Need help with wireless laptop NIC

[Sniper82]

All this 802.11b and stuff whats it mean? If I bought a older wireless laptop NIC would it work the same as a new one as far as being able to get online? My sister is needing it for road trips for when she stays at hotels. So it will have to work with what they got.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Yes, 802.11b will work pretty much anywhere that has a hotspot, even if it's an 802.11g hotspot (b and g are basically cross-compatible; if either the NIC or the router/access point is 'b' then the connection simply appens at the lower speed).

There may be some performance differences, but any 802.11b card should suffice for internet access in well-served areas.

 

[Sniper82]

whats the differences in the 2? Security or something? Are they plug and play or do you have to set them up? If thats the case the hotel should know what it needs to be setup?

 

[3chordcharlie]

The difference is mainly speed (54mbps versus 11mbps). Both are faster than broadband internet, so it's not an issue except for LAN file-sharing.

With pre-XP there's often the need to manually renew your IP address when you connect to a new network, and maybe some other stuff; all should be acheivable through the wireless card's provided software. XP is a little better at managin netwrok connections.

If there are special steps needed to connect to a network (my university has this) then instructions would naturally be provided.

Edit: 802.11b cards can be purchased extremely cheap (mine cost $20 Canadan, with no rebates, and no shipping costs, and I've seen them even cheaper than that). If it's needed only occasionally, I would definitely save the money by purchasing a 'b' card. For a home network it would be worth the extra money to get 'g'.