Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 12:25:31 +0100
From: Kapusta Gerhard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: AW: wireless pcmcia cards
Hi James!
Yes, I've done this.
I have tested the Siemens I-Gate wireless LAN and the Lucent Orinoco
wireless LAN, both in various configurations, with a Libretto and other
PC's.
My experience: Both work fine and are easy to install on a Libretto -
provided you are familiar with IP and network basics.
There are 2 basic possibilities: a so called "ad-hoc-mode", where you can
have more PC's with wireless network cards without dedicated server;
and the "access point mode", where you need a hardware piece, the access
point, to make the bridge from wireless to wired LAN.
Altough the "ad-hoc-mode" is cheaper (as a minimum you need 2 wireless
LAN-cards), I do not recommend it. It works unstable and there is only very
poor security. It is really for test purpose only.
Installation may be tricky if you try to install a wireless LAN-card into a
desktop PC with an PCMCIA-to-PCI or -ISA Adapter. Not all motherboards work
with all cards and all operating system...
Current wireless LAN's are specifed as 11 Mbit, but the real througput is
much smaller.
The Siemens I-Gate was not faster than approx. 3 Mbit and the range was poor
(but it was a first-series-product and the developers promised to make
significant enhancements...)
The Lucent Orinoco works at a real througput of 5 to 6 Mbit, wich seems to
be the maximum which is possible with this technology. Also the range of the
Lucent product is much better.
Within an office the range is not a problem, but it is nearly impossible to
make a wireless connection between 2 buildings, even with external antennas,
which increase the range.
Wireless LAN cards are availble both as 16Bit PCMCIA cards and as Cardbus
cards. Cardbus Cards are not compatible with older Librettos.
regards
Gerhard
________________________________________
Gerhard Kapusta
Email office: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Email home: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax&Voicebox: +4989-1488201115
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