Orinoco Silver 802.11b Wireless PC card $38.99 @ ecost

[frugal]

Orinoco Silver 802.11b Wireless PC card 64-bit WEP key and speeds up to 11Mbps. Best range in the industry (over 1500 ft in open space). $38.99 at eCost.com Item 787792 linky

 

[Fiz1]

good card. wonder when they will make the 802.11g gold version

 

[1ucid]

Senao's probably have better range.

 

[darrenford]

I was all set to buy this and a Linksys AP as well. But before submitting my order I checked reseller ratings. Lots of problems with eCost.

 

[FPSguy]

I have D-Link, Belkin, and Orinoco Silver cards. The Orinoco has the best range of the three, BY FAR! I have never ordered from eCost, but IMO this is a good price on a great card.

 

[Fritzo]

eCost is OK. I've ordered from them a few times. Probably the best WiFi PC card around. Plus, the fact that these have an external antenna jack makes them even sweeter 😉

 

[ROTC1983]

I have this card already. Pretty dang good card and easy to set up. I couldn't really do a battery test since my stupid old laptop battery was almost dead and my new laptop has integrated wifi....

 

[craftsman]

I've read in more than one place that Orinoco Silvers can be turned into Golds. Does anyone have a link for this?

Thanks

 

[hoihtah]

yeah, i'm looking for the same link.
please post if you have the link.
thanx

 

[Fritzo]

Google....try it, it works!

I think it involves using an Apple Airport.

 

[Marauder-]

No - there's a version out for Windows. Essentially you install modded drivers to trick the card into thinking you have a gold version - then you can write the firmware onto the card. And then the card is actually gold now and you can install the real gold drivers.

 

[ringzero]

Originally posted by: 1ucid
Senao's probably have better range.

I have a senao 'long range' card. and i dont really think it's long range. it's really aggravating, and i think it might be a driver issue or something. because when i let the senao software take control of the wireless settings, i get all these data frame issues to my wap.

quite aggravating.

 

[Sachmho]

whats the diff. between silver and gold versions?

 

[CheetahMk2]

Normally, Gold = 128bit WEP and Silver = 64bit WEP. [Both (WEP) equally... useless IMHO]

But there is a way to make a Silver -> Gold. Here's a preliminary link, but it should tell you what to Google.

 

[CheetahMk2]

I found the site that had all the info, but it's ISP got taken down. I [luckily] have a copy of the files et all saved on my comp, if someone needs it I can post it.

www.nextechwireless.net/support/ faqs/silvertogoldwindows.html

Use Google's cache to access the original text.

 

[weepul]

i have a dell truemobile (dell orinoco gold rebadged). think i should flash it to an orinoco gold isntead?

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[CheetahMk2]

I don't know why you would want to change brands, as long as it is working. Only advantage from Silver to Gold is WEP... which as I said before, isn't that great anyway.

http://www.freenetworks.org/pipermail/nycwireless/2003-March/006245.html Got HexEditor??

 

[Maverick215]

honestly,
I just don't understand why people still get all hot and bothered about this card anymore.
Compare Receive Sensitivities and you will see what I mean.
For instance, That SMC card has a 200mw output, vs the 35 (I think) of the orinoco, couple with about a 4x receive advantage and I just can't see why you would want the orinoco.
So, if you're heading over to ecost, consider this card.
price match this at staples plus coupon and get it for ~43 plus tax
Staples part #IM846504 (check with staples csr to make sure it's the right card, they should know it as "2.4 GHZ 802.11B HIGH POWER WIRELESS PC CARD"
have fun...

 

[Borgmon]

 

[Borgmon]

CheetahMk2

Can you post the files somewhere? I cannot find them on the net.

Thanks

 

[CheetahMk2]

http://cheetahmk2.tripod.com/images/orinoco/

 

[Borgmon]

Thanks CheetahMk2 will try it tonight.

 

[Pennstate]

One advantage for getting the orinoco card is that it is very power efficient. THe SMC high powered card will drain your laptop battery really fast.

 

[Sachmho]

so then if i don't care about encryption, it doesn't matter about silver vs. gold? so who currently has hte best price on the silver, if this e-cost place is sketchy... ?

 

[davemac]

Originally posted by: Maverick215
honestly,
I just don't understand why people still get all hot and bothered about this card anymore.
Compare Receive Sensitivities and you will see what I mean.
For instance, That SMC card has a 200mw output, vs the 35 (I think) of the orinoco, couple with about a 4x receive advantage and I just can't see why you would want the orinoco.
So, if you're heading over to ecost, consider this card.
price match this at staples plus coupon and get it for ~43 plus tax
Staples part #IM846504 (check with staples csr to make sure it's the right card, they should know it as "2.4 GHZ 802.11B HIGH POWER WIRELESS PC CARD"
have fun...

Maverick, do you know what chipset this SMC card uses? IE. will it work with Netstumbler?

davemac