What is the recommended PCMCIA wireless card nowadays (with antenna?)

[Judy Zappacosta]

I have two IBM A31p laptops which do not currently support my Linksys
WRT54G router's WPA2-PSK encryption on WinXP SP3.

What is the recommended wireless networking card nowadays?

It would be nice to be inexpensive but also allow an external antenna in
case I needed extra range (I sometimes try to go wireless in the back
yard).

Since the old IBM A31p laptop has only 1 USB port, it would be best to be
PCMCIA for the wireless networking card.

Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
external antenna)?

[Tony Hwang]

Judy Zappacosta wrote:
> I have two IBM A31p laptops which do not currently support my Linksys
> WRT54G router's WPA2-PSK encryption on WinXP SP3.
>
> What is the recommended wireless networking card nowadays?
>
> It would be nice to be inexpensive but also allow an external antenna in
> case I needed extra range (I sometimes try to go wireless in the back
> yard).
>
> Since the old IBM A31p laptop has only 1 USB port, it would be best to be
> PCMCIA for the wireless networking card.
>
> Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
> external antenna)?
Hi,
To match your router, one from Linksys.

[Judy Zappacosta]

On Mon, 24 May 2010 23:50:47 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:

>> Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
>> external antenna)?

> To match your router, one from Linksys.

In the "olden" days, the most recommended PCMCIA card (with external
antenna plug) was the Orinoco Gold 802.11g Wireless PC Card.

Rarely would one have an Orinoco router.

Did the recommendations change then such that nobody recommends the Orinoco
anymore but that we need to find a compatible router card???

[Tony Hwang]

Judy Zappacosta wrote:
> On Mon, 24 May 2010 23:50:47 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:
>
>>> Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
>>> external antenna)?
>
>> To match your router, one from Linksys.
>
> In the "olden" days, the most recommended PCMCIA card (with external
> antenna plug) was the Orinoco Gold 802.11g Wireless PC Card.
>
> Rarely would one have an Orinoco router.
>
> Did the recommendations change then such that nobody recommends the Orinoco
> anymore but that we need to find a compatible router card???
Hmmm,
Some different brand card does not like to talk each other smoothly.
Just to minimize the possible unexpected headaches stay with same brand.
Last time I used Orinoco was a few years ago.

[Rick]

On 5/25/2010 12:46 AM, Judy Zappacosta wrote:
> I have two IBM A31p laptops which do not currently support my Linksys
> WRT54G router's WPA2-PSK encryption on WinXP SP3.
>
> What is the recommended wireless networking card nowadays?
>
> It would be nice to be inexpensive but also allow an external antenna in
> case I needed extra range (I sometimes try to go wireless in the back
> yard).
>
> Since the old IBM A31p laptop has only 1 USB port, it would be best to be
> PCMCIA for the wireless networking card.
>
> Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
> external antenna)?
I use a EDIMAX usb adapter I think it cost about $30.00 (US) at Newegg.
It work very well in all kinds of conditions.

--

Rick Holbrook
Fargo, ND
N 46°53'251"
W 096°48'279"


Remember the USS Liberty
http://www.ussliberty.org/

Reply to: fholbrookatcableone.net

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Tue, 25 May 2010 05:46:09 +0000 (UTC), Judy Zappacosta
<zappajNOSPAM@Use-Author-Supplied-Address.invalid> wrote:

>I have two IBM A31p laptops which do not currently support my Linksys
>WRT54G router's WPA2-PSK encryption on WinXP SP3.

It's possible to retrofit an internal wireless card into the Thinkpad
A31p. Various instructions on the web. This looks fairly sane:
<http://www.insidemylaptop.com/add-internal-wireless-card-to-ibm-thinkpad-laptop/>
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350310487747>
The big headache is where to put the antennas. Some models came with
internal antennas, others did not. The easiest, but worst performer
is under the keyboard. Gluing them into the LCD display is best, but
takes much more work. One antenna, connected to the MAIN port, is
sufficient, with the other antenna in the base unit. I've done two of
these. The problem was that the IBM BIOS checks if the wi-fi card has
been blessed by the FCC for operation in the laptop. As I vaguely
recall, the A31p checked the card, while the A31 did not. So, I had
to buy Intel 2200BG cards made for IBM in eBay. About $20/ea.

>What is the recommended wireless networking card nowadays?
>
>It would be nice to be inexpensive but also allow an external antenna in
>case I needed extra range (I sometimes try to go wireless in the back
>yard).

Well, if it needs an antenna connector, your selection is limited.

For PCMCIA/CARDBUS, I like Buffalo Tech WLI-CB-G54S. The problem is
that Buffalo doesn't sell it any more. None on eBay and only a few
for sale on Amazon at high prices. Oh well.

2nd best is something from Ubiquiti.
<http://www.ubnt.com/src>
<http://ubnt.com/downloads/src_datasheet.pdf>
The catch here is that there's no internal antenna so you MUST use an
external antenna. +24dBm tx output (200 mw) on 2.4GHz.

>Since the old IBM A31p laptop has only 1 USB port, it would be best to be
>PCMCIA for the wireless networking card.

I use an A31p running Ubuntu for site surveys. The 1024x768 screen
makes it useless for anything more elaborate. When I plug in a
CARDBUS adapter, and then throw it into my laptop back, I invariably
end up breaking off the antenna section. I've trashed two Netgear
something cards this way. If you're doing CARDBUS, be sure to unplug
the card before carrying.

>Any suggestions for a good cheap wireless network card (that allows an
>external antenna)?

I would go for the internal MiniPCI card.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[Mohamed Elshayal]

On Tue, 25 May 2010 00:29:29 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:

> Hmmm,
> Some different brand card does not like to talk each other smoothly.
> Just to minimize the possible unexpected headaches stay with same brand.

Never fun to make of someone who speaks English with brokenness.
It means another language is freind!

[alexd]

On 25/05/10 21:02, Mohamed Elshayal wrote:
> On Tue, 25 May 2010 00:29:29 -0600, Tony Hwang wrote:
>
>> Hmmm,
>> Some different brand card does not like to talk each other smoothly.
>> Just to minimize the possible unexpected headaches stay with same brand.
>
> Never fun to make of someone who speaks English with brokenness.
> It means another language is freind!

Well that's what I was thinking, but didn't have the guts to say.

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