Best Mini-PCI WiFi upgrade?

Any opinions on this, ideally looking for one with 3 ant connectors.
I know good ones for Mini-PCIE just not PCI....

Looking for range and something I can use for packet injection, atheros based.

 

The Engenius 8602+S seems to be fairly popular. It only has 2 antenna ports, but it is an Atheros card, and runs at 600mw. I have them in both my 18 and my 29

nine

 

The Atheros-based Engenius cards are excellent Wireless B/G cards with phenomenal range due to their nearly carcinogenic power output. The 3-Antenna system is NOT Wireless B/G, it is Wireless N, and requires a Wireless N Access Point/Router, or it will simply operate in Wireless B/G mode.

The higher output power of the Atheros-based cards makes them a force to be reckoned with; the broader implementation of Wireless G (where they really shine) means you'll be able to hit more WiFi hotspots from farther away. However Wireless N 's advantage is that it gets better coverage using less power, so you interfere with your neighbors' (and your wireless phone, wireless video camera, wireless whatever else) WiFi less. It is, however, limited by regulations to 200mw or less.

The Toughbook's alloy construction makes it a pain in the arse to implement TWO WiFi antennas without major contortions; trying to get 3 antennas in a triangular plane (optimal design for Wireless N) is a LOT more hassle than I'm interested in.

mnem
Gettin' the signal out!

 

Have you perchance seen the Ubiquiti SR71-A [ data sheet]? It appears to meet at least two of your requirements--3 antennas ports and Atheros. If you need 802.11n, it also has that. Driver support is only listed for Linux, though.

They do have other products in the SR71 product line, including a CardBus version ( SR71-C). While the CardBus version does list Windows driver support, it only has two antenna connectors.

I've thought about getting the PCMCIA CardBus model and hooking up its two antenna ports to the two WiFi antenna leads on my CF-18 "early" mk1. I received some feedback earlier on this forum that the door wouldn't close with the antennas attached, but I'm not sure we were on the same page, as the response alluded that this forum generally aims to keep mods internal to the Toughbooks. I think the source of the confusion was the manufacturer's product page. The SR71-C product page pictures the CardBus adapter connected to external antennas, but I wasn't intending use external antennas. Instead, I was hoping that I might be able to use the Toughbook's existing internal 802.11 antennas. The antenna leads, of course, would need to be extended to reach the PCMCIA door on the opposite side of the unit from the MiniPCI slot. Or, maybe the existing internal 802.11 antennas wouldn't be well suited for 802.11n???

Unfortunately, this Ubiquiti SR71 product line seems to be pricey--as in, from what I've seen, over $100 for the MiniPCI version and $140 - $150 for the CardBus version.

Engenius also has a newer model, the EMP-9701, with 802.11n support and 2 U.FL antenna connectors (IPEX). This one appears to be obtainable for under $50.

By going with the CardBus, that would free up the MiniPCI slot for something else, but it seems to be a pricier option.

 

The Wireless-N/MIMO standard is based in part on the multi-channel technology pioneered by the developers of the Atheros chipset; it is no surprise that they have a MIMO solution available. I don't know how the dB levels posted translate into mW output; however, given the current draws listed, I'd guess they're probably in the same 600mw range as the Engenious cards so popular here, plus they're compatible with EVERY COMMERCIAL FORM OF WIFI out there.

They ARE pricy; but then, they DO appear to be one heckuva card.

mnem
Definitely NOT the SR71 I want to test-fly, tho...

 

This might be used for a custom build but is nowhere near a drop-in replacement as it uses MMCX connectors. Unless you want to rewire your antenna leads... I wouldn't recommend it.

 

Thanks for pointing out the connector differences. In reading one of mnem's posts in another thread, I guess we could speculate on whether one of the following he found might work (depending on which end of the connector is on the card)?
* MMCX Female to IPX/uFL - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250425681298
* MMCX Male to IPX/uFL - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390067089452

Also, this thread on Ubiquiti's website may prove helpful for anyone who wants to use the Windows support of the Ubiquiti SR71-C...
- http://forum.ubnt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11411