[lug] USB wireless

[John Dollison]

I've been researching this for myself as well, but I don't have hands-on experience yet.  I've read dozens of posts that say PCI works better if you want to spend the time and money for an external hi-gain antenna that can be mounted away from (preferably above) the PC; but USB devices often use the same receiver/transmitter chipset as PCI cards, and using a 3-to-4 foot USB cable makes it quick and easy to move the device around to maximize reception.  Most older posts (pre-2007) seem to recommend PCI, while most recent posts recommend USB (2.0 only).
 
The Ubuntu wiki has a page devoted to Wifi hardware support:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported
 
And this website has several pages devoted to PCI & USB driver compatibility / support:
http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Devices
 
I found several adapters (both PCI & USB) at NewEgg.com that got very good customer reviews that specifically mentioned performance under "Linux" or "Ubuntu"; but you have to poke around, since you can't search the reviews for keywords (as far as I know):
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=31&name=Wireless-Adapters
 
Shuttle, which makes the Linux-based KPC computer, uses the Shuttle PN15, PN18, and PN20 cards, which use the (apparently well-supported) Zydas chipset:
http://us.shuttle.com/MoreInfoPages/Wireless%20Module.htmlhttp://us.shuttle.com/barebone/Models/Accessory/PN20.html
http://www.directron.com/pn18.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=92327
 
System76, another pre-installed Linux vendor, appears to use the Intel Pro Wireless 3945 & 4965 cards.
 
If that's not enough, a Google search for "USB vs. PCI wifi" turned up tons more info.--John DollisonWestminster, CO   



> To: lug at lug.boulder.co.us> Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:37:34 -0400> From: gordongoldin at aim.com> Subject: [lug] USB wireless > > > I thought I posted this before but then didn't see it.... %-{> > I have a bunch of PCs I need to set up for wireless. It seems SOOOOO > much easier to buy those little USB wireless plug-ins.> > Does anybody have comments? In a low-signal environment are they > useless? How much worse than the cards with antennae?> > Gordon > _______________________________________________> Web Page: http://lug.boulder.co.us> Mailing List: http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/mailman/listinfo/lug> Join us on IRC: lug.boulder.co.us port=6667 channel=#colug
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.lug.boulder.co.us/pipermail/lug/attachments/20080916/a12f7328/attachment.html>