PC Card

For most people wanting to know how to network, a pc card is what they ultimately settle on. Also known as a wireless pci adapter, it's a circuit board that's installed into an empty card slot on a desktop computer. It has an antenna that extends outside of the PC case, as can be seen on the Linksys WMP54G, pictured below.

Unlike some of the usb versions we looked at earlier, a wireless 802.11 g pci adapter has the advantage of being secured inside the computer, where it's less likely to be damaged or bumped. Since the card is held in place by a restraining screw, there's little chance of it being unplugged, unlike a usb-ported device. And the antenna is larger than most 'dongle' types, so you will get a better signal, even if the antenna is located behind the PC.

If you're not technical-minded, the downside is that the computer must be opened up, which generally means unplugging all the connections in the back and moving the PC to an area where the case can be removed to give you access to the card slots. And of course, you need an empty slot! If you're comfortable with this process, seating the card and securing it with a screw is fairly straightforward. A CD-ROM with setup instructions should be included, and when the computer is powered up again, it will probably auto-detect the new hardware. Once it's configured, your wireless access point should be good to go. With everything internal, there are no extra wires leading to an external antenna, which could be a plus for some people.

As mentioned before, an 802.11 g adapter is recommended. Check the description online or on the box before purchase, to make sure that's the correct standard. An 802.11 b adapter will work with a 'g' router, but at a much slower speed. A wireless network adapter that's listed as 'b/g' will work at either standard, but whenever possible, stick with an 802.11 g pci adapter.

A pci 802.11 g connection works for a desktop, but what kind of wireless card will work in a notebook? Click the link and we'll look at that next.