Usb vs Expresscard?

I am thinking about getting a D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router and the options for upgrading my Acer 5315 is to get a Wireless N adapter rather USB or Express card 54.

I had to type in wireless n expresscard in order to find any at Amazon. Which is better? How do I know it for 54 when all it says is expresscard?

 

all expresscards will fit in 54mm slots.

at any rate, why not get a mini-PCI card? most modern laptops have at least one free such slot internally.

 

I have an Acer 5315-2713 and I doubt it has one. It does have a expesscard 54 slot. This would be done down the road I would buy the router first.

 

Your Acer is a Core2 Duo based laptop.
Meaning your current WLAN card will be a miniPCIe card.
Now where it is, is another matter.
Hopefully for you on the back of the machine is a cover with the WLAN card behind it (most likely)
Failing that you may need to take the keyboard out and it could be under there (like Dell Latitudes)

To confirm that you have MiniPCIe = skinny card quite tall (a few gold pin on bottom)
MiniPCI card is relatively wide with lots of pins on the bottom.
Now if you head on over to OxfrodTec choose the right WLAN card format you will see oodles of choices for replacements.
If you go down the 11n way, you may also want to pick up another antanna while you are at it, incase you choose one with 3

Once you find the WLAN card in the laptop the rest is quite easy

 

I found it but looks like the 2 antanna connector may be solder on the card. There are 2 tiny gold connectors on the card so not really sure. I don't want to break it.

 

The gold connectors are timy little plugs.
There is a small socket they fit into on the WLAN card.
Quite easy to pull off.
Becareful putting back on to have everthing line up, and don't force it too much or things start bending.

Or you could leave it in and get a USB or PCExpress card, but you will need to disable the current one, in BIOS and/or switch.

 

Wlan Man can you recommend a card? I like it to do b/g/n depending on where I go I will be set.

 

OxfordTec have various WLAN solutions:

MiniPCIe 11n cards are here

The GigaByte AirCruiser N300 GN-WI30N-RH
Is one of my favourite cards, that does what it should and has a Vista compatable Client Utility.
It's a Ralink based card, I was quite surprised at how good these chipsets are.

USB 11n adaptors can be found here

Not tried any USB cards yet, hope to test some this month.
The SparkLAN WUBR-505
Looks real nice as it's Dual band (2.4 and 5Ghz)
And it's also Ralink based so should be very reliable.

Never used a PCExpress card of any sort.
Did used to have a PCMCIA WLAN card but there is quite a blob that sticks out of the laptop where the antenna's are.
But then again this card was a beast for finding wifi routers, it had huge range.
Pity I gave it away would have liked to have tested it again.

Hope this helps.

 

My Acer uses Mini-PCI Express cards

 

Thought it would, now it's time to decide what to get.
I've done my best above

 

I am going to get the GIGABYTE Aircruiser N300 GN-WI06N 802.11N a/b/g/n draft 2.0 miniPCI EXPRESS wireless 3T/3R - Atheros AR5008 chipset Dual Band Mini Card

I am going to buy tyco 3 piece antenna because of how the bottom door opens. I can seen breaking the WAEISO3L-S0 when openiing the door if I need to.

Thanks for the help.

 

Are you getting an external anrtenna ?
The ones from OxfordTec can just slip somewhere inside the case or hinge (if it's long enough)

Just becareful with the Atheros cards, they can cause some issues with i945 chipsets. (original Core2 Duo chipset)
I've tested a couple of those and I was lucky to get modded driver working to get past the problem.
But once working the Atheros based cards do honk along.
I did a review of the Gigabyte some time ago it over here and the SpakLAN version here and the AR9280 based here (only needs 2 aerials)

 

How come the AR9280 only have 2 aerials? I thought you needed 3 for N. I have an Atheros AR5007EG and the Intel 945 chipset.

What card would you buy if you owned the D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router? This is the router I am looking hard at cost $95 at Amazon.

 

With your setup (similar to mine) choose the SparkLAN WPEA-110N

Working fine for me, I have a review of it here