PCMCIA LAN card.... Suggestions

[RNG]

Need a PCMCIA LAN card for my HP pavilion n3150(older) laptop.

Anyone with suggestions? cheap is better.

and what is the deal with the "dongle" do you need one or not. I noticed the DLINK DMF-560 TXD does not require one?

are all the cards pretty standard (ie. work on most networks?)

and what is cardbus?

thanks

 

[astroview]

Well probably get a 10/100 ethernet card from a big name manufacturer, performance wise it doesn't matter who really. The 3Com cards have something called X-Jack meaning its a jack that sticks out of the PCMCIA card so it doesn't need a dongle. Its ok as long as there is nothing obstructing the area below the card.

I'm assuming you have a standard ethernet network wired with RJ-45, but we really need to know more about the network to tell you if a "standard" card will work on it or not. Because some places use unusual stuff like coaxial or optical cables...


As for cardbus, I've always wondered about that too.

 

[RNG]

Well the network is on an army post in kansas. I will make the assumption that it is not a weird type, most likely the RJ-45 (?).

What kind of price range should I be paying.

and the Dongle thing, what is it? Do newer cards not have them?

 

[astroview]

In that case this basic card should do the trick I'm pretty sure. As you can see it has no dongle but it juts out a little bit which might bother you. If you're not sure if this is the type of card you want head over to your local best buy/circuit city type of place and buy one like this. That way its a no hassle return if the card doesn't work.

Only reason I chose that one to show you is that its cheap.

 

[murphy55d]

I have a Xircom RealPort2...it is a 10/100 and 56k in 1. Works just fine.

 

[Boobers]

Regular PCMCIA LAN cards are 16 bit, and CardBus cards are 32 bit.

 

[BlitzRommel]

If your PC card slot is 32-bit, get an Intel PRO/100 Cardbus II -- VERY robust. Has a dongle, if it matters.

Cardbus = 32-bit.

PCMCIA = 16-bit.

 

[Kelvrick]

I like pcmia3 cards. It'll take up both of the slots though, but then the cable will go right in. It'll cost more though, but since cheaper is better, I'd go with something like astroview's recommednation.