Newbie Q: Recommendations for wireless card w/Kismac?

bezoar · 10-31-2004

Looking for recommendations for a wireless PMCIA or USB card, that will allow passive listening using, for example, Kismac. Hoping to incur minimal costs, because this is just for hobbyist curiosity and learning.

I'm running Mac OS X v10.3.5 on a Powerbook 1.5 Ghz Aluminum G4 (which has an Airport Extreme card built-in).

I've read about the D-Link DWL-122 802.11b 11 Mbps USB Adapter, but have run across scattered posts that it has problems with 10.3.5 Panther.

If you have suggestions, could you also include a detailed name, and/or a link to a reputable place to buy? On the Kismac site, they had a list of supported cards, but frequently, I couldn't figure out what specifically qualilfied as "Orinoco Gold", or whether it was still available.

Thanks in advance for helping out a noob!

Madhadder · 10-31-2004

Lucent "Classic Gold".... "Non-Dorkafied" cards only....

bezoar · 11-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madhadder

Lucent "Classic Gold".... "Non-Dorkafied" cards only....

Hmm, web search pulls up multiple hits / multiple editions / changed manufacturers. "Non-dorkafied" is probably meaningful to other people here, but as a newbie, I'm not sure what I'm trying to avoid...

Anyone able to clarify, or suggest other cards confirmed to work with 10.3.5 and Kismac, and still available retail?

TIA

wrzwaldo · 11-01-2004

Search = "Dork"

Results = 38

Other search options available.

bezoar · 11-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

Search = "Dork"

Results = 38

Other search options available.

Ahh, all becomes clear... The (few) threads I had read referred to the Dork as the Businessman... Will try to do better searches next time before I post.

lechel · 11-14-2004

Did yoy manage to find a wireless etc, I'm also a newbe and running a very similar system to yours. Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers

L

bezoar · 11-14-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by lechel

Did yoy manage to find a wireless etc, I'm also a newbe and running a very similar system to yours. Any info would be appreciated.

Actually, yes. In the end, I happened to be in Best Buy where they had a D-Link DWL-122, which is USB-connected and runs the Prism2 chipset and which I've heard works with Kismac in passive mode (see http://binaervarianz.de/projekte/pro...p?order=vendor). What convinced me to get it was:

1) they mislabelled the price $15 (which should have been $40 with a $10 rebate), and

2) I'm just a hobbyist trying to educate myself, and didn't need a "real" Orinoco classic gold PC card with external antenna connection, and

3) there is still some confusion (to me) of which Orinoco is dorkafied, and which not. On threads in this forum I read that the correct product is WD-8410 and with the square end-housing (with antenna connector). Yet, the lowest price I could find, at http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?edc=503935, there is a product labelled 8410-WD, yet has the dork and the rounded housing. I didn't want to risk it, and so got the $15 DWL-122. Other people here have purchased from emicrox (http://www.emicrox.com/eShop/Product...d=7&pid=844654), but although the page still exists, you can't add it to your cart.

Haven't really played around with the DWL-122 too much yet, but it definitely works with passive mode in Kismac.

Hope things work out with you -- if you do manage to find a good online source of the Orinoco classic gold, could you post here? I may want to get one in the end anyhow.

mikedc1760 · 11-14-2004

If I were too buy that USB adapter, would I get a better signal than my airport extreme card?
Thanks

bezoar · 11-14-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikedc1760

If I were too buy that USB adapter, would I get a better signal than my airport extreme card?
Thanks

I am a newbie -- no expert at wireless networking of any sort. But I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish? Better range for passive scanning? Better range for 802.11b or 802.11g network use?

- the DWL122 USB adapter is 802.11b only -- not 802.11g capable.
- the airport extreme card is capable of only active scanning, not passive
- neither works with external antennas

mikedc1760 · 11-14-2004

I also found this one from Netgear:
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php
They also have a B model also

Deoje · 11-16-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by bezoar

if you do manage to find a good online source of the Orinoco classic gold, could you post here?

Ebay

dirgotronix · 11-16-2004

Search eBay for "Dell Truemobile 1150" if you're looking for a cheap orinoco gold. The 1150 is a rebranded gold, and generally half the price (I got mine $40, shipped, with buy it now.)

Right now I'm using a 200mW prism 2.5 chipset card in my tibook. I got it from a friend who picked it up at Defcon 10, but you can get them online for ~$140 by searching google for "long range 200mW pcmcia 802.11B" no doubt. Even without an external antenna hooked up, it still picks up more AP's than the airport in my tibook. (note: the card I have has a triangular green LED on the antenna portion, on a blueish half inch long extension of the card with two external jacks. This is not the card that has the removable antenna and is normally flush with the laptop.

Currently, I'm aiming for this guy: 300mW card

As well as a 15db 60" whip for my truck. FCC regulations, eat your heart out.

King_Ice_Flash · 11-16-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirgotronix

Search eBay for "Dell Truemobile 1150" if you're looking for a cheap orinoco gold. The 1150 is a rebranded gold, and generally half the price (I got mine $40, shipped, with buy it now.)

I hope that you can get them cheeper than this. I got mine new for $14. Look at the orinoco pictures page for more similar models.

RedSector · 11-27-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirgotronix

Search eBay for "Dell Truemobile 1150" if you're looking for a cheap orinoco gold. The 1150 is a rebranded gold, and generally half the price (I got mine $40, shipped, with buy it now.)

Right now I'm using a 200mW prism 2.5 chipset card in my tibook. I got it from a friend who picked it up at Defcon 10, but you can get them online for ~$140 by searching google for "long range 200mW pcmcia 802.11B" no doubt. Even without an external antenna hooked up, it still picks up more AP's than the airport in my tibook. (note: the card I have has a triangular green LED on the antenna portion, on a blueish half inch long extension of the card with two external jacks. This is not the card that has the removable antenna and is normally flush with the laptop.

Currently, I'm aiming for this guy: 300mW card

As well as a 15db 60" whip for my truck. FCC regulations, eat your heart out.

Your 200mW card is proably the same one I have (Though i have the intigrated antenna version and can be found at netgate.com for ~65 bucks) the Senao/EnGenius NL-2511 CD Plus EXT2. Its a great card. Though the Demarc 300mW card has this warning

"**Cards are only to be used for OEM applications, not for use with laptops."

I read an post of an email somewhere that bad for your health, The Demarc card only has a 1.8dBm advantage over the Senao, and for $160 Id think you could get that much from a better antenna and have some change to spare.

Agusta · 04-15-2005

Have you guys seen this card?
clicky.
It looks the same as the Demarc card, but for $50 less. Can prism 2.5 re-inject packets?

10-31-2004	#1 (permalink)
bezoar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5	Newbie Q: Recommendations for wireless card w/Kismac? Looking for recommendations for a wireless PMCIA or USB card, that will allow passive listening using, for example, Kismac. Hoping to incur minimal costs, because this is just for hobbyist curiosity and learning. I'm running Mac OS X v10.3.5 on a Powerbook 1.5 Ghz Aluminum G4 (which has an Airport Extreme card built-in). I've read about the D-Link DWL-122 802.11b 11 Mbps USB Adapter, but have run across scattered posts that it has problems with 10.3.5 Panther. If you have suggestions, could you also include a detailed name, and/or a link to a reputable place to buy? On the Kismac site, they had a list of supported cards, but frequently, I couldn't figure out what specifically qualilfied as "Orinoco Gold", or whether it was still available. Thanks in advance for helping out a noob! Last edited by bezoar : 10-31-2004 at 04:46 AM. Reason: clarity of title

10-31-2004	#2 (permalink)
Madhadder General "Noob Basher" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 1,620	Lucent "Classic Gold".... "Non-Dorkafied" cards only.... __________________ Legends may sleep, but they never die!!!!

11-14-2004	#6 (permalink)
lechel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2	Did yoy manage to find a wireless etc, I'm also a newbe and running a very similar system to yours. Any info would be appreciated. Cheers L Last edited by lechel : 11-14-2004 at 03:06 AM.

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11-01-2004	#4 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	Search = "Dork" Results = 38 Other search options available.

11-14-2004	#8 (permalink)
mikedc1760 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 16	If I were too buy that USB adapter, would I get a better signal than my airport extreme card? Thanks

11-14-2004	#10 (permalink)
mikedc1760 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 16	I also found this one from Netgear: http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WG111.php They also have a B model also

11-16-2004	#12 (permalink)
dirgotronix Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: lakewood. co Posts: 9	Search eBay for "Dell Truemobile 1150" if you're looking for a cheap orinoco gold. The 1150 is a rebranded gold, and generally half the price (I got mine $40, shipped, with buy it now.) Right now I'm using a 200mW prism 2.5 chipset card in my tibook. I got it from a friend who picked it up at Defcon 10, but you can get them online for ~$140 by searching google for "long range 200mW pcmcia 802.11B" no doubt. Even without an external antenna hooked up, it still picks up more AP's than the airport in my tibook. (note: the card I have has a triangular green LED on the antenna portion, on a blueish half inch long extension of the card with two external jacks. This is not the card that has the removable antenna and is normally flush with the laptop. Currently, I'm aiming for this guy: 300mW card As well as a 15db 60" whip for my truck. FCC regulations, eat your heart out.

04-15-2005	#15 (permalink)
Agusta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 16	Have you guys seen this card? clicky. It looks the same as the Demarc card, but for $50 less. Can prism 2.5 re-inject packets?