Symbol Technologies Spectrum 24 pccard

[b***@anything-inc.com]

Does anyone have any experience using one of these cards. I have not
been able to find any good info searching for the card name. I did find
the Symbol web site lists Atheros as the chipset manufacturer, the
Atheros' site indicates the support is built into FreeBSD, I assume the
ath driver.

That being written, I do not see in the man pages anything about
Spectrum cards in `man ath'. I have a line on one of these at a nice
price, and would like to try it out.

I am cheap about not purchasing a new top-of-the-line pccard, as my use
of wireless will be pretty limited, so I would rather not shell out tons
of cash for it.

Thanks for your time
Bob
TP600X

[p***@pir.net]

Post by b***@anything-inc.com
Does anyone have any experience using one of these cards. I have not
been able to find any good info searching for the card name. I did
find the Symbol web site lists Atheros as the chipset manufacturer,
the Atheros' site indicates the support is built into FreeBSD, I
assume the ath driver.

I have a Symbol Spectrum 24 802.11b pccard I pulled out of a dead
access point.

It's a prism 2 card with symbol firmware. Hardly top of the line or
expensive.

P.

[i***@bsdimp.com]

In message: <***@pir.net>
Peter Radcliffe <***@pir.net> writes:
: It's a prism 2 card with symbol firmware. Hardly top of the line or
: expensive.

Last time I tested the symbol cards, they worked great.

Warner

[p***@pir.net]

Post by i***@bsdimp.com
: It's a prism 2 card with symbol firmware. Hardly top of the line or
: expensive.
Last time I tested the symbol cards, they worked great.

I didn't say that they didn't, but they're not exactly top of the
line (which is what he said he was being offered).

However, on a related note, I have a symbol card taken from a base
station that is recognised with the following /etc/pccard.conf entry
on -stable (entry added by me);

card "Symbol Technologies" "LA4111 Spectrum24 Wireless LAN PC Card"
config auto "wi" ?
insert /etc/pccard_ether $device start
remove /etc/pccard_ether $device stop

but when I try and use it the machine hangs, looks like an interrupt
storm. Wakes up eventually after I remove the card.

P.

[b***@anything-inc.com]

Post by p***@pir.net

Post by i***@bsdimp.com
: It's a prism 2 card with symbol firmware. Hardly top of the line or
: expensive.
Last time I tested the symbol cards, they worked great.

I didn't say that they didn't, but they're not exactly top of the
line (which is what he said he was being offered).

No, actually I wrote that I was not interested in top of the line. I said
I was/am cheap about it as I do not plan on using it too much. But no
worries, I just wanted a little something for wireless for incidental
uses. :-)

Post by p***@pir.net
However, on a related note, I have a symbol card taken from a base
station that is recognised with the following /etc/pccard.conf entry
on -stable (entry added by me);
card "Symbol Technologies" "LA4111 Spectrum24 Wireless LAN PC Card"
config auto "wi" ?
insert /etc/pccard_ether $device start
remove /etc/pccard_ether $device stop

I too added this over the weekend and got it working nicely with a
cheapo Belkin AP. Works fine.

And thank you all for the help and comments.

[b***@anything-inc.com]

I am sorry, I meant, does it function with FBSD, and does it require 5.2
or higher to work?

No idea, depends what it actually is.
If it's an ath based card then it needs 5.x. If it's a prism based
card (like the one I have) then it doesn't.
P.
--
pir

So it does work, great.

Thanks much

[p***@pir.net]

Post by b***@anything-inc.com

I am sorry, I meant, does it function with FBSD, and does it require 5.2
or higher to work?

No idea, depends what it actually is.
If it's an ath based card then it needs 5.x. If it's a prism based
card (like the one I have) then it doesn't.

So it does work, great.

This doesn't mean it is what you want, though. A symbol firmware prism
card only does 802.11b and isn't a "new top-of-the-line pccard".

ath support is also not quite ready for primetime, IMO, in 5.x.

P.

[b***@anything-inc.com]

Post by p***@pir.net

Post by b***@anything-inc.com

I am sorry, I meant, does it function with FBSD, and does it require 5.2
or higher to work?

No idea, depends what it actually is.
If it's an ath based card then it needs 5.x. If it's a prism based
card (like the one I have) then it doesn't.

So it does work, great.

This doesn't mean it is what you want, though. A symbol firmware prism
card only does 802.11b and isn't a "new top-of-the-line pccard".

Actually that is fine, my link to the net is DSL, so speed is of no big
concern. My LAN is at 100Mbit, but on the Thinkpad the 11Mbit is okay,
as my file transfers are not large or anything demanding, mostly I would
need a link to the net to then connect to my office servers, not much
more.

Post by p***@pir.net
ath support is also not quite ready for primetime, IMO, in 5.x.

Okay. In the mean time, I am going to be able to `test' the card prior
to purchase, so we shall see.

Again, thanks so much, I truly appreciate the answers.

Bob