Wireless PCI Card Recommendations?

Nick W · l33t Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 684

Hello everyone,

I have to kit out two gentoo boxes (1x amd64, 1x x86) and a Win machine (desktops) for wireless networking with a linksys router. I dont have any idea what cards to buy though?

They would need..

Work on PCI and be easy to intall on Gentoo
Be of great quality

Can anyone please recommend a card that fits that bill? I really just want something that will be simple to setup with Gentoo and be a good quality wireless pci card for working with a linksys router...

many thanks!

kirchner · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Detroit, MI

I'm using the D-Link DWL-G520 in two of my systems. You'll need to unmask and emerge madwifi-tools and madwifi-driver. Pay attention to the output of the madwifi-driver emerge. It will require you to put several modules in /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6 file.

In addition, you'll need the following in your kernel configuration:

Chaosite · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject:

But do yourself a favor and stay away from the DWL-G650+.

Similar name, completely different chipset. That one uses TI's ACX111, and while it too has native linux drivers, they're not really mature yet.

oldbushie · n00b Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 38

I might use the DWL-G520 as well then, I believe I have a PCI slot free.

I can't wait to get my Linux system on the internet so I can finally install all the great tools I used to use in Windows... pretty much all of them have Linux versions thank goodness.

Nick W · l33t Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 684

Thanks everyone,

So, which chipsets are safe in that range of D-link cards?

You know, i know nothing about wireless so i thought it would just be a matter of plugging something into the existing onboard netcard (nforce board) and no software at all!

Tricky stuff...

kirchner · n00b Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Detroit, MI

The D-Link DWL-G520 (not +) has the atheros chipset which necessitates the madwifi drivers. Atheros seems to be somewhat ubiquitous in my experience. It's also the chipset for the onboard wireless card in my Toshiba P25.

Eckzow · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 93

I will heartily concur that the D-Link DWL-G520 is the way to go. Avoid the G520+ though, the whole '+' series is foobar.
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<Insert almost-funny witticism here>

oldbushie · n00b Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 38

D-Link DWL-G520 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless PCI Adapter 108Mbps isn't the DWL-G520+ I hope...

It's the only one I saw on Amazon...

jwj · Apprentice Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 240

I use a PCI to PCMCIA Controller Card with a Prism54 GT PCMCIA Card. Very easy to configure and supported by the vanilla kernel.

oldbushie · n00b Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 38

Is the DWL-G520 AirPlus Xtreme G the only version of the 520? Just wanted to make sure because of the comment about the 520+ being fubar compared to the 520...

Rad · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject:

DWL-G650 (without the "+") is also a good choice - the madwifi driver is working even on amd64 gentoo, and I'm very happy with the performance and reliability and stuff.

I have an atheros based rev C3 card tho, and it seems there's a plethora of different chipsets in different revs, which (according to the research I did with google before buying the card) are or were not all supported.

EDIT: Why I report about a PCMCIA card? Well I think it's PCI pendant has got very similar hardware on it, and a quick search confirms this exactly... so go for it if the REVISION is right!

macawgumbo · Apprentice Joined: 28 May 2004 Posts: 165

Listing of supported wireless cards, their chipsets, and what module it uses:

http://linux_wless.passys.nl/

Gherald · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:

atheros, prism, orinoco good
broadcom, intel bad