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Dialup Redeemed: The WiFlyer Modem+Hotspot
from the better-than-a-sharp-blow-to-the-head dept.
Introducing the WiFlyer
There are some other small wireless base stations around, like the Asus WL-530g and the Apple Airport Express, both of which do a good job of turning an available broadband connection wireless, but to my knowledge no others which pack a modem into such a small base station. (The larger Apple Airports do have a modem, as have some devices from Lucent and others, but they're much bulkier.) Each of these tiny base station has its pros and cons -- the Airport Express adds in audio transport, for instance, and like the WL-530g it's a full-fledged 802.11g device -- so your use will determine which makes the most sense. For me, though, the WiFlyer basically hits the sweet spot: it's light, extensible, works as advertised (with one exception, below), and let me connect both my laptops via friends' DSL and cable modems, and over Plain Old Telephone Service.
Physically, the WiFlyer is a slightly rounded grey box that looks it should double as a radar detector. The case is small -- at roughly 1x3x5", about the size of my (old) Handspring Visor, and only 6.5 ounces including the AC power supply. That makes it a good candidate for tossing in a laptop case; at that weight, it's not exactly hefty, but seems solid enough to take travel without complaint. Helpfully, it comes with a wall-wart that's forgivable for not being a line-lump, because the transformer end is small enough -- tiny! -- to stick in one AC socket without obstructing the outlet's other plug. The rear of the device holds the various ins and outs: two ethernet ports (one in from a broadband connection, one out to a local machine), an RJ-11 jack for a telephone line, and the DC power jack.
My only complaint about the WiFlyer's physical design is that it lacks a built-in means (perhaps in the form of a plastic case like the expansion sleeve of the Compaq iPaq) for mounting it under or next to a desk, or high on a cubicle wall to provide better reception.
I recently used the device at several stops along an (ongoing) 6,000-plus mile road trip around the U.S., and found it an indispensable jack of all (networking) trades, with only a touch of "master of none." It neatly replaces everything in the Frankenmodem I assembled a few years ago and have relied on for temporary wireless-by-modem since. It just took a few more years for such a device to appear than I expected it to.
My testbed laptops: a Toshiba Satellite with a 1GHz Celeron chip (saddled with Windows XP), and a 500MHz iBook running Ubuntu Linux 5.0.4.The iBook wireless connection is an internal Airport card (Ubuntu supports the original Airport, though not yet the Airport Extreme), and the Toshiba is getting its wireless access from a USB dongle, a Netgear MA111. (And though the nature of the device means it shouldn't much matter, it's nice to see that Linux support is mentioned explicitly on the package.) In both cases, I used a recent build of Firefox to reach the device's admin page, and (except for better reception in the iBook) there is no difference in behavior, since the WiFlyer requires no client-side software.
Set-up is simple: plug the device in (there's no power switch) and connect it to either an active phone line or an ethernet cable leading to active Internet service. Upon starting a browser and entering the WiFlyer's default IP address (192.168.7.77), the user finds a configuration screen. By default, the WiFlyer is set up for dialup use, and here's one of the best features: stored in memory, the box has local access numbers for "most" major ISPs; a partial list includes Earthlink (the one I use), SBC/Yahoo, MSN, ATT Worldnet and NetZero. The handy thing about ISPs sharing modem pools is that chances are good any ISP with a national presence is reachable through the WiFlyer's list. Just select your location and ISP, supply your username and password, and the WiFlyer dials out. (A small dial on the side controls the modem's volume; it's reassuring to hear those banshees wail sometimes.) This feature worked flawlessly for me from several places around the country; I chose Earthlink's numbers from various locations, and got through without incident. Since Ubuntu Linux can't yet control the modem in my iBook, it's nice to have an external modem like this.
If you can scrounge an ethernet cable with active service upstream to the Internet, though, things are even easier (at least if you are happy with DHCP -- otherwise you'll have to punch in the right numbers in the configuration page). After clicking a button on the config page to switch to broadband, a firmware swap takes place (it requires around a minute; Always On says this was a necessary compromise in the cost of the device), and Shazam! -- miniature broadband wireless router. It seems to take the WiFlyer 60-90 seconds to establish the connection, though; this takes more patience than do my other wireless routers. If you're borrowing a friend's cable-modem line between the cable modem and his PC, connect the other ethernet port to the computer, so everyone's happy.
I didn't use the built-in security features (too far from interested eavesdroppers), but the WiFlyer includes the usual semi-secure means of securing a wireless network from the base-station end; 40/64 bit and 128-bit WEP and MAC address authentication.
Limitations
The WiFlyer isn't perfect; it has a few drawbacks to take note of, and they could be deal-killers if you need what it doesn't offer.
Most importantly, the range of the WiFlyer is limited; that's what I expected, since it has no external antenna, but the working range is even shorter than I anticipated, and my reception was spotty outside anything more than 20 feet from the box, even with a perfect line of sight. (This is partly to blame on my wireless dongle, but not entirely -- with both the WiFlyer and a common Netgear 802.11b base station active in the same house, I received a much stronger signal from the Netgear even with the WiFlyer within three feet of my 802.11 USB key, while the Netgear was more than 30 feet away and blocked by two thick plaster walls.) That means that an out-of-the-box WiFlyer won't let me browse the web over waffles across the street from a motel. The only way I could get a connection which my Toshiba would call "excellent" was to lay the USB wireless dongle within a foot or two of the WiFlyer. Within a hotel room or small office, the reception is perfectly adequate, though, and if you choose to view the glass as half-full, no wireless moocher is likely to download naughty pictures (or upload naughty email) over your connection.
However, the designers have at least deflected my low opinion of the built-in antenna by including a jack for an MCX antenna, which -- thanks to the proliferation of wireless generally -- are widely available and cheap. The local computer superstore in El Paso (my location at the moment) has a vide variety of these available, starting around $40. So for a permanent installation, the range ought not be a huge concern, but don't expect to cover the footprint of a music festival or even much of a multi-room office without an antenna.
Another limitation is that the DHCP server supports only 5 users at a time. For situations where the WiFlyer is likely to be used, it doesn't seem worth carping too much about this low number -- sharing dialup with more than 5 users seems like a stretch anyhow. But as an emergency backup DHCP server (something it seems perfect for, though clearly not the intended application), this limits its utility. It can't take too much more expensive a chip to bump that number a bit higher. As a wireless Swiss Army Knife, it would also be handy if the WiFlyer featured a bridging mode, so it could be used to extend service from the edge of an existing hotspot. Since it's roughly the size of some USB wireless devices anyhow, this would make it a useful tool to receive as well as provide wireless access.
If you're used to 802.11g, another disappointment: the WiFlyer is 802.11b only. Since even 802.11b vastly outstrips the carrying capacity of American broadband connections generally, the distinction is probably less important than the makers of 802.11g equipment would have you believe; but be warned, the WiFlyer isn't built to facilitate ultra-high-speed intranetwork data transfers.
The Upshot
The only major disappointment I had with the WiFlyer is the short range; that factor aside, it's been a lifesaver. Now if the makers designed in a duck antenna for greater range, added a bridging mode, and removed the slight hassle of a firmware swap to move between broadband and dialup, it would be even snazzier. Hopefully the next generation WiFlyer will add some of those things, but don't get me wrong: if you travel where modem access is your link to the Internet, or you ever need to share a broadband connection temporarily, the WiFlyer is well worth buying and keeping in your hit-the-road bag.
Back to the Future? (Score:3, Informative)
Unfortunately, in lieu of Florida recently prosecuting a man for unauthorized WiFi access http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/07/wi.fi.theft.ap/ [cnn.com] until we find an alternative - this product is necessary.
sorry bout the subject, had to jump at the opportunity to tag one of my fav movies :)
Re:Back to the Future? (Score:5, Insightful)
Broadband is not everywhere.
Parent
Re:Back to the Future? (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Not the point (Score:4, Interesting)
That completely misses the point. Currently city-wide WiFi *doesn't* exist in many places, so the point is what you do in the meantime? Also note the use for a traveller - in a hotel, placing a local call to an AOL number (those free discs are good for something) is probably free, while the place might not have WiFi.
Parent
Re:Not the point (Score:2)
Mr Underbridge, I clearly stated, "until we find an alternative - this product is necessary."
Good day sir.
Re:Not the point (Score:2)
Re:Not the point (Score:2)
Long cord to the wall. An ethernet cable between two laptops. And it all goes crashing to the ground the first time someone has to get up to go to the bathroom and trips over one of those cords. Hotel rooms are often very inconvenient for where the phone jack might be located, this makes a LOT of sense. If I travelled more and had to use hotels that didn't have ethernet (or wireless) access, I'd certainly consider buying one of these things. I almost bought one of the old Airport base stations several
WOW, not like this hasnt been out for.... 6 years? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:WOW, not like this hasnt been out for.... 6 yea (Score:4, Informative)
The Airport Express is about the same size as this device, but it doesn't have a modem.
Parent
Re:WOW, not like this hasnt been out for.... 6 yea (Score:2, Informative)
Re:WOW, not like this hasnt been out for.... 6 yea (Score:2)
Has this ever caused you problems going through airport security? It seems like they'd frown on bare, unidentifiable circuit boards & power supplies going through security.
okay (Score:3, Funny)
wtf. really.
Backup connection? Maybe GPRS? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Backup connection? Maybe GPRS? (Score:2)
Re:Backup connection? Maybe GPRS? (Score:2)
Because that are ETHERNET (Twisted Pair wire, RJ45 plug, 100baseT) lines designed to work indoors and never meant to be drawn between buildings.
why would you even hint that this an ISP of any quality.
Because it provides you with speed several times higher than highest broadband option in major ISPs (10-100mbit inside the ISP network (including from www proxy) and several neighbor ISP networks, and several good lines to the outside wo
Brilliant! (Score:5, Funny)
No, Guiness in a bottle is a brilliant device. This thing is just a wifi access point and a modem.
Re:Brilliant! (Score:2)
Re:Guinness in a CAN is a brilliant device (Score:2, Informative)
great addition to current equipment (Score:2)
As far as I can tell, before this, there is no way to s
Re:great addition to current equipment (Score:2)
Re:great addition to current equipment (Score:2)
Re:great addition to current equipment (Score:2)
Can't you just share your dialup connection to the Ethernet port, and plug the wireless router's WAN port into the Ethernet port? You might need a crossover cable if it isn't a Mac. If you turn off DHCP in the router, you should also just be able to connect the ethernet port to one of the LAN ports on the router (leaving the WAN port disconnected) - then something connecting wirelessly will use DHCP from the computer, not the router. Either should work, although the second is much better if you want to c
Okay (Score:3, Funny)
Wow... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Wow... (Score:2, Funny)
Price Comparison (Score:4, Informative)
20ft phone cord: $5
Yeah, I think I can do without spending 30 times as much.
Re:Price Comparison (Score:5, Funny)
20ft phone cord: $5
Hospital bill after you trip on the phone cord and knock yourself unconscious on the bed post: priceless.
Parent
Re:Price Comparison (Score:2)
As opposed to a cord? (Score:2)
Why is this necessary, when a $2 20 foot cord does the exact same thing? If you need to share Wifi, the modemed Mac/PC can act as a basestation.
jfs
Curious. (Score:2)
I guess I don't understand the target market here. It is just people that don't have a modem, but would rather buy an access point, then a modem?
I was excited at first.... (Score:4, Insightful)
As far as a business traveller, I can tell you that I packed a 50' chunk of cat5 RJ45 and a 100' chunk of cat 3 (phone cable is cat 3, right?) RJ11 for some time in my computer pack. Neither took up a lot of room. Neither was very expensive, and both work great to this day.
This thing is going to have to do a hellavalot better than 20' to be of any value to me, and I imagine, a lot of other travelling (or stationary) geeks.
A Good Product For American Market.... (Score:3, Informative)
42.1 percent of American households now own a computer. See www.natat.org/ncsc/Pubs/Getting%20Online/Chapter_
In 2003 about 13 percent of American households are actually using broadband. See www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,107834,00.asp The stats are two years old, but broadband adoption isn't happening that quickly. Even if you double broadband to 26%, you have 74% still using dial-up.
The dial-up users may want to go wireless at some point and this is the American way to do it. Plug it into the wall, personalize it and leave it alone.
If I'm working for the company marketing this thing, I'd be on the phone with every dial-up ISP in the world. It's a no-brainer for the dial-up ISP.
Like it or not, dial-up (in the U.S. anyway) is like the dot-matrix printer and more recently the floppy disk. It's going to hang around for a long time. Not sexy, but useful and cheap.
Re:A Good Product For American Market.... (Score:2)
Parents, Grandparents, brother, sister, aunt/uncle, cousin, cousin, friends from highschool (x5), 75 year old librarian, neighbor.
Every last one of them has internet access as well. 100%.
I've thought this over for about 5 minutes, so it *IS* possible I'm missing someone I know who has a computer but no internet access, but I honestly can't think of any. Considering that computers come with 3-6 months of free AOL/Earthlink nowadays, I rea
This is news? (Score:2)
What language was this in? (Score:2)
SemiOT: Issues with Reviews & Reactions (Score:3, Insightful)
Reading comments above, I can't help but notice a significant number of 'paid advert' comments; why is it that, every time someone gives a thorough overview of a device, piece of software or book, the pitchfork-and-torch mob forms to accuse the author of advertising? That kind of reaction most likely actively discourages people from providing good, well-written reviews - and when those are gone, what you're left with is really not worth reading.
As for the item itself, being an IT/Tech Support professional, I must say I do see a lot of usefulness in the device in some specific situations, although it might not have a significant presence in most everyday enviroments. Main issues I see are that hybrid technology is obviously sacrificing performance for sake of flexibility, and things such as reduced WiFi range/signal quality pretty much tend to reduce usefulness to the point of making it not worth using in the eye of average user.
Re:SemiOT: Issues with Reviews & Reactions (Score:2)
Using a modem in a hotel is EXPENSIVE (Score:2)
Re:Using a modem in a hotel is EXPENSIVE (Score:2)
I've used an AT&T calling card (Sam's Club, 3.47 cents/minute) - best I could do was 28K, which is actually pretty amazing considering how it gets routed. A lot of hotels allow free local calls, but then you need to be using a national ISP, and have a local access number, for that to help. In my case, I was dialing up from Hawaii to my local ISP.
for linux notebooks? (Score:2)
No MultiLink? (Score:2)
I could buy a used WebRamp off Ebay, and a brand new wireless router at CostCo, for less than $100 and have every PC in the house able to surf at 100k, and take phone calls dynamically! Now if this device did v.92 functions (Call Waiting stuff) reliably AND managed 2 lines it might b
Time travel? (Score:2)
Doesn't address an apparent bogus claim. (Score:2)
While the 20-foot range that the reviewer experienced is more than a little short of the claimed 300 feet, this review doesn't provide any details on what looks like another pretty bogus claim on the product's Web page: "Quick-connect button eliminates time waiting for dialup connection."
There's a limit to how fast you can dial, and I don't see how any kind of button could reduce the time you spend waiting for the modems to sync.
Re:better choice: (Score:3, Informative)
Re:better choice: (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re:Comcast (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Hello advertisement (Score:2)
Re:Serial? (Score:2)
I'm not sure if you're being serious, but the older B-series SMC routers (7004AWBR and similar) had RS-232 ports. During a cable-modem outage I just plugged in an external modem, made a couple setup changes, and had my whole house "sucking Internet through a straw" while the cable company was sorting things out.
As others have indicated, I'm not sure why the WiFlyer is regarded as a big deal. The SMC hub + an external modem could do the same thing, plus had a built-in 4 port hub, lpd print server, and m
Re:Serial? (Score:2)
Alas, I tried a bunch of different modems and never got one to actually dial with the thing. It just never worked. In the end I finally just convinced them to try a cable modem for a few months and they were instantly sold on the speed with which they could fetch their mail
Re:Ihat an article??? (Score:2)