My step-father recently gave me his old laptop, a toshiba satellite 4090xdvd. I'm planning to install linux on it, but I need help to find a compatible wireless card. My first problem is I'm not used to laptops and the different types of expansion buses, I think I understand it well enough though but I'm a bit confused. All I can find out is that it has a pccard expansion slot, but it doesn't state what type it supports or anything. Right now it has a 16bit Type 3 ethernet adaptor in it, so I know it supports that, but otherwise I'm kind of lost.

just go with a usb adapter, as they are more versatile. see the hardware guide for info...

Hi,

Did you look at the network section in the LQ HCL?

I would suggest that you use the pcmcia/cardbus. The reason being the USB 1 for this unit. Your throughput would be greater with the pcmcia/cardbus plus a lot easier to setup. You didn't state a/b/g standard for the wireless. What does your access point support?

I would recommend looking in this sites HCL for a compatible PCMCIA wireless card. I can't recommend USB wireless devices. They tend to be limited in speed, in range and can be difficult to setup.

I don't want a usb device as onebuck said I only have 1 usb port and I'll probably occupy that with a mouse or something. My wireless router supports supports b, and g, and I think a as well. I don't need help so much in picking out the actual card as I do telling what type of card (type I, II, III) this laptop supports.

Hi,

If you do a search on google you should find all the specifications you need. Your Tosiba satellite 4090xdvd uses the CardBus x2.

the x2 just means it's got 2 cardbus slots right? From my understanding cardbus is a general term, there's many different types of cardbus's. They come in Type 1,2,3, and 4 and in 16 and 32 bus widths. I can't figure out which of those types this laptop supports, other than 16 bit type 3 and I only know this because there's currently a working nic in there.

Am I misunderstanding this or if something supports cardbus, it supports all specifications? I also thought cardbus could either be pci, or isa based, so I would assume this means they are not compatible, and I'd further guess 16bit = isa, and 32bit = pci, no?

A card based on ralink. Not usb, rather pcmcia.

http://ralink.rapla.net/

That would be a start. Crosscheck with HCL or even make a google search to see what people say about a specific one.

Can a Toshiba Satellite 4090xdvd support Type II 32bit pcmcia cards?

Hi,

You should look at the PC CARD wiki to get a definition for the PCMCIA/Cardbus. HTH!

Search for supported cards here:
http://linux-wless.passys.nl/