Wireless networking hardware question.. HELP!!

Hey guys...

Today I went out and purchased some equipment for networking my laptop to my 3 PC's. What I was trying to setup was wireless acess for my laptop. I purchased a d-link DWL-G650 High Speed 802.11g wireless 108mbps cardbus adapter with a 2.4 GHz range. For my router, I purchased a D-Link DI-524. It's an 802.11g/2.4GHz Wireless router with a 4 port switch.

My laptop is a somewhat older Dell Latitude C600 with a P3 1Ghz processor, 512 MB RAM, etc. with 10/100 Ethernet (Connect to DSL/Cable Modems or LAN's) and (2) Type I, Type II, or 32-bit cardbus slots and 2 USB ports that I'll be expanding soon with a USB hub.

Basically what I want to do is get a high speed wireless adapter that'll have a high transfer rate inside of my home network and access to WiFI access points outside of my home. I'd like a nice range from my router point so that I don't have to be restricted to a short distance away, and I'd like to do minimal to no hardware installs outside of the router and a plug and play card (of course that would be after initial software setup).

What can you guys recommend that I'd use given the info provided? I've ordered another lappy as well, but I still want to use this one as it's still very reliable.

Brand names, model numbers and anything else would be helpful. I'd like to keep the price reasonable, but as a reference point, I just spent $220 at best buy on this equipment. I'd appreciate any and all real answers. I'd like to get this connected yesterday!

[Helix]

I read your post and it seeme you have already purchased everything you need to accomplish your task.....unless I missed something.

Ya, what are you missing? Unless you want an antenna to make the range better?

Originally posted by Helix
I read your post and it seeme you have already purchased everything you need to accomplish your task.....unless I missed something.

Oops.. I forgot to mention that. The problem is that the adapter doesn't fit into anything. It's too large and the 32mb cardbus that was mentioned doesn't seem to exist on my computer. I need something that'll work with USB or some other connection.

[arial]

Originally posted by shermsshack
Oops.. I forgot to mention that. The problem is that the adapter doesn't fit into anything. It's too large and the 32mb cardbus that was mentioned doesn't seem to exist on my computer. I need something that'll work with USB or some other connection.

They so sell those USB adapters, like $60 tho.

That Dell should have a slot that will fit it.

http://www.affordablecomputers.com/p...ducts.php/8629

If not, get the USB wifi adaptor.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=268

Originally posted by arial
They so sell those USB adapters, like $60 tho.

Is it an adapter that goes on the existing card, or can I just purchase a new card with USB capability? I've seen those cards around with the USB capability, but I'm wondering what would be comporable to what I've currently got. Are the USB's just as fast, or does the speed decline.. Also, do they have outside WiFI access so that I can sip on overpriced coffee while conducting biz on a cell phone in a tiny place? I really want to annoy people in public places!

[Helix]

Originally posted by shermsshack
Is it an adapter that goes on the existing card, or can I just purchase a new card with USB capability? I've seen those cards around with the USB capability, but I'm wondering what would be comporable to what I've currently got. Are the USB's just as fast, or does the speed decline.. Also, do they have outside WiFI access so that I can sip on overpriced coffee while conducting biz on a cell phone in a tiny place? I really want to annoy people in public places!

I'm not familiar with those, but I would go to the D-Link website. They have a configurator online that might be of some help.
http://www.dlink.com

good luck

Originally posted by evildick
That Dell should have a slot that will fit it.

http://www.affordablecomputers.com/p...ducts.php/8629

If not, get the USB wifi adaptor.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=268

From what I can see, it's nowhere to be found. I've taken apart the damn thing looking for hidden ports but there's nothing there. I will however look into that USB solution. From what I can tell, I can use it to surf outside of my home network via WiFI service (which is a HUGE concern). If I'm wrong, lemme know. Also, if I used this, I could just return the current adapter and run off of that? It's not something that has to be attached to an already existing cardbus adapter is it?

Sorry for these idiotic questions. I'm far from being a computer tech.

Originally posted by Helix
I'm not familiar with those, but I would go to the D-Link website. They have a configurator online that might be of some help.
http://www.dlink.com

good luck

Awesome. not only am I technically stupid, but I can't search the web when I'm in a panic. Great combo, isn't it?

Originally posted by shermsshack
From what I can see, it's nowhere to be found. I've taken apart the damn thing looking for hidden ports but there's nothing there. I will however look into that USB solution. From what I can tell, I can use it to surf outside of my home network via WiFI service (which is a HUGE concern). If I'm wrong, lemme know. Also, if I used this, I could just return the current adapter and run off of that? It's not something that has to be attached to an already existing cardbus adapter is it?

Sorry for these idiotic questions. I'm far from being a computer tech.

There's nothing on it that looks like this?


Even my shitty old HP Laptop with a 550 mhz AMD has a PCMCIA slot on it.

But ya, if you can't get it to work with the thing you bought already, just take it back and buy the USB thing I linked to above. You only need one, not both.

And you will be able to sit outside and surf, depending on your house and how far you go from the router.

[arial]

Originally posted by shermsshack
Is it an adapter that goes on the existing card, or can I just purchase a new card with USB capability? I've seen those cards around with the USB capability, but I'm wondering what would be comporable to what I've currently got. Are the USB's just as fast, or does the speed decline.. Also, do they have outside WiFI access so that I can sip on overpriced coffee while conducting biz on a cell phone in a tiny place? I really want to annoy people in public places!

Yea it's a just an adapter that plugs in via a USB port, I have one and I get a steady 11mbps just dont use them for gaming, you get bad lag spikes. Other than that they are great. Good for catching hotspots on cafes and libraries or anywhere within a certain area. If someone has a wireless router you can tap into their net. Good stuff.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....type=pr oduct

Originally posted by evildick
There's nothing on it that looks like this?


Even my shitty old HP Laptop with a 550 mhz AMD has a PCMCIA slot on it.

But ya, if you can't get it to work with the thing you bought already, just take it back and buy the USB thing I linked to above. You only need one, not both.

And you will be able to sit outside and surf, depending on your house and how far you go from the router.

Son of a bitch. I just noticed that I had a 3com 10-100 LAN+56k Cardbus modem in that port for some reason. Once I took that bitch out, there was the pins and the adapter fit in fine. Thanks for making my pry that area open.

Now please everybody... Step away from the thread and don't bring too much attention to the fact that I'm an idiot.