what to do? use mini-pci or buy pcmcia?

omegatotal · 03-04-2003

do you think it would be worth my effort to get the stuff for an external antenna for my orinoco mini-pci card? it's one of the newer ones ... (card is variant 2 version 1.02 , AKA a gold )

or should i just try to find a supported pcmcia card w/ higher output(100mW and greater) and just get stuff for that instead.. in not worried about playing w/ the card because i can get another one..

also, does anyone know of any way to increase the output power of the orinoco devices? with out the use of an external amplifier? like maybe modifying some resister value?

i really like how they work so i would like to stick w/ them

kleptophobiac · 03-04-2003

Why do you need more power? Is the coverage in your house not satisfactory?

omegatotal · 03-05-2003

internet @ my college.. that is the main reason, plus i have a rather large house (long rect. VS semi-square/L-shape).

kleptophobiac · 03-05-2003

Unless you need to cover more than half a mile, you don't need more power! Better placement of the AP with a better antenna on the AP end will help tremendously. If you have a one story house, consider putting the AP at the elbow, or outside so it has best coverage. Use a 6-9 dbi omni on it instead of the rubber duckies. This should make it so you can get it anywhere on your street.

The client should be fine, but if absolutely necessary, use a patch panel antenna for that, or just a little omni, 3-6 dbi. Adding an amp will not help you if you don't have better antennas and placement.

omegatotal · 03-09-2003

well thats one of my problems, i CANT move the AP, and it's gonna have

Madhadder · 03-09-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by omegatotal
do you think it would be worth my effort to get the stuff for an external antenna for my orinoco mini-pci card? it's one of the newer ones ... (card is variant 2 version 1.02 , AKA a gold )

Save yourself the pain & Hastle of opening up you Mini-PCI card
voiding your warrenty etc. etc. Get a PCMCIA Card and disable
the built-in stuff.

Quote:

[i]
or should i just try to find a supported pcmcia card w/ higher output(100mW and greater) and just get stuff for that instead.. in not worried about playing w/ the card because i can get another one..[/b]

Just because the PCMCIA Card can send at 100mw doesn't
mean the signal from the AP will make it back to the card. For
this to work, the AP's output would also need to be increased.

If you want a 100mw Card try the Senaro cards They have
both Built-In and ext. Antt Models.

Quote:

[i]
also, does anyone know of any way to increase the output power of the orinoco devices? with out the use of an external amplifier? like maybe modifying some resister value?[/b]

As far as I know there are NO software mods, you can do to
change the Output/input power for PCMCIA Cards. You are
thinking of AP Mods, and then only for the Linksys WAP11.
you wany increased output power..Then your gonna need an Ext.
Antt. and possibly an AMP.

omegatotal · 03-09-2003

well i wasn't thinking of software, even tho there are cards out there that have software controlled output levels...

i was hoping something along the line of just changing the value of a resister or something..

anyway, yeah i was thinking of just getting one of the senaro and a 5-7db gain panel for the lid of my laptop...
i would then be happy...

just outa curiosity, whats the deal w/ everyone and the ph34r of microwave radiation.. im just alittle lost.. heh

03-04-2003	#1 (permalink)
omegatotal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 28	what to do? use mini-pci or buy pcmcia? do you think it would be worth my effort to get the stuff for an external antenna for my orinoco mini-pci card? it's one of the newer ones ... (card is variant 2 version 1.02 , AKA a gold ) or should i just try to find a supported pcmcia card w/ higher output(100mW and greater) and just get stuff for that instead.. in not worried about playing w/ the card because i can get another one.. also, does anyone know of any way to increase the output power of the orinoco devices? with out the use of an external amplifier? like maybe modifying some resister value? i really like how they work so i would like to stick w/ them

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-04-2003	#2 (permalink)
kleptophobiac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 310	Why do you need more power? Is the coverage in your house not satisfactory?

03-05-2003	#3 (permalink)
omegatotal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 28	internet @ my college.. that is the main reason, plus i have a rather large house (long rect. VS semi-square/L-shape).

03-05-2003	#4 (permalink)
kleptophobiac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 310	Unless you need to cover more than half a mile, you don't need more power! Better placement of the AP with a better antenna on the AP end will help tremendously. If you have a one story house, consider putting the AP at the elbow, or outside so it has best coverage. Use a 6-9 dbi omni on it instead of the rubber duckies. This should make it so you can get it anywhere on your street. The client should be fine, but if absolutely necessary, use a patch panel antenna for that, or just a little omni, 3-6 dbi. Adding an amp will not help you if you don't have better antennas and placement.

03-09-2003	#5 (permalink)
omegatotal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 28	well thats one of my problems, i CANT move the AP, and it's gonna have

03-09-2003	#7 (permalink)
omegatotal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 28	well i wasn't thinking of software, even tho there are cards out there that have software controlled output levels... i was hoping something along the line of just changing the value of a resister or something.. anyway, yeah i was thinking of just getting one of the senaro and a 5-7db gain panel for the lid of my laptop... i would then be happy... just outa curiosity, whats the deal w/ everyone and the ph34r of microwave radiation.. im just alittle lost.. heh