.com

[mikey]

@migo and Ricochet will be one KILLER wireless setup.

[ijablokov]

you mean ipaq w/ dual pcmcia cypaq sleeve, riccochet, and 1gb microdrive, right? ;-)

[paqmaster]

@migo and Ricochet must also be a "killer" on battery life <IMG SRC="http://www.brighthand.com/ubb/icons/icon12.gif" HEIGHT=15 WIDTH=15 ALIGN=ABSCENTER>

Having only one battery to power the main unit and the Ricochet modem? I'll take the added battery of the PC Sleeve even if it comes with the added bulk <IMG SRC="http://www.brighthand.com/ubb/icons/icon9.gif" HEIGHT=15 WIDTH=15 ALIGN=ABSCENTER>


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-paqmaster
WHO'S YOUR DADDY?!



[This message has been edited by paqmaster (edited January 26, 2001).]

[imported_dreampages]

The Merlin for Ricochet modem works great on the iPAQ in Dallas & Houston. I just received the Sierra Aircard 400 for Ricochet but was disappointed to find they don't have iPAQ drivers yet.

The Merlin card is an actual modem and you connect using dialup networking. The Aircard 400 is a network card. It connects immediately to the Ricochet network when you insert it into a laptop and will work the same on the iPAQ once they come out with the drivers.

Larry

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Larry Melamed
Dream Pages Computer Store
larry@dreampages.com
http://www.dreampages.com

[Danzo]

I just received my Merlin card but haven't gotten my PC Card Jacket for the Ipaq. HOWEVER... I did pop the card in to the Mac and can get amazingly good speed in most areas of the Twin Cities... providing I'm near a window.

Has anyone heard about a SPRINT PC Card that's out there? Supposedly is a direct Sprint connection, reasonably priced... but I can't find it on their website

[Kirkaiya]

I use Sprint PCS, but not a PC Card (I have a SocketCom CompactFlash card that connects to my cellphone).

I truly wish somebody would come out with a small CF-card wireless modem that could connect to the Ricochet network. I have the CF Expansion pack, and don't really want the PC Card pack (it just makes the iPaq too big for me).

It would be fine if the wireless CF modem stuck out a little - and I've seen pictures of the wireless CF modems (64 Kbps) in Japan - Granted the infrastructure is different, but surely somebody is working on this..

(in the meantime, I'm planning to get the CF Bluetooth card that is already out, and a bluetooth-enabled Ericcson phone, when they are available for Sprint).


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Kirkaiya
How much for the dried rats foot?

[ArsDigitas]

KIRKAYA,

Where can you get the BLUETOOTH CARD for the CF slot?

Also, Richochet has contracted Sierra Wireless to make the CF richochet card for them which should be available by q3 I think.

I spoke to them and have the numbers should you wish to confirm this,

Please add the link to the bluetooth CF card and email to please if you can

babar@arsdigitas.com



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All the best,

Babar

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. "
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[Nicole]

I just got my Merlin for Ricochet card this afternoon. I never realized that this was a dialup modem and not a network one like the Aircard, so I am bummed. I think I would have waited for the Aircard had I known this.
I am in Seattle, so right now the Ricochet network is only 28.8 in this area. The dial up process seems pretty slow. I don't know if the full 128Kbps speed will help or not when it gets here.
As far as the browsing speed, well its 28.8, what can you say? Not too bad actually. I am sure CDPD would drive me crazy though. I never got dropped, but you have to dial back in when the power saving shutoff (mine was set for 2 minutes) kicked in...what a pain! THe modem itself seems to be fine on the batteries. I had it going pretty much for 3 hours, and the PC Card pack battery is about 50%. My main batteries are pretty low however (about 30%) since it was on super bright the whole time.
If you are considering a Ricochet modem, I would definitely wait for the Aircard 400!