Wireless adapter card (for Linux)

davidlizard

As my current ISP has not billed me for almost 5 years, I am in fear of receiving a huge backdated bill. Therefore I am getting out whilst the going is good and quietly migrating over to Sky broadband. I now have a wireless router and a broadband enabled phone line (previous ISP did not use BT line so no problem getting mac addresses released etc), and a length of phone cable running across the house which is annoying my wife, but I digress.

Obviously I want to go fully wireless, and require some kind of network interface card for my PC. The stumbling block is that I run Linux (SuSE 10.3, partially for economic reasons) so need something that should work. The router supplied by Sky is 802.11b and g compatible.

I have had a fair look around the web, and have identified a Belkin F5D7000UK card as something potentially suitable. Various forums indicate people have got this working with Linux. I have checked I have a suitable PCI slot available.

Can anyone recommend whether this is a good choice or not, or recommend any reasonably priced Linux compatible wireless adapter card other than that mentioned? I understand that USB is not desirable under Linux due to driver problems but am willing to be corrected.

All advice gratefully received.


Dave

Red_Rose_Exile

You could try the D-Link DWL-G520

Then configure it using the instructions here

Blacksheep1979

no matter what card you go for there will most likely be differing versions and different chips on the card. Some will work easily and there will be native drivers and others you will have to use the windows drivers with something like ndiswrapper. Fairly eassy to do either way but you're going about it in the correct manner and doing some research which is wise.

The myth wiki's have quite a good list of working wireless cards too if I remember correctly.

deklan99

Try here - http://en.opensuse.org/HCL/Network_Adapters_%28Wireless%29 , trick is though being able to suss out what chipset is in the card you want to buy. As Blacksheep says same model card may have several different chipsets. As for USB adapters I have a generic one with a zydas chipset, works perfect even with puppy linux. Beauty of these things is you can stick them into a USB extension lead if reception is iffy.
Ndiswrapper is also an option if card doesn't work natively.

turbobob

I've got one of these working with Ubuntu Linux - http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=5369&category_id=154&manufacturer_id=0 It uses an Ralink chipset.

It didn't need any specific configuration as it was automatically detected - just had to select which network to join and add my WPA key.

Conor_3

Just as an aside, be prepared to use WEP encryption because WPA, especially the more secure AES CCMP ( most are TKIP) , is a bit broken.

wolfman

Netgear WG311T.

I've got 3 (all different revisions). They work out of the box in Ubuntu (since about Edgy) and Network Manager (including using WPA). Never had a problem with one.


http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(5857)Netgear-WG311T-108Mb-Wireless-PCI-Card.aspx

The only card I'll buy when using Linux until wireless n becomes official. Watch eBay you can pick them up nice and cheap.

fergual2

I have used a dlink wlan pci card for ages now with SUSE no problem (I think mines a 54g earlier model)
could check here for compatibility...
http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/index.php?showtopic=47826
Al