SMC Networks latest 802.11B High Power Wireless PC Card, which shipped last month, enhances mobile connectivity with a significant power boost over standard wireless PC Cards in the market, increasing the operating range to 2,700 feet.
The 2.4GHz SMC2532W-B High Power PC Card can generate up to 200 milliwatts of transmit power, about four times that of standard 802.11b PC Cards on the market today.
In my tests, the $140 High Power PC Card allowed me to stay connected to a 3Com AP8000 access point long after standard cards had stopped transmitting, although using the card in the same operating range as standard cards didnt offer noticeable enhancements.
The High Power PC Cards range can be further enhanced using an optional high-gain antenna attached to the two MMCX connectors on the card.
With 64/128-bit WEP encryption, the card is compliant with current Wi-Fi standards and will support the new WPA standard with a free update later this year.
For more information, go to www.smc.com.