kony wrote:
> >Basically, this PCI card is totally identical to a "normal" PCI card
> >that would go in any mini-ATX desktop case, EXCEPT that the backplate
> >is only 80 mm long from the tab to the point where it screws into the
> >chassis, rather than the 120 mm or so for a "normal" PCI card. This is
> >presumably to allow a slim case (the whole case is only about 100 mm
> >wide)
>
> Nice ASCII art. That's probably a "low profile" card
> bracket. Not as common, but still a standard.

Thanks Kony! Looks right to me... why didn't I think of that? I found
the spec on it:
http://www.pcisig.com/specifications...i/lowp_ecn.pdf

> Low profile. You can (with a little hunting) find some low
> profile network adapters, though many of the wireless ones
> that short (PCB itself) are inferior quality... it seems
> most of the good ones are a little more than 80mm from
> bracket tip to card PCB top edge. I probably would've used
> a USB adapter or the built in ethernet port to a bridge
> capable access point or capable router (the lines on what
> each is and can do are blurring, based on installed
> firmware).

Good to know, thanks! It's strange because many PCI cards are shallow
enough to fit this form factor easily. It's too bad that such cards
don't come with replacement brackets, it's just a 10-cent piece of
sheet metal basically.

I searched for low-profile PCI cards and it seems like some of them are
labeled as such based on the depth of the *card* and NOT the dimensions
of the bracket... for instance this one here:
http://www.acortech.com/AOpen_FM56-S...d-3204184.html
It's clear from the relative lengths of the pins and the bracket that
the bracket is about 120 mm... so it's clearly not a low-profile
bracket. Is this a term that's abused a lot?

Dan