Sonnett Technologies G54-PCI Aria Extreme Wireless PCI Card (54 Mbps) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So you want wireless Internet for your home? This is what you need. This card, a wireless router and either a subscribed DSL or cable connection (modem usually provided by your Internet company).

Unless you want to connect solely to your PDA and cellphone, don't get a bluetooth adapter (I was hoping that would be the cheap alternative to get me hooked up, but it's not). You have to have the two pieces of hardware to make it work -- the pci card and the router.

I've been a PC girl all my life, but recently bought an Ibook. I also bought an airport express base station with itunes so that I could have my Ibook online at the same time as my PC, but you could buy any wireless router. However, the aiport base is so easy to use, I highly recommend getting one, takes the headache out of configuring your wireless and allows you to play your stereo in any room of your home (a neat perk). You basically just attach your Internet ethernet cable into it, then plug it into any wall socket and it's set. Even though it's an apple router, it works just as easily with a PC. It's brilliant.

I did a lot of reading to try to figure out a compatible format that would allow both my PC and Ibook to get online and found this. The other reviews are right, this is the easiest set up of wireless imaginable. And the beauty of it is that it works just as efficiently on a PC (I own a Dell Dimension) as it does on a Mac.

Before you install this card though, be sure to drop by http://www.sonnettech.com/ downloads and get the Aria extreme PCI Windows Utility & Driver -- just have it unzipped in a new file folder on your desktop, ready for installation. For some reason the company doesn't ship a CD, and while Windows XP is automated for almost every product out there, for this one, you need to do a bit of legwork by getting the download at the website. So you'll have to be attached to your Internet before you install this card to get the download first.

Next, open your PC, install the card in any open PCI slot, close the computer back up, attach the attena, tilt it vertically up, and then reboot your computer. XP will give you a prompt to install ... just ignore this and close out. Once you're booted up, double click the "setup" file from the aria download and it will install everything for you.

Unhook your Internet cable (you only need to unplug the part that would go into your PC normally), plug it into your wireless router and within minutes it will detect your signal. All set up for your PC. If you are encountering trouble with the signal .. go down to your taskbar.. you'll see a green icon next to your clock, bottom right, double click on it and go into the configuration tab. Mid-way down you'll see something that says Network name, with a pulldown menu. For me, because I'm using an apple router, I chose "apple network" and immediately got "excellent" connection. Experiment with the choices and pick the signal that gives you "excellent."

Now this may sound more complicated than it is. I wrote out the step by step instructions in case you ran into problems, but if your installation was anything like mine, it'll take you about 10 minutes at most to get back online and WIRELESS!

As for the card itself, the speed is stunning. I am impressed that the Internet can go much faster than I already had with a straight cable modem connection.

All in all, this is an excellent solution to going wireless. I highly recommend it, and the airport base, to get you wireless-ed in your home.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sonnett Technologies G54-PCI Aria Extreme Wireless PCI Card (54 Mbps)

Product Description:

Product Name: Aria extreme PCI Wireless Adapter
Marketing Information:
Need an easy way to move files between computers or share an Internet connection, but don"t have an Ethernet outlet nearby? Now you can add wireless networking to most any desktop computer the Sonnet Aria extreme PCI makes it simple. This affordable adapter card plugs into any available PCI slot, and configuration is a breeze; this is networking made easy. Whether you are creating a new network, or just adding on, the Aria extreme PCI does it without wires.Wireless Specifications

Frequency Band/Bandwidth Details: 2.412 GHz to 2.497 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g ISM Band
Transmission Speed: 54Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 48Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 36Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 24Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 18Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 12Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 9Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 6Mbps IEEE 802.11g
Transmission Speed: 11Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b
Transmission Speed: 5.5Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b
Transmission Speed: 2Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b
Transmission Speed: 1Mbps IEEE 802.11b
Interfaces/Ports

Host Interface: PCI
Warranty

Standard Warranty: 3 Year(s) Limited

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802.11g 54Mbps Wireless LAN PCI Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)Turns out, they started to put Vista-only drivers after certain point, at least my unit was only equipped with those.
Also no way to put this card into low-profile chassis.
Once driver issue is resolved (I have XP), it works pretty well, though.

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Product Description:
1.Complies with 2.4GHz IEEE802.1g/b Standard.2.Complies with PCI 2.2 Standard .3.Data Rate up to 54Mbps.4.Data Rate up to 54Mbps, auto fallback under noisy environment .5.Support WPA and 64/128-bit WEP Encryption .6.Low Power Consumption.

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USB MODEM UTSTARCOM 175 BROADBAND ACCESS PHONE CARD VERIZON CDMA Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Living out in the sticks, dialup internet access was what I had to live with for ages.When Verizon added a tower that improved my cell phone coverage, I started wondering if it was an option for my PC as well.I'm not an early adopter of new technology and waited until neighbors had tried various options before I was willing to try this service.I've been using an extra phone line for the computer, the removal of which will save me half what this service costs monthly.Still it's an extra thirty bucks, so it has to be worth it to me.

Some neighbors are using the satellite service but aren't completely satisfied. The only negative comment I got about this little modem and the service was that there is a limit on how much access you get--5 gig/mo--which means you won't be downloading movies or playing internet games much, if at all.Since this isn't an issue for me, I decided to give it a try.

It is definitely faster than dialup access even at the fastest dialup modem speed.I use AOL and the TCP/IP connect is about 3-5 times faster, then all that stuff they display loads much faster as well and I can go about my business without waiting for more than a few seconds.That said, the transfer rate doesn't compare with the Comcast speed of my daughter's setup in town.This service is faster than dialup, but not 'blinding' by any means.As an example, in the past when I tried to download something, I noted the transfer rate on dialup was something like 4-6k per second.Sigh!!Things took forever and sometimes wouldn't download at all.I downloaded the update for my Kindle last night with this little modem and noted 50k/sec transfer rate.Certainly a lot better.

The speed does seem to depend on 'how crowded the air waves' are (or however you'd say that in technospeak :) and how many bars you get.I've found the number of bars is the same as what I get on my Verizon cell phone.Where my desktop PC is located, it varies from 0 to 2.I have ordered the antenna in hopes of boosting that.

Installing the little modem is as easy as running the CD installation disk that comes with it and then plugging the modem into a USB port when prompted to do so.It also comes with a cable in case you want to plug into a port on the back of a desktop PC and set the modem somewhere with easier access.You can leave the modem attached all the time if you want.It turns off when you turn the PC off.When on, it flashes a blue light, which means it's ready to pick up a signal. To connect your computer to the broadband service, you use the modem software (push the 'connect' button), which to me, seems to be equivalent to turning your cell phone on (the modem has a phone number). It is then ready for you to 'make a call', i.e. connect to the internet using some software such as Internet Explorer or AOL.

You can leave the modem connected all day like you would leave your cell phone on and not affect the data limit since that only happens when you are connected to and using the internet.If you use the internet with your cell phone, you know there is a data limit with it as well.This is sort of the same thing.

The modem software will show you what your usage is each time you connect so you're aware of what you've used so far.Sending emails, Facebook updates, photos, etc uses part of your allocation, as well as downloading files, photos, etc.Various internet screen refresh activities uses some. Watching streaming video or playing games uses a lot. Listening to internet radio uses enough that you probably won't want to do that all the time.For me, after 5 days of email, Facebook postings, attempting to watch some short videos and listening to the AOL radio one day just to see what impact it would have, plus downloading the Kindle software update, posting a few Amazon reviews, and the like, I've used about 225mg, or about 50mg a day, so I should be able to stay within the limit easily with no change to my regular internet activities.

I still cannot really watch streaming videos such as those on YouTube with my 1-2 bar connectivity, without breaks while it reloads the next bit. Even though it reloads faster than before, I have to want to see it pretty badly to put up with that.

One concern: This morning there seemed to be a problem with the modem connecting to Verizon.It was resolved within half an hour and it is Black Friday, which may or may not have anything to do with it.I will update if that happens again, but otherwise it has connected fast and remained connected without problem.

Bottom line: It is definitely better than dialup--for me about 5 times faster.That's not seriously fast, but acceptable and worth the extra money to me, especially since I don't have any options other than satellite which is affected by weather, trees, and costs more as well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB MODEM UTSTARCOM 175 BROADBAND ACCESS PHONE CARD VERIZON CDMA

Product Description:
The UTStarcom UM175 USB Modem for Verizon Wireless is a convenient and flexible data card for use with PC or Mac USB 2.0 ports. The UM175 is small, slim, and compatible with almost any computer; if you have a USB port, this card will help you get online from anywhere with download speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps and upload speeds of 153 Kbps. Simple to use, the UTStarcom UM175 USB Modem lets you surf the Web, send and receive email, and connect to your company's remote network.

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NETGEAR WG511T Super-G Wireless PC Card Review

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(More customer reviews)At least when paired with the Netgear WGT624 WAP/Router this card does indeed have a significant farther range than for instance the DLINK 614+ was was currently using.I can go from one corner of the house downstairs to a bedroom at the opposite corner of the house upstairs, on a waterbed at almost full speed (this gave the DLINK some trouble).
It also comes with a nifty utility that does a better job than Windows with settings and statistics (like actual network throughput).
One minor issue may be with how hot this card gets which is always a concern with a laptop.To the cards credit there are settings for Power Save and Transmit Power which may help.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WG511T Super-G Wireless PC Card

Product Description:

The NETGEAR WG511T Wireless-G PC Card offers:

Up to 108 Mbps via 802.11g wireless networking.
Backwards compatibility with 802.11b wireless networks.
128-bit WEP encryption for extra security.

Wireless networking is constantly evolving, and the need for increasingly faster speeds and greater range is not only sought after, but expected. If better wireless speed and range with consistent wireless connections is what you're looking for, then NETGEAR has you covered with the WG511T Super-G Wireless PC Card. With this handy device you'll have no more dropped connections, and you can kiss dead spots goodbye.


An antenna is built in for portability. View larger. If you love all the new media applications, such as video and music streaming, you know you need a wireless connection that operates at lightning quick speeds to keep things running smooth. These new applications are nearly impossible with the old 802.11b wireless protocol, but they are certainly attainable with increased wireless speeds. The WG511T delivers the speed you desire. At 108 Mbps, it is up to ten times faster than 802.11b, and extends your network coverage up to four times more than standard Wireless-G protocol.
NETGEAR also helps you keep it simple with an easy-to-use, intuitive 32-bit PCI bus interface, and is designed specially for your Notebook PC. Just install the WG511T into the notebook PC, and you'll be ready to connect. Plus, you can keep your network private with WEP encryption.
Setup is made quick and easy with the Smart Wizard install software. System requirements include a Notebook PC with Pentium 300 Mhz-compatible processor higher, available CardBus PC Card Type II slot, and Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2000, 98SE, or Me. Microsoft Vista Beta drivers are available at www.netgear.com/vista.

What's in the Box
NETGEAR WG511T Super-G Wireless PC Card, setup CD, installation guide, and warranty/support information card.

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Netgear MA521 802.11b Wireless PC Card Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this card after having lots of problems with a linksys card.I have a dell laptop and I'm running Windows XP Home.The linksys card had poor signal strength and repeatedly dropped signals, even if seated next to the router.This netgear card is phenomenal.The signal hasn't been dropped yet and I have a signal throughout my house (4000 sq. ft.) and outside!Avoid the linksys card and buy netgear!I can't say enough good things about this card.I love it!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Netgear MA521 802.11b Wireless PC Card

Product Description:
NETGEAR MA521 -- Stay connected wherever you go with this Wireless PC Card. Once the card is inserted in your notebook computer, you can access the Internet from home or office, from campuses, parks, airports, or public hotspots in bookstores and cafes.Configured to interoperate with other NETGEAR wireless productsSecure 40/64 and 128-bit Wired Equivalency Protection (WEP) encryptionCompatible with 400MHz+ notebook PCs running Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 & XPSize -3.93 x 2.13 x 0.2 with antenna; weighs 1.3 ounces3 year limited warranty

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Belkin F5D7010 Wireless 54 Mbps Notebook Card Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this card after borrowing a card with an identical product number from a friend. My friend's card worked out of the box with my version of Ubuntu Linux.
When I received my card, it simply did not work. After doing some research, I found that I had a card with a different version number, and a different chipset. My friend's card had a chipset made by Atheros, which worked out of the box. The card that I purchased had a Broadcom chipset, which is notorious for being incompatible with Linux. Even after going to the forums, I was unable to make the card work.
Belkin is dishonest, in that it makes changes to the chipset without changing the product number, only the version number, which the consumer is not made aware of. Had I been aware that the card had a different chipset, I would not have ordered it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Belkin F5D7010 Wireless 54 Mbps Notebook Card

Product Description:
Belkin networking presents its latest innovation, the 802.11g Wireless Notebook Network Card. The Card works as an ideal standalone to give you instant networking capabilities. It features breakthrough 802.11g technology that makes wireless file transfers and downloads faster than ever before. 802.11g technology provides you with networking speeds nearly five times faster than the current Wi-Fi (802.11b) standard. The Card sets up with the ease and the simplicity of Plug-and-Play technology on any laptop equipped with a 32-bit CardBus slot. It slides into the 32-bit CardBus slot to enable a wirelessconnection to your network. 802.11g technology is the easiest wireless network to implement. The Card uses the wireless 802.11g 2.4GHz standard to offer you the widest working range-up to 1800 feet-and greater interoperability in mixed networking environments. 802.11g technology is backward-compatible with the 802.11b Wi-Fi networking standard, so it allows you to implement faster wireless technologies in combination with existing 802.11b Wi-Fi networks.

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EnGenius EPI-3601S 600mW RF power - Network adapter - PCI - 802.11b, 802.11g Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good quality product at a low price. I purchased one of these along with 25ft. of antenna cable and a flat panel antenna. I can see 22 access points using the Wireless Mon software operating on Windows XP. This card has an Atheros chipset and works with monitor mode and packet injection in Linux including Backtrack 3 & 4. GREAT VALUE!

Click Here to see more reviews about: EnGenius EPI-3601S 600mW RF power - Network adapter - PCI - 802.11b, 802.11g

Product Description:
Engenius EPI-3601S Wireless G Network AdapterHaving high output power is always a great bonus (up to 600mW 28dBm), when designing your desktop computer. Introducing EnGenius Technologies' answer, the EPI-3601S. Using the latest in technology expertise, EnGenius has fine tuned the PCI card to be the longest, and most powerful RF in the market today with the most cost-effective solution for your PC. Your all-in-one solution encompassing 802.11b and 802.11g networking technology will be the last PCI high powered solution you will ever need.

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NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless PCI Adapter WPN311 - Network adapter - PCI - 802.11b, 802.11g Review

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(More customer reviews)Upgraded to Windows 7 and found that wireless adaptor we had wasn't compatible. After much searching, talked to Netgear tech help and they said this model was the only one that currently (11/09) is compatible.This was puzzling since 7 Beta has been out for months.They were right, as this WPN 311 did work fine with Win 7.The one that wouldn't work (Belkin) was only a few months old -- further proof that computers can give hearburn.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless PCI Adapter WPN311 - Network adapter - PCI - 802.11b, 802.11g

Product Description:
Wireless Connection! This Netgear WPN311 can extend your network coverage up to 10x more than Wireless-G so it's ideal for surfing the Internet, streaming music and making Internet phone calls. Enjoy high speed connections with this Netgear WPN311 Rangemax Wireless PCI adapter! Order today!

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Linksys WMP54G PCI Wireless Adapter Refurbished Review

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(More customer reviews)Don't bother using this PCI card if you are running Windows 7, especially if it's x64; I run the 64-bit version and it was a horrible nightmare trying to get this card to first be recognized, then be stable. save yourself some heartache and get something else. Google "WMP54G Windows 7 64" and all you get is issues.

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Product Description:
Linksys WMP54G PCI Wireless Adapter The Linksys Wireless-G PCI Card installs in most desktops and lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running network cables. Now you don't have to drill holes in your walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network.

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