Inet CDPD Spider Modem

Price: $895 Warranty: 1 year

Distributors/Integrators: MicroAge Authorization Requirements: Must join MicroAge's Mobility Solutions certification program

Model Number: CDP 1110-04-001

Inet Inc.

Plano, Texas [phone] (800) WOW-INET www.inetinc.com

WITHOUT A DOUBT, INET'S SPIDER CDPD modem has the snazziest appearance of all modems tested. A single Type III PC Card with red and black graphics that mimic the appearance of a real spider, the card occupies both Type II slots on a notebook computer so even though it is not two separate cards, it has the same spatial requirements as the Sierra AirCard, also reviewed. (A Type III PC Card is double the thickness of a Type II PC Card.)

Of the three wireless modems in this review employing the PC Card form factor, the Spider features the most convenient design. The onepiece unit is easy to insert and eject from a card slot, and it does not require its own battery, as does Motorola's 100C modem. Like all PC Card CDPD modems, the Spider is endowed with 600 milliwatts of transmitting power.

The Spider is equipped with two antennas. A 1inch-long flexible antenna stays connected to the modem at all times and can be used as the only antenna whenever the signal strength is deemed adequate. Should that prove insufficient, a separate 5.5-inch-long half-wave flexible antenna (the same antenna as furnished with the Sierra AirCard) plugs into a connector on the outside edge of the modem's case. Under normal operating conditions, either antenna can be used. However, if the longer antenna is removed-to connect the modem to a separate device, such as a roof antenna on a patrol car-the short antenna maintains a signal to the modem while the other antenna remains disconnected.

The Inet Spider CDPD Modem was easy to install in the Test Center's...