3COM etherlink PCMCIA NIC question....

[Rigo]

i ahve just bought one of these cards second hand for my laptop and haven't received it yet, could someone tell me what the cable shipped with it is? I've been sold one without the cable, is the cable just a normal CAT5 cable?

thx for any help.

 

[Sugadaddy]

It should come with an adapter that plugs right into the PC card. You plug the network cable in that adapter...

 

[MADCAP]

You were probably sold the card without what is called a "dongle". Funny name I know, but that's what it's called. This is an adapter cable that plugs into the card then into a regular CAT5 cable.

Without this cable you're screwed. You'll need to order another one from 3COM.

FYI. The new 3COM's have a popout XJACK. this eliminates the need for a dongle. The cable plugs straight into the jack.

Good luck, I hope you got a good deal on the card, because the dongle might cost you.

 

[MWink]

You might want to check E bay for the dongle. I got my USR 28.8/10mbps NIC there for $26 and it came with everything. You may be able to get the cable there. Or, you could buy a cheap card that comes with one.

 

[Rigo]

oh right

I checked on 3COM's site and it said for the model number card i have that a normal CAT5 cable could plug straight into the card, i guess that's a new version or something.

I paid £10 ($15) for the card and i thought i got an excelent buy, now i see why

Has anyone got one of these cables?

 

[Rigo]

i think i found it: http://buydirect.3com.com/iom_dcms/b2c/catalog/detail.html?SKU=3C-PC-TX-CBL

It has the model number of my card listed so i presume that is what i need, yes? It's only $6 which is cheaper than buying a new card with dongle or one with an XJack.

Only problem is that that site is for US orders only and I'm in UK, so does anyone know where to buy them over here? The UK site doesn't have shopping cart on it.

thx for all your help ppl, keep it coming!

 

[Kanly]

Any online store or computer shop will have the Cat-5 cable.

You don't need to get it from 3Com.

 

[Rigo]

no that isn't CAT5 cable

that is the dongle that the card i have ordered doesn't come with. I have the CAT5 cable allready cos i have a LAN.

 

[Kanly]

well, which is it:

"I checked on 3COM's site and it said for the model number card i have that a normal CAT5 cable could plug straight into the card, i guess that's a new version or something"

OR

"that is the dongle that the card i have ordered doesn't come with"

If you don't need a dongle, don't bother with them. They always break.

 

[Rigo]

The card i ordered, and which has arrived, needs a dongle. I said when i checked on 3Com's site that they said it didn't but as i say that must be a new version of the card as this one does need a dongle and it hasn't got one.

i need to know where i can buy one from here in the UK.