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View Full Version : D-Link 2.4GHz Wireless Network Card for...$39!


Jason Dunn
01-10-2003, 05:09 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=488&cat=564&scat=&e=11177336' target='_blank'>http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m...cat=&e=11177336</a><br /><br /></div>Pocket PC Thoughts reader <i>ux4484</i> sent me a message about a very good deal on the D-Link 802.11b WiFi cards - but only if you go into a local Best Buy store (the deal isn't available online). The card is $79.99 before the $40 mail in rebate, so it's a smokin' deal at $39 after the rebate. The D-Link part number is DCF-660W if your local store has trouble finding it. Enjoy!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/11177336frC.jpg" />

mrtaz65
01-10-2003, 05:16 PM
But, if anyone can point me to a 'net-stumbler-like' program that works with this card, I would be very appreciative. Pocketwarrior looks like it should, but no joy :(

portus
01-10-2003, 05:23 PM
Not to discourage people from this deal but lots of people have been trying to help out a user of this exact card to work on her PPC with no avail. At least it shows the quality of this card is not well controlled - if the one the user has is a lemon. If not, then things get even worse ...

ux4484
01-10-2003, 05:27 PM
double hmmmm......no trouble whatsoever at home or work, PDA or laptop(with adapter) with this card.
biggest suggestion is not to insert the card before the drivers are loaded.....this is characteristic of most wifi stuff.

bdeli
01-10-2003, 05:36 PM
But, if anyone can point me to a 'net-stumbler-like' program that works with this card, I would be very appreciative. Pocketwarrior looks like it should, but no joy :(

You can try this one - WiNc beta version 1.0 (http://www.cirond.com/site/products/wifispotter/download_software)

R K
01-10-2003, 05:57 PM
I've also had the card work without any problems.

Charlie Cassidy
01-10-2003, 06:16 PM
I got a bum one that worked for about two days, then caused the PDA screen to blink/become a moire pattern in blue. Returned it to BB, but they didn't have another so they refunded my money.

Bought a Linksys WCF12 from Amazon ($63) instead. Should be here literally any minute.

To use the DCF-660W with WiNc or with Pocket Warrior, you need to use the Prism reference driver, not the D-Link driver. To use the Prism driver, remove the DCF card and uninstall the D-Link drivers. Remove the entry for the DCF-660 from the registry at: \HKLM\Drivers\PCMCIA\D-Link-DCF-660W-422B. Install the Prism reference driver from: http://www.intersil.com/design/prism/ss/crack-n-peel/prod-drvr/pcm-cnp-lic-win.asp

Plug the DCF card in. When the "unrecognized card" dialog comes up, enter "PRISMNDS.DLL".

UPS came while I was typing this. Type to go play with my new wireless card.

Charlie

ppptok
01-10-2003, 06:19 PM
Does anyone know if this is available at BestBuy in Canada?

T-Will
01-10-2003, 06:21 PM
Personally I had a problem with the Linksys WCF12 card working with my E570. It would cause my screen to get all these lines and my Pocket PC would lock up when I inserted it. Linksys said it was an incompatibility with the E570. Maybe newer drivers have fixed this, but I'd be wary of it. BTW, I ended up buying a Socket WiFi card which works great in my old E570, Intermec 6651, and XP laptop.

gadgetguy804
01-10-2003, 06:27 PM
I have been using one for a couple of weeks with no problems. The software seems to like a reset when switching out of a cradle to go wireless.

Sanjay Srikonda
01-10-2003, 06:27 PM
It's not available in the NY/NJ area nor is it available via their Website. There's no stock at all.

When I called the telephone number for BestBuy, I was told no rainchecks for online orders, and I'd have to call every story to find if they had one.

Yeah, offer something that is cheap but only if you have no stock. So, you get to the store and find there's something "like" it, just for $100 more.

No thanks.

Underwater Mike
01-10-2003, 06:28 PM
I'm on my FIFTH Linksys WCF12 since SEP. Started acting up immediately AFTER the 30-day return was up. :cry:

Dunno what the problem is, but they work for a few weeks and then just quit recognizing any access points. Bad quality control, IMO.

bdeli
01-10-2003, 06:33 PM
I have a WCF12 without any problems - 've been using it for the past three months.

dhpss
01-10-2003, 07:25 PM
I have been using the older version DCF-650W initially on my Casio E-125 and now I am using it on my Laptop (WinXP), with the CF-PCMCIA adapter that I got from my microdrive purchase. It actually works better on my previous WiFi PC card from Linksys. I guess because its larger and sturdier antenna.

Rumor about the 801.11G availaibility might help to see the price reduction.

vincentsiaw
01-10-2003, 07:59 PM
i go to my local best buy and they don't have one, sight....

AUTommyJ
01-10-2003, 08:46 PM
Don't know if anyone else is around the greater Atlanta area... but they have approximately 25-30 of them scattered around the city (of course they are out of them at the store that is 1/4 mile from my office!!!) Just an FYI for those lookin around here.

mrtaz65
01-10-2003, 08:52 PM
Thanks,

Those intersiil drivers work great, now I'm a pocketwarrior/winc'n fool!

MrTaz

Stealthboy
01-10-2003, 09:34 PM
I guess I lucked out... I saw the Best Buy ad for the D-Link CF card in the Sunday newpaper a couple of week ago and ordered one from the website on 12/30. It was on backorder until yesterday (1/9), but now it's shipped and I should receive it on Tuesday. I'm guessing that D-Link is probably discontinuing it and replacing it with a model that supports 802.11g or 802.11b+ in addition to 802.11b and that's why they are out of stock...

PPCRules
01-10-2003, 11:43 PM
I was on the verge of buying a Linksys WCF12 for several weeks when I stumbled across this deal at the local Best Buy last month and snatched it up. As my first move into wireless, I was expecting to have all kinds of problems, but it works great (Dell 300MHz).

One note I'd make: I had this sinking feeling as I watched the battery gauge drop when I first plugged it in (probably wouldn't have made an hour). Turns out, D-Link defaulted Power Saving Mode off. With power saving enabled (whatever that does), the thing still works fine and I don't really notice any extra battery depletion (I haven't been using it a lot).

One question I'll ask: I had hoped to use this on my notebook computer as well, with PCMCIA converter. The prior D-Link model, DCF-650xx, had desktop windows support, but no drivers are offered for the DCF-660W. Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks.

(Side comment: The way you guys round numbers amazes me)

Pony99CA
01-11-2003, 03:29 AM
To use the DCF-660W with WiNc or with Pocket Warrior, you need to use the Prism reference driver, not the D-Link driver. To use the Prism driver, remove the DCF card and uninstall the D-Link drivers. Remove the entry for the DCF-660 from the registry at: \HKLM\Drivers\PCMCIA\D-Link-DCF-660W-422B. Install the Prism reference driver from: http://www.intersil.com/design/prism/ss/crack-n-peel/prod-drvr/pcm-cnp-lic-win.asp

Plug the DCF card in. When the "unrecognized card" dialog comes up, enter "PRISMNDS.DLL".

Thanks for this information. I have an SMC WiFi PC Card, which uses the PRISM chipset, and the information you provided enabled me to get a better driver (my old one was a Handheld PC driver and would only display properly once per soft reset).

Once I got the Intersil drivers, I could use Pocket Warrior on my iPAQ 3870. You get a virtual beer.
:beer:

Steve

ipaq38vette
01-11-2003, 04:07 AM
I have a Linksys WCF12 on my iPaq and have had a number of problems. As someone mentioned above, whenever I touch the card with my hand I get fuzzy lines going across my screen and the iPaq won't respond until the card is removed. Then the card wouldn't connect to the WLAN even when right next to the transmitter. When connected, it would only stay on for a couple of minutes before "Unable to communicate with device. Linksys customer support said change the transmit rate to Auto 1 or 2 MB. It has worked fine since then.

The Big Jay
01-11-2003, 08:06 AM
Does anyone know if this is available at BestBuy in Canada?

Qualified no. Nobody I asked at Best Buy even knew what a CF 802.11b adapter _is_.