Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 13:06:58 -0400 From: Ed Padin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: Here's my review of the Diamond Homefree wireless solution Hi, I'm responding to my old post to add some more information. The winnat software that comes with the diamond homefree cards seems to be what was making it so slow. I guess that using the MS IP stack for NAT is a bad idea. I hear (from systems progammers) . I intstalled a free software packeage called proxy+ (from www.tucows.com). It's a nice little program (lot's of features not found on commercial products) that will do web caching, etc. to speed up access for the clients. Now the web surfing is almost as fast on the wireless laptop as it is on the desktop. I still use the winnat software for other non-application-proxyable services like ssh. I've also done some file transfers and software installs across the wireless link. I find it bearable. It's nothin like a real net connection but it's usable. I just kick off the copy and ignore it after that. If you're going to be doing heavy file copy stuff, tho, it may be a pain. The webgear (2.4 mbs), or even better Lucent (10 mbs) solutions will be much better... and a lot more expensive. I'd say that, all in all, diamond is not a bad wireless solution for $60-$70. Oh, BTW, The battery life of the libretto seems about the same with the card and without. Hope this info helps someone out there.... >-----Original Message----- >From: Ed Padin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 11:26 AM >To: Libretto >Subject: Here's my review of the Diamond Homefree wireless solution > > >Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 10:59:37 -0400 >From: Ed Padin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Here's my review of the Diamond Homefree wireless solution > >Synopsis >======== >A good wireless solution on the cheap (meaning $60-something ) >but not for >those willing to spend money for good performance and Linux >compatiblity. > > >Acquisition and Configuration >------------------------------ >I got my home-free kit with an ISA and PC card from an ebay auction at >$60+ship. I hooked it up to my desktop adn lib 110. The >installation was >pretty idiot-proof. You just follow the prompts and it sets >everything up. >You have to tell it which machine is a NAT to the Internet and >which will be >a client, etc. > > >Performance >----------- >In a word, 'slow!'. The web browsing is tolerable but file >transfers will >take some time. I was able to use it at about 100 feet >distance in a NYC >suburban area. They advertise a 1Mb thru-put but the actual >figure is a lot >lower. I have a 600kbit DSL hookup and the browser on my >desktop is still a >lot faster than the browser on the home-free client. The >webgear aviator is >probably a better/faster solution at 2.4mb. They also probably >come close to >actually achieving that speed. The home-free system does not use a real >eterhnet card. They use something that's like an IR >transceiver hooked up to >a 2.4Ghz radio. They emulate the ethernet MAC protocol in >software so it >also hogs more CPU resources. The end result is that the 1mbit >transfer is >effectively lower. They also do not support linux. There are >linux drivers >for it but they only work in linux->linux not linux->windows. > > >Conclusion >---------- >At $60 I feel I got my money's worth. I was not able to find a >webgear kit >for less than $130. If you need a speedy solution (and real >linux support) >then spend the extra pennies** for webgear. If you want >something that works >okay under 98, is cheeeeep, and all you really want is remote >web browsing >then the homefree is okay. > >Here's a good example of how high some webgear prices can go: > >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=325300716 > > >Btw: The prices I'm talking about are from ebay auctions where 'caveat >emptor' is the name of the game. That's also the reason I like to keep >things under $100. > > > > >************************************************************** >http://libretto.basiclink.com - Libretto mailing list >http://libretto.basiclink.com/archive - Archives >http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/portable/faq.html - FAQ > -------UNSUBSCRIBE------- >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=cmd:unsubscribe > --------UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST------ >Use above but add DIGEST to the subject line... > >************************************************************** > ************************************************************** http://libretto.basiclink.com - Libretto mailing list http://libretto.basiclink.com/archive - Archives http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/portable/faq.html - FAQ -------UNSUBSCRIBE------- mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=cmd:unsubscribe --------UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST------ Use above but add DIGEST to the subject line... **************************************************************
