Wireless Card

Hi,

Just got wireless broadband and love it. I have a Thinkpad 380D that I would like to network using wireless. However, can't see where the Netgear WG511 card fits. There is a slit on the left that it does seem to slide in but does not feel like it clicks in or something like that. Any help here would be great.

Thanks,

Col

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:32:08 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Just got wireless broadband and love it. I have a Thinkpad 380D that I would like to network using wireless.
>However, can't see where the Netgear WG511 card fits. There is a slit on the left that it does seem to slide in but does not
>feel like it clicks in or something like that. Any help here would be great.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Col

Most laptop wireless network cards (and I guess wired network cards
too) are PCMCIA class 1 cards. More recently marketing wags have
gotten into calling them PC-Cards so the box might refer to them as
that. According to the specs on the 380D, it has a PCMCIA slot, which
I guess could be described as a slit on the side. If your PCMCIA slot
is like on most laptops, it won't click. You just slide it in, and
you'll feel a slight bit of resistance as the pins engage, just before
it won't go in anymore. Just slip it in firmly without forcing it,
and it will be fine. Even if there wasn't the obvious orientation cue
from the big antenna bulge on the wireless card, the card should only
go one way, so that's not a real big worry.

The button near it should be for ejecting the card when you wish to
remove it for storage (and you definitely want to do that before
stuffing the laptop in a case). If you don't see it, don't worry.
This button should only pop out when there's actually a card in the
slot.

The specific sequence for when to install the drivers and when to
slide in the card varies by manufacturer. Some require that you have
the card in place before installing drivers. Some want you to insert
it in the middle of the installation, so you probably will still want
to read the card's install guide for that and the final configuration
details.

---------------------------------------------

MCheu

Mcheu,

Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something solid is
stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually one has a
symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol. Looks
like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot facing
each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.

Col


"MCheu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:32:08 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >Just got wireless broadband and love it. I have a Thinkpad 380D that I
would like to network using wireless.
> >However, can't see where the Netgear WG511 card fits. There is a slit on
the left that it does seem to slide in but does not
> >feel like it clicks in or something like that. Any help here would be
great.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Col
>
> Most laptop wireless network cards (and I guess wired network cards
> too) are PCMCIA class 1 cards. More recently marketing wags have
> gotten into calling them PC-Cards so the box might refer to them as
> that. According to the specs on the 380D, it has a PCMCIA slot, which
> I guess could be described as a slit on the side. If your PCMCIA slot
> is like on most laptops, it won't click. You just slide it in, and
> you'll feel a slight bit of resistance as the pins engage, just before
> it won't go in anymore. Just slip it in firmly without forcing it,
> and it will be fine. Even if there wasn't the obvious orientation cue
> from the big antenna bulge on the wireless card, the card should only
> go one way, so that's not a real big worry.
>
> The button near it should be for ejecting the card when you wish to
> remove it for storage (and you definitely want to do that before
> stuffing the laptop in a case). If you don't see it, don't worry.
> This button should only pop out when there's actually a card in the
> slot.
>
> The specific sequence for when to install the drivers and when to
> slide in the card varies by manufacturer. Some require that you have
> the card in place before installing drivers. Some want you to insert
> it in the middle of the installation, so you probably will still want
> to read the card's install guide for that and the final configuration
> details.
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> MCheu

Network Buzzard <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Mcheu,
>
> Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something solid is
> stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually one has a
> symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol. Looks
> like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot facing
> each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.
>
> Col
>
There are 2 different types of cards, PCMCIA & Cardbus. Cardbus is the
newer standard, and Cardbus slots are normally compatible with PCMCIA
cards, but the reverse is not true. If try to insert a Cardbus card
into a PCMCIA slot it won't go in all the way, which sounds like your
problem. Look up the specs for the laptop and see if they say Cardbus
or PCMCIA, and also the card itself, of course. I would expect 802.11g
cards to be Cardbus, PCMCIA is ISA bus based and hence slower, while
Cardbus is 32bit PCI.

Jerry

On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:21:17 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Mcheu,
>
>Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something solid is
>stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually one has a
>symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol. Looks
>like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot facing
>each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.
>
>Col

My web searches only turned up one mention of "ZV" in relation to the
PCMCIA slot, and it's a "Zoomed Video" enabled PCMCIA slot. It's
still a PCMCIA slot, but with the extra feature that you can hook up
some sort of webcam to it.

Not sure if that really matters, it'd still be a PCMCIA slot and
should still work.

I'm not sure what you mean by "not engaging", but the pressure
difference when the pins engage is very subtle. Most people wouldn't
notice at all, and if you're using too much force to insert the card,
you definitely wouldn't notice it.

Just so you know what I'm talking about, I've put some snap shots up
temporarily on my geocities account:

http://www.geocities.com/mpcheu/

It shows what a PCMCIA slot should look like, and what it should look
like when the card is fully inserted. The slot shouldn't engulf the
entire card, there should be a part of it that sticks out even when
it's fully inserted.


---------------------------------------------

MCheu

Looks like Jerry may have hit the nail on the head. I have also an IBM
Thinkpad A20m and it fits snugly into that. I am thinking the 380D
accommodates PCMCIA and I have a cardbus card. I had a close look on the
back of the WG511 card and it shows the PC card symbol and also the CB
(Cardbus) symbol and also a 3V symbol. Do I need to try and find a card
that
will fit? There seems to be no online help for technical specs for the
380D
lappy anywhere on the net. I have links from my web site for similar stuff
but it looks like the site that has the info is down. Hmmmph!

"MCheu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:21:17 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Mcheu,
> >
> >Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something solid
is
> >stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually one
has
a
> >symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol.
Looks
> >like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot
facing
> >each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.
> >
> >Col
>
> My web searches only turned up one mention of "ZV" in relation to the
> PCMCIA slot, and it's a "Zoomed Video" enabled PCMCIA slot. It's
> still a PCMCIA slot, but with the extra feature that you can hook up
> some sort of webcam to it.
>
> Not sure if that really matters, it'd still be a PCMCIA slot and
> should still work.
>
> I'm not sure what you mean by "not engaging", but the pressure
> difference when the pins engage is very subtle. Most people wouldn't
> notice at all, and if you're using too much force to insert the card,
> you definitely wouldn't notice it.
>
> Just so you know what I'm talking about, I've put some snap shots up
> temporarily on my geocities account:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/mpcheu/
>
> It shows what a PCMCIA slot should look like, and what it should look
> like when the card is fully inserted. The slot shouldn't engulf the
> entire card, there should be a part of it that sticks out even when
> it's fully inserted.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> MCheu


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Network Buzzard <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Looks like Jerry may have hit the nail on the head. I have also an IBM
> Thinkpad A20m and it fits snugly into that. I am thinking the 380D
> accommodates PCMCIA and I have a cardbus card. I had a close look on the
> back of the WG511 card and it shows the PC card symbol and also the CB
> (Cardbus) symbol and also a 3V symbol. Do I need to try and find a card
> that
> will fit? There seems to be no online help for technical specs for the
> 380D
> lappy anywhere on the net. I have links from my web site for similar stuff
> but it looks like the site that has the info is down. Hmmmph!
>
Yep, it's a Cardbus card. Another hint is that cardbus cards have gold
colored dimpled strip of metal at the connector end.

How old is the laptop? I would expect most laptops built in the past 5
or 6 years to be Cardbus compatible. The fact that the card won't
insert fully indicates a PCMCIA slot. The Cardbus cards have a wider
piece of plastic on the left edge of the connector end (card top
facing up, connector facing up) to prevent insertion into PCMCIA only
slots.

Maybe an 802.11b card would be PCMCIA, due to limitations in the
transfer rate for PCMCIA (since it's similiar to the old ISA bus) g
cards tend to be Cardbus.


> "MCheu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:21:17 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > >Mcheu,
> > >
> > >Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something solid
> is
> > >stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually one
> has
> a
> > >symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol.
> Looks
> > >like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot
> facing
> > >each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.
> > >
> > >Col
> >
> > My web searches only turned up one mention of "ZV" in relation to the
> > PCMCIA slot, and it's a "Zoomed Video" enabled PCMCIA slot. It's
> > still a PCMCIA slot, but with the extra feature that you can hook up
> > some sort of webcam to it.
> >
> > Not sure if that really matters, it'd still be a PCMCIA slot and
> > should still work.

PCMCIA is not the same as Cardbus.

> >
> > I'm not sure what you mean by "not engaging", but the pressure
> > difference when the pins engage is very subtle. Most people wouldn't
> > notice at all, and if you're using too much force to insert the card,
> > you definitely wouldn't notice it.
> >
> > Just so you know what I'm talking about, I've put some snap shots up
> > temporarily on my geocities account:
> >
> > http://www.geocities.com/mpcheu/
> >
> > It shows what a PCMCIA slot should look like, and what it should look
> > like when the card is fully inserted. The slot shouldn't engulf the
> > entire card, there should be a part of it that sticks out even when
> > it's fully inserted.
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------
> >
> > MCheu
>
>
> --
> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
> It has removed 123 spam emails to date.
> Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
> Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now!
>
>

Yep. It has the dimples. I asked a local supplier if they can swap one for
this one and they said they will if the cost is the same.

Thanks for all you help.

Col


"Jerry Peters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:EBz9e.96089$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Network Buzzard <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > Looks like Jerry may have hit the nail on the head. I have also an IBM
> > Thinkpad A20m and it fits snugly into that. I am thinking the 380D
> > accommodates PCMCIA and I have a cardbus card. I had a close look on
the
> > back of the WG511 card and it shows the PC card symbol and also the CB
> > (Cardbus) symbol and also a 3V symbol. Do I need to try and find a
card
> > that
> > will fit? There seems to be no online help for technical specs for the
> > 380D
> > lappy anywhere on the net. I have links from my web site for similar
stuff
> > but it looks like the site that has the info is down. Hmmmph!
> >
> Yep, it's a Cardbus card. Another hint is that cardbus cards have gold
> colored dimpled strip of metal at the connector end.
>
> How old is the laptop? I would expect most laptops built in the past 5
> or 6 years to be Cardbus compatible. The fact that the card won't
> insert fully indicates a PCMCIA slot. The Cardbus cards have a wider
> piece of plastic on the left edge of the connector end (card top
> facing up, connector facing up) to prevent insertion into PCMCIA only
> slots.
>
> Maybe an 802.11b card would be PCMCIA, due to limitations in the
> transfer rate for PCMCIA (since it's similiar to the old ISA bus) g
> cards tend to be Cardbus.
>
>
> > "MCheu" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:21:17 GMT, "Network Buzzard"
> > > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > >
> > > >Mcheu,
> > > >
> > > >Tried slipping it in but still not engaging. Feels like something
solid
> > is
> > > >stopping it from going any further. There are two slots actually
one

> > has
> > a
> > > >symbol next it "ZV" in a skewed rectangle and the other no symbol.
> > Looks
> > > >like there is a small metal thing, sort of like a hook in each slot
> > facing
> > > >each other. the hook where it bends is ata right angle.
> > > >
> > > >Col
> > >
> > > My web searches only turned up one mention of "ZV" in relation to
the
> > > PCMCIA slot, and it's a "Zoomed Video" enabled PCMCIA slot. It's
> > > still a PCMCIA slot, but with the extra feature that you can hook up
> > > some sort of webcam to it.
> > >
> > > Not sure if that really matters, it'd still be a PCMCIA slot and
> > > should still work.
>
> PCMCIA is not the same as Cardbus.
>
> > >
> > > I'm not sure what you mean by "not engaging", but the pressure
> > > difference when the pins engage is very subtle. Most people
wouldn't
> > > notice at all, and if you're using too much force to insert the
card,
> > > you definitely wouldn't notice it.
> > >
> > > Just so you know what I'm talking about, I've put some snap shots up
> > > temporarily on my geocities account:
> > >
> > > http://www.geocities.com/mpcheu/
> > >
> > > It shows what a PCMCIA slot should look like, and what it should
look
> > > like when the card is fully inserted. The slot shouldn't engulf the
> > > entire card, there should be a part of it that sticks out even when
> > > it's fully inserted.
> > >
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > MCheu
> >
> >
> > --
> > I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
> > It has removed 123 spam emails to date.
> > Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
> > Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now!
> >
> >


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