Problems w/dropouts using Belkin F5D6020 PCMCIA card

I recently purchased a LinkSys router and Belkin wireless notebook adapter
card F5D6020. I have problems without dropout and lost connections and was
wondering if the Belkin model was a lower-powered version (I could not find
the power rating on their site).

Actually, I have several questions about the Belkin card specifically and
wireless networking in general:

1) Belkin card gets pretty warm after being used a while, is this normal?

2) What would be a good mW rating card to buy as a replacement for the
notebook adatper card (prefer PCMCIA)?

3) My LinkSys router's antennas (I bought the 5db replacements at Radio
Shack) are typically standing straight up, so vertical polarization. The
laptop's PCMCIA card is (I;m assuming) horizontally polarized. The other
PC's in the house have PCI cards so are vertically polarized. Would moving
on of the router's antennas to a horizontal position be of any benefit?
Limited testing shows no.

4) Is the Belkin card good the public-accessibly 802.11b access, such in
libraries, hotels, airports, etc.? Is different hardware or software needed
top access?

Sorry for all the questions.....

http://linux.junsun.net/intersil-prism

Flash as high as your card allows and your problems should go away.
The firmware from the lastest belkin drivers suck and actually broke
my card. Flashing to 1.7.1 fixed it.

Hope that helps

Alex

"DesignGuy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:<tEUub.252639$Fm2.261938@attbi_s04>...
> I recently purchased a LinkSys router and Belkin wireless notebook adapter
> card F5D6020. I have problems without dropout and lost connections and was
> wondering if the Belkin model was a lower-powered version (I could not find
> the power rating on their site).
>
> Actually, I have several questions about the Belkin card specifically and
> wireless networking in general:
>
> 1) Belkin card gets pretty warm after being used a while, is this normal?
>
> 2) What would be a good mW rating card to buy as a replacement for the
> notebook adatper card (prefer PCMCIA)?
>
> 3) My LinkSys router's antennas (I bought the 5db replacements at Radio
> Shack) are typically standing straight up, so vertical polarization. The
> laptop's PCMCIA card is (I;m assuming) horizontally polarized. The other
> PC's in the house have PCI cards so are vertically polarized. Would moving
> on of the router's antennas to a horizontal position be of any benefit?
> Limited testing shows no.
>
> 4) Is the Belkin card good the public-accessibly 802.11b access, such in
> libraries, hotels, airports, etc.? Is different hardware or software needed
> top access?
>
> Sorry for all the questions.....