Using wireless adaptor with windows 98_95,PCI NIC

I have just acquired a Gigafast WF748-CUI wireless adaptor. It is compatible with 802.11b/g protocols. I had acquired it for an older laptop (not operating yet) that has windows XP but was wondering what kind of challenges I might have in using it in Windows 95 or Windows 98.

The computer running windows 98 is an AMDk6-2 machine with 128 mgs of ram and the Windows 95 machine is a Pentium MMX 200mghz machine with 20 mgs of ram. The Win 95 machine may not work as well because it may not have enough ram so I would most likely use the card with the new machine. The oldest operating system that is listed with the card is Windows 98SE. Assuming if I could get more ram into the old Pentium MMX machine what would the challenges be in using it with Windows 95? Is using the card with windows 95 possible?

Both of these computers are part of a two computer LAN (there were more computers at one time but they have failed). I was wondering if I could install the card into the windows 98 machine and still maintain my earlier network setup. Would such a topology require me to hook my switch up to a wireless hub?

Thanks in advance,

amtk_350

amtk_350@yahoo.com

I run wired and wireless both on old machines...much faster than dialup even with the slowest 486DX50.

That one runs DOS6.20w/3.11WFW, the 486DX75 runs 98se as does the P133 and the PII300.

All would be a pig on dial up but high speed internet and the capability to network brings 'em alive.

If you need 16 bit pcmcia wired and wireless network cards, they're still relatively easy to find. Desktops will hardwire with about any old NIC you can find.

Skip

The wireless adaptor is PCMCIA 32bit does the Laptop support CardBus ?

Drivers for W98SE and later, will it support W95 ? well the obvious answer is no as it has no drivers !

SkipCox, 16bit PCMCIA Wireless Cards were using 2 or 4 speed.

Even USB Wifi Adaptors usually require W98SE!

You're right orbital...11Mbit/s ain't the fastest out there.

I use a 16bit wireless card for my old laptops. Even though one will use faster stuff, I like to carry only one card that'll work on the 486's, the 133, and the 300.

Currently at 915down and 330up on at&t dsl on the Itronix 6250Pro300...that's a plenty good enough connection for an old laptop. I also carry a wired 16bit pcmcia card that has drivers for WFW3.11 if I need a connection for really old machines.

Although slower than cardbus, it all works about as well as the machines can perform and the 16bit cards also work in cardbus adapters and laptops.

I try to stay away from USB adapters on machines like amtk350 described...they're pretty iffy even on a 500Mhz/98se machine.

I'll run a bandwidth test on an IBM 755c 486DX475/20Mb/98se later today and post those results.

Skip

I'm posting this from the 486DX475. Download speeds are at ~190Mbit/s and upload at ~330Mbit/s. Considerably slower than the Itronix laptop but, that's to be expected considering the processor difference.

All in all, still pretty easy to use considering it's a 486.

The wired card (Belkin F5D5020) might be a bit faster than the wireless (Netgear MA401) I'm using right now but, I doubt if there is much difference.

Skip

Any challenges in using a USB card with a larger laptop with a more modern OS?. Particularly in a Univercity setting that has a blanket WIFI?

So I get peoples points, there is no universality between 95-98-98se? I know it there is for many older cards but I am assuming that newer cards will start to get rather touchy.

So I imagine that could concievebly use the USB card and a PCI Nic at the same time on my 500mghz desktop?

You can surely use a pci nic...wired or wireless. USB might work with 98se but why do you want to use them at the same time if the campus is totally wired?

Skip

I am actually working at different environments so I will be working in several different places and a few machines where there is just a lan, Wifi, etc. The reason why I had gotten a USB card rather then PCIMIA so I can have the most flexibility or provision of such. Part of my question was just far I could push the technoligy.

-amtk350

I Have a Toshiba satellite 2065 cds, I Recently bought a D-link wireless G card, The program installs except the drivers, I get a n error message saying "Win9X cannot install drivers" any suggestions on how to get this to work?

Dave

mcraedg@hotmail.com