Compatible,faster wireless than current factory installed??

Question

I just bought a tiny used dell latitude c400 to use on the go for internet and word processor. It has a Dell TrueMobile 1300 WLAN Mini-PCI Card - which is slow. Would a linksys Wireless 108.11-G card added make the internet faster and keep me from losing connection? Would a Wireless 108.11-B card make a difference? thanks!

volcano11 · Answer

The speed of your internet connection is controlled by your ISP, not your wireless card.  The fastest cable or dsl connections available are currently less than 10 Mbps, thus an 802.11g wireless card at 54 Mbps is much faster than you ISP will provide.  A slower 802.11b wireless card at 11 Mbps is still faster than most cable or dsl providers will allow.   Steve

cmcconvi · Answer

Thanks for your response. Well the reason I ask is b/c my newer dell - sitting right next to it - says it is functioning on 54 mbps and it is much faster. Also our router is 802.11G.

jmwills · Answer

The connection from the laptop (with the 802.11b card) to the router will be be at 11 mbps while the other laptop will be at 54 mbps.  That's the nature of the beast.

cmcconvi · Answer

Right, my question is can I get up to 54 mbps (the speed of my newer dell) or anything faster than 11mbps if I buy a newer card and put it in the old laptop (say a Wireless G)? Or is 11mbps the max speed for the old latitude c400?

jmwills · Answer

If the older machine can handle a PCMCIA card, then yes, you could install an 802.11g card.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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