It builds its own Wi-Fi, in that you can dial from mobile devices, and it can connect to existing networks, both via 100Mbit Ethernet and via 2.4GHz wireless. Then you can also on the Internet, if you are connected to the WLAN of the plate.
The initial setup works best when dialing from a mobile device into wireless hard disk and then use the web interface. Here you should configure the WLAN (SSID, encryption, password). You can also adjust ("Internet"), as the hard disk in an existing network "latches". There is also an app, but for configuring the web interface is more extensive. The only advantage of the app, which I noticed here is the display of the signal strength at the available wireless networks.
Per USB3 disk is very fast loaded with data, rather limited here the drive itself as the interface. In contrast to the German instructions the network function must be switched off if you want to use them via USB. In my 1TB model a Samsung (Seagate) HN M101MBB is installed, the SMART values can be read with CrystalDiskInfo.
From the factory, the drive is formatted with FAT32. For large files, such as HD video, it is advisable to format it with NTFS. Alternatively, exFAT is possible. For all Linux fans: Ext3 and Ext4 will not be recognized (tested with firmware 1000006).
The panel provides their network services (Web, SMB, etc.) on their own network, but also through the network, with which it is connected. So you can access the disk and from a desktop PC via the network.
(Here it seems the Samba server to be using an older version, because files on 4GiB can not transfer or stream, if one uses the Windows shares with a PC or an app like Total Commander. The streaming over the Memory2Move app works but without problems) Update 04.07.2013:. With the new firmware 1,100,000 can now also via SMB (Windows shares) access files that are larger than 4GiB. Therefore, now five stars.
One should use minimum firmware 1,000,022 definitely, because from this version, the plate also has a UPnP / DLNA media server that can be accessed for example with smart TVs, or mobile device via an app like BubbleUPnP. Even with large files streaming is working properly, the bug in the older firmware only applies to SAMBA.
The wireless range is not particularly large, but that does not bother me because I do not intend to supply with the device a whole house. In such a small device just fit only small antennae.
You can use the drive as a wireless router. This can be very handy when you have in a hotel only Ethernet, but no wireless. But then everyone has the hotel network via Ethernet access to the services of the plate, so you should set a strong password, and possibly temporarily disable the Media Server.
For battery life I can not say anything, I have not completely discharge the battery. The hard drive is automatically stopped after some time without access. The next time one must not be too impatient, because it takes about half a minute, until it is rebooted.
Overall I am very satisfied with the device. The device requires some technical knowledge, the WLAN does not reach and with large files have to be careful if you use Windows shares. Otherwise, it is very versatile and practical and just for mobile devices without micro-SD slot a good memory expansion. It is apparently reliable, apart from the Samba bug I had no crashes, etc.
