Looking for a 802.11b PCI card with external Antenna port

e_fractal · 08-01-2003, 04:36 AM

As title says. I've been looking around google and Ebay, and havnt found any PCI cards that support external antenna. Anyone know any?

alexg047 · 08-01-2003, 08:44 AM

This is the only 802.11b adapter that I know on the market that supports external antena's. here is the model # Cisco Systems Cisco Aironet 350 . You may want to look on ebay first to see if u can get it cheap.. I know this aint no cheap adapter.

Cedrik · 08-01-2003, 09:13 AM

this card should work for what you want. it comes with an external antenna. here is a site with some more info about it. h**p://www.orinocowireless.com/products/all/orinoco/client/11abgpci/index.html

MP3DUB · 08-01-2003, 09:15 AM

All the orinoco/proxim/cisco/etc (ie they're all identical, just rebranded) cards should have an external connector on the end.

GuRuGoD · 08-01-2003, 10:03 AM

For a cheap and easily availabe option, the DLink DWL-520+ has an external connector

SiGmA_X · 08-01-2003, 10:09 AM

Umm, don't all 802.11x card's have externals? My Linksys does.. And according to a guide at THG (Don't trust them for product benchmarks.. They sold out a LONG time ago - Their office is ON the Intel campus!!) you can add an antenna to nearly any card.. Or perhaps I'm way off.

GuRuGoD · 08-01-2003, 10:12 AM

Most PCMCIA Cards have some type of antenna connector, yes. But PCI cards are different. The DWL-520+ card i recommended is a mini-pci wireless card on a mini-pci to pci adapter board with the antenna connector run to the backplane.

hijinks21 · 08-01-2003, 10:14 AM

plus for good wifi use.. you want one to plug in an external antena to get better reciption.

SiGmA_X · 08-01-2003, 10:39 AM

I would have sworn that you could add a external antenna to almost any PCI WiFi adaptor, being they all have the universal external connection.. Guess I was wrong though, as I didn't even find it in the 802.11 article @ THG.. Here is some stuff to improve your AP though! I'll get back to you all with a link to a $30 802.11b card with a ~6 foot external antenna.. I have to search my chat logs, this could be a while!

GuRuGoD · 08-01-2003, 10:44 AM

Ooh, $30 sounds tempting!

e_fractal · 08-02-2003, 12:08 AM

Thanks guys.

The Dlink 520+ looks cheap (in a good way), only it has that little knobby antenna which hangs out the back. No port from what I've found. But they also sell for 23.99+shipping on Ebay. So I may consider getting one and hacking up the antenna.

My original plan was Orinoco (or other rebrand), but all models I found require a PC card > PCI adapter to use. Which is an extra $35-$50.

The Aironet looks decent. But a little spendy.

Should have added a little background to my inquiry. I have an old car, 73 Dodge Dart. The radio antenna is bent, and needs replaced anyway. So I found a couple 12b+ WiFI antennas that look about right ..

Should be easy with a little modding.

Checking out THG now . lots of good info.