deal- 1: Sony Wireless PCCARD 802.11B $49.88 (update - now $19.99 at B&M)

[EDiT]

<< I've had terrible experiences with CompUSA ever since they opened stores in Minneapolis, so I guess I'm really not surprised. Congrats to those who did get the cards though, that is a great deal. >>



LOL!! I used to work at that store. You're right, they did pull stuff like that, although we also had a TON of stuff in the RTV cage that never went back to the vendors.

Anyway, Chandler AZ store had a bunch, marked $150, but it rang up correctly.

Now for the real challenge: does anyone have an OLD orinoco firmware they can send me. I want the one when they still allowed you to change the MAC.

 

[DaviDaVinci]

why would you want to change the MAC?

 

[olouie]

Does compusa do mail order. I mean if I call a store and ask them to buy then ship will they do it? I live very far (100 miles plus) from a CompUsa.

Thanks

 

[dragonflyblue]

Heh, small world, huh, EDiT. I've got Lucent Orinoco/WaveLAN revisions 4.51 and 4.01 if you want them. Anything earlier than 6.06 works,suppsedly, although I haven't tried them yet.

I just wrote CompUSA a nasty letter... not that it'll do any good, but it made me feel better. I guess I shouldn't be complaining though, ya win some, ya lose some...

 

[EDiT]

<< why would you want to change the MAC? >>



Orinoco cards are the best for hacking, and since I am a security engineer, it proves usefull to have some around. However, if a network uses MAC security, I need to be able to steal a MAC of an allowed host to get into the network.

Now does anyone have a good deal on the external antennas? Omni or Uni-directional would be good.

DragonFlyBlue: How many you want? If you PM me, I can go back and get more cards. I have one extra already if you only need one.

 

[NYRanger99]

I got 2, I was about to get the linksys but this is a much better deal. Thanks

 

[Bugs66]

Download the Orinoco software updates here

I've been able to use the Orinoco software drivers and firmware upgrade. For some reason I am having trouble with the client software though. I keep getting a control panel error. It might be my old laptop that is the problem. The Sony sofware (available at the link previously posted above) all works correctly. I actually like the Sony client software better, although the Orinoco has some neat utilities such as diagnostics, wap searching, etc..

Enjoy!

 

[samgoody69]

does this card works with linksys WAP+router?
Anyone?

 

[dtoff]

it should work with almost any 802.11b gateway...

 

[lordkev]

Everyone seems to be talking about the external antenna port but mine seems to have a piece of plastic there. Does that just come off to reveal the port, or what? Don't wanna tear a cover off if there's not actually a port there...


-Kevin

 

[Bugs66]

Yes, the plug comes off to reveal the antenna port.

 

[RayH]

<< Now does anyone have a good deal on the external antennas? >>



You can build your own with a Pringles can and a couple dollars of parts: Pringles antenna

 

[Coolbird]

After 15 minutes of convincing the store clerk they actually had these cards (they keep them in lockdown), the card rang up 19.99. Needless to say, I bought more than one

 

[weasel]

anyone who has spares willing to part with one? Please let me know via PM or e-mail at:
mike @ m2wh.com

Thanks

 

[EDiT]

<< anyone who has spares willing to part with one? Please let me know via PM or e-mail at:
mike @ m2wh.com

Thanks >>



ygpm

 

[Ripper18]

damn compusa heh
pissing me off
first they said not on there sales point and then defective
now in stock
and now they don't know will contact me tomorrow with there manager and crap

what a piss off! i tell ya! just gimme my friggin cards!!

 

[misterj]

<< These type of wireless cards DON'T carry the same range as a good USB connected unit from SMC or D-Link. You'll get about DOUBLE the signal strength from these and a form factor of only slightly larger than the PC card--plus it's the same price as PC cards. >>



if this is true id stay away from it unless youve had experience with other wireless pccards.

i picked up the smc barricade 7004awbr or whatever with 2 netgear usb adapters and they're great. i went clear across the house and closed the door and i got about 300-350k/s (2.4mbps). when in sight of the router i get 350-450k/s which i think is outstanding after reading all the horror stories about wireless. this is perfect for cable/dsl albeit a bit pricey. ~200 for the router and ~100 per card.

 

[EDiT]

<<

<< These type of wireless cards DON'T carry the same range as a good USB connected unit from SMC or D-Link. You'll get about DOUBLE the signal strength from these and a form factor of only slightly larger than the PC card--plus it's the same price as PC cards. >>



if this is true id stay away from it unless youve had experience with other wireless pccards.

i picked up the smc barricade 7004awbr or whatever with 2 netgear usb adapters and they're great. i went clear across the house and closed the door and i got about 300-350k/s (2.4mbps). when in sight of the router i get 350-450k/s which i think is outstanding after reading all the horror stories about wireless. this is perfect for cable/dsl albeit a bit pricey. ~200 for the router and ~100 per card. >>



Actually, from my experience they each have their place. In my superslim laptom, I am not about to lug a USB attached nic around. However, in a PC under a desk across the house, do NOT use an internal PCMCIA adapter. I could only get a link at ~1m fron not too far away when my pc was under my desk, but from my laptop on the desk, I got ~11m.

If you are looking for a card, the Orinoco's are definately the way to go IMHO. (next to Cisco, which cost much more)

 

[kcobra]

Can anyone else confirm the $19.99 price? For $20 buck, I might just have to buy me a couple, although I don't have a lot of need for them.

 

[kcobra]

Coolbird: Could you post your reciept? I checked two CompUSA, and they are still showing $49.88.

 

[DVDKing]

$19.99 price is not right. CompUSA clearance stuff ends in .88. I just picked up 2 at 49.88 each. Still a great deal. Works as well as my Cisco wireless card for more than half the price.

 

[eeman]

3COM has a new "X-Jack" style card that can be had for $79

$79 Deal

Card Details

I am pretty sure this has 128-bit WEP, though it really doesn't matter. You should use Microsoft VPN or some other security if you are really worried about it.

 

[Blindman]

I got 4 of these
waiting to purchuse some PCI adapter later in the day.

I dont know why. But I hate USB. I just dont like it. Call me Old School. But USB is suck.

 

[RayH]

Reception Sensitvity Info

For reference, the Orinoco Silver's go for around $75.

 

[Fuzzy]

All,

Which firmware driver/program did you use to flash this card into an Orinoco? A direct link or name of the program would be appreciated!

thanks.