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    Most Powerful Wifi card under $100?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Nathand, May 2, 2008.

  1. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, I need a really powerful wifi card that supports 802.11b for my laptop. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what card is the most powerful for this price range? I also don't mind having an antenna on the card.

    Thanks for any recomendations!!
     
  2. boypogi

    boypogi Man Beast

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    intel wireless n :D
     
  3. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    Could you give a linky?
     
  4. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    just google for intel N card, it's really not that difficult.........

    but if you want an aftermarket, get the atheros N card
     
  5. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    I did google but all I can find are PCI cards?

    Here's another card that looks good: http://www.wlanparts.com/product/XI-325HPPLUS

    Is the Intel N card better then that one? Could someone provide a link to the laptop version?

    Thanks.
     
  6. X2P

    X2P COOLING | NBR Super Mod

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    Could you provide link to atheros N card please ( having trouble finding sadly 2 hours wasted )
     
  7. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    maybe this will help--> copied previous post-- also check "ebay"

     
  8. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    nobscot6 - I don't understand, the card in the first link is a mini PCI express. I thought the expansion ports on laptops were PCMCIA?
     
  9. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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  10. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

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    I assumed that you wanted to replace the internal card and I did not even check the links......

    The Express Card slot (replacing the slot known as “PC-Card” replacing the slot formerly known as “PCMCIA” ;) are the biggest standard slot on a laptop designed to handle stuff like wireless cellular modems with antenna and micro hard drives.

    D-Link has very nice N express card(DWA-643) and N notebook card(32bit cardbus slot, DWA-652). I had great luck w/ the express card in my HP and hit 300mbps w/ a dlink dir-655 router. You could expect the same w/ the notebook card IF using a good D-link N router.

    http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=532
     
  11. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    Sorry for the confusion! I don't think that card can support 802.11 b? I know it's old technology but most places still have b.
     
  12. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    If you don't need N, and just want b, then go for D-Link, go to their web site and chose, the DWL-G730AP (includes g) can work as client, router and AP. ;)
     
  13. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    That's kind of bulky though :)
     
  14. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    It measures 2"x3".


    [​IMG]
     
  15. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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  16. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    I'm really looking for a card though, you know, something I can just pop in my laptop and not have to worry about lugging around..
     
  17. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I thought you were looking for a router (portable and multi-use). Then get yourself Intel 4965AGN, very good and reliable minicard.
     
  18. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    Nope, I'm not looking for a router. What I'm looking for is not a replacement wireless card for my laptop. I want it to go in the PCMCIA port (or whatever it's called), so that I can hot swap it from laptop to laptop, if that makes sense?

    Did you see this link in my other post? That card is only for 802.11b which kind of stinks, but it's cheap and appears to be powerful at 300mw.

    What do you think?
     
  19. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    300mW is very good. b is ok, what ISP you have?
     
  20. Nathand

    Nathand Notebook Consultant

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    "what ISP you have?"

    Well, I don't. Hence the need for long range :) I'm actually hoping to use this most of the time at a local library which has fast internet if you can get right next to the router.
     
  21. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    The reason I'm asking is that you can have a powerful card but the ISP may just be 1/10 of that speed, so uselesss. With b you will get 4-11Mbps, which could be a library WiFi (I'm not sure), perhaps starbucks and even EVDO. I would go with g, so you can get at least 54Mbps and connect to some faster links in the future. Anyway most good cards do a/b/g. So see if the same brand you saw can suppport g as well, although b would be sufficient.