** [#compaq_wl200 Compaq WL200]

*** [#vitals Vitals]

** [#official_details Official Details]

** [#pictures Pictures]

** [#operating_systems Operating Systems]

*** [#linux Linux]

*** [#windows Windows]

** [#firmware Firmware]

** [#misc_notes Misc Notes]

** [#known_issues Known Issues]

*** [#wl200_and_wl210_wireless_pci_adapter_cards_will_not_function_when_installed_in_computers_with_nvidia_chipset WL200 and WL210 Wireless PCI Adapter/Cards Will Not Function When Installed In Computers with nVidia Chipset]

!! Compaq WL200

Very popular PCI card, not manufactured anymore, and can be sorta kinda difficult to find.



!!! Vitals

* '''Manufacturer:''' Compaq

* '''Model:''' WL200

* '''Type:''' PCI

* '''External Antenna Jack:''' [RTSMAConnector Reverse Thread SMA]

* '''Chipset:''' Prism2

* '''Power:''' 100mW max. (20dBm)

* '''Recieve Sensitivity:''' (http://www.intersil.com/design/prism/ser-pii-11mbps.asp -84dBm)

* '''Drivers URL:''' Driver link is (http://www.compaq.com/support/files/networking/wlan/WL200.html dead) so try a  (http://search.hp.com/gwuseng/query.html?la=en&qt=wl200&col=hpcom+ccen+ccenfor search).%%%

* '''Available New:''' (no longer in manufacture)

* '''Average Price:''' $170

* '''Vitals last updated:''' 13/8/02



!! Official Details



(http://www.compaq.de/produkte/wireless/oldmod/wl200.htm Old model) - in German?%%%

Otherwise the same (http://search.hp.com/gwuseng/query.html?la=en&qt=wl200&col=hpcom+ccen+ccenfor search) as above.



!! Pictures

           {http://www.melbournewireless.org.au/~bchild/pics/wireless/pci/wl200.gif WL200}



!! Operating Systems

!!! Linux

Information on getting WL200's [GettingCompaqWL200sWorking working in linux] can be found 



How to set one up as an AP in [RedHatWL200AP Redhat 7.3] using the hostAP drivers



!!! Windows

Should work without hassles under Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000. Compaq client utility clashes with XP wireless settings and most likely will just crash the machine.To solve this right click on the config.exe file click the

compatibility tab and set to run under Windows 95 or 98 compatiblilty.



!! Firmware



See drivers URL to update to firmware version 0.8.0 which provides the following (from web site):

  Upgrades the firmware to Version 0.8.0

  Upgrades the drivers to Version 1.34

  Improves the Encryption GUI

  Improves the Installation aplication

  Adds 128 Bit WEP encryption

  Adds WiFi compatibility

  Adds Power Saving Mode

  Adds True 802.11 IBSS Ad-hoc mode

  Firmware Update utility supports all operating systems

  Fixes PCI Card IRQ and PCMCIA issues in Windows NT

  Adds support for Windows ME



Lots of companies made cards based on the Prism II chipset, and provide BIOS updates far beyond 0.8.0, which is the latest you will get from Compaq (eg. 1.4.2 from US Robotics). You can use BIOS upgrades from any of these companies to update your WL200.



1.4.9 is the latest stable Prism firmware.  A flashing tool has to be hacked to flash this however. I managed to use a Dlink tool and a copy of the firmware hex file to successfully flash my WL200. (Sneeze)



!! Misc Notes



Doesn't require a PCI 2.2 compliant motherboard to work (eg. known to work in a P200MMX or possibly even earlier machine).



!! Known Issues



!!! WL200 and WL210 Wireless PCI Adapter/Cards Will Not Function When Installed In Computers with nVidia Chipset



RELEASE DATE: August 2002



RESOLUTION

The WL200 and WL210 are (http://wwss1pro.compaq.com/support/reference_library/viewdocument.asp?countrycode=1000&prodid=516WL200&source=DN020816_CW01.xml&dt=3&docid=10062 not supported) on computers having an nVidia-based chipset.



Despite this I have had success with Geforce4 MX440 on an Asus P4B533 board under W2k. [NodeADD] - Thats because the P4B533 has an Intel 845E chipset, not an nVidia chipset. '''Chipset != graphics card!'''



I had problems with the WL200 in rh7.3, 2.4.19 kernel. Downgraded to 7.1 2.4.19kernel again) as I've had that working before and it works beautifully. I don't really know what the prob is. I couldn't get it to grab an irq in 7.3.



I had problems with my WL200 under 7.3 with kernels up to 2.4.18.  I switched to RH8 and grabbed kernel 2.4.20 from kernerl.org and patched the wireless extentions up tp v15.  It now works beautifully with HostAP.



The WL210 doesn't work properly in any Windows 98 / ME / 2000 system I've tried, whether using nVidia or otherwise !!!!