So you have a Pocket PC or Palm PDA. It’s great for keeping track of things and being organized. There are so many things you can now do with a device that fits in your pocket. But how do you connect to the great big world of information that exists out there beyond your pocket? You can use the old method of always “syncing” to your PC, but that is hardly real-time connectivity. Or you can buy an expensive compact flash modem and a compact flash slot, if you need one and it is available for your device. Or you can go the even more expensive route of 802.11b wireless, which requires a card and a wireless access point. Unless you are lucky enough to have 802.11b built into your device.

Product: Compex iRE201 Infrared Wireless Access Point
Manufacturer: Compex
Web Site: www.cpx.com
Category: Hardware - Wireless
Price: $99.99

Requirements: Platform:
Any Pocket PC (Windows CE 2.1 and above)
Any Palm PDA (Palm OS 3.3 and above)
Any Notebook with IR port running Windows 95 and above

There is however one communication capability that most people do not think of using. A communication standard that almost every Pocket PC, Palm, and Notebook has built-in. A standard that up to now has mainly been used for sharing business cards and contact records as well as playing with infrared remote control. So how can we use this built-in communication standard to connect to the rest of the world? The iRE201 Wireless Access Point from Compex will allow your PDA or Notebook to wirelessly connect to an Ethernet network, Cable/DSL modem, and 56K External Dial-up modem using two-way Infrared communications.

The iRE201 will allow an Infrared capable device to connect to an existing LAN or the Internet using wireless Infrared technology. The iRE201 features:
Multiple Protocols: SIR: 9.6Kbps, 57.6Kbps, 115Kbps
FIR: 4Mbps, IrCOMM and IrLAN
Embedded HTTP Server
Configuration Interface using a Web-based or RS232 Serial Console
Compatibility with: Pocket PC (WinCE2.1 or greater)
Palm (OS3.3 or greater)
IR equipped Notebook running Windows 95 or greater
Two Infrared Transmitters/Receivers
Ethernet and RS232 Serial communication




The iRE201 is set-up by using its internal configuration system. This is available as a web-based page that is accessed from a computer connected to the Ethernet port. An IR device communicating wirelessly with the iRE201 can also be used for configuration. Once your computer is set to a specific IP address and you set your web browser to a specific http address, the configuration screen will appear as a web page. If you wish to use the COM serial port to set up the iRE201 using text commands, you can connect the modem cable, which is included, to the iRE201 and use HyperTerminal to send text set-up commands.