From: RnR on
On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:28:08 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_myers(a)charter.net>
wrote:

>RnR wrote:
>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:42:23 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_myers(a)charter.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> RnR wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:28:22 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_myers(a)charter.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> RnR wrote:
>>>>>> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:23:34 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_myers(a)charter.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> species8350 wrote:
>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I am thinking of buying a wi-fi card for my PC (DELL Dimension).
>>>>>>>> Running Vista 32 bit
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> D-Link DWL-G510 PCI Card looks good
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Anyone any experience.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It has a low profile back plane, will it fit my case?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>> Questions:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Which model of Dell Dimension do you have?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is it a system with full-height slots for add-in cards or one with
>>>>>>> so-called low-profile slots?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If the latter, an USB wifi stick is probably your best choice. I am
>>>>>>> partial to Linksys, but there are other good ones, too. I am unaware of
>>>>>>> the existence of any low-profile PCI wifi cards. The DWL-G510 looks
>>>>>>> like a full-height PCI card... Ben Myers
>>>>>> I thought some time ago others told me that the usb wifi sticks don't
>>>>>> work well ???? I can't speak from any experience since I never used
>>>>>> one. I almost considered buying one till others said they didn't
>>>>>> work well.
>>>>> I much prefer internal PCI wifi cards.
>>>>>
>>>>> But with the low-profile PCI slots, USB wifi is the only game in town.
>>>>> I have never seen a low-profile PCI wifi card. There just are not that
>>>>> many systems with low-profile slots for a card manufacturer to make one.
>>>>> Of the computers with low-profile PCI slots, I would guess that the
>>>>> large majority of them are attached to the world with Cat 5 cables, not
>>>>> wifi. It's only when a low-profile system sneaks out of corporate
>>>>> America into the hands of a consumer that the need for a wifi card might
>>>>> exist. Of course, you could cut, twist, bend and shape another slot
>>>>> adapter to use a PCI wifi card in a low-profile slot. That's too much
>>>>> work for me... Ben Myers
>>>>
>>>> I gotcha Ben. Thanks.
>>> One more thought about USB wifi. A lot of people stuff their desktop
>>> computers into furniture made especially for this purpose. So the
>>> computer is in a cramped unventilated space with a lot of wood and some
>>> metal to dampen or deflect wifi signals. In some of these situations, a
>>> USB wifi adapter on the end of a USB extension cable works better than a
>>> PCI wifi adapter down in the back of the computer somewhere, simply
>>> because the USB adapter can be moved around and placed where it gets a
>>> stronger signal.
>>>
>>> A few PCI wifi adapters have connectors which allow attachment of all
>>> sorts of wifi antennae, including home-made cantennas based on Pringles
>>> chip containers. These may well be the best for troublesome home or
>>> office wifi... Ben Myers
>>
>>
>> Good Point ! I hadn't really given it a lot of thought but makes
>> sense to me. I'm lucky as I don't have a problem with wifi in my home
>> tho on occasion I see the signal strength drop for no apparent reason
>> but usually that doesn't cause me any drops 99% of the time. Of
>> course I've read some do have wifi problems in their homes and likely
>> it can be caused either by what you said, home construction or near by
>> objects. But I agree with what you said. I just didn't bother to
>> give it much thought at the time since I am fighting a minor cold.
>
>Home networks and small office networks, whether in a home or in an
>office park, can be especially challenging. People living in homes
>built in the 1800s or earlier don't want to tear down plaster-and-lath
>walls to run Cat 5e or Cat 6, which is still the most trouble-free way
>to lash a network of computers together. Homes take odd shapes and
>often the cable internet comes into the house in a location most distant
>from the rest of the house. Then you have 8 or 9 wifi access points
>visible in a high-density housing development or an office park, and
>three of them have an SSID of linksys and which one is yours? Finally,
>there was a computer I delivered and set up way back when and I got the
>call saying that it was rebooting every half hour. I went back over
>there, sat patiently by the computer until it rebooted at exactly the
>same time the refrigerator compressor cut in. Yep! Computer and fridge
>on the same circuit, and a computer starved for power when the fridge
>took it all.
>
>Happy holidays... Ben


Good story Ben <smile>. And same to you, your family and everyone
else here (friend or foe).
From: species8350 on
On Dec 30 2009, 8:08 pm, "RnR" <rnrte...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:28:08 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >RnR wrote:
> >> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:42:23 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
> >> wrote:
>
> >>> RnR wrote:
> >>>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:28:22 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
> >>>> wrote:
>
> >>>>> RnR wrote:
> >>>>>> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:23:34 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
> >>>>>> wrote:
>
> >>>>>>> species8350 wrote:
> >>>>>>>> Hi,
>
> >>>>>>>> I am thinking of buying a wi-fi card for my PC (DELL Dimension).
> >>>>>>>> Running Vista 32 bit
>
> >>>>>>>> D-Link DWL-G510 PCI Card looks good
>
> >>>>>>>> Anyone any experience.
>
> >>>>>>>> It has a low profile back plane, will it fit my case?
>
> >>>>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>> Questions:
>
> >>>>>>> Which model of Dell Dimension do you have?
>
> >>>>>>> Is it a system with full-height slots for add-in cards or one with
> >>>>>>> so-called low-profile slots?
>
> >>>>>>> If the latter, an USB wifi stick is probably your best choice.  I am
> >>>>>>> partial to Linksys, but there are other good ones, too.  I am unaware of
> >>>>>>> the existence of any low-profile PCI wifi cards.   The DWL-G510 looks
> >>>>>>> like a full-height PCI card... Ben Myers
> >>>>>> I thought some time ago others told me that the usb wifi sticks don't
> >>>>>> work well ????    I can't speak from any experience since I never used
> >>>>>> one.   I almost considered buying one till others said they didn't
> >>>>>> work well.  
> >>>>> I much prefer internal PCI wifi cards.
>
> >>>>> But with the low-profile PCI slots, USB wifi is the only game in town.
> >>>>> I have never seen a low-profile PCI wifi card.  There just are not that
> >>>>> many systems with low-profile slots for a card manufacturer to make one.
> >>>>>  Of the computers with low-profile PCI slots, I would guess that the
> >>>>> large majority of them are attached to the world with Cat 5 cables, not
> >>>>> wifi.  It's only when a low-profile system sneaks out of corporate
> >>>>> America into the hands of a consumer that the need for a wifi card might
> >>>>> exist.  Of course, you could cut, twist, bend and shape another slot
> >>>>> adapter to use a PCI wifi card in a low-profile slot.  That's too much
> >>>>> work for me... Ben Myers
>
> >>>> I gotcha Ben.  Thanks.
> >>> One more thought about USB wifi.  A lot of people stuff their desktop
> >>> computers into furniture made especially for this purpose.  So the
> >>> computer is in a cramped unventilated space with a lot of wood and some
> >>> metal to dampen or deflect wifi signals.  In some of these situations, a
> >>> USB wifi adapter on the end of a USB extension cable works better than a
> >>> PCI wifi adapter down in the back of the computer somewhere, simply
> >>> because the USB adapter can be moved around and placed where it gets a
> >>> stronger signal.
>
> >>> A few PCI wifi adapters have connectors which allow attachment of all
> >>> sorts of wifi antennae, including home-made cantennas based on Pringles
> >>> chip containers.  These may well be the best for troublesome home or
> >>> office wifi... Ben Myers
>
> >> Good Point !   I hadn't really given it a lot of thought but makes
> >> sense to me.  I'm lucky as I don't have a problem with wifi in my home
> >> tho on occasion I see the signal strength drop for no apparent reason
> >> but usually that doesn't cause me any drops 99% of the time.   Of
> >> course I've read some do have wifi problems in their homes and likely
> >> it can be caused either by what you said, home construction or near by
> >> objects.   But I agree with what you said.  I just didn't bother to
> >> give it much thought at the time since I am fighting a minor cold.    
>
> >Home networks and small office networks, whether in a home or in an
> >office park, can be especially challenging.  People living in homes
> >built in the 1800s or earlier don't want to tear down plaster-and-lath
> >walls to run Cat 5e or Cat 6, which is still the most trouble-free way
> >to lash a network of computers together.  Homes take odd shapes and
> >often the cable internet comes into the house in a location most distant
> >from the rest of the house.  Then you have 8 or 9 wifi access points
> >visible in a high-density housing development or an office park, and
> >three of them have an SSID of linksys and which one is yours?  Finally,
> >there was a computer I delivered and set up way back when and I got the
> >call saying that it was rebooting every half hour.  I went back over
> >there, sat patiently by the computer until it rebooted at exactly the
> >same time the refrigerator compressor cut in.  Yep!  Computer and fridge
> >on the same circuit, and a computer starved for power when the fridge
> >took it all.
>
> >Happy holidays... Ben
>
> Good story Ben  <smile>.   And same to you, your family and everyone
> else here (friend or foe).  - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I am looking at the wifi cards on the Novatech website.

The DWL-G510 is well reviewed. I don't see end of line as an issue.
Just how well it works.

How important is the type of antenna?
They have an Edimax with a lead to the antenna. is this a big
advantage.
They also have an Edimax with three antennas that supports N
broadcasts. Could this antenna system be an advantage
Their Novatech card has a double dipole antenna. Is this a good idea.

Is the antenna the most important part of the card?
From: RnR on
On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 02:40:57 -0800 (PST), species8350
<not_here.5.species8350(a)xoxy.net> wrote:

>On Dec 30 2009, 8:08�pm, "RnR" <rnrte...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:28:08 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >RnR wrote:
>> >> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:42:23 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>> >> wrote:
>>
>> >>> RnR wrote:
>> >>>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:28:22 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>> >>>> wrote:
>>
>> >>>>> RnR wrote:
>> >>>>>> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:23:34 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>> >>>>>> wrote:
>>
>> >>>>>>> species8350 wrote:
>> >>>>>>>> Hi,
>>
>> >>>>>>>> I am thinking of buying a wi-fi card for my PC (DELL Dimension).
>> >>>>>>>> Running Vista 32 bit
>>
>> >>>>>>>> D-Link DWL-G510 PCI Card looks good
>>
>> >>>>>>>> Anyone any experience.
>>
>> >>>>>>>> It has a low profile back plane, will it fit my case?
>>
>> >>>>>>>> Thanks
>> >>>>>>> Questions:
>>
>> >>>>>>> Which model of Dell Dimension do you have?
>>
>> >>>>>>> Is it a system with full-height slots for add-in cards or one with
>> >>>>>>> so-called low-profile slots?
>>
>> >>>>>>> If the latter, an USB wifi stick is probably your best choice. �I am
>> >>>>>>> partial to Linksys, but there are other good ones, too. �I am unaware of
>> >>>>>>> the existence of any low-profile PCI wifi cards. � The DWL-G510 looks
>> >>>>>>> like a full-height PCI card... Ben Myers
>> >>>>>> I thought some time ago others told me that the usb wifi sticks don't
>> >>>>>> work well ???? � �I can't speak from any experience since I never used
>> >>>>>> one. � I almost considered buying one till others said they didn't
>> >>>>>> work well. �
>> >>>>> I much prefer internal PCI wifi cards.
>>
>> >>>>> But with the low-profile PCI slots, USB wifi is the only game in town.
>> >>>>> I have never seen a low-profile PCI wifi card. �There just are not that
>> >>>>> many systems with low-profile slots for a card manufacturer to make one.
>> >>>>> �Of the computers with low-profile PCI slots, I would guess that the
>> >>>>> large majority of them are attached to the world with Cat 5 cables, not
>> >>>>> wifi. �It's only when a low-profile system sneaks out of corporate
>> >>>>> America into the hands of a consumer that the need for a wifi card might
>> >>>>> exist. �Of course, you could cut, twist, bend and shape another slot
>> >>>>> adapter to use a PCI wifi card in a low-profile slot. �That's too much
>> >>>>> work for me... Ben Myers
>>
>> >>>> I gotcha Ben. �Thanks.
>> >>> One more thought about USB wifi. �A lot of people stuff their desktop
>> >>> computers into furniture made especially for this purpose. �So the
>> >>> computer is in a cramped unventilated space with a lot of wood and some
>> >>> metal to dampen or deflect wifi signals. �In some of these situations, a
>> >>> USB wifi adapter on the end of a USB extension cable works better than a
>> >>> PCI wifi adapter down in the back of the computer somewhere, simply
>> >>> because the USB adapter can be moved around and placed where it gets a
>> >>> stronger signal.
>>
>> >>> A few PCI wifi adapters have connectors which allow attachment of all
>> >>> sorts of wifi antennae, including home-made cantennas based on Pringles
>> >>> chip containers. �These may well be the best for troublesome home or
>> >>> office wifi... Ben Myers
>>
>> >> Good Point ! � I hadn't really given it a lot of thought but makes
>> >> sense to me. �I'm lucky as I don't have a problem with wifi in my home
>> >> tho on occasion I see the signal strength drop for no apparent reason
>> >> but usually that doesn't cause me any drops 99% of the time. � Of
>> >> course I've read some do have wifi problems in their homes and likely
>> >> it can be caused either by what you said, home construction or near by
>> >> objects. � But I agree with what you said. �I just didn't bother to
>> >> give it much thought at the time since I am fighting a minor cold. � �
>>
>> >Home networks and small office networks, whether in a home or in an
>> >office park, can be especially challenging. �People living in homes
>> >built in the 1800s or earlier don't want to tear down plaster-and-lath
>> >walls to run Cat 5e or Cat 6, which is still the most trouble-free way
>> >to lash a network of computers together. �Homes take odd shapes and
>> >often the cable internet comes into the house in a location most distant
>> >from the rest of the house. �Then you have 8 or 9 wifi access points
>> >visible in a high-density housing development or an office park, and
>> >three of them have an SSID of linksys and which one is yours? �Finally,
>> >there was a computer I delivered and set up way back when and I got the
>> >call saying that it was rebooting every half hour. �I went back over
>> >there, sat patiently by the computer until it rebooted at exactly the
>> >same time the refrigerator compressor cut in. �Yep! �Computer and fridge
>> >on the same circuit, and a computer starved for power when the fridge
>> >took it all.
>>
>> >Happy holidays... Ben
>>
>> Good story Ben �<smile>. � And same to you, your family and everyone
>> else here (friend or foe). �- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>I am looking at the wifi cards on the Novatech website.
>
>The DWL-G510 is well reviewed. I don't see end of line as an issue.
>Just how well it works.
>
>How important is the type of antenna?
>They have an Edimax with a lead to the antenna. is this a big
>advantage.
>They also have an Edimax with three antennas that supports N
>broadcasts. Could this antenna system be an advantage
>Their Novatech card has a double dipole antenna. Is this a good idea.
>
>Is the antenna the most important part of the card?


I'll defer this question to others. I have some experience in
different antennas but I don't consider it enough to answer your
question. Now, if you ask what I think despite what I said above, I
think in theory it does but to be honest, in my large home, my
experience shows little difference. Perhaps my experience is because
I didn't use that different of antennas. As I said, best to ask
others.

I like your question so the answers will add to my knowledge <g>.
From: Pen on
On 1/1/2010 5:40 AM, species8350 wrote:
> On Dec 30 2009, 8:08 pm, "RnR" <rnrte...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:28:08 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> RnR wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:42:23 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>
>>>>> RnR wrote:
>>>>>> On Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:28:22 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>> RnR wrote:
>>>>>>>> On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:23:34 -0500, Ben Myers <ben_my...(a)charter.net>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>>>> species8350 wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>
>>>>>>>>>> I am thinking of buying a wi-fi card for my PC (DELL Dimension).
>>>>>>>>>> Running Vista 32 bit
>>
>>>>>>>>>> D-Link DWL-G510 PCI Card looks good
>>
>>>>>>>>>> Anyone any experience.
>>
>>>>>>>>>> It has a low profile back plane, will it fit my case?
>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>>> Questions:
>>
>>>>>>>>> Which model of Dell Dimension do you have?
>>
>>>>>>>>> Is it a system with full-height slots for add-in cards or one with
>>>>>>>>> so-called low-profile slots?
>>
>>>>>>>>> If the latter, an USB wifi stick is probably your best choice. I am
>>>>>>>>> partial to Linksys, but there are other good ones, too. I am unaware of
>>>>>>>>> the existence of any low-profile PCI wifi cards. The DWL-G510 looks
>>>>>>>>> like a full-height PCI card... Ben Myers
>>>>>>>> I thought some time ago others told me that the usb wifi sticks don't
>>>>>>>> work well ???? I can't speak from any experience since I never used
>>>>>>>> one. I almost considered buying one till others said they didn't
>>>>>>>> work well.
>>>>>>> I much prefer internal PCI wifi cards.
>>
>>>>>>> But with the low-profile PCI slots, USB wifi is the only game in town.
>>>>>>> I have never seen a low-profile PCI wifi card. There just are not that
>>>>>>> many systems with low-profile slots for a card manufacturer to make one.
>>>>>>> Of the computers with low-profile PCI slots, I would guess that the
>>>>>>> large majority of them are attached to the world with Cat 5 cables, not
>>>>>>> wifi. It's only when a low-profile system sneaks out of corporate
>>>>>>> America into the hands of a consumer that the need for a wifi card might
>>>>>>> exist. Of course, you could cut, twist, bend and shape another slot
>>>>>>> adapter to use a PCI wifi card in a low-profile slot. That's too much
>>>>>>> work for me... Ben Myers
>>
>>>>>> I gotcha Ben. Thanks.
>>>>> One more thought about USB wifi. A lot of people stuff their desktop
>>>>> computers into furniture made especially for this purpose. So the
>>>>> computer is in a cramped unventilated space with a lot of wood and some
>>>>> metal to dampen or deflect wifi signals. In some of these situations, a
>>>>> USB wifi adapter on the end of a USB extension cable works better than a
>>>>> PCI wifi adapter down in the back of the computer somewhere, simply
>>>>> because the USB adapter can be moved around and placed where it gets a
>>>>> stronger signal.
>>
>>>>> A few PCI wifi adapters have connectors which allow attachment of all
>>>>> sorts of wifi antennae, including home-made cantennas based on Pringles
>>>>> chip containers. These may well be the best for troublesome home or
>>>>> office wifi... Ben Myers
>>
>>>> Good Point ! I hadn't really given it a lot of thought but makes
>>>> sense to me. I'm lucky as I don't have a problem with wifi in my home
>>>> tho on occasion I see the signal strength drop for no apparent reason
>>>> but usually that doesn't cause me any drops 99% of the time. Of
>>>> course I've read some do have wifi problems in their homes and likely
>>>> it can be caused either by what you said, home construction or near by
>>>> objects. But I agree with what you said. I just didn't bother to
>>>> give it much thought at the time since I am fighting a minor cold.
>>
>>> Home networks and small office networks, whether in a home or in an
>>> office park, can be especially challenging. People living in homes
>>> built in the 1800s or earlier don't want to tear down plaster-and-lath
>>> walls to run Cat 5e or Cat 6, which is still the most trouble-free way
>>> to lash a network of computers together. Homes take odd shapes and
>>> often the cable internet comes into the house in a location most distant
>> >from the rest of the house. Then you have 8 or 9 wifi access points
>>> visible in a high-density housing development or an office park, and
>>> three of them have an SSID of linksys and which one is yours? Finally,
>>> there was a computer I delivered and set up way back when and I got the
>>> call saying that it was rebooting every half hour. I went back over
>>> there, sat patiently by the computer until it rebooted at exactly the
>>> same time the refrigerator compressor cut in. Yep! Computer and fridge
>>> on the same circuit, and a computer starved for power when the fridge
>>> took it all.
>>
>>> Happy holidays... Ben
>>
>> Good story Ben <smile>. And same to you, your family and everyone
>> else here (friend or foe). - Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> I am looking at the wifi cards on the Novatech website.
>
> The DWL-G510 is well reviewed. I don't see end of line as an issue.
> Just how well it works.
>
> How important is the type of antenna?
> They have an Edimax with a lead to the antenna. is this a big
> advantage.
> They also have an Edimax with three antennas that supports N
> broadcasts. Could this antenna system be an advantage
> Their Novatech card has a double dipole antenna. Is this a good idea.
>
> Is the antenna the most important part of the card?
yes, but its importance is directly dependant on what you
are trying to do. In all your posts you have asked
questions, but have not provided any context. Where is the
tower, where i9s the wireless router, distance, walls etc?

From: Timothy Daniels on
Do a Google search on "fractal wifi antennas".
Fractal antennas (PCB etchings of an un-endably
complex shape) are what replaced the stubby
"rectal probe" antennas on cell phones about ten
or 20 years ago. Fractal antennas are both compact
and wide-spectrum (i.e. they don't have to be tuned),
and relatively cheap.

*TimDaniels*