Basic question on hooking a wireless antenna with the ExpressCard 34 slot

[Sharon]

I have a basic wireless network interface card question.

All I want is to attach an 802.11 wifi card in my laptop with an external
antenna to boost the laptop's wireless range.

I already had an Enteras Networks Roamabout 802.11 wifi card with an
antenna connection. But, when I plug the Enteras Networks RoamAbout wifi
card into the laptop slot, nothing happens. It doesn't even seem to fit!

Looking up the specs for my laptop, I find it's a basic laptop with an
"ExpressCard 34 slot". Looking up the specs for the card, it's a PCMCIA
card.

Do they make ExpressCard Standard wifi cards?
Which would you recommend that has an external antenna?

[LR]

Sharon wrote:
> I have a basic wireless network interface card question.
>
> All I want is to attach an 802.11 wifi card in my laptop with an external
> antenna to boost the laptop's wireless range.
>
> I already had an Enteras Networks Roamabout 802.11 wifi card with an
> antenna connection. But, when I plug the Enteras Networks RoamAbout wifi
> card into the laptop slot, nothing happens. It doesn't even seem to fit!
>
> Looking up the specs for my laptop, I find it's a basic laptop with an
> "ExpressCard 34 slot". Looking up the specs for the card, it's a PCMCIA
> card.
>
> Do they make ExpressCard Standard wifi cards?
> Which would you recommend that has an external antenna?
You could try a Ubiquiti SRX
http://ubnt.com/downloads/srx_datasheet.pdf
You will have to provide your own antenna.

[ps56k]

Sharon wrote:
> I have a basic wireless network interface card question.
>
> All I want is to attach an 802.11 wifi card in my laptop with an
> external antenna to boost the laptop's wireless range.
>
> I already had an Enteras Networks Roamabout 802.11 wifi card with an
> antenna connection. But, when I plug the Enteras Networks RoamAbout
> wifi card into the laptop slot, nothing happens. It doesn't even seem
> to fit!
>
> Looking up the specs for my laptop, I find it's a basic laptop with an
> "ExpressCard 34 slot". Looking up the specs for the card, it's a
> PCMCIA card.
>
> Do they make ExpressCard Standard wifi cards?
> Which would you recommend that has an external antenna?

which laptop ?

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 19:53:24 +0100, LR wrote:

>> Which ExpressCard WiFi would you recommend that has an external antenna?
> You could try a Ubiquiti SRX
> http://ubnt.com/downloads/srx_datasheet.pdf


Thank you.

I was doing research and found this card to be lacking in reviews
D-Link DWA-643 ExpressCard Wireless Network Adapter
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=550

But the Belkin ExpressCard seemed to have better reviews
Belkin N Wireless Express Card F5D8073
http://www.belkin.com/uk/supcuz/N_Wireless_ExpressCard_Adapter_F5D8073uk_PB.pdf

I'll compare the Belkin with the Ubiquiti SRX.
http://ubnt.com/downloads/srx_datasheet.pdf

One thing I'll want is the extra antenna slot and I don't know yet which
ones have that and which don't.

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 14:29:43 -0500, ps56k wrote:
> which laptop ?

An HP. With 80211.g but only with an internal antenna.
And it only has an express card, it doesn't have the stacked PC card.
http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/ecu04-indepth.jsp

I want the maximum range that an external antenna can give me.

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 14:15:25 -0700, Sharon wrote:

> Ubiquiti SRX

Digging more, it seems these three wireless expresscards seem to be
considered the ones for me to buy .....

1. Ubiquiti SRX (SuperRange Xpress)
2. Belkin N1 ExpressCard
3. Linksys WUSB54GC USB Adapter NIC

While I like the Belkin name (never heard of Ubiquiti before), I
unfortunately read that it doesn't work in promiscuous mode
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promiscuous_mode).

I'm going to consider myself a very junior trainee wannabee war driver as
of this moment cuz I'm excited about the possibilities but I don't know
anything yet. I do realize I gotta start with a card and some basic
knowledge (Linux will have to come later).

I'm looking up whether the Ubiquiti SRX or Linksys WUSB54GC can go
promiscuous and I'll get the one that does (if either one does).

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 14:26:18 -0700, Sharon wrote:

> On Thu, 29 May 2008 14:29:43 -0500, ps56k wrote:
>> which laptop ?
>
> An HP.

I forgot to list the model of the HP. It's the TX1120US

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 14:26:18 -0700, Sharon wrote:
> I want the maximum range that an external antenna can give me.

Ah, I see, after googling some more, that it isn't so simple to pick a card
without knowing some information. So, you can't help me more unless I do
some homework. Here's my first homework.......

0. State my requirements
a. Long range (as long as possible) so an antenna & jack is necessary
b. Windows XP (I learned I can't "inject packets" ... hmmm... what's that?)
c. Must work in promiscuous mode (so the chipset starts to matter)

1. List my constraints
a. The wireless NIC must be ExpressCard or USB dongle
b. I might boot the WinXP laptop to Knoppix if I must use Linux commands
c. I think there's a bootable OS called "Backtrack 2", which might work

2. I must learn the basics of a wireless card
a. Apparently promiscuous mode depends on the chipset, not the manufacturer
b. The model number is an important factor
b. Apparently even the card revision or card version is a key factor

3. Determine the chipset
a. Apparently HWiNFO shareware on Windows helps (http://www.hwinfo.com)
b. On Knoppix, I'd use the "dmesg" command ("lsmod" might also work)
c. I don't yet know if there is an ExpressCard equivalent to "lspci"

4. Verify the chipset capabilities
a. Apparently the RT73 chipset has promiscuous mode capabilities

5. Determine the drivers and patches required
a. Apparently the RT73 drivers seem to work well

6. Select a card (this is the long list for now until I research each one)
a. Ubiquiti SRX http://www.ubnt.com/downloads/srx_datasheet.pdf
b. Edimax EW-7318USG USB 2.0 (I think it's the rausb0 or rt2500 chipset)
c. Belkin FD7050 v4 USB adapter (zd1211rw chipset)

Before I go too much farther, can you advise me as to whether or not I need
"injection"? If so, I'd have to move to Linux (Knoppix? Backtrack2?).

What I want to do is have fun learning about this wireless game and finding
and listening to open connections (or WEP connections if I ever get good at
this).

So, I know I need promiscuity but do I need "injection"? The reason I ask
is it changes the decision as to which card to buy.

Thanks in advance!

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 16:50:53 -0700, Sharon wrote:

> Edimax EW-7318USG USB 2.0

Given I saw the Ralink R73 chipset highly recommended, here's the first
pass results for the Edimax EW-7318USG USB 2.0 (this one seems nice to be
able to extend the card to outside the car using a simple USB cable)
http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=8&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=44

1. My Requirements
*. [x] WinXP
*. [x] External 4Db antenna (RP-SMA interface)
*. [?] Monitor mode (aka promiscuous mode)

2. My Constraints
*. [x] ExpressCard or USB (it's USB)
*. [x] 802.11a, 802.11b (but not 802.11n)
*. [x] Supports WPA, WEP, AES, and WPA2 security

3. NIC Description
*. Brand = Edimax (seems to be the same as Alfa AWUS036S & Hawking HWUG1)
*. Model = EW-7318USG USB 2.0
*. Chipset = Ralink rt73
*. Drivers = can be used with RT73 drivers
*. Revision =
*. FCC ID: NDD-957318S607 (same as Hawking HWUG1)
*. Known problems = overheats

Perhaps more powerful adapters might be the the Edimax AWUS036E (316mW) or
the Alfa 500mW (same as the Edimax AWUS036H) so I'm still digging 'cuz I
can't find 'em yet on the specifications side.

[Sharon]

> 3. NIC Description
> *. Brand = Edimax (seems to be the same as Alfa AWUS036S & Hawking HWUG1)
> *. Model = EW-7318USG USB 2.0
> *. Chipset = Ralink rt73
> *. Drivers = can be used with RT73 drivers
> *. Revision =
> *. FCC ID: NDD-957318S607 (same as Hawking HWUG1)
> *. Known problems = overheats

This decision is getting harder the more I look it up! :(

For example, the Edimax EW-7318USG seems to transmit 50mW while others such
as the Alfa AWUS036H USB seem to transmit ten times that (500mW) ..... so
now I want the Alfa AWUS036H - but then I have to look up all the
specifications again!

Besides, I'm finding the Signal to Noise rating (aka SNR) also matters in
addition to the transmit power - and I didn't look at the SNR until now.
Sigh.

To belatedly compare the SNR for the two, here's what I found to be the
minimum SNR needed to connect

Edimax 7318USg receive sensitivity:
54Mbps: -70dBm
11Mbps = -83.5dBm

Alfa AWUS036H receive sensitivity:
54Mpbs (64QAM): -76dbm
48Mbps (64QAM): -71dbm
36Mpbs (16QAM): -78dbm
24Mbps (16QAM): -80dbm
18Mbps (QPSK): -81dbm
12Mpbs (QPSK): -82dbm
9Mbps (BPSK): -85dbm
6Mbps (BPSK): -91dbm

I'm not sure how to read these numbers but they seem pretty similar.

Do these two cards seem similar to you?

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 18:50:28 -0700, Sharon wrote:
> I'm not sure how to read these numbers but they seem pretty similar.

Sorry for the blog but I'm so excited about learning these things .....
this is a great site for information that should help
http://airdump.net/papers/wifi-adapters-applications

[Sharon]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 18:50:28 -0700, Sharon wrote:

> Alfa AWUS036H USB

Drat. The Alfa AWUS036H has a ten times more powerful tranmitter (500mW)
than the Edimax EW-7318USG (50 mW) but it apparently has much buggier XP
and Linux drivers. That might make a difference.

Is this greater TX power all important for war driving wannabees like me?
Or is the RX SNR sensitivity a more important consideration?

[NotMe]

"Sharon" <Sharongig@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:g1no68$pp9$1@aioe.org...
| On Thu, 29 May 2008 18:50:28 -0700, Sharon wrote:
|
| > Alfa AWUS036H USB
|
| Drat. The Alfa AWUS036H has a ten times more powerful tranmitter (500mW)
| than the Edimax EW-7318USG (50 mW) but it apparently has much buggier XP
| and Linux drivers. That might make a difference.
|
| Is this greater TX power all important for war driving wannabees like me?
| Or is the RX SNR sensitivity a more important consideration?

Old ham mantra: you can't hear um you can't work um

[DTC]

Sharon wrote:
> Ubiquiti SRX.
> http://ubnt.com/downloads/srx_datasheet.pdf

Check out the Ubiquiti forums
http://ubnt.com/forum/index.php