Demarc Reliawave™ 802.11b 300mW High Power Wireless PC Card - Prism 2.5: Experience

TaoWanderer · 08-29-2005

After a lot of research of trying to find the highest powered most sensitive wifi card, it seems to be Demarc Reliawave™ 802.11b 300mW High Power Wireless PC Card - Prism 2.5.

http://freenetworks.org/moin/index.c...iveSensitivity

However, there is that tiny little warning: **Cards are only to be used for OEM applications, not for use with laptops.

I call Demarc and talked to the man who knows what's up there, Tony. He said the reason for this warning is because thier main customers are big accounts creating big outdoor networks and in a laptop it will get hotand wear down your battery faster than usual. He said the health risks are none. He did say that a lot of people were purchasing them for use in a laptops and that it is possible to do if one is careful. He said the heat would not fry any of the internal components. He said there would be no support if calling for help and you tell them that you put it in a laptop.

I wish to create a setup with the longest range possible and was wondering if anyone has had experience putting this card into a laptop. Was the heat or battery life a critical issue? Was it compatible with NetStumbler? What kind of range did you experience? Do you recommend this card or is there a better option?

Thank you for your help and advice.

wrzwaldo · 08-29-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaoWanderer

After a lot of research of trying to find the highest powered most sensitive wifi card, it seems to be Demarc Reliawave™ 802.11b 300mW High Power Wireless PC Card - Prism 2.5.

http://freenetworks.org/moin/index.c...iveSensitivity

However, there is that tiny little warning: **Cards are only to be used for OEM applications, not for use with laptops.

I call Demarc and talked to the man who knows what's up there, Tony. He said the reason for this warning is because thier main customers are big accounts creating big outdoor networks and in a laptop it will get hotand wear down your battery faster than usual. He said the health risks are none. He did say that a lot of people were purchasing them for use in a laptops and that it is possible to do if one is careful. He said the heat would not fry any of the internal components. He said there would be no support if calling for help and you tell them that you put it in a laptop.

I wish to create a setup with the longest range possible and was wondering if anyone has had experience putting this card into a laptop. Was the heat or battery life a critical issue? Was it compatible with NetStumbler? What kind of range did you experience? Do you recommend this card or is there a better option?

Thank you for your help and advice.

You do realize that the distant end would also need about the same power for a reliable link?

http://www.stumbler.net/readme/readme_0_4_0.html

TaoWanderer · 08-29-2005

Yes, clearly the link would be greatly extended if the other end was high powered as well, but wouldn't the greater sensitivity of the card extend the range of any link vs. a lower powered card?

wrzwaldo · 08-29-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaoWanderer

Yes, clearly the link would be greatly extended if the other end was high powered as well, but wouldn't the greater sensitivity of the card extend the range of any link vs. a lower powered card?

That all depends on a bunch of things.

Roy_M · 08-30-2005

Did you know they also make 400mw versions.

http://www.demarctech.com/products/r...m?Telid=demarc

in my opinion one of the PCI based cards in a normal PC would be better. More Milliwatts of power, and probably more consistant power from a bigger PSU.

For a long range link the antenna is more important than the amount of mW the card runs at. Also, remember that there are FCC regulations about maximum output. Be sure to look at what the regulations are for your country.

Otherwise Ive heard good things about demarc cards. I´m thinking of getting one myself.

wrzwaldo · 08-30-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy_M

Did you know they also make 400mw versions.

http://www.demarctech.com/products/r...m?Telid=demarc

in my opinion one of the PCI based cards in a normal PC would be better. More Milliwatts of power, and probably more consistant power from a bigger PSU.

For a long range link the antenna is more important than the amount of mW the card runs at. Also, remember that there are FCC regulations about maximum output. Be sure to look at what the regulations are for your country.

Otherwise Ive heard good things about demarc cards. I´m thinking of getting one myself.

And RX sensitivity. And the ability to reject noise. And...

skizziks · 08-30-2005

The heat from the Pcmcia card may not hurt the internal parts in your laptaop but most WIFI cards malfunction when the temp of the card goes above 75c.

Radio Man · 09-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by skizziks

The heat from the Pcmcia card may not hurt the internal parts in your laptaop but most WIFI cards malfunction when the temp of the card goes above 75c.

The Demarc 300mW card runs great!!! No issues with heat in my laptop.

The Others · 09-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Man

The Demarc 300mW card runs great!!! No issues with heat in my laptop.

What about your test-ti-clays?

Radio Man · 09-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Others

What about your test-ti-clays?

I removed them. They were slowing my internet connection.

streaker69 · 09-25-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Man

I removed them. They were slowing my internet connection.

Would have been easier to stop downloading pr0n.

08-29-2005	#1 (permalink)
TaoWanderer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Demarc Reliawave™ 802.11b 300mW High Power Wireless PC Card - Prism 2.5: Experience After a lot of research of trying to find the highest powered most sensitive wifi card, it seems to be Demarc Reliawave™ 802.11b 300mW High Power Wireless PC Card - Prism 2.5. http://freenetworks.org/moin/index.c...iveSensitivity However, there is that tiny little warning: **Cards are only to be used for OEM applications, not for use with laptops. I call Demarc and talked to the man who knows what's up there, Tony. He said the reason for this warning is because thier main customers are big accounts creating big outdoor networks and in a laptop it will get hotand wear down your battery faster than usual. He said the health risks are none. He did say that a lot of people were purchasing them for use in a laptops and that it is possible to do if one is careful. He said the heat would not fry any of the internal components. He said there would be no support if calling for help and you tell them that you put it in a laptop. I wish to create a setup with the longest range possible and was wondering if anyone has had experience putting this card into a laptop. Was the heat or battery life a critical issue? Was it compatible with NetStumbler? What kind of range did you experience? Do you recommend this card or is there a better option? Thank you for your help and advice.

08-30-2005	#7 (permalink)
skizziks Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 118	Demarc Reliawave 802.11b 300mW High power wireless PC Card - prism 2.5: Experience The heat from the Pcmcia card may not hurt the internal parts in your laptaop but most WIFI cards malfunction when the temp of the card goes above 75c.

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08-29-2005	#3 (permalink)
TaoWanderer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Yes, clearly the link would be greatly extended if the other end was high powered as well, but wouldn't the greater sensitivity of the card extend the range of any link vs. a lower powered card?

08-30-2005	#5 (permalink)
Roy_M Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 72	Did you know they also make 400mw versions. http://www.demarctech.com/products/r...m?Telid=demarc in my opinion one of the PCI based cards in a normal PC would be better. More Milliwatts of power, and probably more consistant power from a bigger PSU. For a long range link the antenna is more important than the amount of mW the card runs at. Also, remember that there are FCC regulations about maximum output. Be sure to look at what the regulations are for your country. Otherwise Ive heard good things about demarc cards. I´m thinking of getting one myself.