Linux wifi cards and USB adapters - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Slavakion · 02-26-2005, 06:49 PM

So now that I have a laptop, it occurs to me that I have no excuse not to delve into the magical world of linux. Especially since I'd like to try out wardriving and *cough* secure my home network. Too bad the integrated card is an Atheros, and linux doesn't play nice with Atheros unless you get madwifi. But that's too many steps, especially if I want to stick my toe in with a LiveCD. So after poking around, it seems that Prism chipsets are the best for linux and what I hope to do with them.

According to a list I found online, quite a few of the Prism sets (that I'd be able to find in a store) are in USB adapters. So, how do USB adapters stack up? Do they work as well as PCMCIA, will they drain my battery in five minutes?

ßeastie · 02-27-2005, 08:27 AM

I know you are looking for a LiveCD, but just to give you some encouragement, getting madwifi and even wpa_supplicant to work is not that bad. I was able to get madwifi running without too much of an issue on my Mandrake 10.1 laptop. Getting wpa_supplicant was not too bad either after I found the a page that had a couple of missing directives I needed. And after I munged the partition table and had to re-install it was even easier

bendsley · 02-28-2005, 06:49 AM

Prism chipsets are always easier to get loaded than Broadcom ones. Some of the BC work using software from Linuxant, some don't.

Might look here. Some good info usually. http://www.linux-laptop.net/

Proxim and Lucent/Orinoco are always good bets for cards to use under Linux and Windows. Orinoco cards are great too.

Slavakion · 02-28-2005, 09:57 AM

I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't clear enough. What I want to know is: Is a USB wifi "card" as good as a PCMCIA? Is it more strenuous on battery life (compared to PCMCIA)? Will it crap out after two weeks?

But thanks for affirming the prism thing.

bendsley · 02-28-2005, 10:01 AM

Yeah, USB would be just as good as a PCMCIA card. Also, with USB you might have better antenna reception due to the mobility. USB would take no more battery than a PCMCIA card I would imagine.

Slavakion · 02-28-2005, 11:35 AM

Alright, thanks, Bendsley. I think there's a USB prism on sale this week...

02-26-2005, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slavakion Mjollnir Incarnate Location: Lost in thought	Linux wifi cards and USB adapters So now that I have a laptop, it occurs to me that I have no excuse not to delve into the magical world of linux. Especially since I'd like to try out wardriving and cough secure my home network. Too bad the integrated card is an Atheros, and linux doesn't play nice with Atheros unless you get madwifi. But that's too many steps, especially if I want to stick my toe in with a LiveCD. So after poking around, it seems that Prism chipsets are the best for linux and what I hope to do with them. According to a list I found online, quite a few of the Prism sets (that I'd be able to find in a store) are in USB adapters. So, how do USB adapters stack up? Do they work as well as PCMCIA, will they drain my battery in five minutes?

02-28-2005, 06:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	Prism chipsets are always easier to get loaded than Broadcom ones. Some of the BC work using software from Linuxant, some don't. Might look here. Some good info usually. http://www.linux-laptop.net/ Proxim and Lucent/Orinoco are always good bets for cards to use under Linux and Windows. Orinoco cards are great too. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

02-28-2005, 10:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	Yeah, USB would be just as good as a PCMCIA card. Also, with USB you might have better antenna reception due to the mobility. USB would take no more battery than a PCMCIA card I would imagine. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

02-27-2005, 08:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
ßeastie Junkie Location: NorthEast	I know you are looking for a LiveCD, but just to give you some encouragement, getting madwifi and even wpa_supplicant to work is not that bad. I was able to get madwifi running without too much of an issue on my Mandrake 10.1 laptop. Getting wpa_supplicant was not too bad either after I found the a page that had a couple of missing directives I needed. And after I munged the partition table and had to re-install it was even easier

02-28-2005, 09:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
Slavakion Mjollnir Incarnate Location: Lost in thought	I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't clear enough. What I want to know is: Is a USB wifi "card" as good as a PCMCIA? Is it more strenuous on battery life (compared to PCMCIA)? Will it crap out after two weeks? But thanks for affirming the prism thing.

02-28-2005, 11:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Slavakion Mjollnir Incarnate Location: Lost in thought	Alright, thanks, Bendsley. I think there's a USB prism on sale this week...