The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Buying Atheros card

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by ikovac, Nov 27, 2005.

  1. ikovac

    ikovac Cooler and faster... NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    872
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    :( After doing all possible things (and I had some success) in order to get stable connection with my i2915 (a/b/g) card I decided to try an atheros solution. I found TP-Link TL-WN660G (b/g) for around 25 USD. Now Google doesn't find much on that card. I presume it is atheros 5005GS client with 2413/2414 chip? It is cheaper than any Intel card I can find (30-40 USD). :)

    Now in your experience (and opinion), is EVERY (TP-Link???) atheros based card worth buying/trying? TP-Link is on the "Atheros Industry Leading Customers" partners list. I guess that is good.

    Do you know anyone that is not satisfied with an Atheros based card? Technical paper is one thing, but firsthand experience is what I need. For example, will the wireless button work? Are there any drawbacks, problems in a long run? Drivers, firmware OK?
    Thanks in advance!

    ....
    Err, while I was typing this post I lost network connection (twice). I guess that is it. Atheros it is.
     
    ikovac, Nov 27, 2005
    #1
  2. Shampoo

    Shampoo Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    208
    Messages:
    1,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    LOL, dropped twice while typing this? jeeeeeeez I feel for yah. By all means go for the Atheros as I have heard nothing bad about it other than more power consumption for the older models.

    I was thinking about making the switch as well. Let us know how it works out~!!! Maybe a mini review?

    Cheers,
    Mike
     
    Shampoo, Nov 28, 2005
    #2
  3. ikovac

    ikovac Cooler and faster... NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    872
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Sorry for a small delay Mike, but...

    TP card I wanted to buy at a local store is unfortunately unavailable for some time (and yes their database showed it was in stock), so I decided to wait for a while. The decision is also supported by a fact that my Intel 2915 started to loose connection once per day (only)! What an improvement. (Maybe my poor Intel card realized that it was going to be fired ;) )

    Atheros is still on (maybe I find some other manufacturer), and I will do a small review once I plug it in.
     
    ikovac, Nov 30, 2005
    #3
  4. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,319
    Messages:
    14,119
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Atheros is only the chipset, Mines is a Gigabyte Atheros 5005 card.

    This foreign card will disable the switch, my WiFi light doesn't turn on neither, neither does Fn+F2, or the WiFi hotkey.

    Doesn't matter to me much though.
     
    coriolis, Nov 30, 2005
    #4
  5. ikovac

    ikovac Cooler and faster... NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    872
    Messages:
    1,637
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hi coriolis,
    You're right, I was just referencing to the TP link card I wanted to buy with (I hope) 5005 chipset.

    So you use switch from driver right? I must admit I don't care much either as long as it works as it should.
    Thanks for the info.
     
    ikovac, Nov 30, 2005
    #5
  6. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,319
    Messages:
    14,119
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    Well, Gigabyte provided a program and I use that, the only way to disable my WiFi is to disable it through that. But I usually leave the card on, because it barely drains any battery, I get 4~ hours with WiFi on, 3hours 52~ mins with it off.
     
    coriolis, Nov 30, 2005
    #6