The awaited replacement for our industrial CDMA modem (the MM-5100) is finally available! The ModMax is a robust 3G HSDPA modem designed with telemetry applications in mid.

For further details, check out the ModMax product page.

It’s been a little while since our last post, time for an update!

There are a couple of outstanding areas we have been working for the MiniMax:

Firstly, the next software update. This will include software, drivers and firmware updates for the modem. This will fix a number of bugs, and increase the stability of the modem. The new drivers will also work properly with all versions of Windows XP (including media center edition), and 32bit versions of Windows Vista. They also resolve issues to do with limited user accounts not being able to access/use the modem software. This update will hopefully be available within a few weeks, pending Telstra approval (the drivers have received WHQL certification).

Secondly, the next release for Mac OS. We’ve been working on a comprehensive interface (with some quite pretty usage reporting) as well as fixes for a couple of outstanding bugs. It’s been one of these bugs that has been our biggest bane, proving to be extremly tricky to track down (even with help from Apple’s development team). At this stage we’re still working on a fix for it, without an ETA. If you are experiencing problems with our current Beta (where the modem is not detected), make sure you are connecting the modem with the supplied USB cable. In our testing this has removed the issue by about 98%.
The ModMax has also been progressing rapidly. It is now in with Telstra undergoing the approval process. It’s proved to be a very interesting process, learning the differences and similarities from the CDMA days. Packet switched data is significantly faster, however circuit switched data peaks at 9.6bps, slower than CDMA. We’ll have more information on the ModMax over coming weeks.

The docking station has also been receiving a fair bit of attention. There’s still work to do on it, but most testing at this stage is going quite favorably, which is a good indicator of a close release.

We’ve updated our estimated release dates for our remaining Next G modem based on our current development progress.

The updated release dates are as follows:

- Ethernet Docking station for MiniMax : March ‘07
- Industrial Modem : June ‘07
- Quad band (850/900/1900/2100mhz) compatible MiniMax : June ‘07
- Express Card Modem : TBA (the development of this modem will follow after the previous ones are complete

We have unfortunately had to delay the release dates of some of our produts. This is due to our desire to provide the product in a fully functional (and bug free!) state.

Following the MiniMax, our next modem in development is a replacement for our old MM-5100.  It will be a ‘drop-in’ replacement, with the same connectors and AT command set.  Some of the probable specs are described below.

 Features:

• Initial download speeds of up to around 3Mbps burst, probable sustainable speeds between 500-1500 kbps dependant on coverage and network usage. (Theoretical speeds are up to 3.6mbps)

• Upload speeds of up to 384 kbps burst dependant on coverage and network usage.

• Future possible download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps burst (theoretical)

• Circuit Switched Data (ASYNC calls)

• SMS

• Voice

• Dual band (850 / 2100 MHz) support.

• Dual external antennas

• Direct replacement for MM-5100

Specifications:

System Requirements:

• Connection: USB Port or RS-232

• DC power (either via plug pack from AC power, or direct) – 6-36v

• Windows 2000 or XP for USB connectivity

Limitations:

The industrial modem will NOT support the following:

• Fax

• Windows versions older than 2000 (eg, ME or 98) other than through serial port.