Older Laptop Network Card - now wish to go wireless

Hello, I have an old NetGear network card for my laptop. 100Mbps.
It's uses a PCMICA interface connected to a RJ45 dongle. It's IEEE
802.3u compliant. I now would like to use it to go wireless. My
questions are:
1) Is there an external antenna that can plug into the RJ45 jack on
the dongle?
2) Since it's only 802.3u compliant how to get to 802.11g? Is there a
kit (cheap) that will enable this?

Any help is appreciated.

J

hdjim69 wrote:
> Hello, I have an old NetGear network card for my laptop. 100Mbps.
> It uses a PCMICA interface connected to an RJ45 dongle. It's IEEE
> 802.3u compliant. I now would like to use it to go wireless. My
> questions are:

> 1) Is there an external antenna that can plug into the RJ45 jack on
> the dongle?

No.

> 2) Since it's only 802.3u compliant how to get to 802.11g? Is there a
> kit (cheap) that will enable this?

Again, no. You're trying to make apple pie with oranges. Your current
network adapter card is designed for use with wired networks only. If
you want to use radio waves, you'll have to buy an adapter with a radio
in it,

hdjim69 wrote:
> Hello, I have an old NetGear network card for my laptop. 100Mbps.
> It's uses a PCMICA interface connected to a RJ45 dongle. It's IEEE
> 802.3u compliant. I now would like to use it to go wireless. My
> questions are:
> 1) Is there an external antenna that can plug into the RJ45 jack on
> the dongle?
> 2) Since it's only 802.3u compliant how to get to 802.11g? Is there a
> kit (cheap) that will enable this?
>
> Any help is appreciated.
>
> J

To #1, no.. that's wired ethernet only
to #2, does your older laptop have a usb port and what opsys does it run?
(if usb and win me or later, usb dongles are under $40)

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:06:55 -0800 (PST), hdjim69 <hdjim69@hotmail.com>
wrote in
<943ca410-5034-4d79-bd8b-f569e3c896b1@k2g2000hse.googlegroups.com>:

>Hello, I have an old NetGear network card for my laptop. 100Mbps.
>It's uses a PCMICA interface connected to a RJ45 dongle. It's IEEE
>802.3u compliant. I now would like to use it to go wireless. My
>questions are:
>1) Is there an external antenna that can plug into the RJ45 jack on
>the dongle?

No.

>2) Since it's only 802.3u compliant how to get to 802.11g? Is there a
>kit (cheap) that will enable this?

No kit period.

The only way to go wireless with it is to buy and attach a wireless
Ethernet client bridge.

Cheaper to get a wireless PC Card.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Erm, just replace the network card with a wireless one.

You could use an ethernet to wireless bridge, but then you'd have a separate
box AND a power supply for it.

A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.

> Hello, I have an old NetGear network card for my laptop. 100Mbps.
> It's uses a PCMICA interface connected to a RJ45 dongle. It's IEEE
> 802.3u compliant. I now would like to use it to go wireless. My
> questions are:
> 1) Is there an external antenna that can plug into the RJ45 jack on
> the dongle?
> 2) Since it's only 802.3u compliant how to get to 802.11g? Is there a
> kit (cheap) that will enable this?

> A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.

So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
card.

I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?

Thanks for all your help.

J

"hdjim69" <hdjim69@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:63dc7493-0304-4376-8fbe-33dee8fc6694@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>> A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.
>
> So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
> built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
> network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
> card.

Uh, yeah, that's painfully obvious ain't it?

> I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
> or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
> wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?

Erm, no, bluetooth has nothing to do with wifi. And do yourself a favor and
pickup the card from a local retailer. If it doesn't work properly then you
don't want to get stuck paying for return shipping. Fleabay is not the
place to be 'learning' what works or not, you'll waste far more money than
makes sense.

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:23:08 -0800 (PST), hdjim69 <hdjim69@hotmail.com>
wrote in
<63dc7493-0304-4376-8fbe-33dee8fc6694@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>:

>> A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.
>
>So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
>built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
>network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
>card.
>
>I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
>or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
>wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?

You need a >> Wi-Fi << USB dongle.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

hdjim69 <hdjim69@hotmail.com> wrote:
> So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
> built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
> network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
> card.

No, I don't think you have it straight. Your statement here is different
from your statement in the original post.

0> It's uses a PCMICA interface connected to a RJ45 dongle.

That wouldn't be a built-in jack. That would be a PCMCIA card, with a
dongle, that you suggest could be connected to some other widget to go
wireless.

From an Ethernet port, either built-in or your card/dongle combination,
you could plug in a wireless client adapter, but those are far more
expensive than a new card, and would be large and unwieldy.

Others have suggested that you pop out the PCMCIA card and put in a new
802.11g card in its place.

> I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
> or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
> wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?

Bluetooth would be a different thing altogether, most commonly used to
connect to a cellphone for contact synchronization, maybe internet access
via a cellular data plan.

You didn't say you had USB. You didn't say if your USB is 1.1 or 2.0
speed, you didn't say what OS you have until now. There are USB dongles
for 802.11g, maybe still some 802.11b. The "b" might be in the $10 range,
and would match the speed of an old USB 1.1 port. The USB-802.11g adapters
are more in the $40 range from retail outlets, and USB all operate on USB
1.1 or USB 2.0 ports.should be okay on
Win2k.

> Thanks for all your help.

It's easier if we know what you have.

--
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

Go with a USB wireless G dongle to make sure that you are good for
some time. Due to being low down on the side of the laptop, PCMCIA
cards are generally not as good reception.

Here's a good list of adapters:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...eless+Adapters

Check the ratings before you buy!

I prefer ones with external antenna connectors as they are more
flexible, but they cost more. This one is my quick pick:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833315075

Steve

hdjim69 wrote:
>> A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.
>
> So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
> built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
> network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
> card.
>
> I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
> or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
> wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?
>
> Thanks for all your help.
>
> J

you're mixing apples, oranges, and peaches....

802.xxxx is merely a standards group
that works on getting Ethernet packets transmitted across different physical
media

802.3 = wired ethernet via RJ45 (either built-in or PCMCIA card)
802.11b/g = WiFi - common wireless access - again a PCMCIA card with the
WiFi electronics
bluetooth - a "personal" area network... like cellphone to headset or PDA to
laptop
again - a different technology requiring a different PCMCIA card
with different electronics

now - the physical choices....
PCMCIA card to slide into the laptop slot for WiFi, bluetooth, Ethernet RJ45
or the USB dongle solutions for WiFi, bluetooth, Ethernet RJ 45

"hdjim69" <hdjim69@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:63dc7493-0304-4376-8fbe-33dee8fc6694@m34g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> > A new card, however, is likely to be considerably less expensive.
>
> So let me see if I got this right. If I have an old laptop with a
> built-in Ethernet rj45 jack in the back, I can just plug into a wired
> network. To work at wifi hotspots I need another network adapter
> card.
>
> I see bluetooth usb dongles on ebay for like $10. Is that all I need
> or do I need more? I'm running an older os, win2k server. do I need
> wifi software or does it come with the bluetooth usb dongle?
>
> Thanks for all your help.
>

Win2k Server might be a problem -
you need to have the driver software for the specific card,
and Win2k (server) support might be a challenge for some of these...

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:18:20 -0800 (PST), seaweedsteve
<seaweedsteve@gmail.com> wrote:

>Go with a USB wireless G dongle to make sure that you are good for
>some time. Due to being low down on the side of the laptop, PCMCIA
>cards are generally not as good reception.

Hmmm. Maybe so, I don't know, but otoh, his PC slot is probably not
used for anything else, and his USB port might be needed for a memory
stick or something. My laptop is old, but the PC slot and the USB
jack are about the same height, on opposite sides.

>Here's a good list of adapters:
>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...eless+Adapters
>
>Check the ratings before you buy!
>
>I prefer ones with external antenna connectors as they are more
>flexible, but they cost more. This one is my quick pick:
>
>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833315075
>
>Steve
>
>


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