Wireless network PDA quandary

[demunchkin]

We currently have 802.11a wireless technology (we are a six story facility). Our goal is to implement a computer system that will allow PDA devices to talk to our wireless network. I understand that the 802.11b wireless card is the only thing manufactured for the PDA.

We probably won't have the option of using something other than a PDA for a handheld device. What are our options without having to completely rework our entire network?

I had heard one comment of leaving the 802.11a in place and adding 802.11g wireless routers. Is this a correct statement?

Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Devin

 

[NRGeti]

Do a goodle search "wireless PDA". You will get lots of hits.

Also open

http://www.pcmag.com

and search "wireless PDA". They have lots of articles and reviews of these devices.

Linksys makes several models of the 802.11g routers. The 4-port model is around $70.00

 

[demunchkin]

Yes, there are many wireless PDAs out there, but all of them take the 16 bit 802.11b wireless card ONLY (Intel refuses to make a different card). We have the 802.11a wireless network. B cannot talk on A. 802.11a wireless cards are 32 bit so they don't fit the PDA card slot, hence our plight. However A and B should be able to talk on G. But we want to avoid completely replacing our wireless network.

Concerning the wireless routers, I need to know if putting the G wireless routers on an A network will allow B devices to talk.

 

[LSTAN]

Most G wireless routers are backward compatible to the 802.11b standard.

 

[ADB100]

Just to clarify this.....

802.11g is backwardly compatible with 802.11b as they both use the same radio frequency (2.4GHz). 802.11a uses the 5GHz frequency band so is completely incompatible with 802.11b or 802.11g.

I have only ever seen PDA's with 802.11b radios; there seems to be some on the horizon with 802.11g radios (once they work out how to make them cool to the touch and don't drain the batteries.....)

HTH

Andy

 

[mjpearson]

Some casual observations from a newbie:

As mentioned in earlier posts....11b and 11a use different frequencies. Given that you have A, you'll need to purchase new AP for PDAs. Ouch.

1) Get A/B/G devices and displace the old system.

2) Get G device that are backward compatible with B devices and run it tandem with A devices.

3) B devices are dying away pretty fast in favor of G. As a result, many vendors are offering some serious discounts for the older B devices. You might be able to get some real deals on older B equipment.

Options 2 & 3 above will require you to run both systems in tandem and marry the two networks together with some Ethernet switches unless....your A devices have embedded Ethernet switches. You plug the G/B devices into the A devices in cascade fashion.


mike