Problems using Wireless 54g on Win 98SE

[Andy]

I was trying to get a mini-ITX computer running Windows 98SE to connect to my network with Wireless 802.11g at 54Mbps Seems like it can't work and the computer keeps locking up. I tried 2 types of USB wireless adaptors from PLANEX and Buffalo. I found out that Planex recommend you change to Windows XP. The Buffalo unit connects, but keeps dropping out and reconnecting, even though signal strength is good. I'm starting to think that wireless links need plenty of speed in the PC itself to allow for any hiccups in the wireless transfer. My fast desktop PC had problems when I tried to transfer 1G+ sized files over wireless (i.e. the transfer timed out).

I would just like to know if it should be no problem to run 802.11g in Windows 98SE or am I asking too much?

I am not planning to change the OS since I don't want to spend any more money, don't want the hassle and want to keep the Japanese IME on the PC. If I can't get the wireless network working then I will hard-wire the network connection.

Thanks for any suggestions 

[Hope]

Win98 works with wireless, but your drivers need to be win98 compatible. If they are not, you get a lot of dropped signal. Also, most wireless requires a lot of ram available.

[SensoVision]

Andy, I know you don't like Linux too much as desktop so I'm not proposing you to change OS, but just try it as diagnostic tool. I'm proposing to try setting up wireless adapter in Knoppix or similar distribution and see if it would works for you with same problems or not(recommending this because my bluetooth network works much better now when I have it on Linux). The only problem you can face is that USB wirless adaptors are sometimes tricky to install and I wouldn't be able to give you too  much assistance as don't have wirless adaptor myself, and can't buy or borrow one right now.

[Andy]

I think Hope hit the nail on the head by mentioning it needs lots of RAM. I guess it's a buffering problem. My RAM is 512MB

I can run Linux from a boot CD and try it for an experiment. I have feather Linux available at the moment. Or I could burn another one to a CD to try.

Actually, if this PC is no good for Windows anymore I could convert it to Linux since it did run this with RedHat 9 a while back 

[Hope]

Andy, what are the specs on this dinosaur? If you are running Win98 I am assuming it is not that big. It might be best to just dump 98 all together and play with something else that might work better.

[SensoVision]

let us know if you decide to try out Linux, although I don't have experience with WiFi I could help with networking and other things I hope.

[Andy]

Thanks for the offers of help. I really don't want to spend alot of time getting it working so I drilled some holes in the house and used an ethernet cable  It works fine now. This PC is just being used for the web and email.

To get it working with Wireless probably involves spending money on more RAM.

[SensoVision]

hehe I know that drilling some extra holes could do the magic sometimes Glad that it solved your problem!