Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Dell TrueMobile wireless networking ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Dell TrueMobile wireless networking
Category: Computers > Wireless and Mobile
Asked by: maxinjapan-ga
List Price: $15.00
Posted: 21 Nov 2002 17:10 PST
Expires: 21 Dec 2002 17:10 PST
Question ID: 112249
This is what I would like to know, but I am too lazy to research
myself:

I am thinking of buying a new Dell laptop (Inspiron 8200) with the
TrueMobile wireless card. Along with this I thought I would buy the
1184 Wireless Broadband router to connect to my cable modem that I am
already using.

Question is this, I also have a Compaq Presario 1270 running W2K which
I would like to connect to my little network that I am going to make,
this desktop is currently plugged in directly to the cable modem. Can
I buy ANY brand of wireless networking card and it will work with the
Dell TrueMobile wireless broadband router? or do I need to buy a Dell
only which will not work with my Compaq Desktop.

For your $15 (and possible tip) tell me this: How do I connect a Dell
laptop and a Compaq desktop to a cable modem using the wireless
broadband router? what hardware is recommended? what plugs into what?
Best way to connect one Compaq desktop and one Dell laptop to a cable
modem so that both can use the internet connection, share files,
printers, etc? I would prefer a little advice rather than just links,
I can search Google myself, just want to know what the experience of
someone who has done this is. Dont HAVE to buy the Dell wireless
router if there is a better/cheaper option to do what I am trying to
do, but I am going to buy the Dell laptop so might be easier to buy
Dell wireless router and preinstalled wireless card? Be sure to tell
me what to buy and what connects to what.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Dell TrueMobile wireless networking
Answered By: funkywizard-ga on 22 Nov 2002 17:54 PST
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
First of all, these days any wireless networking product that relies
on the same technology (such as 802.11b) is compatible with all others
with the same designation. Just to be sure, I looked into the various
products you are considering.

From dell's website, I got a look at the truemobile built in card you
are considering: [ http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.asp?Sku=430-3572&category_id=&customer_id=19
]. The picture of this card [
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/images/products/large/430-3572.jpg
] looked surprisingly like another card I have seen before, which lead
me to believe it is a remarked orinoco mini pci network adapter.

If this is the case, I can garunteee compatibility with other
equipment, since not only is this the most common brand of wireless
adapter (the exact card goes by at least a dozen brand names), it is
fully compatible with the 802.11b wirelss network spec. I decided to
look a little deeper to see if this was the same card.

When doing a search for "TrueMobile 1150 Mini-PCI" on google, I came
accross numerous references to this card being identical to the mini
pci orinoco cards. The first such was at this forum [
http://www.geocrawler.com/archives/3/163/2001/7/0/6285797/ ], where a
person said "I have been thinking of using one of the
wavelan/orinoco/dell mini-pci cards, but before I get one I'd just
like to find out if they are working on FreeBSD." I happen to know
that orinoco is the same as wavelan (wavelan is an older brand name
that lucent felt needed updating), and with all three being mentioned
with /'s it seems they are the same card. Just to make sure this was
the same card, I took a look at the seattle wireless hardware
comparison page [ http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/HardwareComparison
], which listed the Dell TrueMobile 1150 as being "Same as Orinoco"
and "Rebranded Orinoco Gold"

So, just about any wireless networking access point would work with
this wireless network card you are considering.

To look at the compatibility of the access point you are thinking of
buying, I took a look at the sales info on dell's website [
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.asp?TabPage=TechSpecs&sku=430-0283&category_id=&customer_id=19
], and it appears this access point has some of the features necessary
for installing it as you would want, but lacks one thing that would
make it infinitely easier to install in your network setup, and that
is a second ethernet port. A second ethernet port would allow you to
connect to both your cable modem and you wired desktop computer
without hassle.

Without a second ethernet port, you would need your current desktop to
have a wireless network card in order to connect to the access point
most easily.
On dell's website [ http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.asp?TabPage=TechSpecs&sku=430-0283&category_id=&customer_id=19
], it is stated that the access point "supports all WiFi compatible
cards" which means that any other wireless cards other than the dell
one you are considering should work fine. However, this access point
costs over $500 and for the description of how you would be using the
access point, this is overkill.

To go on to answer the specific questions in your last paragraph (in
order) I give you the following:

How do I connect a Dell laptop and a Compaq desktop to a cable modem
using the wireless broadband router?

The easiest way to do this is as follows: 

1) Make sure a wireless card is in the laptop (if you have the mini
pci version, it should be built in, so no worries there).

2) Connect a wireless network adapter to the desktop. The easiest way
to do this is to get a usb wireless nic, such as this one made by
orinoco [ http://www.orinocowireless.com/template.html?section=m57&page=2403&envelope=93
]. To connect this you would connect the device's usb cable to the usb
port of the desktop computer, and plug in the power as well.

3) Connect the wireless broadband router to the cable modem, via the
ethernet port that is on the router. Plug in the power to the router.

Since all of this equipment is designed to work "out of the box" with
little or no software configuration, in all likelyhood, this is all
that needs to be done.
Any special issues one might encounter such as needing to change
network settings and other various issues are well explained (if a bit
wordy) in the user manual for the dell broadband router: [
http://support.ap.dell.com/docs/network/tmap1170/en/ ].

As for "what hardware is recommended", for your particular setup, I
would recommend the Orinoco BG2000 [
http://www.orinocowireless.com/template.html?section=m59&page=3199&envelope=95
]. The reason for this recommendation is that the wireless gateway has
2 ethernet ports, which would allow you to hook up your desktop via
ethernet to the "lan" port on the router, and hook up the cable modem
to the "wan" port on the router. This would be the lowest cost setup,
since you would not need a wireless card for the compaq desktop you
are using, and only for the laptop. Additionally, this router is much
less expensive than the one you have been considering from dell, and
would be fully compatible with the hardware you are considering
getting as well. The orinoco website lists a page of companies that
sell this router [ http://proxim.links.channelintelligence.com/pages/prices.asp?sSKU=700003212
], with the prevailing price at right around $150.

As for a final recommendation, I would suggest you go ahead and get
the builtin wireless network card that would come with the dell, but
get a different broadband router/wireless access point. There are many
cheaper and more appropriate products out there compared to the dell
router you are considering, that would be fully compatible with your
network.

Search strategy:
TrueMobile 1150 Mini-PCI
TrueMobile 1170

If you feel I have left anything out, please request a clarification
before rating this answer, and I will be glad to help you in any way
that I can.

Clarification of Answer by funkywizard-ga on 22 Nov 2002 17:55 PST
Just in case it wasn't clear, in the network setup I recommend, with
the BG2000, it would require the compaq desktop have an ethernet card
installed in it, if it does not already have one. Just about every
computer store sells ethernet cards, and usually for less than $20.
maxinjapan-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $5.00
yeah thats exactly what I was looking for, thanks a lot! Yeah thanks
for the clarification too, yes already have an ethernet card installed
in the Compaq, but thanks for making sure. I was looking for something
that would have caused me a mistake in this process and you found it,
that being the lack of a second ethernet port. Thanks again.

Comments  
There are no comments at this time.

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy