ZoomAir (the wireless division of Zoom) offers a multitude of great wireless products. We have been fortunate enough to review a few of them and they never fail to impress.
When we received the ZoomAir 4100 PCMCIA card, we figured "eh...just another WiFi card", but once again, Zoom impressed us with an ordinary card that packs extraordinary features.

The card itself is plain looking and unobtrusive. This particular card (ZoomAir offers several PCMCIA WiFi cards) is considered the "rugged" model, best suited for mobile use. What outlines the difference here is that the antenna is embedded into the card (via a plastic extension that protrudes out of the side of the PCMCIA slot on your notebook computer). Other models have an external antenna which could be damaged by the end user should they not take notice. A single "status" LED lights up to display the card as ready (it does not flash or blink when traffic is moving over the wireless network).
Included with the packaging is a printed manual loaded with informative graphics and easy to follow instructions, plus a CD-ROM complete with drivers, more documentation and an array of various software tools including; ZoneAlarm/ZoneAlarm Pro, AdSubtract, Smart Connect and a Broadband Optimizer.

Installing the card is a snap, and brings to attention ZoomAir's client software, SmartConnect (Prism Connection Manager), which runs in the system tray. What makes this software so cool is that it will scan and locate different wireless networks (automatic SSID scanning), and automatically connect and configure itself as a client. This is very similar to the way Windows XP handles wireless networks, easily one of its greatest strengths and a feature that is hard to live without once you are used to this true "plug and play" functionality. Basically, you can have this ease of use and configuration on non XP systems. It makes life so easy! Various network profiles can be created and managed with ease.
It should be noted that the software's automatic features are only functional with later day ZoomAir "B" or "C" chip 11mbps cards. This revision letter can be found by the cards MAC address that is printed on the bottom right corner of the barcode sticker found on the bottom of the card.




ZoomAir's Smart Connect client software for the 11mbps Wireless Networking cards.

The Connection Manager software also displays all kinds of network performance statistics...including signal strength metering (displayed above)...a personal favorite that's fun to watch as you roam the perimeter of coverage. A compliment of WEP configuration utilities is also part of its features. Excellent software to say the least!

Another interesting potential is running this card as a Wireless Access Point using, a separate product that you can purchase from ZoomAir. The software can be downloaded directly, but it requires a "key" file that comes with the purchased Access Point software. At the time of this writing, CMI did not have one, but we would like to check this out and see what it can do!

Features of the ZoomAir model 4100 PCMCIA Wireless Network card:
- Robust design
- Smart Connect software automates setup and network configuration.
- Excellent documentation included
- Various helpful software utilities included on CD
- Potential to expand with ZoomAir Access Point Software - sold separately

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!
Pros: Great card at a great price. Smart Connect software automatically connects to available wireless networks. Capable of becoming an access point with add-on software from ZoomAir.
Cons: It would have been very nice to include the Access Point Software with this product, but I guess you can't have everything.

ZoomAir model 4100 PCMCIA wireless network card
Current Street Price: $76.95

Available from
PCConnection.com

Zoom Telephonics Inc.
207 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
Telephone: (617) 423-1072
http://www.zoomair.com