make notebook wi-fi capable

hello, a friend gave me a 3 year old compaq presario laptop which is not wi-fi capable. I was wondering what I need to buy/do to make it so?

I've seen anything from a wi-fi dongle for about 10 bucks, to wi-fi cards for over 100.

thanks for your help,
L

 

What is the model number of the Presario?

USB dongle normally can do the job, but don't get something $10, get something from a reputable brand or else you'll be wasting that $10 instead. I bought one from D-Link for my old laptop before and it works well.

You can also get a Cardbus or ExpressCard one, but that depends which slot your laptop has.

 

The plug-in wireless dongles work OK provided you are not too far from the router. they don't have the benefit of the proper antennae that are built into the displays of recent notebooks.

John

 

its a v5116.


"Cardbus or ExpressCard" ?

thanks.
L

 

A CardBus card is what you're looking for.

 

hmm... I thought it would be Cardbus too when he said 3 years old, but I just double checked and according to HP's site, it's actually an ExpressCard/54 slot that also supports ExpressCard/34:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...=c00680516&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

wondering how,

Can you double check the bottom of the machine if it's written "V5116EU" instead of just "V5116", cause I cannot find "V5116" on the HP site. If it's "V5116EU", then it's definitely an ExpressCard/54 slot, but can also use ExpressCard/34 according to HP.

This will be what you need:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=550

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=7385139789B12

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=299617#

It's a lot more expensive than any USB ones:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=566

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=477

 

I think that depends on the USB dongle, the DWL-G122 I have gets pretty good range, the router is 2 floors up and I can still get over 85% strength. The whole adapter's antenna also looks bigger than any PC Card or ExpressCard ones. I think as long as you buy a decent USB one, not that tiny one, the range will be as good or better.

 

sorry guys, the number is actually v5119US, not 5116!

I was fumbling around the internet b4 looking at the reply and ran accross this:

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=231&s=1448&ID=46147&P=F

is something like this something that could be used? what's the difference?

I know, I know.... all this questions, but I've never delt with a laptop b4, just desktops, so I'm new at this. i'm going away in a week, and was just given this, so I thought it'd be cool to take it with me and access wi-fi if doable.

BTW thanks for the help guys, specially stewie. Really cool you went through the trouble of going to HP's site. I appreciate it!
L

 

The V5119US has the same slot as the V5116EU, which is an ExpressCard slot, not a Cardbus/PCMCIA slot:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...=c00617946&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

The Netgear WN511B is not good for you, that's a Cardbus/PCMCIA adapter. For ExpressCard, Netgear currently has only this model:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Adapters/RangeMaxNextWirelessAdapters/WN711.aspx

These ExpressCards will work for you too:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=550

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=7385139789B12

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=299617#

USB ones:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=566

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=477

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Adapters/RangeMaxNextWirelessAdapters/WNDA3100.aspx

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Adapters/RangeMaxAdapters/WPN111.aspx

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=5615933028B15

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=5787333028B11

 

If you really want an ExpressCard, they have this one on sale at the pacificgeek.com site you posted:

http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?ID=91565&C=212&S=1059

 

thanks stewie,
I got one of the ones you suggested.

BTW, what specs are you looking at that lets you know that it would work with my laptop?


L

 

Look for the word "ExpressCard", if you see the word "ExpressCard", then it will work, cause your laptop supports both sizes (34 and 54) of ExpressCard that are available on the market. Cardbus is the older type, the shape is bigger/different too, which requires a completely different slot than the slot in your laptop.

 

thanks man. appreciate it.
L

 

yes, ExpressCard is your friend in case of a 3yr old laptop..