3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN PC Card with XJACK Antenna

Rating:
Summary: Performance alright, Physical functionality lacking
Review: All lan cards wireless or not are about the same. They either work or they dont. This one works, and it's a brand I once admired so I thought I would give it a try. Driver installed fine. The only thing I dislike is the xjack antenna doesnt retract while plugged in. So I have to remove the card to put the antenna in, and then reinsert it. I suppose it's better than having it stick out all the time like other cards.

Rating:
Summary: Very nice looking - and works well
Review: I bought this item in full knowledge of quite a few bad reviews I have read. Some are accurate some not so. I have found the pop-out antenna to be not flimsy at all - its spring is very stiff holding it well in place. Some reviews say it has problem sticking to its retracted position, some say it sticks to easially. I havent found that, but the card is still new.

Performance wise it is average at best. It seams to take alot longer then my orionoco card at aquiring network and it does also loose signal sometimes. Using the latest drivers improved the performance greatly and is compatible with winXP (service pack 2) inbuilt wireless control, so there is no need to install the 3com software that comes with it (which is very nice).

Having said all that, the retractible antenna really is worth it all, and even with the antenna out it is still only sticks out a small amount and is unobstructive.

I would recommend this card to anyone who likes being mobile but doesnt require hard-core preformance.