jpark
join:2005-02-05
Jackson, TN
| Recommend a good mini-pci wireless card?
I'm using a Dell Inspiron 8200. Came with a Dell Truemobile (broadcom) 1180 card. Replaced the 1180 with an Intel 2915ABG card which was a mistake -- card has multiple problems.
I'd like recommendations on mini-pci cards which have strong stable connections and WPA2 capability.
Thanks |
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Flashback1
join:2005-08-23
Mount Airy, MD | The LinksysG is a good card with WPA2. Walmart has a combo Linksys g router and PCIMCA G for $59.00. or just the card for $49.00 |
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jpark
join:2005-02-05
Jackson, TN | Thanks. But looking for mini-pci (internal), not cardbus, etc. |
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No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC | reply to jpark
The Atheros chipset gets pretty high marks. Some choices here: »www.netgate.com/index.php?cPath=26_34 |
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jpark
join:2005-02-05
Jackson, TN | Thanks. Netgate has some good prices on Atheros products. I was leaning toward them. |
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Flashback1
join:2005-08-23
Mount Airy, MD
| Posted by Dan in intel 2200 BG problems
After much pain and anguish with two IBM T42 laptops that used the 2200BG wireless card... and after trying what seemed like countless drivers and different configurations... I told IBM that I wanted different wireless cards, even if they only supported 802.11b. IBM finally supplied two new IBM-branded 802.11a/b/g cards, and ever since the machines have had bulletproof wireless operation.
The 2200BG is just one incredibly bad POS.
Dan |
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jbibe
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-22
| said by Flashback1  :The 2200BG is just one incredibly bad POS. My experience is exactly the opposite. I have two computers with the 2200BG miniPCI card. No problems. They connect and stay connected. The gateways include the Linksys WRT54G, ZyXEL P-334WT, and ZyXEL G2000Plus. |
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jbibe
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-22
| reply to jpark
said by jpark :Thanks. Netgate has some good prices on Atheros products. I was leaning toward them. My experience with Atheros-based cards has been excellent when connecting to a Linksys WRT54G. They struggle when connecting to a ZyXEL P-334WT, which uses a TI chip set. |
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Flashback1
join:2005-08-23
Mount Airy, MD
| settle down there jbibe, I didn't say a thing about Intel the post was by Dan. All the same I have to agree with him. Look at all the posts by God. It dosen't take a rocket scientist to realize the card has some issues.
»Intel pro/wireless 2200 BG Problems. |
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JimPletcher
Premium
join:2004-04-05
Enola, PA | The Intel 2200 BG problems appear to be driver related.
With the 9.0.2.31 driver my three are rock solid.
Each is in a Thinkpad that continually has to connect to different access points (and stay connected all day). |
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jbibe
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-22
| reply to Flashback1
said by Flashback1 :settle down there jbibe, I didn't say a thing about Intel the post was by Dan. All the same I have to agree with him. Look at all the posts by God. It dosen't take a rocket scientist to realize the card has some issues. » Intel pro/wireless 2200 BG Problems. I am not getting excited. I was simply pointing out that my experience is exactly the opposite. I use a wide variety of cards. I have no preference. |
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bbarrera
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-23
Sacramento, CA
clubs: | reply to jpark
Another vote for Atheros and Netgate. If you run Linux the native Atheros drivers are an added bonus. |
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jpark
join:2005-02-05
Jackson, TN
| Thanks everyone. Sounds like I'll be buying an Atheros.
Just a note on the Intel cards. I've run every driver available, including the current one. I'm convinced that Intel is deliberately crippling the cards. Intel seems much more concerened with power saving than with performance. Though I can get a good connection by adjusting the power settings after I connect, that doesn't last -- and when the connection speed drops sufficiently (which it invariably does), though you seem to be connected -- there is no transfer of data.
I can always make the card work (with any driver Intel has published). And with each, I have had to fiddle with the connection to keep it going.
Glad some of you are happy with this peace of junk. |
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JTS33
join:2003-05-03
USA
1 edit | reply to jbibe
said by jbibe :said by Flashback1 :The 2200BG is just one incredibly bad POS. My experience is exactly the opposite. I have two computers with the 2200BG miniPCI card. No problems. They connect and stay connected. The gateways include the Linksys WRT54G, ZyXEL P-334WT, and ZyXEL G2000Plus. Same here. The 2200BG works very well for me. I got the card after the ProSet 9.0.2.1 (Driver 9.0.2.31) was already released, so if any issues were related to older drivers, I didn't get to experience them.
At any rate, the original poster is having issues with the Intel 2915ABG. I would recommend that he
1) makes sure he is using the latest drivers from the Intel website
2) Disable power management (uncheck "Use defalt value" and move the slider all the way to the right) in the Intel driver to make sure any issues aren't due to a WAP's inability to handle PSP (Power Save Polling).
If he still has no luck with his 2915ABG, getting the 2200BG would probably be adding insult to injury. Atheros would be the way to go.
EDIT: Looks like the original poster beat me to it by half a minute. 
Here is a MiniPCI card for only $20 which I *think* is based on Atheros chipset (check pictures b4 buying):
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···33158115 |
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makk
@ga.charter
| reply to jpark
another positive experience with a 2200bg here
I have seen driver issues in windows and linux and all were resolved with driver updates. I use wpa fine in both operating systems. I picked up my 2200bg from ebay new for $20. Much better and faster than the linksys wpc11 pcmcia card I was using that used to die in windows from overheating. I am using it with a dell latitude c640. Range is great too. |
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dananderson
join:2004-10-18
San Diego, CA
| reply to JTS33
My problem was with the (POS) Intel PRO 2200 bg on a Dell laptop with WPA enabled. When I would run AdAware, I get a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). I was running version 8.x of the drivers, so upgraded to 9.x (recommended for WPA). With 9.x, the 2200 wouldn't recognized any access points (the AP was still working with my other laptop). A suggested workaround was to use WEP instead of WPA, which is not acceptable for my situation.
My solution was to upgrade to Intel PRO Wireless 2915 WLAN 802.11a/b/g Mini PCI Card. This card works fine (with the 9.x drivers). No BSOD! WPA works!
Side note: Dell doesn't even offer the 2200 any longer--just it's own brand or the 2915. Too much of a support headache I guess! |
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vincentfox
join:2003-03-18
Davis, CA | reply to jpark
older laptop?
What about with older laptop like ThinkPad X22?
This thing was fitted out with B, so it'll only have the antenna for that.
Can I buy an A/B/G card and just leave the A connectors empty? |
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alg
Just a shot away
Premium
join:2001-04-10
Houston, TX
clubs:
 ·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| reply to jpark
Re: Recommend a good mini-pci wireless card?
Another +1 for the 2200B/G, but... I am connecting it through a Netgear WGR614v4 router; a router that just about everyone who has ever used it claims they want to take a 12 gauge shotgun to.
So in summary, I am using an (allegedly) crappy client card with an (allegedly) crappy router, yet I get strong connections at 54 all the time. And not just on my router, I can report similar success on public networks.
As for my driver config, I inserted the CD, went to device manager, let it scan the drivers off the CD from the network device entry on device manager, and that was it. I did not install any of the connection software - ONLY the minimum drivers to provide card functionality. For the connection aspect, I am using XP's WZC with WPA encryption from the router.
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5 December 1791 |
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