Older Laptop Network Card - now wish to go wireless

No.

Again, no. You're trying to make apple pie with oranges. Your current network adapter card is designed for use with wired networks only. If you want to use radio waves, you'll have to buy an adapter with a radio in it,

To #1, no.. that's wired ethernet only to #2, does your older laptop have a usb port and what opsys does it run? (if usb and win me or later, usb dongles are under $40)

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:06:55 -0800 (PST), hdjim69 wrote in :

No.

No kit period.

The only way to go wireless with it is to buy and attach a wireless Ethernet client bridge.

Cheaper to get a wireless PC Card.

Erm, just replace the network card with a wireless one.

You could use an ethernet to wireless bridge, but then you'd have a separate box AND a power supply for it.

A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.

So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter card.

I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?

Thanks for all your help.

Uh, yeah, that's painfully obvious ain't it?

Erm, no, bluetooth has nothing to do with wifi. And do yourself a favor and pickup the card from a local retailer. If it doesn't work properly then you don't want to get stuck paying for return shipping. Fleabay is not the place to be 'learning' what works or not, you'll waste far more money than makes sense.

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:23:08 -0800 (PST), hdjim69 wrote in :

You need a >> Wi-Fi

No, I don't think you have it straight. Your statement here is different from your statement in the original post.

That wouldn't be a built-in jack. That would be a PCMCIA card, with a dongle, that you suggest could be connected to some other widget to go wireless.

From an Ethernet port, either built-in or your card/dongle combination, you could plug in a wireless client adapter, but those are far more expensive than a new card, and would be large and unwieldy.

Others have suggested that you pop out the PCMCIA card and put in a new

Bluetooth would be a different thing altogether, most commonly used to connect to a cellphone for contact synchronization, maybe internet access via a cellular data plan.

You didn't say you had USB. You didn't say if your USB is 1.1 or 2.0 speed, you didn't say what OS you have until now. There are USB dongles for 802.11g, maybe still some 802.11b. The "b" might be in the $10 range, and would match the speed of an old USB 1.1 port. The USB-802.11g adapters are more in the $40 range from retail outlets, and USB all operate on USB

It's easier if we know what you have.

Go with a USB wireless G dongle to make sure that you are good for some time. Due to being low down on the side of the laptop, PCMCIA cards are generally not as good reception.

Here's a good list of adapters:

I prefer ones with external antenna connectors as they are more flexible, but they cost more. This one is my quick pick:

you're mixing apples, oranges, and peaches....

802.3 = wired ethernet via RJ45 (either built-in or PCMCIA card)

now - the physical choices.... PCMCIA card to slide into the laptop slot for WiFi, bluetooth, Ethernet RJ45 or the USB dongle solutions for WiFi, bluetooth, Ethernet RJ 45

Win2k Server might be a problem - you need to have the driver software for the specific card, and Win2k (server) support might be a challenge for some of these...

Hmmm. Maybe so, I don't know, but otoh, his PC slot is probably not used for anything else, and his USB port might be needed for a memory stick or something. My laptop is old, but the PC slot and the USB jack are about the same height, on opposite sides.

If you are inclined to email me for some reason, remove NOPSAM :-)