Hardware advice

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VQuest

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I need to purchase a good, but reasonably priced 802.11g wireless pcmcia card for my notebook.

Any advice on which make and model to go for?
 
Why not get a wireless USB adapter? Its just as portable and can be used with pcs if the need arises. I just got myself a Netgear one: WG111 54mbps G. About R280.
 
fergus said:
Why not get a wireless USB adapter? Its just as portable and can be used with pcs if the need arises. I just got myself a Netgear one: WG111 54mbps G. About R280.
Click to expand...

I actually did think about that, but wasn't sure how well they worked. I'm busy doing some research at the moment, so I'll definitely look into the Netgear one. Where did you purchase yours Fergus?
 
I've read some good reviews on it. I see Digital Planet are selling them for R306 which isn't bad. I thought I might wait until I get to the UK next month but they are going for around £45 there, which is much more expensive. Rectron, etc don't stock them, so I might have to go with Digital Planet. Never purchased from them before though.

Thanks for the suggestion fergus :)
 
Cant remember the brand but there was a USB wifi dongle going for R100 at bidorbuy.co.za the other day. Maybe you could get a bargain there? Take a look if slightly interested :)
 
Senao SL3054CB

Netgear 54Mbps Wireless PC Card 32 Bit cardbus. (WG511GE)
http://www.pcmall.co.za/moreinfo.asp?sku=WG511GE
R 285 incl VAT

The Senao are quite nice (not cheap)
* Excellent TX power (100 mW)
* Excellent Receiver Sensitivty
-91dBm @ 1Mbps -80dBm @ 18Mbps
-89dBm @ 2Mbps -78dBm @ 24Mbps
-87dBm @ 5.5Mbps -77dBm @ 36Mbps
-86dBm @ 6Mbps -76dBm @ 48Mbps
-85dBm @ 9Mbps -73dBm @ 54Mbps
-82dBm @ 12Mbps
That means it only requires a signal strength of -91dBm to get a
1 Mb connection.
See the below site with comparative Rx Sensitivities of other
manufacturers
http://freenetworks.org/moin/index.cgi/ReceiveSensitivity

Pick the best one, Senao rates pretty good, compared to DLink, Cisco
(Senao almost top of the list)

The model they are referring is the SL2511EXT2 200mW (no antennae, uses
a MMCX connector so that you can connect your external Grid antennaes)
MMCX connector housing does break with removing & inserting it all the time.


http://www.miro.co.za/stage/intranet/datasheet.php?id=4

Plenty of data on the Senao PCMCIA cards
http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/SenaoCard


http://www.miro.co.za/stage/intranet/datasheet.php?id=12
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I'll be doing a lot of research this weekend.
 
kilos said:
Pick the best one, Senao rates pretty good, compared to DLink, Cisco
(Senao almost top of the list)
Click to expand...

Dude, DLink shouldn't be on any sort of list. Where they should be, is back infront of the drawing board trying to design a wifi card that isn't a load of ****.
 
kilos said:
Netgear 54Mbps Wireless PC Card 32 Bit cardbus. (WG511GE)
http://www.pcmall.co.za/moreinfo.asp?sku=WG511GE
R 285 incl VAT

The Senao are quite nice (not cheap)
* Excellent TX power (100 mW)
* Excellent Receiver Sensitivty
-91dBm @ 1Mbps -80dBm @ 18Mbps
-89dBm @ 2Mbps -78dBm @ 24Mbps
-87dBm @ 5.5Mbps -77dBm @ 36Mbps
-86dBm @ 6Mbps -76dBm @ 48Mbps
-85dBm @ 9Mbps -73dBm @ 54Mbps
-82dBm @ 12Mbps
That means it only requires a signal strength of -91dBm to get a
1 Mb connection.
See the below site with comparative Rx Sensitivities of other
manufacturers
http://freenetworks.org/moin/index.cgi/ReceiveSensitivity

Pick the best one, Senao rates pretty good, compared to DLink, Cisco
(Senao almost top of the list)

The model they are referring is the SL2511EXT2 200mW (no antennae, uses
a MMCX connector so that you can connect your external Grid antennaes)
MMCX connector housing does break with removing & inserting it all the time.


http://www.miro.co.za/stage/intranet/datasheet.php?id=4

Plenty of data on the Senao PCMCIA cards
http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/SenaoCard


http://www.miro.co.za/stage/intranet/datasheet.php?id=12
Click to expand...

Senao is a killer, probably one of the best on the market but don't always believe in manufactures claims. (-91dbm @ 1Mbps - yes maybe in their test lab with no static or interferance)
 
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