802.11g - they' re finally arriving!
The list below is not as complete as the HardwareComparison. Check that out instead, it has more information and is more up-to-date.
Please add any comments and experience that you have/heard about them here.
Linksys WRT54G This unit comes with two removeable antennas w/RP-TNC connectors. The stock firmware is a bit limited but several of us have modified the firmware and added bridging/client mode, power increase, antenna select, bandwidth management, WDS, and a lot more. See WRT54G Firmware. When modified the WRT54G makes a great hotspot/bridge/repeater.
Antenna connectors - for now Buffalo and Apple are providing external antenna connectors (Lucent connector?), while Linksys have detacheable antennas on PCI adapter and AP.
Buffalo WLI-CB-G54 - looking at the FCC pics, is there really a "hidden" antenna connector? Saw this one for $39.98 after $10 rebate (+ ~$5 shipping) = $55 total before rebate. This was at J&R Music and Computer World. (don't worry, this isn't a referral/affiliate link) The rebate is valid 05/01/2003 to 05/31/2003. Matt V (2003-05-27 06:51:07)
Buffalo WLI-CB-G54A - there's also a model WLI-CB-G54A, that comes standard with the "antenna interface"--maybe that's the one referred to below. This one seems to be running around $70 or so, and with the $10 rebate then $60. That does not include any shipping though, and I can't give a vendor, as most seem to carry it at the same price. Any thoughts? Also, if anyone can get me the FCC-ID for the WLI-CB-G54A model, it would be much obliged. I'd like to compare it to the WLI-CB-G54 model, and see what an antenna mod for the non-standard antenna interface card might entail. Also, if anyone knows what kind of antenna connector this is using, please let me know. The tech specs say "MC connector". I'm not too familiar with the connector styles though, so I'm not too sure what that means (i.e., is it a common kind of connector? Proprietary? Can it be easily "adapted", with minimal loss?). Thanks! And sorry for the dumb questions and long posts. Matt V (2003-05-27 06:51:07) Though now discontinued by Buffalo, I just ordered this card for ~$35 (including shipping). I found many vendors selling for this price on Froogle around 10 Aug 2004. Tom H
NOTES:
MC-connector is the same type of subminiature connector used by Lucent/Orinoco wireless cards. You can find more info at PigTails for connecting standard N-connector antennas. Or, you can visit SenaoCard and check out the variety of antennae listed there which don't require PigTails. Although the antennae listed there are mmcx, use the links to visit the manufacturer page and you will see that MC-connector versions are also sold.
MCX airport extreme connector antennae are available at SenaoCard. Each of the range extender antennae there are available with MCX connectors instead of mmcx.
Crispin adds...
- I own the Buffalo card w/the ant. interface, I purchased a pigtail at the same time. On the box the pigtail came in it's described as an MMCX connection(on their site MMX)
http://www.buffalo-technology.com/products/wireless/wli-cb-g54.htm.
802.11g Hardware
Manufacturer/Model |
Price |
Ant. Connector |
Services |
Integrated Stuff |
Config Interface |
Comments |
Discussion |
MAC Control |
Buffalo WBR-G54 |
$92(Amazon) |
Standard Lucent (MC Card) Connector |
? |
? |
SNMP (for IP change), Web |
Excelent WDS support, AP + BRIDGE to another AP at the same time |
Yes |
|
Buffalo WLI-CB-G54 |
$64(Amazon) |
Hidden connector under plastic case |
? |
? |
? |
Works with Netstumbler |
Yes |
|
? |
? |
? |
? |
? |
yes |
|||
EnGenius 3054CB ARIES |
$89 (Netgate) |
No external connector |
Card Bus Card |
802.11h, WPA, AES, etc. |
? |
? |
fairly high power |
? |
EnGenius 3054MP ARIES |
Two U.FL connectors |
mini PCI Card |
802.11h, WPA, AES, etc. |
? |
? |
fairly high power |
? |
|
Linksys WPC54G (PCMCIA Card) |
$70-$10=$60(Amazon) |
no |
? |
? |
? |
|
yes |
|
Linksys WMP54G (PCI Card) |
$70-$10=$60(Amazon) |
detachable antenna. Mini-PCI card internals can be extracted (unsoldered) for use inside a laptop (ie: Dell Inspiron 8200) |
? |
? |
? |
|
yes |
|
Linksys WAP54G (Access Point) |
$110(Amazon) |
detachable antenna |
? |
? |
? |
Output power can be boosted to 88mw using hack |
yes |
|
LinksysWrt54g (Router) |
$99-$10=$100(Amazon) |
2x detachable antennas RP-TNC |
DHCP, MAC-filter lists, RIP (no advanced routing) |
4-port LAN, 1-port WAN |
Web-based config (Linux shell, sshd, telnetd w/hacked firmware) |
no wireless bridging support |
yes |
|
Belkin Wireless Adapter 54MBPS |
$80(Amaozn) |
? |
? |
? |
Web |
- |
? |
|
D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G Router |
$110(Amazon) |
detatchable antenna |
? |
? |
web-based |
- |
? |
|
D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G PC Card |
$60-$15=$45(Amazon) |
MMCX or RP-MMCX |
? |
? |
? |
The external antenna connector is on the PCB but not accessible due to the plastic housing. You need to drill an access hole to get to it. See pictures at http://johnvu.net/blog/archives/000117.phpAlso try http://home.att.net/~jjmorrissiey/JMorrissiey.html |
? |
|
Netgear WGR614 Router |
$117-$25=$92(Amazon) |
External: Not detachable. Internal: 2 Hirose U.FL connectors on Z Com XG600 mini PCI card |
? |
? |
? |
|
yes |
|
Netgear WG602 Access Point |
$103-$20=$83(Amazon) |
Detachable |
? |
? |
? |
|
yes |
|
Netgear WG511 PCMCIA Cardbus Card |
$60-$10=$50(Amazon) |
u.FL |
? |
? |
? |
There is an external connector, but it is hidden by the plastic. you have to open it exactly like the d-link DWL-G650 |
yes |
|
Netgear_WAG511 802.11a/b/g Dual Band CardBus adapter |
$76(Amazon) |
No external connector |
? |
? |
? |
Supports AutoCell. |
yes |
|
Netgear WGT624 Access Point |
Internal U.FL Antenna Connector a.k.a. Hirose or MHF or I.PEX connector. U.FL pigtails available at www.netgate.com] |
DHCP, usuals |
WEP, WPA ready NAT VPN |
Windows plus Web Interfaces |
Excellent Range, Super G--104 Mbs, ~100 mW output, Atheros chipset. 3 year Warrantee http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~polycount/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000192.html?00001 |
Yes |
||
US Robotics USR5410 PCMCIA *TRI-Mode a/b/g* Cardbus Card |
$60-$90 |
No external connector, internal U.FL Antenna Connector a.k.a. Hirose or MHF or I.PEX connector. |
? |
? |
? |
WPA ready, upgradable, turbo mode 100Mbps, TexasInstruments 1130 (ACX111) chipset |
yes |
|
Trendnet 410APB (Access Point) |
? |
two detachable antennas (reverse SMA) |
limited snmp (no security) |
WEP, WPA (radius/pre shared key) |
web |
Broadcom chipset, almost Linksys clone, linux based; works well on short distance only, with one external antenna 5km link signal very weak... |
? |
Lots of trouble getting a Macintosh to recognize this: must use 128-bit WEP, and it's clunky. NOTE: hacked firmware adds bridging, client mode, power increase, and shell access
