Wireless Internet Connection with Orinoco Silver Card and Pismo

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Level 2

342 points

Wireless Internet Connection with Orinoco Silver Card and Pismo

Hi,

I am currently using a Orinoco Silver Card with my Pismo to obtain wireless Internet connection. I was thinking of buying a Airport card and installed it into the Pismo internal card slot. But before I do that,I would like to make sure my internet connection will have great improvement since the Airport card for Pismo is pretty expensive nowadays. My current internet connection is ok but pretty slow comparing to my friend's Window XP PC with a D-Link card plug into the card slot.

Any comments/suggestions are much appreciated.

Thank you.

Thomas

PowerBook G3 Firewire/Pismo, Mac OS X (10.2.x), 384 MB/400 MHZ/80 GB HD

Posted on Jan 27, 2007 8:07 PM

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Answer 1

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Jan 27, 2007 8:51 PM in response to startrekker1

Thomas,

The original AirPort card that fits in the Pismo's internal slot is of the 802.11b (11Mbps) variety, just like the Orinoco PC card you are using, and the internal AirPort slot can only use the original AirPort card...nothing else.

If you want greater speed, your only solution is another PC card of the 802.11g (54Mbps) variety which is approximately 5 times faster than your Orinoco.

You can buy a WiFi PC card that is fully compatible with Apple's AirPort software; these use the Broadcom chipset. However, there is a minimum requirement of OSX 10.2.6 and AirPort 3.1.1.

OWC sells the Sonnet Aria Extreme that meets these requirements:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/G54CB/

If you updated to 10.3.x, the less expensive Buffalo Airstation would suffice:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Buffalo/BUF80211B/

You also have the option of buying the third-party wireless software from OrangeWare, then buying any of the PC cards in their list of supported cards.
http://www.orangeware.com/endusers/wirelessformac.html

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Answer 2

startrekker1 Author

Level 2

342 points

Jan 27, 2007 9:33 PM in response to jpl

Hi jpl,

Thank you again for your great information/assistance. I have another question. If I go ahead with the Sonnet Aria Extreme card, what data rates will I be getting? Will it be significantly faster than what I am having now with Orinoco Silver? Since I have already upgraded my Pismo with a DVD+R/W drive, a new Battery and a new internal HD, I want to make sure my further investment is worthy enough. Thank you in advance for any of your input.

Thomas

PowerBook G3 Firewire/Pismo Mac OS X (10.2.x) 384 MB/400 MHZ/80 GB HD

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Answer 3

jpl

Level 7

28,285 points

Jan 28, 2007 11:18 AM in response to startrekker1

Thomas,

Your Orinoco PC card has a maximum data transfer rate of 11 Mbps (megabits/sec) since it is an 802.11b spec. The Sonnet Aria Extreme, 802.11g, has a maximum rate of 54 Mbps, the same speed as the wireless cards in the currently shipping Macs, and 5 times faster than your Orinoco. If you are connecting through a wireless router, however, that has the older, slower (b) standard, then the faster card will not help; it will only move data at the slower 11 Mbps.

Message was edited by: jpl

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Answer 4

startrekker1 Author

Level 2

342 points

Jan 28, 2007 11:49 AM in response to jpl

Thanks again, jpl.

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