Wireless PCI Card

stphnstevey

Hi

I have Virgin Broadband just installed and can connect fine through my laptop. I want to connect an older computer. I think the best option is a Wireless PCI Card (it has no ethernet connection and is USB 1).

The router is netgear - is it best to get the same make PCI card?

It seems a fairly simple job - just slot it in place?

This one looks suitable?
http://www.netgear.co.uk/wireless_network_card_wg311.php

What does the 802.11g mean

My router is 54 Mbps so I guess I jsut need a wireless card at that speed? How does that speed equate to the broadband speed (ie upto 20mb)?

Thanks

MercilessKiller

802.11g is a protocol that Wi-Fi uses. There is 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n (the latter isn't really worth it for most users anyway)

This defines things such as speed of the connection, so you definitely need an 802.11g card. 802.11b = 11mbps, 802.11g = 54mbps

Next as for hte make of the card, this is irellevant. As long as the Wireless PCI card can support 802.11g and the wireless encryption you use (WPAv2 hopefully), then it will do fine.

Go for price on something like amazon where it has a half decent user review too..

The speed is local speed between you and the router. For example if you transferred something to another pc in the network, it would transfer at 54mpbs to the router, than to the computer at whatever speed the connection is.. (if by ethernet, 100mbps or wireless 54mbps again for example).

You won't get a faster internet speed with an faster internet network connection speed, as the internet speed defines the bandwidth of the connection between your router and the ISP... so data will come to your router at 20mbps from the internet, then to your pc at 54mbps

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

BillScarab

You don't necessarily need the same brand of card. 802.11g is the wireless strandard it supports and that is probably what your router supports so it will be fine.

Your wirelss connection has a maximum speed of 54mbps, your broadband connection has a maximum speed of 20mbps so you wireless network is theoretically 2.7 times as fast as your broadband.

stphnstevey

So let me get this right - my router will support a faster speed 54mbps, but that doesn't necessarily mean I am getting that speed. If my broadband connection is 20mbps, then thats what I get (ie it doesn't speed up the connection!)

So as long as I get 20mbps+, ideally 54mbps so if the speed of the broadband gets faster in the future, I have equipment that will cope with it.

The Netgear one says I need a PCI 2.2 compliant slot - how do I know if I have one of these?

MercilessKiller

How old is your machine? Your motherboard specs will say if you have PCI 2.2... I'd suggest getting some 802.11g wireless pci card from amazon and find a cheaper one with good reviews to be safe...

Your router will transfer data at a throughput speed of 54mbps (wireless) and 100mbps (wired).

Your internet throughput is only 20mbps though.

So you will have an advantage of 802.11g over 802.11b yes.. as long as you are actually getting 20mbps which is unlikely.

But yes go with 802.11g PCI card. Do you know how to put a PCI card in?

stphnstevey

Thanks

Is it worth paying a bit more for their Rangemax cards or would I need the router to go with it to make best use of that?

MercilessKiller

Don't pay more as you don't need to And you'd need support from the router for that.

stphnstevey

I looked up the PCI port and it is 2.2 compliant - I also found loads of other useful stuff in the documentation as well - like how to install a PCI Card ! - Doh! Saves me having to watch the guy on Youtube doing it again!

The other computer is in another room about 20 feet away in the extention that still has the old brick external wall between. I was just wondering if the Rangemax ones would give me the added reception? But guess without the upgraded router they wouldn't be any better?

MercilessKiller

You'd definitely need the rangemax router for the extra reception

You should be ok even with the wall in between.. but PCI cards are nice and cheap anyway

You could always spend more cash and have network connectivity via your mains plugs