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Wireless Sager Options?

post #1 of 17
4/15/03 at 8:38am
Thread Starter 
Hi, on monday I should be able to order my beast and I had a question about the wireless options. What standards do the mini pci wireless thing handle? What about the pcmcia 802.11g card? Is that card backwards compatible with 802.11a and 802.11b? What standard is most common at BIG universities? Which is better to go with, pcmcia or mini pci?
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post #2 of 17
4/15/03 at 10:41am
I always recommend internal wireless (MiniPCI) so it's out of the way and has an antenna built in. Internal with the Sager is the -b standard which is more than enough for 99% of people out there that use it for the internet. The -g is more for people working on a LAN needing to move large files around or install off another server. It is backwards compatible with the -b which I would guess what your university uses.
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post #3 of 17
4/15/03 at 10:43am
Yes... the MiniPCI is generally a better option. It tends to have greater reception, and you have room to put other things in your PCMCIA slot. 802.11g is the wave of the future, and 802.11b is the current standard. They are both compatable with each other, but, obviously 802.11g is a better standard.

-Gumpan
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post #4 of 17
4/15/03 at 11:39am
Those considering G should read these:

http://www.tomshardware.com/network/20030310/index.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/network/20030317/index.html

At our university, we're going with dual mode A/B access points to provide high speed for the PCs and B for the iMacs. Once the problems with G are resolved, the B side of the access points will be upgraded to G.
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post #5 of 17
4/15/03 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the tips. I guess I'm going to go with the miniPCI because the technology fully works in that, as well as having the better reception and stuff. Down the road, perhaps i can buy a new miniPCI from sager supporting the 'g' standard. Thanks for all your help.
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post #6 of 17
4/15/03 at 9:33pm
I was reading this thread couse this is going to be my next purchase.

how about this:

http://www.linksys.com/splash/55ag_splash.asp

Would it solve the problem ?

Anyway...

let me see if I understand: I'm connected to with 11b or 11g.
My wife turns on the microwave or the cordless 2.4ghz phone rings....
does it mean that my connection is dead ?

???

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post #7 of 17
4/16/03 at 2:21am
Quote:
Originally posted by Ricko
I

Anyway...

let me see if I understand: I'm connected to with 11b or 11g.
My wife turns on the microwave or the cordless 2.4ghz phone rings....
does it mean that my connection is dead ?

???
no problems from my microwave or my 2.4ghz siemens cordless phone on my linksys 11b.....

-Teklock
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post #8 of 17
4/16/03 at 2:43am
I have a linksys 54G router/AP and nothing interfers with that (I connect via 802.11b, and my wife's laptop connects via 802.11g). We also have a pair of cordless headphones that use the 2.4GHz bandwidth in between us and the AP, no noticable interference!

I suppose it depends on the setup and luck, but I've had no problems with the 54G wireless AP - except it doesn't work with TiVo's Home Media Option (yet) - or that should read TiVo's HMO doesn't work with the 54G.

-myrkat
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post #9 of 17
4/18/03 at 7:39pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Adam@PCTorque
I always recommend internal wireless (MiniPCI) so it's out of the way and has an antenna built in. Internal with the Sager is the -b standard which is more than enough for 99% of people out there that use it for the internet. The -g is more for people working on a LAN needing to move large files around or install off another server. It is backwards compatible with the -b which I would guess what your university uses.
i have some questions:
1) if i order my 5670 w/o any wireless options will the machine still comes with the 802.11b antenna built in, but with the pci slot empty (of cos )? becos i'm under the impression that the antenna is there by default.

2) if i order my 5670 with the integrated minipci , will it be possible to upgrade it to to the g standard in future manually by myself? is it even possible to purchase the minipci g card in my local hardware shop?

thx
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post #10 of 17
4/19/03 at 12:15am
1) YES (to my best guess), I think the antenna is built-in no matter what - but I could be wrong.

2) IF there is ever a miniPCI version of 802.11g (once it's finalized, most likely) then I believe it is upgradable. HOWEVER, there has been discussions on this and from my recollection, end users CANNOT swap the cards, as the connections are somewhat fragile and my create warranty issues.

-myrkat
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post #11 of 17
4/19/03 at 7:39am
Quote:
Originally posted by myrkat
1) YES (to my best guess), I think the antenna is built-in no matter what - but I could be wrong.

2) IF there is ever a miniPCI version of 802.11g (once it's finalized, most likely) then I believe it is upgradable. HOWEVER, there has been discussions on this and from my recollection, end users CANNOT swap the cards, as the connections are somewhat fragile and my create warranty issues.

-myrkat
3) does that also means that once my machine comes with the -b standard minipci, i'm stuck with it, and it can't be upgraded to a -g standard when it becomes available?
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post #12 of 17
4/19/03 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally posted by genosypheus
3) does that also means that once my machine comes with the -b standard minipci, i'm stuck with it, and it can't be upgraded to a -g standard when it becomes available?
Perhaps I should have been a bit more clear... you CAN swap it out, I would imagine (hard to say w/o an actual miniPCI -g card out). However, Sager "doesn't want" end users doing it, as it is such a fragile connection that something could easily break. Therefore, it will void whatever warranty is left when one goes to do it themselves.

If your machine is out of Warranty, go for it (at your own risk).

Now, I am not sure what "fragile connection" means, as I've not removed/examined my -b car and it's connection to the antenna, but putting in a -g card will be a VERY high priority for me (again, once they're out).

-myrkat
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post #13 of 17
4/19/03 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally posted by myrkat
Perhaps I should have been a bit more clear... you CAN swap it out, I would imagine (hard to say w/o an actual miniPCI -g card out). However, Sager "doesn't want" end users doing it, as it is such a fragile connection that something could easily break. Therefore, it will void whatever warranty is left when one goes to do it themselves.

If your machine is out of Warranty, go for it (at your own risk).

Now, I am not sure what "fragile connection" means, as I've not removed/examined my -b car and it's connection to the antenna, but putting in a -g card will be a VERY high priority for me (again, once they're out).

-myrkat
thx , guess i'll get it with the -b card now.......
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post #14 of 17
4/19/03 at 6:05pm

Useful info re: minipci 802.11g

Hello all,
My first post here, after a long time lurking. I'm just about to take the plunge on a 5670, and I thought that would be my first post, but I came across some info in the Dell forums you may be interested in (my apologies if this has been posted, but I have not seen it before).

Cheap minipci solution

If the link doesn't work, just search the Inspiron forums with the above string, the thread is titled "Anybody looking for a cheap MiniPCI solution" Other links from that thread:

http://www.geocities.com/flipsoft/linksys.html

Mini-PCI Wi-Fi Adapter

Basically, these guys took apart a standard wireless PCI card (which at least in some cases is apparently just a miniPCI-to-PCI adapter) and plugged the miniPCI portion into their laptops. Anyway, hope I haven't told you guys something you knew already. Take care.
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post #15 of 17
4/19/03 at 8:12pm
Now that sounds cool! A little beyond what I want to do, personally, but hey, I love seeing improvisation like this!

Good info, Steeldoc, thanks!
-myrkat
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post #16 of 17
4/20/03 at 5:09am

Re: Useful info re: minipci 802.11g

Quote:
Originally posted by Steeldoc
Hello all,
My first post here, after a long time lurking. I'm just about to take the plunge on a 5670, and I thought that would be my first post, but I came across some info in the Dell forums you may be interested in (my apologies if this has been posted, but I have not seen it before).

Cheap minipci solution

If the link doesn't work, just search the Inspiron forums with the above string, the thread is titled "Anybody looking for a cheap MiniPCI solution" Other links from that thread:

http://www.geocities.com/flipsoft/linksys.html

Mini-PCI Wi-Fi Adapter

Basically, these guys took apart a standard wireless PCI card (which at least in some cases is apparently just a miniPCI-to-PCI adapter) and plugged the miniPCI portion into their laptops. Anyway, hope I haven't told you guys something you knew already. Take care.
put my mind to ease..........super cool! thx!
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post #17 of 17
4/20/03 at 11:21am
! Good call with the post! I also lurked, then posted first with my review, in retrospect, getting involved before the review would have been better. Looking forward to more posts and your review!

Thanks for the excellant link!
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