Do wireless PCI cards need the NIC card in order to work?

Question

I have installed a wireless PCI card into my computer (ME operating system), but had to remove the existing network card (NIC). Long story short, this old computer is far from the router to use the NIC (which worked), so I switched it with the wireless. I use it to access my old scanner that doesn't work with XP.

The installation was ok... i see the router and it has a strong signal, but I can't seem to connect to the internet.

What am I doing wrong? what can I check for?

Thanks,
Luc

I double-click on the router to connect. I see in the status bar that i am connected. The software that came with the wireless pci card shows me an ip address (not the 192.168)... i will try ipconfig and ping as salut suggested.

Answer 1

hi,

wireless PCI card is installed and working it seems .
did check the ipaddress of the computer .
the following steps apply both for Air cards or Wireless NIC

here is something you can do if signal strength is okey.

> checked the ipaddress of the computer .
start > run > type command > click OK
typed ipconfig > press enter
checked the ipaddress of the wireless connection
it should be like ---- 192.168.x.x
you will also get default gateway and subnet mask address

> then if you get an ipaddress
type ping www.yahoo.com < press enter on the same prompt
if get 4 packets received

then you browser might not be working
by default ME comes with IE 5 which is a problem

also some router have setup page
you can get into the page and check the security setting for your router

to get to the page
open the Internet explorer > type in the " default gateway address "
you have to login to the setup page , otherwise , check with the router manufacturer .

finally , wireless PCI card is not releated to NICs .

all the best

Answer 2

You have only 2 possible answers, and you have mentioned both, use a usb adapter, or get a pci wireless adapter. If you truely want to use this wireless network then you have to make a decision, usb, or pci, the nic card is designed to listen to a wired network.

Answer 3

No. To put it short, the wireless PCI card is the NIC Card for the wireless connection. The regular NIC card would be used if you have a "wired" connection.

Answer 4

my question is that you say you see the router but are you actually connecting to it. say you were in an area that had five hotspots your computer would see five connections but you still have to tell it to connect and which one to connect to.

Answer 5

no you don't need the NIC. not sure what the problem is, but the missing NIC isn't it.