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04-25-2006, 05:34 PM
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#1 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 40
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Convert my laptop to WiFi
I have a Compaq Presario 900 laptop purchased in 2002. Runs XP Home. I don't think it's wireless. The device Manager says it has a Conexant HSFI V92MiniPCI Modem, and a Realtek RTL8139C+ Fast Ethernet NIC. Don't see anything in the device manager that says "wireless".
I'd like to solve the problem I always have trying to hook up to the internet when we travel. Using wires connecting to the telephone outlet and using my ISP or the motel's ISP, I can never seem to make it work. But now I see so many motels that advertise that they have "free WiFi Internet Service". I'd like to take advantage of that. My laptop has a PC Card slot that supports a "Type I or Type II 32-bit (CardBus) or 16-bit PC Card". Is there a WiFi PC card that I could just slip into that slot and turn my laptop into a "Wireless"? If so, could you recommend what kind or make of card I should get? Would I load software to make the card work? If all of the above is possible, I don't know anything about wireless. How do I connect to a WiFi system? Just click on the "Internet Explorer e" on the desktop and I'm connected? I'm sorry to have so many questions but I've never used wireless and sure would like to learn. Thanks to anyone who can help. Cliff |
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04-25-2006, 05:50 PM
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#2 |
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Served with Pride
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: near the left coast of Michigan
Posts: 14,565
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Several card options at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0 Linksys is a recognized industry leader but you're looking at $90 for one of theirs. I've had good luck with Trendnet products but can't specifically recommend them for this application. I prefer to use the wireless configurator built into XP rather than load any software. You just use it to View Available Networks and Connect. Then open your browser. |
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04-26-2006, 10:53 AM
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#3 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,786
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This Linksys adapter is a lot less than 90 bucks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124110 |
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04-26-2006, 11:07 AM
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#4 |
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Techphile.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: San Francisco Bay
Posts: 5,962
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I bought a Linksis PCMCIA/Wireless card for my Dell Inspiron 8000 laptop and it works fine. There was no hassle at all in getting it to work. It found the internet right away without having to enter anything. The important thing is to install the drivers first before inserting the card. I bought mine at Fry's Electronics. I forgot the exact price but it was under 50 bucks.
__________________
Asus P8P67 WS Revolution | Intel 2600K @ 4.7 GHz | Win 7 Pro 64 |8 gigs Corsair 1600 | Two Diamond 6990's in Crossfire| Corsair AX1200 | Thermalright Silver Arrow | Western Digital Black 2TB 64 meg cache | Lian-Li PC-A71B | Logitec Z-5500 | Three Asus 26" VW266H monitors running under Eyefinity | Last edited by David M; 04-26-2006 at 11:10 AM. |
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04-26-2006, 12:06 PM
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#5 |
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Served with Pride
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: near the left coast of Michigan
Posts: 14,565
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Oops! Guess I gotta look closer. Pulled up the wrong item.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124171 |
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04-26-2006, 12:29 PM
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#6 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,786
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That's the MIMO card, PR. That's the matching card for the long range router.
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