PCMCIA or USB?

Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering which type
of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that some PCMCIA cards
allow external antennas, so this could give me better options to get a
stronger signal.
Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's coming
in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an extension cord
to allow better placement of the USB dongle.

So, I'm not really decided on whether to get a USB over PCMCIA. Do certain
ones receive better than others?

This is going to be used pretty much for email and internet usage only. I
don't tend to stream over the network etc as I only have a small flat.

Thanks

Nick

"elyob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:kgEXd.843$(E-Mail Removed):

> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering which
> type of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that some
> PCMCIA cards allow external antennas, so this could give me better
> options to get a stronger signal.
> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's
> coming in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an
> extension cord to allow better placement of the USB dongle.


You'll want a PCMCIA card... When using a laptop you don't wnat a USB thiny
dangling around.

Is this a new laptop? Perhaps you can just buy a Mini-PCI wifi card. Or
even better, reconsider and purchase a laptop WITH wireless : )

--
Lucas Tam ((E-Mail Removed))
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

"Lucas Tam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9614693322EB4nntprogerscom@127.0.0.1...
> "elyob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:kgEXd.843$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering which
>> type of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that some
>> PCMCIA cards allow external antennas, so this could give me better
>> options to get a stronger signal.
>> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's
>> coming in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an
>> extension cord to allow better placement of the USB dongle.
>
>
> You'll want a PCMCIA card... When using a laptop you don't wnat a USB
> thiny
> dangling around.
>
> Is this a new laptop? Perhaps you can just buy a Mini-PCI wifi card. Or
> even better, reconsider and purchase a laptop WITH wireless : )

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I couldn't stretch for internal wireless,
it's a cheapy laptop (although is brand new). So, I went for better
processor and battery life. I've not really seen the mini-PCI cards .. is
that an internal card? I looked at ebuyer.co.uk and they seemed pretty
expensive compared to PCMCIA.

I don't mind the dongle dangle with USB. However, I'm just concerned of
bending bits and pieces when travelling.

Nick

elyob wrote:
> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering
> which type of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that
> some PCMCIA cards allow external antennas, so this could give me
> better options to get a stronger signal.
> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's
> coming in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an
> extension cord to allow better placement of the USB dongle.
>
> So, I'm not really decided on whether to get a USB over PCMCIA. Do
> certain ones receive better than others?
>
> This is going to be used pretty much for email and internet usage
> only. I don't tend to stream over the network etc as I only have a
> small flat.
> Thanks
>
> Nick

Consider something that does BOTH...

Here's a new toy that's perfect for both mobile and fixed use for RV'rs...
It's a Linksys WUSB54GP Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter
(http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...d=36&prid=669). The
little USB wireless dongle (2 " long) can go into a USB port on a laptop, or
when at home, can go into the device shown at that link (USB cable
connected, i.e. sit in the window for a better signal, works with the USB
extension cables, and can be 21-75 FT away tested with 21, ads say up to
75). The extension cables are cheaper at some other places, but here's a
link to 16 FT extension Cables at Best Buy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099381057741
(they are pretty prevalent, also at Office Depot/Circuit City/even Radio
Shack)

> Thanks for the info. Unfortunately I couldn't stretch for internal wireless,
> it's a cheapy laptop (although is brand new). So, I went for better
> processor and battery life. I've not really seen the mini-PCI cards .. is
> that an internal card? I looked at ebuyer.co.uk and they seemed pretty
> expensive compared to PCMCIA.
>
> I don't mind the dongle dangle with USB. However, I'm just concerned of
> bending bits and pieces when travelling.
>
> Nick
>
>

I'd go for PCMCIA, as I think there is an processing overhead with usb.
I bought a 3Com 3CRPAG175 as it has a folding antenna ("XJACK") so you
can leave it in the laptop all the time, and it doesn't stick out.
However, it's not cheap, and I've had a dissapointing experience with
3Com support recently (see my earlier post "3crwe454g72").

USB does however have the advantage that you can use an extension cable
to position the adaptor for best coverage.

"Peter Pan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> elyob wrote:
>> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering
>> which type of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that
>> some PCMCIA cards allow external antennas, so this could give me
>> better options to get a stronger signal.
>> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's
>> coming in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an
>> extension cord to allow better placement of the USB dongle.
>>
>> So, I'm not really decided on whether to get a USB over PCMCIA. Do
>> certain ones receive better than others?
>>
>> This is going to be used pretty much for email and internet usage
>> only. I don't tend to stream over the network etc as I only have a
>> small flat.
>> Thanks
>>
>> Nick
>
> Consider something that does BOTH...
>
> Here's a new toy that's perfect for both mobile and fixed use for RV'rs...
> It's a Linksys WUSB54GP Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter
> (http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...d=36&prid=669).
> The little USB wireless dongle (2 " long) can go into a USB port on a
> laptop, or when at home, can go into the device shown at that link (USB
> cable connected, i.e. sit in the window for a better signal, works with
> the USB extension cables, and can be 21-75 FT away tested with 21, ads say
> up to 75). The extension cables are cheaper at some other places, but
> here's a link to 16 FT extension Cables at Best Buy
> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099381057741
> (they are pretty prevalent, also at Office Depot/Circuit City/even Radio
> Shack)
>

It's a big bit of equipment though! What about a PCMCIA & Bluetooth in one?
Anything like that available?

"elyob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:kgEXd.843$(E-Mail Removed). ..
> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering which
type
> of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that some PCMCIA
cards
> allow external antennas, so this could give me better options to get a
> stronger signal.
> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's coming
> in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an extension
cord
> to allow better placement of the USB dongle.
>
> So, I'm not really decided on whether to get a USB over PCMCIA. Do certain
> ones receive better than others?
>
> This is going to be used pretty much for email and internet usage only. I
> don't tend to stream over the network etc as I only have a small flat.
>
> Thanks
>
> Nick

I'd go with PCMCIA. A USB piece of hardware, with a verticle antenna, would
give a better RSL than a PCMCIA card with an internal horizonal antenna, but
I doubt receive levels are going to be any problem at all in "small flat".

I'm in a three-story (four, if you count the refinished basement) home and
have no problems using a laptop with a PCMCIA wireless card in most of my
house. This is even with 802.11a (5 Ghz), which has less range than
802.11g/b (2.4 Ghz). My routers and AP's are located on the middle floor.
The top floor was getting a low signal strength, but I've since added a
repeater. (Low signal strength on top floor was just for 802.11a.
802.11g/b was well operational before adding a repeater.)

The main reason for PCMCIA is simply convienence. Lugging around additional
hardware with a laptop, at least for me, is a major PITA. Only thing I want
to lug around with a laptop is the power adapter and an optical USB mouse.

Never had any problems with the PCMCIA card while using public (mainly,
hotels) hot spots. Works just fine. The PCMCIA card sticks out about an
inch, but the laptop fits nicely in the laptop bag without having to remove
the card.

Cheers,
-Eric

"elyob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:jKEXd.857$(E-Mail Removed):

> So, I went for better
> processor and battery life. I've not really seen the mini-PCI cards ..
> is that an internal card? I looked at ebuyer.co.uk and they seemed
> pretty expensive compared to PCMCIA.

I think you can get Mini-PCI (802.11b) cards for ~20USD... of course your
laptop will have to support the card (i.e. have a built in antenna). Does
another variant of your laptop have an internal wireless card? If it does,
there is a good chance your laptop will have the built in antenna.

BTW, which laptop are you going to purchase?


> I don't mind the dongle dangle with USB. However, I'm just concerned
> of bending bits and pieces when travelling.

Exactly - I find it's a hassle having loose parts dangling around
especially if you move around a lot.


--
Lucas Tam ((E-Mail Removed))
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

Eric <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I'd go with PCMCIA. A USB piece of hardware, with a verticle antenna, would
> give a better RSL than a PCMCIA card with an internal horizonal antenna, but
> I doubt receive levels are going to be any problem at all in "small flat".

I have a Netgear WG511 in the laptop, and a DWL-122 USB mini-dongle in the
laptop bag. I use the DWL on someone else's computer for an ad-hoc
connection in an environment where there is normally no network. I could
use it for an "external" antenna on the laptop if I needed it. It only
cost $9.99, and the G cards are around $19.99, so... one of each.

I don't think any of the commodity "g" cards have external antenna
connections. I'd rather carry the USB than an extra antenna.

> Never had any problems with the PCMCIA card while using public (mainly,
> hotels) hot spots. Works just fine. The PCMCIA card sticks out about an
> inch, but the laptop fits nicely in the laptop bag without having to remove
> the card.

I don't remove my card at all. I bonked it into the wall today crawling
behind some racks, but I haven't had any other traumatic events with it.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

elyob wrote:
> "Peter Pan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> elyob wrote:
>>> Getting a new laptop without built-in wireless. So, am wondering
>>> which type of card to get the strongest signal. My thoughts are that
>>> some PCMCIA cards allow external antennas, so this could give me
>>> better options to get a stronger signal.
>>> Doesn't USB need to use the processor to work out what it is that's
>>> coming in, so could add an overhead compared to PCMCIA? Could put an
>>> extension cord to allow better placement of the USB dongle.
>>>
>>> So, I'm not really decided on whether to get a USB over PCMCIA. Do
>>> certain ones receive better than others?
>>>
>>> This is going to be used pretty much for email and internet usage
>>> only. I don't tend to stream over the network etc as I only have a
>>> small flat.
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Nick
>>
>> Consider something that does BOTH...
>>
>> Here's a new toy that's perfect for both mobile and fixed use for
>> RV'rs... It's a Linksys WUSB54GP Wireless-G Portable USB Adapter
>> (http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...d=36&prid=669).
>> The little USB wireless dongle (2 " long) can go into a USB port on a
>> laptop, or when at home, can go into the device shown at that link
>> (USB cable connected, i.e. sit in the window for a better signal,
>> works with the USB extension cables, and can be 21-75 FT away tested
>> with 21, ads say up to 75). The extension cables are cheaper at some
>> other places, but here's a link to 16 FT extension Cables at Best Buy
>> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1099381057741
>> (they are pretty prevalent, also at Office Depot/Circuit City/even
>> Radio Shack)
>>
>
> It's a big bit of equipment though! What about a PCMCIA & Bluetooth
> in one? Anything like that available?

If you look at the picture, the "dongle itself" is rather small (under 2" x
3/4"), it's the cable and stand that are big. The antenna itself goes
up/down etc.

Bluetooth... forget it It's short range (like 30 ft or so)

PCMCIA/Cardbus, may/may not be useful.. Depends what you want to do. Be
aware that the large majority of cards do *not* have external antenna
connectors.. Only about 1 in 10, and that 1 is usually way more expensive.
While USB will use a very small % of the processor (usually less than 1/100
of 1%), Wifi, even at high speed g will only use maybe 2/100 of 1%... That
would leave 99.7% unused.
Most laptops with wireless built in, have an antenna built into the lid
(usually a wire around the lcd screen), and that works much much better than
the internal in pcmcia/cardbus cards (that little black plastic rectangular
part at the end of the card is the antenna).

For what it's worth, I have a few laptops here, both internal cards and USB
devices, and WiFi both here and at work, and find the cards sitting in my
junk drawer, and mostly using the USB dongles. For my use, they are more
convenient.