new toy - wifi card w/ external antenna

**warnockm** · 08-08-2006, 01:41 AM

Hey all, i picked up a new toy this weekend at DefCon. It's an Enterasys RoamAbout wifi card w/ an external antenna. THe 7dB antenna has a magnetic base to place on your roof or trunk of your car. I haven't played w/ it too much, but it seems cool. since its PCMCIA, it can't go in the car computer, but still, it's neat.

**DJFriar** · 08-10-2006, 10:24 PM

I owuld think you could find a PCMCIA adapter for FireWire or USB. I'm still looking for one for me to use with my Mac.

**wizardPC** · 08-13-2006, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by DJFriar

I owuld think you could find a PCMCIA adapter for FireWire or USB. I'm still looking for one for me to use with my Mac.

yeah you'd think that, but PCMCIA requires a lot more bandwidth that USB2 or Firewire can provide. Yes, there are Orinoco Gold USB cards out there that are really PCMCIA->USB adapters with PCMCIA cards in them, but you can't just buy the adapter. I've got 2 of these cards and have never successfully been able to plug another brand of WiFi card into them.

**BarryWoods** · 08-13-2006, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by wizardPC

yeah you'd think that, but PCMCIA requires a lot more bandwidth that USB2 or Firewire can provide. Yes, there are Orinoco Gold USB cards out there that are really PCMCIA->USB adapters with PCMCIA cards in them, but you can't just buy the adapter. I've got 2 of these cards and have never successfully been able to plug another brand of WiFi card into them.

The cool thing is, that you'll never see wireless faster than firewire, or usb2. At least not for a few years. Would be easier to just modify a usb wifi dongle to use an external antenna. Or just buy one that already has one.