Wireless PC Cards have different Keying

[mdcrab]

I have a wireless USB adapter that has an Orinoco Silver 802.11b card inside.
I have taken the adapter apart and tried to install a Netgear WG511 802.11g PC Card but it won't go. Both of these are supposed to be standard PC Cards. The original Orinoco Gold card crapped out a while back, and I had no problem switching it out for a Silver.

Have PC Card spec's changed somewhere along the way. Both cards have a narrow channel along one edge of the connector end. The other edge has a narrow key (protrusion) on the Orinoco while the Netgear has a much wider key, almost twice as wide.

I could take the card to work and have the key machined down, but would this damage the card when inserted in the connector due to a voltage change or different spec's?

 

[mdcrab]

Found some info here:
PC Card Technology Primer

After reading this I think the Orinoco Card is a Type I and the NetGear a Type II as it is slightly thicker. Still trying to figure out if I can machine it.

Edit: Some Orinoco instructions that I found say the card is a Type II, so that shoots this down the drain.

mdcrab

 

[mdcrab]

To Machine or Not to Machine?

I am going to hold off for now, unless someone knows if this will work.
May have to investigate getting a new PCI/PCMCIA adapter.

mdcrab

 

[Fardringle]

If you want the card to not work again, and possibly damage the slot, then yes, go ahead and do it. If it doesn't fit, then it was probably designed to not fit...

 

[nweaver]

The Wireless USB adapter probably has F/W that is orinco specific, that is why it won't work with the Netgear card I would guess

 

[mdcrab]

I think the Netgear card is made to a "CardBus" spec and that is whit has different keying. I figure I need to get a "CardBus" to PCI or USB to make it work.

mdcrab