Wireless PCI card or Wireless Bridge?

[mcloud777]

I am having trouble getting a vista capable pci card to work with my pc so I can connect to my parents wireless network. I wanted to know if it would be easier to just buy a wireless bridge and connect it to my pc since it would not require drivers correct? I know nothing about wireless bridges so my knowledge is limited I just heard it might be an alternative to buying a wireless pic adapter.

 

[JackMDS]

I do not know what your Wireless PCI problem is, there are many cards that do well with Vista.

Example, Edimax - PCI http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833315041

However, Wireless Bridge is a good thing too.

The readymade Wireless Bridges are expensive and they can only work as a Bridge.

Many people here buy a Wireless Router, flash it with third party free firmware and configure it to work as Wireless Bridge.

Example, this Wireless Router, Asus WL-520GU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023 , can be flashed with this,

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_WL-520GU

Then be configured easily as a Bridge, http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: mcloud777
I wanted to know if it would be easier to just buy a wireless bridge and connect it to my pc since it would not require drivers correct? I know nothing about wireless bridges so my knowledge is limited I just heard it might be an alternative to buying a wireless pic adapter.

Yes, this is correct. A wireless bridge can take some effort to set up for the first time though, especially if you go with third-party firmware. However, once you get over that initial setup, it's all payback -- changing to another OS, another PC, multiple devices, etc., are much easier and potentially cheaper than buying additional wireless adapters and configuring them.

The D-Link DAP-1522 is a new kid on the block in this category, and it's got some nice-looking specs.

http://www.extremetech.com/art.../0,2845,2310360,00.asp

Here's a review of it being used as an access point, which shows some of its limitations:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com...iew&id=30455&Itemid=96