Ignorant question?

[ComputerGeek]

This is a great board! I have been doing some research into wireless as my local ISP now offers it, and I am glad that I came upon this site! I hope that my question isn't too ignorant, but I am not sure that I understand the installation package being offered by my ISP. For $299, the package consists of a 16dbi panel antenna, up to 35' of LMR400, and a DWL-520 PCI card. Shouldn't there be a wireless access point, or modem, or something else in there? Or does the antenna simply unscrew from the back of the card so that you can attach the LMR400 cable directly to the card? I am too new at this to be certain, and don't want to sign up for the advertised price only to find out that I need something else.

Rick

[JimGeier]

I'm not sure exactly what architecture/configuration your ISP is offering, but here are my thoughts based on the equipment you've described... You'll place the radio NIC in your PC or laptop and run the cable to the antenna that you mount and point toward the ISP's tower. The access point will be located at the tower, so you'll simply be a user/node on the wireless network. You shouldn’t need any other equipment or software. By the way, the performance (data rate) that you’ll encounter will depend on how far you are from the tower and how many other users are active within the same area.

[ComputerGeek]

Thanks for replying Jim, but I didn't do a very good job of asking for the answer that I am looking for. The DWL-520 card is wireless and has no pigtail for an external hookup that I could see on my ISP's website. Basically what I am asking is if I will physically have to connect the cable leading in from the antenna outside to the DWL-520, and if so, is that accomplished by unscrewing the small external antenna from the radio card to provide a physical connection for the cable. If not, there would have to be some type of transmitter/receiver between the wireless card in my computer and the cable leading to the external antenna. Right? :confused:

Rick