Yeah, CDPD coverage is getting there slowly, and the CDPD protocol has a
very slow and comparatively poor cell handoff mechanism, so if you're moving
at all it tends to drop connection for up to several seconds without
warning.
CDMA is a much more solid connection, and although the theoretical bandwidth
is lower, in practice the stability of connection in my opinion far
outweighs the somewhat smaller bandwidth.
The one that I want to know more about is Ricochet. I remember looking into
their 9600 baud connection and finding out that if you were moving quickly,
say on a bus or train, the handoffs couldn't happen fast enough and so the
connection couldn't be maintained. If their new 128kbaud network lacks this
limitation and has good coverage it will make all other connections
obsolete, IMO.
-Bob Whiteman
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fitzpatrick, Joe [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 12:26 PM
> To: Palm Developer Forum
> Subject: RE: URGENT !!!! Inet with AlmSetProcAlarm
>
>
> I've actually been underwhelmed with the Omnisky. Part of it
> is that the
> coverage seems terrible in Southern Cal. The first time I
> saw one I tried
> to pick it up and use it blind (always a good usability test)
> and couldn't
> get anywhere.
>
> On the other hand, it looks nicer than a VII... ;)
>
> -jjf
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Whiteman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 6:50 AM
> To: Palm Developer Forum
> Subject: RE: URGENT !!!! Inet with AlmSetProcAlarm
>
>
> Actually the OmniSky device, as well as the other Novatel
> Minstrels I've
> used, have a sleep mode. In this mode the Minstrel stays
> registered with the
> CDPD network in a way analagous to a cell phone that's turned
> on but not
> currently making a call. When the Minstrel is in this mode it
> can receive a
> connection that includes an identifier that's analagous to a TCP port
> number. The Minstrel application on the Palm receives this
> connection and
> based upon the port number launches a particular application
> and sends it
> the data that was sent in the connection.
>
> So basically it is possible to receive notifications via the
> CDPD network
> and Novatel Minstrel devices. The major drawbacks are that
> the sleep mode
> and "port" settings are comparatively difficult to configure,
> and that this
> sleep mode drains the Minstrel batteries. In my experience
> the battery drain
> was severe, and that far outweighed the usefulness of
> notification...but but
> maybe that's because I had a poor battery in my Minstrel.
>
> -Bob Whiteman
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fitzpatrick, Joe
> To: Palm Developer Forum
> Sent: 8/22/2000 10:58 PM
> Subject: RE: URGENT !!!! Inet with AlmSetProcAlarm
>
> >I'm not sure why you would need to create a shared library. Why not
> >just schedule an alarm like other applications (ex. Datebook,
> >Clockworks, etc.) and do your work in response to the alarm?
>
> >As for feasibility, neither a Palm VII or an Omnisky equipped V is
> >particularly well suited to background internet polling.
> The VII will
> >not make a wireless connection unless the antenna is up. Although I
> >haven't played with it as much, the Omnisky modem/software also seems
> >'user initiated transaction' oriented.
>
> >Neither unit is blindingly fast and can basically hang the system for
> >fairly long periods of time. I can't speak for other users, but a
> >program would only need to freeze my Palm for 10-20 seconds once
> >while I'm trying to enter a phone number, etc. for me to not only
> >delete it, but pay a huge guy named Spike to beat up the author.
>
> >People have been talking more sophisticated wireless options as
> >Handspring modules, but I don't know what (if any) products are
> >actually shipping.
>
> >Good Luck,
> >-jjf
>
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