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Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!!
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New MessageActiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) jsnorman
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Yea!! I finally got through to someone at Actiontec who is willing to sell me (us if anyone else is interested) single unit or small quantities of the 802.11b MiniPCI card they make with the Interil 2.5 chipset. He will get back to me tomorrow on pricing but I am hopeful after explaining to him that I am not a big company, etc. that pricing will be reasonable (the Dell 802.11b card is priced at $149 and is another alternative if this doesn't work; not having seen the Dell card, I was concerned that it might not be amenable to antenna hookup since it is made to work with the internal Dell C610 antenna).

Anyway, I will post pricing as soon as I get it (tomorrow) but I would like to get an idea if anyone else is interested in this, and if so, at what price points? $100 (probably not)? $125? $150?

Let me know by posting here if interested and at what price(s).

11-06-2001 15:52:04

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) Dorsai
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Questions, questions, always questions.

1. Any way to know if this will work?
2. How is the antenna handled on this card? (integral, separate but included, or ? ? ?)
3. Are drivers for common Win OS's available (98, 98SE, ME, 2K).

If all this falls into place, I'm interested, sub $150.

Dorsai

11-07-2001 09:48:21

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) Chicago773
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Is this the same MiniPCI card that would work in the Virgin WebPlayer - many people over there would be interested and the cards have been discussed at length. I would only be interested in a sub $100 card...
11-07-2001 10:54:20

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) jsnorman
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Here are the minimum system requirements: "Compatible notebook, PC or handheld device with an available Mini PCI Card slot, Type IIIA; 16 MB of RAM; Windows 95,
98, 98SE, NT 4.0, ME or 2000". Drivers are available for the listed chipsets. I think there are also intersil 2.5 drivers in linux.

Still no pricing. I will bug him again tomorrow.

The antenna "Can be embedded or designed as an option to be added later". I do not know whether that means that you need to buy an antenna or whether it comes with the embedded one, but there are connectors on the board for the antenna so hooking one up should be easy; I will ask. We should be able to find a good source for antennas and they do not appear to be expensive (see www.skycross.com for pics -- maybe we could make our own?).

This is different from the Lucent-based Dell being discussed on the Virgin discussion board. THe Prism chipset is by most accounts better, and the Dell antenna connectors seem to be build specifically for the Dell internal antenna rather than having a standard connector (though it is probably easy to solder a new connector on).

11-07-2001 20:17:47

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) Dorsai
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We need to be VERY careful about the antenna. The antenna is where range is made or broken. Size matters, and bigger is not necessarily better. I personally wouldn't want to use home-brew antenna unless the exact design and construction were solidly proven, in this application. I would rather an antenna from another device, maybe scrounged from an existing laptop or . . .

This for the connector as well, much better to use an antenna that plugs into the existing connector.

Dorsai

11-08-2001 16:47:59

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) jsnorman
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Good news is that I found a source for antenna. Very high quality, small, designed for 802.11b. Cost should not be more than a few dollars. I am getting samples sent next week .. now if only I could get actiontec back on the line to make an order (still no pricing).
11-11-2001 10:57:45

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) parnelli
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Any luck on hearing from Actiontec? I've just in the last few days started reading up on the pad, and would be mostly interested in using with an 802.11 network.

If something mini-pci can't be found, I wonder if there are mini-pci to pcmcia adapters that might somehow work. Don't know if such a thing exists or not. I searched google, but haven't found anything yet.....

11-12-2001 19:27:07

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) jsnorman
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Nothing from Actiontec yet. They were on holiday yesterday.

As far as PCI-MiniPCI, or MiniPCI-PCMCIA I explored that option but found nothing. There are a number of chipsets (bridges), but I think you would have to design your own board and it would be pretty complicated.

11-13-2001 12:54:41

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) xeraxes
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there is a mini pci wireless card manufactured by orinoco/lucent technologies. i dont know if it is available for purchasing, but here is a link to it. http://www.orinocowireless.com/template.html?section=m57&page=2511&envelope=93
Play with reality.

-xeraxes

11-13-2001 17:22:52

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) maposo
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I don't mean to interrupt the thread, and probably someone already tought on that, but is there really a need for the miniPCI adapter? There are good USB Wireless adapters in the market nowadays. Yes, I agree, they are an extra thing to take around if you are moving your GCT, but they are not that bulky and they should be easily movable around a home (I think). They are also cheaper and easier to install than the miniPCI option.
Anyway, just wanted to help...
11-13-2001 22:38:12

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) yellow2
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For having used a USB wireless adapter and returned, I can tell you that the cpu challenged GCT would be MUCH better off with a miniPCI in terms as I'm guessing it needs less CPU cycles.
So what are Actiontech up to ?
11-16-2001 17:44:37

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) jsnorman
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I agree re the USB option. The system relies on very little power draw, thanks to the Crusoe chip, and I intend to transform the whole thing to a battery powered device anyway so I do not want to rely on USB if I don't have to.

As far as Actiontec, I have spoken with the OEM rep three times now ... and he still has not gotten pricing. He says that he needs pricing from someone else due to the small order size, and has not yet received it. Frankly, I am getting fed up with them, but I do not want to piss the guy off since he seems nice and willing to work with me if he can. I think I may just have to be patient, but I am going to start exploring other OEMs starting on Monday if I can't get through. The antenna's I have look fantastic, btw., they are very small and built for installation in a laptop adjacent to the screen. I got free samples, and can probably secure as many of them as we need.

11-17-2001 11:13:14

New MessageRE:Actiontec 802.11b MiniPCI Cards Available!!! (modified 0 times) Dorsai
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Anything new from Actiontec?
11-27-2001 15:57:51

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