€21 802.11b cards

sirlinux

Maplins are doing 802.11b cards for 21 euro just got one, it's not bad, thye are also doing combined adsl modem/router/wireless access point for €115. Not a bad deal.

WezzyB

Are they
PCI (Desktop)
or
PCMCIA (Laptop)
or
USB (either)

sirlinux

pcmcia sorry, forget to mention that.

Renegade_Archer

Any idea what chipsets these things run on?

A quick google didnt turn up much...

WezzyB

from Maplins website

Wireless Network PCMCIA Card

· Connect to a wireless network
· WiFi compatible (802.11b)
· Automatically adjusts to fastest rate possible (22Mbps or 11Mbps)
· LED indicators
· Simple plug and play connection

Highlights
• High Speed Wireless connection up to 22Mbps
• Automated high security wireless access up to 256 bit encryption
• Greater range - better area coverage than conventional 11 Mbps wireless products -- up to 100m (indoor) and 400m (outdoor)
Benefits
• Provides wireless network access
• Provides wireless access to Multi-Media appliances i.e. On-line Gaming, Video streaming and VOC
• Auto fallback data rate for long distance communications or in noisy environments
• Wireless access provides LAN extension Features
• Compatible with all 11 Mbps 802.11b wireless standard products - automatically adjusts to the fastest rate possible: 22 Mbps or 11 Mbps
• Receives AP signal strength and quality displayed within application
• Integrates with Windows XP wireless networking
• Simple “plug and play” connection
• One (1) year warranty



Specification Wireless PC Card General Specifications
Standards: IEEE802.11b Certified
Data Rate: 22Mbps/11Mbps/5.5Mbps/2Mbps/1Mbps auto fallback
Security: 64/128/256 bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
Dimension: 28 x 54 x 9.6 mm (Non-detachable card), PCMCIA Type II
LED Indicators
Power / Status: Unlighted: Power off
Orange LED: Power on
RF TX/RX Unlighted: No activity
Green LED blinking: TX/RX activity Interface
Card Bus: PC Card standard Ver 7.0

sirlinux

also more at http://www.binatonebroadband.com it's a wl1000 havent had a chance to play much, still at work, but from the 22mbps and 256 wep id guess it's some prism variant.

MarkR

Looks like air link? Do they have a store in dublin , or is it all UK?

WezzyB

They have two stores in Dublin.

One on Jervis Street, near Smyths Toys (just off Parnell Street)

The other is in Blanch SC, in one of the retail parks, near Elverys/TKMaxx

po0k

There's a Maplins opening in Galway in the next month.

irishgeo

Originally posted by SyxPak
There's a Maplins opening in Galway in the next month.

Any idea where and great news as i might be moving to galway for a few months.

sirlinux

Galway cork and limerick according to the sunday business post

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/09/08/story327181.asp

spongebob

Originally posted by SyxPak
There's a Maplins opening in Galway in the next month.

In Moneenageesha . Next month may be optimistic, it is a shell at the moment.

M

MarkR

Originally posted by sirlinux
Galway cork and limerick according to the sunday business post

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2002/09/08/story327181.asp

Sweet, the limerick one would be handy. Has to be better than PC World and compustore.

tomk

Originally posted by Renegade_Archer
Any idea what chipsets these things run on?

I just had a look at the wl1000.inf file from the Windoze drivers package, and it includes the following:

; HardwareID
HKR, ,HardwareID, ,"ACX100"

So I reckon it's the Texas Instruments ACX100 chipset. For Linux folk like myself, there is an open-source driver project here, and a Google for "ACX100" will throw up a lot more useful info.

I'm going to mail Binatone to see if they will confirm all this.

tomk

ACX100 chipset confirmed by Binatone.

rubberduckey

Hi,

On the subject of Wireless cards, does anyone know of a good(i.e.cheap-ish!!) source of USB wireless cards??

Thanks in advance

vibe666

looking for a cheap PCI 802.11b card at the moment anyone know of cheap ones?

sound_wave

cork and limerick according to the sunday business post

where in cork?

str8_away

padshea2

Got a USB dongle from ebay from this guuy with extra shipping to Ireland it cost me total of £24
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=shop4hardware&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

It is no a bad dongle. made by Zydas.
When it is plug to the back of computer it works fine but when used with USB extention cable the connection would break sometimes.

rubberduckey

str_8 away...thanks for that...I'll check Ebay out.