PC MODEM CARDS FOR THE ZAURUS
The Hang Up
Lets face it, at 2400 baud, the included side car modem that comes with the ZR-5800FX or the ZR5000FX just doesn't cut the mustard. When you consider the speeds at which modems connect to the Internet and the likes now, 2400 baud seems... well, just plain archaic. Fortunately in both of these units there is a PCMCIA or PC card slot. This allows you to add devices to your Zaurus like additional memory or a PC card modem. So now, you can slide a PC card modem in there and -voila!-you have a powerful, custom, high speed modem at your beckon call. Hold on...we both know it's not that easy! The problem is finding a PC modem that will work in your Zaurus and one that will work without AC power. Finding a modem that will not drain the AA batteries you have in your Zaurus after a few uses could be a challenge.
A Question of Power
Now keep in mind that all PC card modems present an increased power drain on your Z. If you have AC power connected, no problem. But for those of us who need portable power (I don't know about you, but I didn't purchase a Zaurus to use it at my desk), the drain that one of these portable modems can have is enough to conjure up nasty messages from your Zaurus, as it refuses to work without AC power. Are there any out there that will work adequately on just the two AA batteries that are in your Zaurus? The answer is YES! Ok, you definitely will not get the same battery performance you get when you don't have the modem connected, but you will be able you use the modem in your Zaurus without AC power...and I might add, more than once!
A Few Good Modems
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In my travels I have come across a few PC card modems that are up to the task of keeping you connected, and not to an AC power cord. The Compaq 192 Speedpaq modem is one example of a very efficient PC card that will not drastically reduce your battery life after a couple of uses. I purchased mine from my local cellular phone company, and it came with all the necessary cables for about $120.00. It worked right out of the box. There were no complicated modem command strings to enter to get it to fax or get email. It worked fine with Compuserve, my ISP and even connecting to a paging terminal. Since it was cellular capable and came with the cable to connect with the Motorola Micro Tac cellular phones, I was able to use it with my Motorola cellular phone also. The only draw back I found was when I needed to replace the proprietary RJ11 phone interface cord. The replacement cost of the proprietary phone cable was $30.00! A bit excessive for me. |
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Now my current favorite is the Megahertz XJ4288. Although this baby is a 28.8 kbps speed modem, it will only function in the Zaurus at 14.4 kbps because that is the highest speed that is supported by the Zaurus. But regardless of not being able to use it's full speed potential, I really like this one because of the X-Jack technology. Learning from my previous mistakes, one reason I purchased the Megahertz PC card modem is because it uses a pop-out RJ-11 jack that eliminates the need for any additional cables (unless you are using your cellular phone). You just unplug the phone cord from the telephone and pop it into the X-Jack. Also, like the Speedpaq there were no modem strings to enter, it worked right out of the box and it is cellular capable. At about $220 though it may be a bit much for someone on a budget, but look at it like this, it's upgradeable to a 33.6 kbps, and you can use it in any device that has a PC card slot (like a laptop). I will be keeping this one with me for quite a while. |
Conclusion
I am told that the AT&T 376x works fine without external power also, if you can find one. My point is, contrary to popular belief, there are modems out there that function adequately on just AA batteries. The trick is to find them. My suggestion is to try the modem out for about a week in your Zaurus. If it works...keep it. And if it doesn't get the battery life that you feel you can live with...move on. But do not give up and settle for AC power only, and be tied to a cord, when there is a better solution.