Longest range [Laptop wireless card] ?

hi,

i am building [buying] a laptop computer,
and i want the longest Range wireless card i can get
i'm currently looking at the Compaq/HP laptops

i'm a novice, so what do look for,
in the way of a good laptop wireless adapter/card
[is one brand better, for example] ?

i see this 802.11a/b/g ....which is Greek to me

and does having Bluetooth help with wireless access?

thanks
waterboy

On 13 Nov 2006 16:05:14 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>i am building [buying] a laptop computer,
>and i want the longest Range wireless card i can get
>i'm currently looking at the Compaq/HP laptops
>
>i'm a novice, so what do look for,
>in the way of a good laptop wireless adapter/card
>[is one brand better, for example] ?

The antenna matters more than the card. Better laptops have antennas
built into the screen that are better than antennas in PC Cards, so
choose a laptop with good antennas.

>i see this 802.11a/b/g ....which is Greek to me

You'll want b and g most of the time, unless you want to connect in a
business environment that uses a.

>and does having Bluetooth help with wireless access?

No. It only helps if you want Bluetooth.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

> The antenna matters more than the card. Better laptops have antennas
> built into the screen that are better than antennas in PC Cards, so
> choose a laptop with good antennas.

thanks John

how do i know it has a good antenna?
are some Brands better than others?
does higher price mean better antenna?

thanks
waterboy

On 14 Nov 2006 06:38:12 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed) .com>:

>> The antenna matters more than the card. Better laptops have antennas
>> built into the screen that are better than antennas in PC Cards, so
>> choose a laptop with good antennas.
>
>thanks John
>
>how do i know it has a good antenna?
>are some Brands better than others?
>does higher price mean better antenna?

There is considerable difference between different models and different
brands. For example, my ThinkPad T-41 gets "good" solid signal in a
location where a friend's Toshiba Satellite A60 gets only "weak" signal.
But the only guides I know of are general level of quality, and the
experiences of those that have them.

I'm personally partial to T-series ThinkPads, which have a high standard
of quality, including excellent antennas, that give me much better
performance than PC Cards with tiny built-in antennas, on the order of
25-40% more range. Some come with Intel wireless and some with Atheros
wireless. Both are very good, but I find Atheros to have a bit better
range than Intel.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

one more question getting better wireless Range

would a 17" laptop have a better/Larger built-in antenna [vs a 15"] ?


thanks
waterboy

(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:

>one more question getting better wireless Range
>
>would a 17" laptop have a better/Larger built-in antenna [vs a 15"] ?

No. There are plenty of different internal antenna designs and
styles. The better ones have two large antennas at the top of the LCD
panel. In general, the bigger the antenna, the better, but you'll
have to disassemble the laptop to check.

If you search eBay for "laptop antenna", there are an interesting
variety of antennas with photos.

There are also some losers. For example, this abomination was found
on an older Compaq 2120US laptop:
| http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/antennas...aq-2120us.html
The two antennas are mounted on the hinge which results in truely
horrible range. If you look carefully, you can also see the crushed
coax cable.

If you really want range from the internal MiniPCI card in the laptop,
and don't mind some creative wiring and possibly drilling, an external
antenna is the right answer. Obtain a u-FL pigtail to bulkhead SMA or
TNC connector, and install it somewhere on the laptop. That
disconnects the internal antennas and allows you to attach a proper
directional panel or perhaps dish antenna. This might give you some
ideas:
| http://repair4laptop.org/wireless_lan_antennae.html

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558