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    PCMCIA or USB Wlan-card?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by psbskasd, Aug 14, 2005.

  1. psbskasd

    psbskasd Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi, I've got an Acer TravelMater 2543LM, which is a great laptop, but it doesn't have wlan, which I will be needing.

    What is the best solution for getting wlan to my laptop - USB oder PCMCIA? And furthermore, which device should I then pick? Some cost 20 EUR, some 50 EUR - with which should I go for best international performance?
     
    psbskasd, Aug 14, 2005
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  2. Spare Tire

    Spare Tire Notebook Evangelist

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    I hate dangling usb stuff. Buy the pcmcia. If you can settle for an old B instead of G, you can get a pcmcia card on ebay for around 10 bucks.
     
    Spare Tire, Aug 14, 2005
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  3. psbskasd

    psbskasd Notebook Enthusiast

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    What's the difference between B and G? Is there anything else I should think of? I've got no wlan experience at all...
     
    psbskasd, Aug 14, 2005
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  4. HumanTorch

    HumanTorch Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    get pcmcia because its soo much smaller and seems a little sturdier when plugged in...when i mean smaller i mean the exposes part
    the usb dongle can get hit and just rip out the usb port...dont run that risk

    plus u can now get wireless g and b on the internet at various places for 0-20 bucks
    i believe someone posted a free one from microcenter a few days ago
     
    HumanTorch, Aug 14, 2005
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  5. maia

    maia Notebook Enthusiast

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    PCMCIA all the way... Death to USB dongles :mad:
     
    maia, Aug 14, 2005
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  6. Anubis

    Anubis Notebook Consultant

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    Wireless B is the older standard that provides up to 11 Mbps transmission, and Wireless G is the newer standard that allows up to 54 Mbps. Although these rates do not apply to actual download speeds, just the speed of the connection between your pc and the router allowing for faster packet transmission. Wireless G is more popular than B but most cards are B/G.
     
    Anubis, Aug 14, 2005
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  7. psbskasd

    psbskasd Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks, so it'll be B and G. If that's all to take care of, I'll go for the 20 EUR thing.
     
    psbskasd, Aug 15, 2005
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  8. LucianSamosata

    LucianSamosata Notebook Enthusiast

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    It's also important to note that almost all USB adapters have power outputs of less than 60mW, due to the general awfulness of USB power limitations. Try to find a CardBus (PCMCIA is a cool acronym, I know, but it refer specifically to a 16 bit hardware bus interface. CardBus sounds dumb but it is the technically correct term for a 32 bit bus interface) card with a power output higher than 100mW. This would be an excellent place to start.

    (Have I mentioned how much I love Seattle Wireless? Their hardware comparison, is, ironically, incomparable.)
     
    LucianSamosata, Aug 15, 2005
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