desktop wireless: PCI vs USB - which is better?

I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.

interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".

seems to me the USB might be better because the antenna is located
outside the box.

I'd prefer the PCI solution to keep the desktop clear, but don't want
to sacrifice range.

Comments?

tia - Bob

Bob wrote:

> I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
>
> interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
> a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
>
> seems to me the USB might be better because the antenna is located
> outside the box.
>
> I'd prefer the PCI solution to keep the desktop clear, but don't want
> to sacrifice range.

Depending on the card you choose, a PCI (often PCMCIA in adapter) card can
have an external antenna. You can also get an external ethernet bridge,
that you can put anywhere you can reach with CAT 5.


--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

That's exactly the trade-off: saving a USB port & desk space, versus the
advantage of being able to move the antenna around (assuming a USB lead,
rather than dongle). All the PCI cards I've seen have an antenna which is
on the outside of the box, so if range isn't likely to be marginal, that
might be a good option. Otherwise, you may have to suck it and see!

Of course, an alternative would be an Access Point (wired via crossover
cable to your PC if their isn't already a wired network). You could put
that where you like (subject to cable) and most (?) have twin aerials which
extend range and minimise black spots.


--
######################
## PH, London ##
######################


Bob wrote:
> I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
>
> interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
> a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
>
> seems to me the USB might be better because the antenna is located
> outside the box.
>
> I'd prefer the PCI solution to keep the desktop clear, but don't want
> to sacrifice range.
>
> Comments?
>
> tia - Bob

much thanks to both James & Phillip!

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:24:29 +0000 (UTC), "Philip Herlihy"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>That's exactly the trade-off: saving a USB port & desk space, versus the
>advantage of being able to move the antenna around (assuming a USB lead,
>rather than dongle). All the PCI cards I've seen have an antenna which is
>on the outside of the box, so if range isn't likely to be marginal, that
>might be a good option. Otherwise, you may have to suck it and see!
>
>Of course, an alternative would be an Access Point (wired via crossover
>cable to your PC if their isn't already a wired network). You could put
>that where you like (subject to cable) and most (?) have twin aerials which
>extend range and minimise black spots.

Bob <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
>
>interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
>a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
>
>seems to me the USB might be better because the antenna is located
>outside the box.
>
>I'd prefer the PCI solution to keep the desktop clear, but don't want
>to sacrifice range.

Neither of the above. If your PC is reasonably current, it should have an
Ethernet port. If not, you can add one for $10.

Then buy a standalone AP, like the Dlink DWL-G810. Comes with a removeable
antenna. If you can't place the DWL box to get good reception, you can add an
inexpensive external antenna.

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 10:20:19 -0700, "Clark W. Griswold, Jr." <73115
dot 1041 at compuserve dot com> wrote:

>Bob <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
>>
>>interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
>>a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
>>


>
>Neither of the above. If your PC is reasonably current, it should have an
>Ethernet port. If not, you can add one for $10.
>

Seconded. No messing about with drivers and configurations, conflicts
etc.

--
Niall

But that doesn't answer his question! What if the Desktop PC is too far
from the router (like in my house).

To answer your actual question, a PCI card is inherently better, because
there is less processor overhead than with USB. If you must use USB, then
you want a G USB model that uses USB2 -- which means your machine must have
USB2.

Another approach is the Linksys WET54 if you have a 10/100 port on your
machine.

Tom
"Niall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 10:20:19 -0700, "Clark W. Griswold, Jr." <73115
> dot 1041 at compuserve dot com> wrote:
>
> >Bob <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >>I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
> >>
> >>interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
> >>a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
> >>
>
>
> >
> >Neither of the above. If your PC is reasonably current, it should have an
> >Ethernet port. If not, you can add one for $10.
> >
>
> Seconded. No messing about with drivers and configurations, conflicts
> etc.
>
> --
> Niall

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:00:11 -0500, "Tom Scales" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:


>
>Tom
>"Niall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 10:20:19 -0700, "Clark W. Griswold, Jr." <73115
>> dot 1041 at compuserve dot com> wrote:
>>
>> >Bob <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >
>> >>I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
>> >>
>> >>interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
>> >>a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
>> >>
>>
>>
>> >
>> >Neither of the above. If your PC is reasonably current, it should have an
>> >Ethernet port. If not, you can add one for $10.
>> >
>>
>> Seconded. No messing about with drivers and configurations, conflicts
>> etc.
>>
>>
>But that doesn't answer his question! What if the Desktop PC is too far
>from the router (like in my house).
>
>To answer your actual question, a PCI card is inherently better, because
>there is less processor overhead than with USB. If you must use USB, then
>you want a G USB model that uses USB2 -- which means your machine must have
>USB2.
>
>Another approach is the Linksys WET54 if you have a 10/100 port on your
>machine.

As far as we know, he doesn't *have* a router, or a network for that
matter. The answer to his question was "none of the above".

The answer to *your* question is "get a cheap hub or a second ethernet
card."

And BTW, top post if you must, but when you come into a properly
formatted thread well down the line, and everybody else is bottom
posting, how about compromising in the interests of not completely
farking up the sense of the thing?

--
Niall

Bottom posting is for people that live in the past.

People in this millenium understand that top posting is so much easier to
read.

You're right, we don't know he has a router, but it is certainly more likely
that he has, or will have a router than that he has a single machine in his
house that he wants to have wireless to connect to....uh what?

Tom
P.S. Go re-read the RFC. Bottom-posting is a 'guideline', not a rule, and I
am fairly sure neither you nor Al Gore invented the internet and I don't
think anyone appointed you NEWSGROUP POLICEMAN.


"Niall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3enxP+w+(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:00:11 -0500, "Tom Scales" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Tom
> >"Niall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 10:20:19 -0700, "Clark W. Griswold, Jr." <73115
> >> dot 1041 at compuserve dot com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Bob <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>I need to install a wifi (802.11g) device in my desktop pc.
> >> >>
> >> >>interested in opinions on which architecture is better;
> >> >>a PCI card, or a USB "dongle".
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> >Neither of the above. If your PC is reasonably current, it should have
an
> >> >Ethernet port. If not, you can add one for $10.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Seconded. No messing about with drivers and configurations, conflicts
> >> etc.
> >>
> >>
> >But that doesn't answer his question! What if the Desktop PC is too far
> >from the router (like in my house).
> >
> >To answer your actual question, a PCI card is inherently better, because
> >there is less processor overhead than with USB. If you must use USB,
then
> >you want a G USB model that uses USB2 -- which means your machine must
have
> >USB2.
> >
> >Another approach is the Linksys WET54 if you have a 10/100 port on your
> >machine.
>
> As far as we know, he doesn't *have* a router, or a network for that
> matter. The answer to his question was "none of the above".
>
> The answer to *your* question is "get a cheap hub or a second ethernet
> card."
>
> And BTW, top post if you must, but when you come into a properly
> formatted thread well down the line, and everybody else is bottom
> posting, how about compromising in the interests of not completely
> farking up the sense of the thing?
>
> --
> Niall

"Tom Scales" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Bottom posting is for people that live in the past.

Ah, yes... Then you would be one of the F*&^ IT, I'll do what I like now
generation, then?