Best PCMCIA wireless card for Windows 98SE?

My Toughbook does everything I need it to do but I'd really like it to be wireless.

It has a 32bit card slot but seems to be picky and only want to run older cards.

Anyone run into this before? Any suggestions? And no, trash it isn't an option!

Specs:
Toughbook CF-25 MKIII
Pentium 233MMX
160mb RAM
Windows 98SE; all updates

 

Buy a $10 cheap usb wifi adapter. I got a crappy cheap one and it worked with my old laptop (166mhz MMX, win98 (not even SE), 32mb ram).

I guess maybe you don't want to waste a usb port (old laptops don't have too many), so then I would try to get an older model from ebay. Something that doesn't have wireless N draft must be old. Even better if it only has B.

Also I bet you have pads on your motherboard that act as jumpers if you solder resistors to them, like my old laptop had. Meaning you could probably increase the multi. Also you could probably pin mod the PLL to increase the FSB. You could probably get over 300mhz. I can try to help you with that if you want. I got my old 166mhz CPU to 225mhz.

 

No USB on the CF-25 :/

To get the CPU over the stock clock on the CF-25 it requires crazy amounts of jumpering wires, resistors, cutting pins... it was too much work!

 

I use a PCMCIA card made by IQ Systems. I'm not sure that this company still exist, but the drivers work fine with 98SE. I'm sure there are still plenty of similar cards around - one in the UK for sure ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Max-Value-P...66ZS/ref=pd_sim_dbs_ce_6#moreAboutThisProduct ) but I bet there are plenty in the USofA that are cheaper too.

 

Just a thought. Will the 25 not allow a PCMCIA to 2x USB card? If yes, then you can use a USB WIFI adapter.

Ron in SG

 

The Ativa G PCMCIA Notebook Card, AWGNA54 will work on Win98. I just set up a old 400 MHz Toshiba for my Fiancee's brother using one. I have W2K loaded on it.

As to speed upgrades, as I recall, the CPU is socketed on that model?

IF it is, and if it will or could be made to support the required split voltage of 2.1 - 2.3V and the Core at 3-135-3.6 I/O you could try the AMD K6-2. It will do split voltage if it is a 233MMX.

The cool thing about this is that it will interpret the 3.5 stepping of the 233MM (3.5x 66MHz FSB = 223MHz) as 6X. So with a processor bus speed of 66MHz you would be stepping at 6 for a total CPU speed of 396 MHz! If you are interested in this type of upgrade, I would look for the K6-2 (Chomper Extended (CXT), 250 nm) (Family 5, Model 8, Stepping 12).

I upgraded an old WinBook from an Intel 233 MHz to one of these and managed to Run WinXP on it! That would be a hoot on an old CF25, but with a maximum 0f 80MB of RAM would be less then speedy. Maybe Linux?

As you have said, the BIOs is the limitation on that model, no support of USB and I think a limit of 8GB on the Primary partition of the HDD.

Even if you have no interest in this, thanks for the trip down memory lane to the exciting days of Super Socket 7!

 

This will not work... I've tested it... you need to find yourself and OLDASS 1 by wifi PCMCIA card... HRRRRRRRRM..... I might actually have one...

 

Azrial, the RAM is maxxed at 160mb; not 80mb. If you're up for some CPU hacking I'll mail the laptop to you

ToughNut, I've read no USB PCMCIA card will work in this laptop sadly.

Old Git, thanks for the link, I'll check that card out.

 

Thanks for the offer, and I am temped, but my plate is full right now. BTW, is the CPU socketed?

 

I have a couple of "OLDASS" PCMCIA 16bit cards that both work.
First one is an Orinoco wireless networks 802.11b Gold card.
2nd one is an Intel 802.11b PRO/wireless 2011b card.
It will be up to you to find the drivers for these.
Your choice, I will sell either one for the extremely high price of $10.00 shipped, if you are in the lower 48 United states.

Send me a PM if you are interested

Bob

 

I can help you out with the Orinoco Gold drivers now, just let me make double sure I have the W98 flavor.

 

I've had great success with Orinoco cards, thought not in a CF-25. So I'd recommend going with that one if drivers for it can be found.

 

Yep! I like Orinoco cards as well. I have used one since it was THE card for net... exploring and research! I still have a mag mount 5/8 wave antenna for mine!

I am looking at Orinoco-Promix drivers right now for Win98, 2K, CE, XP and Linux.
Let me know if you can't find them!

 

Include Lucent WaveLan PC24E-H-C in your driver search, I believe they are the same card.
CAP