PCI or USB device to add wireless to a desktop machine?

[Dazed_75]

Thanks for all the information!  I am thinking I really like the Buffalo
solution as it does seem to avoid all the wireless driver and setup issues
although it means both power and signal cables for a "wireless" network.  It
might be the ideal though for this intended use (and others too).  I should
explain:

Bud Rolley (leader of the EVALUG group) was always bringing old desktops to
meetings for Linux demos which were then extremely slow.  Harold McMullen
gave me a Gateway P4 desktop to give to Bud and asked me to install Ubuntu
and a wireless adapter so Bud could bring it to meetings and not have to
string a very long ethernet cable for connectivity.

Given the issues some people have with wireless under Linux I started to
look into it before buying an adapter.  The info I found on the net was
chaotic at best and one article seemed to say adapters varied hugely in
power and antenna gains.  Thats why I was hoping to find some good advice
based on recent experience here.  I was also worried that a PCI card with an
antenna on the back might be easily broken moving the machine back and forth
to meetings.

Here is another aspect of the buffalo solution being ideal for this
environment.  With the 4 port switch allowing multiple ethernet devices to
share the wireless connection, Bud could let others plug in to it as well
and none of those need be aware they are connecting to a wireless network if
I am reading the Buffalo information correctly.

Any more opinions or anyone think I am reading it wrong?

On 8/22/06, A LeDonne <aledonne.listmail at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 8/21/06, Dazed_75 <lthielster at gmail.com> wrote:
> > It seems the PCI devices all have the antenna attached to the rear plate
> of
> > the PCI card which seems a terrible place for an antenna interference,
> > blockage and breakage wise.  The USB adapter type which generally looks
> like
> > a jump drive usually includes a cable so you can place the unit to
> improve
> > reception/transmission probably have a less effective antenna.
> >
> > Does anyone have experience using both that could provide insight which
> is
> > better and why?
>
> I'll highlight a 3d option: a wired-to-wireless ethernet bridge.
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162168
> That's the Buffalo WLI-TX4-G54HP - I've also seen it on the shelf at a
> Best Buy. In some installations it may be your best option for several
> reasons:
>
> 1/ Highly flexible placement. USB max cable run is ~15'. With this
> device, your computer is connecting via wired ethernet to the bridge,
> for which a max cable run is much longer.
>
> 2/ No driver headaches. Uses your existing wired nic - no worries
> about the state of development of the driver for the chipset of the
> revision of the make and model that you purchased.
>
> 3/ Hook up multiple devices. This one includes an integrated 4-port
> switch.
>
> It's better AND cheaper than the "wireless gaming adapters" I've seen.
> Better signal pickup than the Belkin USB adapter I've worked with.
> Never used a PCI wireless card.
>
> The obvious caveat is that this is an AC-powered device, but it should
> work well for a desktop or multi-desktop situation.
>
> -A
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