BlueGate
56k Modem from ENR Technologies: for
Palm, Pocket PC , PCs and Macs Posted Aug. 17, 2003 by Lisa
Gade, Editor-in-Chief
Just because you're tied to a dialup account using a land
line modem, it doesn't mean your PDA or computer needs to be tied to
the modem via a cable. If you dial into an ISP or corporate dialup account
using a traditional modem that plugs into a phone jack and have a Bluetooth
enabled PDA, then you can use the BlueGate 56k Modem.
Features
The BlueGate is a 56k v92 modem that's housed in
a translucent blue plastic casing. The modem comes with a power adapter
and phone line and a CD that includes the manual and a modem description
file for Mac OS X. You don't need drivers if you're using Windows 98
or newer, OS X 10.2 or higher on the Mac or a Pocket PC or Palm OS
PDA that has Bluetooth, because standard Bluetooth modem drivers are
pre-installed. The BlueGate has a power switch and front LEDs indicating
Bluetooth operation and standard modem functions such as SD (send data),
RD (receive data), CD (carrier data), OH (off hook) and power.The
modem has a Class 2 Bluetooth radio which can connect to PDAs and computers
within a 20 to 30 foot range.
Setting up your PDA and Using the
Modem
If you're using a Bluetooth enabled Palm OS
PDA such as the Palm Tungsten, Sony Clié TG50, NZ90
or any other Clie plus Sony's Memory Stick Bluetooth card,
you'll configure the modem by entering settings under Bluetooth
in preferences. Make sure your Palm OS PDA is discoverable,
then go to Trusted Devices and have your Palm discover the
BlueGate modem. You'll enter the (long!) passcode printed
on a label on the modem's underside, and the Palm and modem
should pair. Then create a new connection, connecting to
Modem via Bluetooth. Once you've done this, you can go to
Network under Preferences and select (or create a new ISP
setting) your ISP and set the modem to be the Bluetooth modem
you just created under Connections. I tested the modem with
a Sony Clié NX80V and Sony's Bluetooth Memory Stick
and all went well.
Since Bluetooth software
varies on Pocket PCs, rather than being standardized in
the OS like Palm PDAs, I'll describe the general method
of configuring a Pocket PC to use the modem. I tested the
modem with the iPAQ 2215's built-in
Bluetooth and a Belkin
CF Bluetooth card in a Dell
Axim X5 Advanced.
First you'll need to use the Bluetooth Wizard
on your Pocket PC to discover the modem. Then you'll enter
the passcode found on the underside of the modem so that
you can pair the devices. Once you've done this, and made
sure the BlueGate is assigned to use the Dialup Networking
profile on your Pocket PC, you're done setting up the modem.
(Likely the Pocket PC will see the BlueGate as a Bluetooth
fax). Finally edit or create a new connection and enter your
dialup ISP settings with the BlueGate set as the modem.
Conclusion
If you need a dialup 56k connection and have
a Bluetooth enabled PDA then the BlueGate 56k Modem from
ENR Technologies is a great solution. While Bluetooth isn't
famously friendly, you should find setting up the modem fairly
painless. The modem's connection to the ISP was reliable
with good transmission speeds, and the Bluetooth connection
to our PDAs was also robust.
If you're interested in an IR 56k dialup modem
for your PDA or notebook, check out our ENR Technologies Pegasus
III modem review.
