In addition to the drivers, the PWE1130 also installs the XircomPWE application shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D

The XircomPWE application lets you set up the module.

This application lets you set up the module, providing it with your network name and encryption settings, along with any necessary IP (Internet Protocol) and power configuration.

Regardless of how you use the card, you'll need to set your network name, also called your network ID. You can get this name from your system administrator or the wireless access point on your network. You may also have to enter your network's encryption key if your network uses WEP (Wired Equivalency Protection). Most corporate networks will use WEP, so you'll need to check with your system administrator for this information. [We strongly recommend you use WEP for your own protection. We do. - DG]

XircomPWE provides five profiles, so you can easily roam between different networks. For example, my wife set up her first profile for our wireless network in my home office and the second profile for her wireless LAN at Apple. By launching the XircomPWE application, selecting Client Settings, and choosing either the first or second profile, she could quickly toggle between the networks as she went to work in the morning and came home in the evening.

XircomPWE automatically configures your Network preferences, so you can immediately use the module to access TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) services. However, until you configure your HotSync settings, you can't use the module to perform a wireless HotSync operation. The application provides a single page of help, which is enough to get you started. The process isn't difficult: launch the HotSync application, select Network from the Modem Sync Preferences, select LANSync from the LAN Sync Preferences, and enter your desktop or synchronization server's name and IP address in the Primary PC Setup field.

Because it can be difficult to determine a wireless network's actual coverage, XircomPWE also includes a Status screen, pictured in Figure E, that lets you check the PWE1130's battery level, network coverage, and network and software settings. It's especially handy when you're setting up a new network, as you can check coverage in different areas without lugging your laptop around.

FIGURE E

The Xircom application Status screen is extremely handy.

Xircom has mastered out-of-the-box setup with this product. Xircom has thoughtfully provided quite a few configuration profiles, letting you easily roam between five different networks with only a couple of stylus taps. I'd like to see them integrate the application into the Palm OS Preferences or at least use similar interface conventions.

Also, one thing sorely missing from this product-as well as many PC WiFi software drivers-is the ability to poll the wireless network for a list of active network names. I can do this on my Macintosh, as shown in Figure F, making configuration painless when I enter an area with WiFi coverage.