PCI wi-fi best brand for driver support?

[Antagram]

Looking for a PCI wireless card that supports WPA2, and more importantly has competent driver support should I transfer it main PC in the future, and the next version of Windows.

If the manufacturer doesn't update their drivers, then hopefully the chipset manufacturer takes up the slack. But don't know what chipset is used by the card manufacturers.

Don't need N standard, but suppose it makes sense to go for it and run in G mode until router is changed.

[Lee H]

I would recommend the edimax EW-7728In PCI wireless adaptor.

It's worked fine since day 1 in windows XP, then vista (64-bit) and now windows 7 (64-bit) and it's had no issues connecting to 802.11g and 802.11N networks which consist of other manufacturers access points and routers.

Quite a few people are getting these now on this forum and found they are quite good

[barry2811]

+1 for Edimax in general from me.

[Antagram]

I take it you can use a single aerial (I mean disconnect two of the three supplied) instead of leaving all three connected?

At least the Ralink chipset the drivers are more recent, dated December 2009.

Now wi-fi N standard has been ratified, what's the likely hood of the Edimax releasing a firmware to update it from Draft 2.0? As its been a few months now since ratification of N standard.

[Lee H]

I've never tried it with just the 1 antenna as it is a 2T3R style PCI card. I'm pretty sure that stands for 2 transmit, 3 Recieve so removing the antenna might affect it's overall performance with lower signal strengths.

It complies with 2.4GHz IEEE802.11n Draft 2.0 specification already so there is nothing to worry about on that aspect and I'll report back to edimax that people are asking for updates to the 802.11N specification now it's been ratified.

[Antagram]

Think I'll wait for proper ratification before buying. Just in case Edimax follow the trend and realise a new device instead of updating their existing models.

[lodore]

Hello,
My parents have an edimax G adapter and i just checked and it supports windows 98,windows 2k,xp,vista,7. it also supports max OSX and linux.

So I would think all their cards would be supported for a long time.

I have supplied edimax wireless adaptors to clients and they always work well. I have supplied both G and N adaptors.

[Lee H]

I've an update on this actually from Edimax and all their 802.11N hardware is certified and this is now reflected on their packaging.

As such there is nothing to be wary of as they adhere to the standard

Best Regards,

[Antagram]

Good to know.

Edimax need to update their website, as it still lists

Complies with 2.4GHz IEEE802.11n Draft 2.0

Ad the WiFI picture of standards has draft in small lettering on the end by N.