Which wireless network card to buy

[andyb43]

Hi all,

I am after some advise, what wireless network card is the best to buy for traveling it will be used in the laptop card slot on the side?

What is the type in use 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g

Which Make ect?

will they all work in any wireles spot?

 

[stevo]

In my experience of wireless, avoid Belkin and D-Link....

We have Linksys (a division of Cisco) and no probs......

 

[andyb43]

Cheers,

I am a bit of a computer biff what do i need to look at with the 802.11g ect.

will they all work when traveling around logging on to the wireless networks.

 

[stevo]

A lot of cards will do all frequencies.

Depends where you want to log on as most networks (hopefully) will be protected with a key (password)

I don't know how wireless 'hotspots' work - but I know GNER trains have access... as do some other companies.

 

[archaeology_lad]

Great explanation on what 802.11a,b, and g mean. The 'a', 'b', and 'g' all refer to thoroughput (speed), with the 'g' suffix being the latest.

Pretty much any wireless pcmcia nic card will work on any network if it is an open unsecured network, or password protected closed network. Even with the secured network, all you need is the password to get on. A "hotspot" is just a wireless network with no password that anyone can access.

Brand names really do not matter anymore; for every brand there are a tonne of good experiences and a tonne of bad experiences.

 

[P00DLE]

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=236149&CatId=1241

perfect for the job connects to most standards is the right price and ive never had any issues with netgear kit.

 

[Satancom]

I have used some linksys stuff in an industrial location and it performed well. For home users we usually end up getting them net gear stuff as they are easy to set up and don't really fall over!

 

[hodghog]

Iwould recomend using the linksys g they are usualy backward compatable with a and b and depending on your soft wear and location they can often piggy back on unprotected systems and give you internet acces

 

[andyb43]

Hi guys what deo you recon to this card?

I know Hodghog recomends this one.

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?LIN-WPC55A

Any good?

 

[RKK]

Wireless hardware is very much a person preference. I would recomend Netgear, my complete wireless network at home (yes i am sad) is netgear and works well. One rule of thumb, try to stick to one manufacture. Although they should be compatible with each other, it makes things must simpler. I would recomend the Netgear WG511T PCMCIA card, i use it as my roaming card and is currently connected to a number of access points, very good range and compatibility.

Ross.

 

[ButtonMonkey]

Wireless hardware is very much a person preference. I would recomend Netgear, my complete wireless network at home (yes i am sad) is netgear and works well. One rule of thumb, try to stick to one manufacture. Although they should be compatible with each other, it makes things must simpler. I would recomend the Netgear WG511T PCMCIA card, i use it as my roaming card and is currently connected to a number of access points, very good range and compatibility.

Ross.

Nah, it's much more fun having them all different.

On my 14 pc's at home I have a selection of Belkin, Netgear, Cisco and Linksys cards/pcmcia cards or usb dongles and they all do the same job just as well as each other.

 

[Satancom]

14 pcs? Man do you even bother switching your central heating on ?

 

[ButtonMonkey]

Being a test engineer it's sort of par for the course.

Virtual images are all well and good but nothing like having real machines.

Heres some in the home orofice some other spread around the house.

OK so it's a sh1t hole, you should see my office.

Funny story when Seeboard sold out to EDF, EDF reported me to the police for high electricity usage so I had four coppers knocking on my door looking for the canabis factory, and all they found were the PC's. Silly b u g g e r s they should have looked in the loft