Internal vs. External laptop WiFi cards

[cheesehead]

After a bizzare checkout error, my Dell 9100 was left without a mini-PCI wi-fi card. (no, I was not charged.)
In its stead, I have two options: The Intel 2200 Wireless Mini-PCI card(45$), and the external (PCMICA) AirLink 108mbps wifi card, 20$ at Outpost.com.
Although I would like to use the connection for gaming, most use is going to be seen with internet usage, and differing protocols often keep the speed down to 802.11g levels anyway, so there will be little difference in performance between the two cards. What I want to know is what is the performance hit I will take for using an external card? I have heard that many PCMICA cards can use signifigant CPU power, while mPCI cards are a bit better in this respect. Also, there is the issue of signal strength: The internal antenna is likely superior to an antenna found in something the size of a credit card. We have a D-Link 54mbps router with a replaced antenna for better signal strength, so this might not be a problem around the house, but I am a fan of warchalking and intend on sucking up all the free bandwith I can from unsuspecting chain restaurants.
-Cheesehead.

 

[cheesehead]

Does anyone know where to get an external antenna for PCMICA cards, or how to solder one on?
(okay, this is a lame excuse for a bump....)

 

[cheesehead]

Anyone?

 

[bigfatdonny]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The internal antenna is likely superior to an antenna found in something the size of a credit card.
-Cheesehead.

This isn't always true. There are many notebooks that have known issues with the signal strength on their built-in cards. Some Alienware notebooks were notorious for this.

If you're interested in a PCMCIA card with a port for an external antenna, look into Orinoco gold cards. Some require a bit of...modification...to work, but they're definitely great performers.

 

[ktwebb]

Anyone?

This might be your problem:

but I am a fan of warchalking and intend on sucking up all the free bandwith I can from unsuspecting chain restaurants.

You won't generally, and thankfully, get alot of help around here with those kinds of comments.

 

[Nothinman]

I still use a 802.11b PCMCIA card because it's Prism2 based and I know it has excellent Linux support and I can keep using it with any notebook with a PCMCIA slot. Even with the card at max throughput the CPU usage never gets up to even 10% on my 3Ghz notebook.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: ktwebb

Anyone?

This might be your problem:

but I am a fan of warchalking and intend on sucking up all the free bandwith I can from unsuspecting chain restaurants.

You won't generally, and thankfully, get alot of help around here with those kinds of comments.

With all due respect, using bandwith provided for the use of customers (like myself) to download Half-Life mods and America's Army is hardly an illegal activity. For those of us wth poky internet connections, this can be a lifesaver. (cable is only running at 320 kbps, not the paid-for 2mbps. Charter is covered by fine print, go figure.) I have no intention of hacking into anyone's computer-I merely want to be able to use the connection for an hour or two without either being chased out of the cofeeshop. This may be a slightly different meaning of Warchalking, and although taking an unfair share of bandwith is hardly a nice thing to do, it's nowhere in the same category as emptying some old lady's bank account.
-Cheesehead.

 

[ugh]

I'm using a PCMCIA wi-fi card and it's working flawlessly. However, the PCMCIA slot does get rather hot after a while due to the card. Not sure if it's wi-fi related or a default behaviour when using a PCMCIA card.