WI-FI dummie needs help.

[seagull]

I have a 2yr old HP laptop and Ositech PCMCIIA King of Clubs dual band card for my Motorla cell phone to travel in the Motorhome.I need to be on line every 2 days to take care of my ebay auctions. Worked great for 2 yrs.

Now the bad part. My cell provider changed all of the rules.No more roaming out of my area with out big fees.

So I noticed that alot of the RV parks are installing wi-fi. I know nothing about wi-fi.What do I need for my computer to get it set up for the RV parks ? I will be shopping at Newegg.

[glc]

All you should need is a 802.11b/g wireless network adapter. Here's one (if your laptop doesn't already have one internal) and the price is sure right:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833130114

[seagull]

Thanks a bunch glc!!!! Dont I need a antenna to pick up the wi-fi ?




PS where do I look in xp to see if I already have one ? I dont work much with this HP laptop. I love my win/2000 PC at home.

[Ob1]

the antenna is built into the laptop wireless nic card, so no there is no antenna to attach to this card like you would have to have on a wireless desktop nic.

you can look in the network connections in your control panel
click start>control panel>network and internet connections>network connections>"wireless network connection"
if you have classic view in your control panel just skip the network and internet connections link and go straight to the network connections>"wireless network connection"

[seagull]

Are the cards w/antenna any better in a RV park and fringe areas ? I dont plan on home use. Just while I am am on the road in my RV.

[glc]

http://rokland.com/store/product_inf...roducts_id=203

http://rokland.com/store/product_inf...52498669a5334c

[seagull]

Again thanks.
glc do you personaly think the links you gave me is overkill.

Will this work ? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156141

[nocturnx]

I worked wireless network tech support for a large company which has hotspots in alot of rv parks. I would recommend getting an antenna. A regular pcmciia card usually wont cut it, this is the reason for most of our calls. There is a problem with getting a signal inside an RV. We usually recommend an antenna that can be sat in a windowsil or outside which works the best. The orinoco card and antenna recommended by glc would work for you.

Edit: The card you linked to is for a desktop and not a laptop.

[seagull]

nocturnx--Yes I will go with glc sugestions.

I now how important a antenna is in a RV. My cell phone was only getting 2 bars. I added a outside truckers antenna and WOW. What a difference.

Thanks guys for getting me on the righ track.

[seagull]

Will this work. http://www.hawkingtech.com/prodSpec.php?ProdID=234

[seagull]

Bump---I would like to buy the one I listed in the above post if you guys think it is OK. I can always go to the RV parks office if I have to.

[glc]

It's a 6dB gain antenna - it may be fine. The advantage to the Orinoco is it has a jack for an external antenna. The Orinoco antenna has a magnetic base - you can open the roof vent or something and plop the antenna on top of the RV and drop the cable down inside. Orinoco also makes some of the highest quality cards out there - not that Hawking is *bad*.

[seagull]

glc -------I liked the Orinoco, But the software is for 98/NT. I have been down this right drivers rout before (no fun)

[glc]

This works with Win98SE/2000/ME/XP but the software included in the packaging is only for Windows 98 and NT. Most other versions of Windows will automatically recognize and install this card, however in the event your PC does not, please contact us and we can email you a link where to download the free drivers.

I don't think you are going to have a problem. Orinoco cards are what a lot of wardrivers use.

http://www.proxim.com/support/all/or...win-sr-02.html

[seagull]

glc----The card and antenna is on the way. I sure hope I do not have a driver problem.

Thanks
doug

p s what is a wardriver ?????

[Airmack]

war driving is when you roam around with a laptop and wifi card to find networks to connected to..

this is what you want dude...
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wi...e-wifi-kit.php

[glc]

Bit of a difference between 40 bucks and 120 bucks!

[seagull]

yea glc 4 more antenas worth.I wonder what that would do ? ha ha. I will let you know how the Orinoco does. Should have it in a few days.

[glc]

Forgot to mention - you should put SP2 on for XP first - its wireless capabilities are greatly improved over original and SP1.

[seagull]

glc as I said before I am in the boonies and on dial up. I download at 44-45k. How long will it take for sp2 to load. Should I turn off Zone alarm ?

[Airmack]

I do think you can order SP2 on CD from MS...

And this card is cheaper
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wi...k-wifi-kit.php

[glc]

Airmack - what is *wrong* with the Orinoco setup? I know what you are posting is the hot setup, but it's still not cost effective in my view. He isn't going to be wardriving, he just wants to hit hotspots that are intended to be accessible from where he's parked. I've had better luck with Orinoco cards than any of the big consumer brands (Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, etc.). Proxim was a wi-fi pioneer.

I'd order the SP2 CD or get someone with broadband to download the network install (270 megs) and burn it onto a CD for you. If you can find someone who already has the CD or the network install, ask them to burn you a copy. I would not attempt to do the active install over dialup OR broadband. Make SURE your machine is squeaky clean before installing SP2 - no spyware, no viruses, clean temps and caches, cut out unnecessary startup items.

[seagull]

glc
I received my Orinoco card and 7db antenna.

Installed easy on xp and works great. You told me to get XP sp2. Do I realy need it ???

I dont realy care for XP. My laptop is just used for listing auctions and get email on the road.

My home computers are win/2000 and love them.
Not one burp in 4 yrs.

[Airmack]

SP2 for XP has a better interface then SP1.

for example you can refreash from the menu.

[glc]

You told me to get XP sp2. Do I realy need it ???

Of course not - but it's a heck of a lot more secure and as I said, the wireless admin is greatly improved. Take advantage of the broadband wireless somewhere (where you don't have to pay by the hour or the megabyte) and download it and all the rest of the Windows updates.