LinuxQuestions.org - How to shop for wireless device?

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How to shop for wireless device?

I have to be able to get a wireless connection on my laptop as required by a teacher so they can send stuff to me. I go to Ebay and look at devices, but I don't really know what information to look for to make sure this will work anyplace I go. Some look like they connect to cell towers, some have antanae's that stick up; I looking for one where you use at internet cafe or restaurant. I guess I will be in form of PCMCIA device.

Maybe it already has this ability, I do not know. Here is output of 'lspci':

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (rev 03)

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX AGP bridge (rev 03)

00:03.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ601/6912/711E0 CardBus/SmartCardBus Controller

00:04.0 CardBus bridge: O2 Micro, Inc. OZ601/6912/711E0 CardBus/SmartCardBus Controller

00:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: ESS Technology ES1988 Allegro-1 (rev 12)

00:07.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)

00:07.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)

00:07.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)

00:07.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 03)

00:09.0 PCI bridge: Actiontec Electronics Inc Mini-PCI bridge (rev 11)

01:04.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 100] (rev 08)

01:08.0 Communication controller: Agere Systems WinModem 56k (rev 01)

02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: S3 Inc. 86C270-294 Savage/IX-MV (rev 13)

Looks like an older laptop, these cards work good;
orinoco ebay

I guess I should also mention, it has built in RF antannae...not really sure what that is all about as I don't know anyone with a computer with that on it...or whether this can be used to get wireless connection at place like Arby's or on campus. I found some information from manual about what it can support, although I think that just means it can be "upgraded" to these things. Maybe this provides alternative way to install wireless without using up the PCMCIA slot?

Copied from manual:

Integrated Wireline Communications:

56 Kbps V.90 fax/modem or 10/100M bit Ethernet LAN fax/modem combo
Mini-PCI module

Integrated Wireless Communications:

CDPD, Motient (ARDIS), Cingular (BSWD), GSM, Wireless LAN

CRMA Wireless Technology:

Common Radio Module Architecture (CRMA™) with fully integrated, rugged and user replaceable radio modules
Supports PCMCIA and OEM radio modules
Engineered for minimum radio desense to offer maximum wireless coverage
Superior wireless power management

The Antennas given the specs provided seem to be of the cellular telephone variety. You want WiFi otherwise known as 802.11, and you can indeed get one on a PCMCIA card.

Thanks for info! Looks like as I don't need the 56k modem, will swap out that mini-PCI card, I think can replace it and free up the PCMCIA slot for other use. ...mini-PCI card work just as good as a PCMCIA card?

Go to this site for compatible hardware Linux:
http://www.linuxtested.com/

Good luck!

You have to be pretty careful with wifi adapters. One company that actively supports linux open source development is Ralink.

Here is a list of adaptors using their hardware.

I believe some distros include ralink drivers already. Otherwise you might need to do some compiling. The EBay Orinoco cards mentioned above are supported in the standard kernel.