SanDisk 128 MB + Wi-Fi CF card trouble

Chuk · 08-29-05, 02:46 AM

I have a SanDisk Compact Flash Wi-Fi + 128 MB Storage and an X50. The wi-fi seems to work fine, but the 128 MB just don't show up anywhere. I can't even see it on the CF reader on our printer.

Anyone have any suggestions or reports of differing functionality?

ikehiker · 08-29-05, 06:18 PM

That card did not work with the X5 (I guess a few people got it to work with WM03 but it was a very rare event). I'm not sure I've seen any posts of people trying it in the X50 but you may be out of luck.

Sandisk and Axims have never played well together.

TRC · 09-01-05, 06:27 PM

I have just tried a new San Disk WiFi +128 card in my X5. Same problem with both the Wi Fi and memory. Checking the San Disk site the FAQ's for this device answer a related query by attributing the problem to a hardware issue with the Axim CF slot, and recommends replacing the combo card with a stand alone. Not for me, I'll continue to use my Linksys Wireless CF card which works fine.

I didn't try the San Disk in my X50v, but I suspect the problem would be the same.

If this card doesn't work with Axims, the manufacturer should add a disclaimer to than effect to their advertising.

09-01-05, 10:29 PM

When I used to have x50, Sandisk card worked fine for me except that I sometimes had to soft reset the x50 to recognize the WiFi. I don't know. Can your computer see the card through the card reader? Maybe file system on CF got messed up somehow. Formatting might help.

Mike Toole · 10-31-05, 07:53 PM

Bumping because I have an issue with my new X51. I just got this card, and I can see the 128MB just fine, but no Wi-Fi. I've installed the newest drivers, and the Axim can see the card... but nothing happens when I try to access the Wi-Fi settings. Furthermore, every time I insert the card, I get "Unrecognized Card - Enter the name of the device driver for this card. For information, see the card manufacturer's documentation."

I'll be frank-- I don't care about the CF storage. I got this card for the wi-fi, the 128MB is a bonus if I can have it working. Can anyone else tell me how to get the wi-fi working?

Thanks in advance for any help.

ikehiker · 10-31-05, 08:19 PM

The issue very well may be that the driver doesn't work with WM5. I have yet to see anyone post that they have successfully used any CF WiFi card in their X51 and a brief search of the common brands shows no WM5 drivers.

I have a Socket ethernet card and they came out with new drivers for it. While I did not try the previous version, it leads me to believe some, maybe all, of the network adapters will need to have new drivers for the new OS. I suggest you send an email to Sandisk CS to see if they have any clue.

Mike Toole · 10-31-05, 08:23 PM

Hmmm. So are you saying that WM5 is different from PocketPC 2003? I'm new to the PDA game, and haven't sorted out all the details yet.

I'll contact SanDisk, but in the meantime, do ANY wi-fi devices work with the X51? This is worrying, because there are a few CF-based accessories I'm intent on buying (notably a wired ethernet adapter for testing purposes) and it would suck if I couldn't use them.

webergao · 11-01-05, 01:57 AM

WM5 use the atapi driver for wifi,but the CF card use the same ,they can't be used together.

Mike Toole · 11-01-05, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by webergao

WM5 use the atapi driver for wifi,but the CF card use the same ,they can't be used together.

So... I can't use a compactflash-based wifi card at all? That's really disappointing.

Again, are there any wireless devices available for the X51? CF, SD, anything?

ikehiker · 11-01-05, 08:15 PM

I don't think that's what webergao meant - I think it's just the combo cards won't work.

As I said in my post above, AFAIK, no one has come out with any WiFi card drivers for WM5 and I suspect you'll need OS-specific drivers for any cards to work. If anyone has had success with a WiFi card, I'd like to hear about it, too.

In the meanwhile, I'm going to move this thread to the wireless forum since it's not really a storage card problem at this point.

webergao · 11-02-05, 10:24 AM

WM5 use the atapi driver for wifi,but the CF card use the same ,they can't be used together.
Sorry，I mean the CF based atapi driver card like microdrive,not all CF card.

remig · 11-09-05, 11:42 PM

A review at http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Dell_Ax...0859&tag=uolst
suggests that some 128M+WiFi card works. Are there others besides the SanDisk card?

ikehiker · 11-10-05, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by remig

A review at http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Dell_Ax...0859&tag=uolst
suggests that some 128M+WiFi card works. Are there others besides the SanDisk card?

I cannot remember any other manufacturer coming out with a combo card but the review you linked to refers to an sd card and Chuk has the CF card. I'm pretty sure they are based on different chipsets so the drivers wouldn't be interchangable. Still, it's a good sign that someone has a wifi card working with an X51. I don't think I've seen anyone else state that they have one working.