5GHz Adapter for Old Laptop

[coxhaus]

I am thinking about trying to run 5GHz 802.11n only on my Cisco WAP321. I would need a 5GHz adapter for my old laptop which only has 2.4GHz built-in. What would be a good one for my laptop running Windows 7?

 

[thiggins]

I am thinking about trying to run 5GHz 802.11n only on my Cisco WAP321. I would need a 5GHz adapter for my old laptop which only has 2.4GHz built-in. What would be a good one for my laptop running Windows 7?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/rankers/wireless-adapter-bridge/view

 

[sm00thpapa]

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/rankers/wireless-adapter-bridge/view

Thank you Tim. I have the Edimax N450 adapter and it works well. I may have to upgrade to the Edimax AC1200 now after reading your review.

 

[coxhaus]

Thanks Tim. I will try to order an Edimax AC1200 tomorrow.

 

[sm00thpapa]

How old is your laptop? Make sure it doesn't have a USB 1.1 port cause that will limit your speed.

 

[coxhaus]

Good call. I think I am going to be alright as I have an old Dell XPS M1210 laptop. It is listed as USB 2.0 ports. What do you think?


PS

Now that I have looked at the specs for my laptop I have an Intel 3945 wireless with 5GHz a band support. Should I try running it or just buy a new one?

 

[coxhaus]

I have another question. I called my local discount Dell store and they have an Intel 5300 wireless card which will fit inside so I don't have to have I dongle sticking out of my laptop. What do you think? It is a little less money but what will I give up?

 

[L&LD]

Why don't you just buy an Intel AC7260 wireless card instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106240

 

[sm00thpapa]

I wonder if they will ever release an AC1900 USB adapter. If they can make a N450 adapter 3x3 why not an AC1900 one?

 

[coxhaus]

Why don't you just buy an Intel AC7260 wireless card instead?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106240

I looked this up and I am thinking it may not fit as I need a PCIe mini card. The AC7260 is listed as a PCIe card but not a mini version. I don't know for sure as it is hard to tell from the pictures.

PS
I am wrong as the AC7260 card is a half mini card which may fit.
PSS
I ordered one to try it.

 

[remixedcat]

Edimax EW-7811UTC AC600 Wireless Dual-Band Mini USB Adapter

is what I got and it works well.

Got it for 12 including shipping on newegg.

Also some laptops have whitelists in BIOS that prevent a lot of adapters from working, they want you to pay a premium for one of thier whitelisted ones.

 

[TonyH]

Good call. I think I am going to be alright as I have an old Dell XPS M1210 laptop. It is listed as USB 2.0 ports. What do you think?


PS

Now that I have looked at the specs for my laptop I have an Intel 3945 wireless with 5GHz a band support. Should I try running it or just buy a new one?

Hi,
3945 does not cover high channels if I remember correctly.
I had it on my old TP T61 and I could use only low channels.

 

[sfx2000]

I wonder if they will ever release an AC1900 USB adapter. If they can make a N450 adapter 3x3 why not an AC1900 one?

It would be great to see, but I think the practical limitation is power - most can plug into a USB2 jack that by standard provides 500ma... and second would be form factor - need to have three antennas, and this would be a problem for most folks that want a USB adapter in the first place as a dongle - there wasn't that many N450 3-stream USB adapters for the same reasons...

 

[sfx2000]

Hi,
3945 does not cover high channels if I remember correctly.
I had it on my old TP T61 and I could use only low channels.

If you're speaking about the Intel 3945 card, it should, just depends on the "locale"... and perhaps vendor drivers, I had one in my old Dell from work, no problems there... (good card actually in the D610)

 

[coxhaus]

Hi,
3945 does not cover high channels if I remember correctly.
I had it on my old TP T61 and I could use only low channels.

The 3945 wireless card has been a good card for an 11G connection. It does cover the upper channels in my laptop for 2.4GHz band. I have not tried 11a in the 5GHz band.

 

[sm00thpapa]

My Edimax N450 adapter was faster than my Linksys AC1200 adapter. But unfortunately for me my Edimax adapter just died.

 

[coxhaus]

Well I bought the AC-7260 wireless adapter. It will not work in my old laptop. It plugs in and is reconised but I think there is not BIOS support for it. I went on a hunt and found a used newer laptop which will run this AC-7260 wireless card. I ended up with a Dell Latitude E6320 with a i7 2.7 GHZ CPU. It is a much better laptop than my old one. It will take a little while to settle in and get everything working. Now I can use my laptop to test and not rely on my wife's iPad to test the 5GHz wireless connections.

 

[TonyH]

Well I bought the AC-7260 wireless adapter. It will not work in my old laptop. It plugs in and is reconised but I think there is not BIOS support for it. I went on a hunt and found a used newer laptop which will run this AC-7260 wireless card. I ended up with a Dell Latitude E6320 with a i7 2.7 GHZ CPU. It is a much better laptop than my old one. It will take a little while to settle in and get everything working. Now I can use my laptop to test and not rely on my wife's iPad to test the 5GHz wireless connections.

Hi,
What was the OS on your old laptop I wonder.

 

[coxhaus]

Microsoft Windows 7 the same as my new used one.

 

[remixedcat]

companies whitelist adapters so they cna charge you a lot more for one of thier "approved" ones.