This is an opinion about the Xircom Ethernet + 56K Modem Adapters. Why “Adapters” and not “Adapter”? Well, because there are in fact two of the same, even with the same specifications. And I’ll start with presenting you these specs:
1. Xircom® RealPort Ethernet 10+Modem 56 GlobalACCESS (REM56G-10) - Integrated Type III PC Card connectors mean there's nothing to break, nothing to lose. But, in the same time, it will take the both slots in your laptop. Yes, you have everything on the card – as network connection, modem connection and mobile connection (if you have the specific cables, of course), but keep in mind that a Type III Card take the both slots.
- Connect using a standard RJ-45Ethernet cable in the office (this for Local Area Networks), you don’t need any additional dongle, just plug the network cable into it.
- Connect using a standard RJ-11 telephone cable on the road or at home, you don’t need any specific modem dongle, only a cable with RJ-11 sockets at both ends (and a BT adapter
if you’re in UK)
- Mobile phone capability and GlobalACCESS™ features deliver information around the world (the card is GSM ready, you need only a cable if you want to connect your mobile phone, for true mobility. Actually, it really works fine, presuming you get the right phone cable. Beware that there are different cables for makes – e.g. Nokia, Motorola, but also different cables for the same maker, but with different models, as a cable for Nokia 6110 will not work with a Nokia 6310. Best thing to do is to test the cable or get an assessment from the vendor that it works with a specific mobile phone model)
- Some of them are ISDN ready (the third slot on the card, but you ask the vendor if that specific card is)
- Integrated Ethernet LAN, modem and telephone handset pass-through connectors provide reliable cable-free connectivity
–16 bit
- PC Card detects both 10 and 100 Mbps Ethernet through a single connector for faster performance
- Dimensions(WxDxH)/Weight-86 x 54 x 10.5 mm/36 g
- Hot-swappable (you can just plug it into the card slot and the system will see it, but I recommend to do this with a Win2000 or WinXP)
2. Xircom® RealPort CardBus Ethernet 10/100+Modem 56 GlobalACCESS (RBEM56G-100) This card has THE SAME specs (except the fact that it is a 32 bits card, making it faster than its “sister” + it has the power saving feature its “sister” hasn’t) as the one above and when you look at any of these cards you can’t tell which one is what. You need to turn them on the back and read the code (REM56G-100 vs RBEM56G-100).
And now my personal notes:
It is definitively the best and most reliable multi-functional adapter on the market (it is also the one of the most expensive also), but you need to keep in mind few aspects:
1. even Xircom (which is now Intel, in fact) tells us that it works on Win98 or WinMe, you might get a lot of headaches until you’ll set them up. First of all, there is no built-in driver for them in Win98 or WinMe (starting with Win2000, you don’t need to worry about the drivers, everything comes built-in the operating systems). So, in Win98 and WinMe you need to use the CD provided with the card or download the drivers from the Internet (this if you have another card at home to use it, as the Xircom you can’t install it without the right drivers, don’t you ?). And now comes the worst part. A lot of times, the CD provided with the card DOES NOT HAVE the RIGHT DRIVERS. It will install the Xircom folder on your C: drive, with some monitoring tools, but the card will not work (it’s madness, right?). Why so? Because even the cards have the same specs, the drivers for them are not the same and are not working with the other card, obviously (this ONLY in Win98 and WinMe). And Xircom, I don’t know why, but did not figure out this is an issue, they probably put the wrong drivers on the CD (pretty unacceptable). I don’t know if this is the case for all the CDs, but we had in our company a lot of wrong CDs. So, what are you doing when you have no drivers for the card and obviously you need them? You’ll ask your friends to search the Internet for the drivers. It might be another headache, as some of the drivers you’ll find ARE NOT working (because people thought that when Xircom said that driver will work with that specific card, it will work indeed, and they did not test the drivers). That’s why the whole confusion.
So, my advice is to have as many as 3-4 drivers ready on the laptop BEFORE trying to install the cards under Win98 or WinMe. This way, you’ll avoid the headaches. Another solution is to upgrade them to the latest firmware, but sometimes even so it didn’t work.
This is the only BIG issue with these cards. Once you put it in place and install it, it works fine and is very reliable. And in Win2000 and WinXP you have no problems at all !!
2. Another issue is that A Xircom® network adapter functions when plugged directly into a cable modem/DSL router. The network adapter does not work when an Ethernet hub is put between it and the router. In other words, the router is connected to the hub and the Xircom® network card is connected to the hub via standard CAT 5 cables. This event happens because some cable modem/DSL Routers do not have an uplink port. This problem can be resolved by using a crossover cable between cable modem/DSL router and ethernet hub
3. Finally, another issue is in Windows2000, as the Network adapter automatically disconnects from the network after being idle for a period of time. The resolution for this problem is at http://www.intel.com/support/network/xc/adapter/rpem/2045.htm, but involves changing the registry, so please backup the registry BEFORE doing what XIRCOM says.
OK, that’s should be all (at least all I know), hope it will help you when deciding to buy it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Although this is a well detailed op, a can only give it an H as there is quite a bit of technicial language in here that novices won't be able to understand! Steve
Jaxle 12.04.2003 11:18
Great op but maybe a tad too much jargon for some people?
Aspen 11.04.2003 19:35
Very nearly VH, but as a technophobe I got a bit lost in places. Mike.
very helpful by (56%):
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