Which Cf Wifi Should I Buy?

[grog]

Hi all. I've got two CF network cards available to me in Canada) from http://www.tigerdirect.ca, a Dlink DCF-660W and a Netgear MA701. They both are prism cards & have the same power stats, but the Netgear card is $7 cheaper. Are there any other diffs I should be concerend about? Or for that matter, anywhere else in Canada that i can get a better deal?

Thanks in advance.

[grog]

(bump)  Any canucks out there that can give an up&coming newbie some advice would be greatly appreciated  

[MeaninglessNick]

Canadian mail order opinions:

I am waiting for some Z bits from tigerdirect, my first dealing with them. I'm slightly peeved because it took 4 days from claiming to ship to showing a  departure scan at UPS.

www.ncix.com is decent to deal with, and sometimes better prices than tigerdirect

www.fronet.com is also decent (in the sense that they seem to be honest) prices a little worse than ncix,com.  Their online inventory managment is not perfect: consider talking to
a person if the piece is not listed as shipping immediatly.

People also tell me good things about Vibe computers.

www.canadacomputers.com has good prices, but no electronic ordering.  They are decent to deal with by phone/fax/email

[grog]

I've ordered a few things from tigerdirect over the past year or two & haven't been dissapointed yet (cross my fingers). So that's why I don't have a problem ordering from them, as long as they have the best deal, that is  

NCIX _did_ have one card available, but the price was higher than tiger. I'll check back with them before I order. Haven't heard of the others you mentioned, so I'll check'em out too!

Thanks MeaninglessNick

PS *ANYONE* have comments on the quality and/or capability of either of these cards?

thanks again

[semen]

I recently purchased a Netgear MA701 off eBay. Took the standard 9 days to get here as it usually does (Came from Ohio and customs don't help). I got mine for 40$ CAD with S&H and Insurance. It seems to be a good card and being that I can't find an actual store in Ontario that sells them in-store, I also couldn't find anywhere that had them for less than 80$ - it was a pretty good deal. I never did like D-Link products. MA701 works fine with the HostAP drivers in OZ3.5.1.
Netgear MA701 specs:

Power:
Automatic built-in power management to reduce battery usage
Transmission = < 350 mA
Reception = < 250 mA
Power Save mode = 80mA

and D-Link DCF-660W specs:

Transmission = < 350ma
Reception = < 250ma
Power Save mode = 80mA

They seem pretty much the same. The D-Link has a Tx of about ~16dBm. No clue on the Netgear. My only "gripe" with the Netgear card is that the Link light is stays flashing when it's plugged in. I'm sure there's an ioctl to turn it off though.

[grog]

I never did like D-Link products

Me too, although I don't know why (no personal experience to back it up).

I recently purchased a Netgear MA701 off eBay

Was that new or used? I'd prefer to spend a little more for a waranty, I think.

But now I managed to find a Ambicon WL1100CF for about the same price as the Linksys WCF12. And the standby power usage is WAY less (17 compared to 80). So now I'm thinking that I should get that one instead.

whattayah think?

[Bombur]

Grog,

which Canadian site had the Ambicom CF card?

J.

[melmo]

I picked up a Sony WL100 from a Bestbuy when I was in Chicago last year.  It was $50 and I've used it in my Clie, my Dell Axim and now my Zaurus.  If you can find one being cleared out (replaced by the WL110) or on eBay I highly recommend it.  It's a rebadged Intel 2011, which in turn is some sort of rebadged Symbol/Socket card (previous generation).

Otherwise, Factorydirect.ca has the SMC2642w for $50 Cdn.

[grog]

which Canadian site had the Ambicom CF card?

Actually that was a US ebay seller. If you can't find it I'll get the link for you.

Otherwise, Factorydirect.ca has the SMC2642w for $50 Cdn.

BINGO!!  Now that's a good deal. And after reading this review ranting abput the range:

http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/SMC_wifi.htm

I ordered one. The power consumption is a bit on the high side on standbuy, but right on par with the others on receive & transmit (<100/<250/<320), but that range & price combo it was hard to resist.

Thanks for the help. I'll report back next week when I get it.