Best PCMCIA network card for A1200?

[mingle]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for all the questions, but since I'm getting my new A1200 soon, I want to get all of the hardware ready for it!

I'm planning on an internal CF card to replace the 2.5" HDD and a PCMCIA adaptor + CF card for file-transfers from my PC...

I'd also like to be able to connect my A1200 to the internet, so I'll obviously need an Ethernet card. I reckon PCMCIA is the way to go, but what brand/model will work with my A1200?

I have a cable modem connected to a router (wireless), which I then connect my PC to. I have the option of either going wireless or direct cat5 cable - whichever is easiest really...

Also, what software will I need to get it all connected? Are there any good, free TCP stacks and network drivers?

Cheers,

Mike.

[Tension]

Good question.

[adolescent]

You can go wireless (802.11b) or wired (10Mb Ethernet).  Check out prism2.lha, 3c589.lha, and cnetdevice.lha packages on Aminet for compatible cards.

Myself, I've used all three.  Prism2 with a Netgear MA401, 3c589 with a Megahertz combo card (don't know the part number), and cnetdevice with a Kingston KNE-PC2T.  All performed fine with AmiTCP and Genesis.  Only thing to note is the wireless only supports WEP, so if you're using WPA you should go wired.

[orb85750]

OK, so do you, or do you not, need other hardware
or memory in order to use a network card successfully
on the A1200?  (Mine is still sitting in the closet
at the moment.)

[adolescent]

@orb85750

No extra hardware is needed.  In fact, I have my A600 (2M chip) on my home network using AmiTCP and AmigaExplorer to transfer files.  

Of course, you can do a bit more if you have a faster processor and more memory.

[stefcep2]

Stating the obvious: You do need a PCMCIA network card.

[alexh]

Remember to make sure the ethernet dongle (the bit that connects the cable to the PCMCIA card) is included when buying from ebay.

Lots of vendors sell the cards san dongle and they are worthless without one!

[mingle]

Hi,

I can get an SMC wireless card for pretty cheap and it appears to be supported by the cnet driver.

Is there any downside in using wireless rather than wired ethernet?

Cheers,

Mike.

[jj]

Depends on the security settings of your wireless for any other stuff connected.  there are no stacks that support decent security over wireless. This would mean dropping it for any other devices on the wirless network.  Which can be an issue

[mingle]

My router is set up for WEP (very short-range wireless anyway) and I believe the cnet device supports WEP, so I should be right...

[alexh]

At the speeds the Amiga can do I doubt it makes a difference. Slim chance the Prism2 driver takes up more resources than ordinary driver but I dunno

[ncafferkey]

cnet.device is only for wired cards.

prism2.device shouldn't be any more CPU-intensive than wired drivers since WEP and other wireless-specific stuff is mostly done by the card.

[jj]

You use WEP, may as well not bother using anything  :-D

[Rebel-CD32]

I use a 3Com Etherlink III LAN PC Card with my A1200 (which I'm posting with now). It's well supported and seems pretty popular with other A1200 owners I've spoken with. If you search eBay for Etherlink, find one of these 3Com Etherlink IIIs and you can't go wrong. It works with AmiTCP and Miami using the 3Com driver on Aminet - http://aminet.net/package/driver/net/3c589

For a list of compatible and incompatible PCMCIA network cards for the Amiga, check this site. If you have anything to add to the list, you can mail GMB and he'll update the list. http://www.g-mb.de/pcmcia_e.html

[mingle]

Hi ncafferkey,

Are you the author of the prism.device?

If so are you able to confirm that the SMC2632W wireless card works with prism on an A1200?

Cheers,

Mike.