Comments on: kogan sent me a replacement wireless network mini card

By: Mike Brown

Mike Brown — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:36:31 +0000

I seem to be getting better performance by swapping out Ubuntu’s Network Manager for wicd.

Wicd is in the Ubuntu repositories, so all you have to do is type:

sudo apt-get install wicd

in a console window (or use Synaptic if you’re a command line phobe) then reboot.

You should keep a wired connection handy though; otherwise, if you crap out with wicd, you won’t have any easy way of restoring Network Manager!

By: Alistair R

Alistair R — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:17:34 +0000

I’ve installed the replacement ralink card. I’m getting worse performance than I was previously! The connection is cutting out from places in my bedroom that weren’t problematic before.

Is there anyway to tell which driver version I’m using? ‘lsusb’ lets me see that it’s an ‘RT2501USB Wireless Adapter’ and ‘lsmod’ shows me that the rt73usb, rt2x00usb and rt2500usb modules are in use.

Ralink’s site ( http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=2 ) tells me that there’s a specific driver for the RT2501USB released in August. Is there anyway of knowing which driver I have installed currently, and whether it’s worth trying to compile and install the official driver instead?

Cheers, and good luck everyone.

By: Rhino223

Rhino223 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:42:47 +0000

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have installed the new Ralink card on my kogan netbook running windows 7 RTM and it works fine. Didn’t even have to use the drivers that Kogan have provided. Also, the wireless button next to the power button works. It does turn off the wireless card.

By: Owen

Owen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:34:05 +0000

Hi All,
I received my RALINK card, and have installed it.

I noticed that when comparing the two cards, VIA and RALINK that the 2 antenna plugs (MAIN/AUX) seem to be on opposite ends of the card.

I know nothing about the difference between the plugs, MAIN vs AUX, but is it possible that switching the connectors around might help. I think on the VIA card the grey cord was originally at the top, which is marked MAIN.

So if I simply connect the wires to the new card as they came off the VIA, then grey would now be on AUX.

I don’t have wireless at home yet to test both combinations of wire connection.

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:05:10 +0000

Hi all…..just a brief update. I have installed the new card under Win7 RTM, and there is a significant improvement in signal quality.

At short range (5 metres from AP) the card is xfering 2.7MB/s. (old card max ~1.6MB/s)

At longer range (~15metres line of sight to AP) x’fer is 1.6MB/s. (previous card was unable to connect at this distance).

At 15 meters impeded (floors, multiple walls etc) the card is managing 300Kb/s. There was no signal at this distance with the old card.

So the new card gives greater range than my laptop using a PCMCIA wireless card (the old VIA card offered significantly less range than a PCMCIA connection). However, the new card is still less powerful than my Dell laptop with internal antenna.

I’m yet to test the device in a public AP setting, however the initial results (under win7) look encouraging.

By: Ash

Ash — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:39:39 +0000

Hi all, I have just been shipped a replacement RALINk wireless card. After reading everyone’s posts, I’m not holding out for a significant change in wireless quality.

Les M mentions above about mounting an external antenna to the device. I wondering if anyone has disassembled the systems and investigated how and where the existing antenna is mounted? does it extend into (behind) the screen, or does it only reach to the base of the unit?

I currently have WIN7 RTM installed.

By: gary

gary — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:36:10 +0000

Hi Guys interesting info I read on your posts
The little netbook looks to be quite nicely made but my wifi sees the stations but will not log on it even gets asked to log on authentication but no joy with connecting it is so frustrating i could scream
I have tried every which way
My serial number is 0018 so appears to be a low s/n but I only purchased it 2 weeks ago
so not quite sure what that means

I have emailed support who have been really prompt and helpful up to now
so here I press on

By: ubuntu 9.10 (karmic koala) beta on the kogan agora « kogan agora netbook

ubuntu 9.10 (karmic koala) beta on the kogan agora « kogan agora netbook — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:11:44 +0000

[...] has been some improvements though. The physical wifi button is no longer a “glorified light switch“, as it was so well put by Andrew. Pressing the button results in the card shutting [...]

By: kogan slashes the price on the agora netbook (again) « kogan agora netbook

kogan slashes the price on the agora netbook (again) « kogan agora netbook — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:51:43 +0000

[...] kogan sent me a replacement wireless network mini card [...]

By: liam

liam — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:50:04 +0000

Am dual booted with xp and ubuntu.Newly installed card reads full strength under xp with supplied drivers,ubuntu 80%.Real signal strength seems similar in both though.Thanks help re touchpad