best wifi/wimax adapter for dell 1720

as the title really. ive been looking at the intel 5350's on ebay. anything better? as i know the intel uses 2.4ghz and 5ghz to achieve 300mbps, but other adapter's just use 2.4ghz, the 2.4ghz system would be better for me. as my ap, when i get it, only supports 2.4ghz.

 

bump. anyone?

 

Intel WiFi Link series wireless adapters depend on the wide 40MHz channel to achieve 300Mbps (or 270Mbps in case of compatibility among brands). It's not the case of 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The key is enabling 40MHz channel in both client and wireless router/access point in any band, 2.4GHz and/or 5GHz.

An exception is with Intel WiFi Link 4965AGN which supports wide 40MHz channel only at 5GHz band. But still, it doesn't require both bands to achieve 300 (or 270) Mbps.

Regarding Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350, it supposed to be the highest rank of Intel's combo WiMAX and WiFi adapters. But... You do aware that many 5350 cards on eBay are Engineering Samples, right?

 

thank you for the reply. i was worried if i bought an intel i would be limited in the speed i could achieve from my n ap. i have noticed that most of the ebay listings are now saying "not an engineering sample", but i dont know wheather to belive them or not. is the 5350 actually available yet? here's the listing i was going to buy from:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Intel-WiMAX-W...hash=item280345991869&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

 

Hmmm.... Few months ago they would not mention Engineering Samples accept providing the photo with this kind of writing on the label. And some sellers are still suggesting to watch out for fake labeling.

Then it depends on whether you would spend $30 for it. I'd say just go for it, cause it sure will fit inside your 1720 replacing previous mini PCI express wireless card. In case of my 1735, I have to use half-height mini PCI express wireless card, which form-factor Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350 won't come out.

 

which sellers are warning of fakes? maybe i can buy one from them? the trouble is here in the UK you cant seem to buy mini PCI-e cards easily.

 

Hahaha... Don't know whether mentioning fake labeling is sellers' trick or not. But I just did a search for intel 5350 on eBay, turns out no more sellers put their 5350 photos with Engineering Samples writing on the label anymore.

An interesting finding from the search is that there are label variations of current 5350 listings. For sure your seller's 5350 label doesn't show any MAC addresses, which makes it doubtful to me. Moreover, as this card is not only WiFi but also WiMAX card, so besides WiFi MAC address, WiMAX MAC address presence is a must, especially for subscribing to WiMAX provider. It's true you can still look for the MAC addresses by using software, but this is not likely as most wireless cards have the MAC address written on their labels.

 

cheers for that, i hadnt noticed the difference. ive asked them to send me a photo of one of the units they actually send people. the only reason i like this company over the others is because they offer a 12 month guarantee.

 

well ive got one, but ive got problems.

1) which colour ariel connects to which tr socket?
2) i cant get wimax to work, though im not sure if i need to install the card in a different slot?

EDIT: ive now installed it in the wwan slot and it seems to have installed some more drivers for wimax, but the Intel utility is still saying wimax not ready .

 

Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350 card should directly replace your previous wireless card, so it's not supposed to be put in WWAN slot. And if the Intel utility saying WiMAX is not ready, there could be 2 things: either it means that no WiMAX Service Provider is currently tied to you card (the settings are not configured yet) or you got a false card.

In other forum, there's a report of different MAC addresses found on 5350's label compared to its real addresses read through software. A sign of fake card or Engineering Sample card relabeled as real one.

 

ill check the mac's tonight. the cards aparently have to be put in the wwan slot, as the wifi slot doesnt have the usb+ and usb-, wired to it. when it was in the wifi slot only the wifi drivers would install, but after moving it to the wwan slot the wimax drivers installed.

 

my card has a different mac address on the label to the system reported one, but i remeber when using ap's that they have two mac's one for the network side and one for the wifi side. im wondering is this the same? interestingly the wimax mac is the same as the label.

 

ive also read on here that the official adapter's have a yellow backed sticker, which mine has. so now im wondering where to go with this next. maybe i need to do the usb mod or something.