Express Card Slot v. Standard PCMCIA Interface for WIFI Cards

Express cards are the new standard replacing pc-cards (pcmcia).  Lots of companies besides dell are moving towards them.  You can find a listing of express card products here:

 

http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/cons_wtb.jsp

 

In particular, there are currently two options for wireless express cards:

 

"Dell" branded: 

 

"Belkin" branded:  http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=299617#

 

Both are 34mm express cards.

 

edit:  the dell link is apparently dead and I can't find a new location.  it was a dell express card 1390 though (and there are some on ebay)

It seems that the PC community at large hasn't embaraced the PCMCIA Committe's endorsement of the Express Card...HP still ships laptops with standard PCMCIA slots, as an example.

 

Although I do appreciate your reply, I was aware that Belkin was (and is ) the only manufacurer of a WiFi Express Card. Also very pricey. Why should the consumer (at the design wills of Dell) spend $120 for a Express card when there are PCMCIA cards that do the same thing for $30?

 

I'd still like to know which institution Dell recruits its engineers from which would account for this farce!

I can't find a link to the cheaper dell branded one.  This site used to carry it but it's out of stock

 

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=240&s=1125&ID=21683&P=F

 

I also found one hit on ebay:  http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Wireless-1390-Wlan-802-11g-ExpressCard-NEW_W0QQitemZ320032895772QQihZ011QQcategoryZ45000QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

just curious, you must have a newer notebook to have expresscard slots, so does your system have a mini-pci wireless card that could be replaced?  And how have you determined that your "wifi Intel pro chipset" is about to quit?  Guess I'm trying to figure out why you specifically want expresscard and what diagnostics you have done on the wifi card.

The Dell (9400/E1705) ia app. 14 months old. The internal wifi is a mini PCI card and I guess if I knew what I was doing, I could replace it. However, I thought by simply getting a Express Card it would be simpler. The existing internal Intel wireless on occassion(s) will stop and re-start and I've looked everywhere for diagnostic tools for it but came up empty. The chipset is a 3945ABG. If you know of a diagnostic tool then can you please advise me?

 

Incidentally, I just replaced the DVD-R drive in this notebook because the laser in it failed. I believe Dell re-defines the term "planned obsolesence".

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/en/om/parts.htm#wp1052769

 

Your system is not very old, if it is out of warranty you can buy mini-pci replacement cards, but I am not certain your card is bad.  I would try and rule out in a systematic fashion your wireless router, signal, settings, drivers including windows updates, etc etc etc.  What wireless security are you running?  I mean there are alot of things that come to mind other than a bad card, although cards can go bad sometimes.    Mini-pci cards are not expensive so it's your call if you want to replace it with another or a usb wlan or expresscard wlan.