Wireless cards with antenna jacks

mlsbraves · 12-16-2004, 09:55 PM

I'm about to buy a new IBM T42p but none of their wireless cards support an external antenna jack. I will be taking Networking Security classes that will require this, so I need to buy a wireless LAN card. But since I'm running linux I need to buy a card that has drivers for it and has been well tested. Now the Cisco Aironet series(some have the antenna jack) look promising but will it work well under linux? So my question is, What wireless card with an antenna jack has the best support under linux?

Thanks for your help.

secesh · 12-16-2004, 10:13 PM

aironet. hands down, all the wifi projects seem to support aironet first.

and 802.11b

if you need more, you might want to look into any specific projects you might need, and see if they have compatability constraints.

mlsbraves · 12-17-2004, 01:20 AM

What about the Orinoco Gold card? I thought I had read that the aironet had an external antenna jack but it appears I was wrong. I only seem to be able to find information about window drivers. I've searched but I can't get many good hits with wireless cards that support external antennas.

secesh · 12-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Cisco says:

Quote:

# PC cards have an integrated, permanently attached diversity antenna. The benefit of the diversity antenna system is improved coverage. The system works by allowing the card to switch and sample between its two antenna ports in order to select the optimum port for receiving data packets. As a result, the card has a better chance of maintaining the radio frequency (RF) connection in areas of interference. The antenna is housed within the section of the card that hangs out of the PC card slot when the card is installed.

# LM cards are shipped without an antenna; however, an antenna can be connected through the card's external connector.

you can find 'em on ebay, i know...

but since your professor has strict requirements on what HW will be applicable to his class, why not ask him before purchasing?

mlsbraves · 12-17-2004, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by secesh
Cisco says:

you can find 'em on ebay, i know...

but since your professor has strict requirements on what HW will be applicable to his class, why not ask him before purchasing?

Because classes won't begin until Jan. Finals were all this week so I didn't have time to ask him. Thanks for the link though.