Which Internal Wireless NIC to buy?

I personally like the EnGenius products - very high power output and receive sensitivity.

Up to 200mW output!!

I thought a pccard was your only option. You can put a pci mini in your system? Where does it go?

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

In the 5100  mini-PCI slot.

Isnt that the mini pci card for the modem that is in these systems?

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys w/speedbooster wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

2 slots actually, one for the modem, one for the nic.

Actually you will have 2 nics, one wired and one wireless. Then you can connect as you require. No different than having a wireless PCMCA nic running except that you do not have to plug it in and out of the slot.

But that would be for the nic that is connected to the external port. So what you are saying is you can put in a wireless nic and by pass the nic already in the computer and it will work? At least only the wireless nic will work or will you have functionality from the network jack on the back of your system also?

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys w/speedbooster wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

I checked and you are correct. I do have a mini pci slot available.  I thought they had all been used by the current set up. I wish I would have known this before I bought my pccard. Now I need to find out if Linksys makes a mini pci card with speedbooster technology. Thanks for filling me in.  I learned something new today.

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys w/speedbooster wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

So the way I have my system currently working I should have a mini pci slot available. If what you are saying is correct. So the nic I have built in must be intergrated with the mother board if it is not using the mini pci slot you are referring to.? I guess I will have to look.

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys w/speedbooster wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

 

 

 

 

They use a daughter card modem.  The NIC is a chip on the motherboard.

Thats why I pointed you to the online service manual. 

Linksys does sell desktop PCI cards that have mini-PCI cards under the metal shield - look for the connector under the shield near the gold edge-fingers.  Then you may need to add U.FL connectors for your antennas to plug onto - most manufacturers are cheaping out and soldering the antenna lead to the mini-PCI card under the shields instead of including the U.FL connectors on the pcb.  Digikey sells the U.FL connectors if you'd need them.

I called Linksys, and the tech I talked to stated they did have a mini pci with speedbooster. She referred me back to the pccard that I already purchased.

Inspiron 5100
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHZ
512 MB RAM
32 MB MOBILITY RADEON 7500C
40 GB Fujitsu HD
QSI CDRW/DVD SBW-242
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated NIC
WPC54GS Linksys w/speedbooster wireless nic
BCM V.92 56k Modem
SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Bios ver. A29
Win XP Home SP2
pur. Jan 2004

She is mistaken.  See my post above at 7:50PM on 9/28.