From: Tony Toole (tony_at_valemount.com)
Date: 2002-07-04 03:02:44 UTC
I'll give Cisco a shout and see what they have for technical information.
We've successfully written Fully-functional Access Points for Prism 2, 2.5
and Lucent, with support from both Intersil and Agere, and would like to add
Cisco to our arsenal. We don't use Cisco, but many have requested it.
The miniPCI support is nice, and the photos are intriguing.
If you are interested in some of our products we handle, feel free to check our site.
Thanks,
Tony Toole
http://www.station-server.com/
>
> Yes, the 4800B was nearly the same PC card as the 340. The 4800E card was
the slightly
> older, slightly more costly, 100mW version. The 4800E/340 use a Prism2
"RF" section.
> The 350 is back up to 100mW, and has better rx sensitivity when compared
to the 4800B/340,
> and much better multipath rejection.
>
> The MAC on Cisco/Aironet is their own, and though it indeed shares a
common lineage with
> Prism2 and yes, even Lucent/Agere's Hermes/Ruby chipset, you won't find a
quick way to
> turn one into an AP. Just as there is no 'hostap' mode on the Hermes or
Ruby, there
> is no 'hostap' mode on the Aironet (now Cisco) MAC.
>
> Cisco claims to provide an OEM 'miniPCI' module. I have yet to see one in
the wild:
> http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/witc/ao350ap/prodlit/rwsry_in.htm
>
> BAWUG has photos:
> http://www.bawug.org/images/equipment/cisco_aironet/air-mpi350.jpg
>
> the green board is a PCI to miniPCI adaptor. They run about $80 each in
small
> quantities.
>
> More pics of Cisco cards can be found at the FCC website.
>
> Is there any technical information available for the Cisco? I'm
interested
> in writing a driver for them, personally. Perhaps Cisco would be
> forthcoming with the required information?
>
> If you want a STA driver (for BSS mode) or a driver for IBSS mode, they
already exist.
> If you want an AP driver, you'll need the right firmware, and to know how
to access the
> register set (most of the registers are defined in the linux/*bsd
drivers.) As Nigel
> has alluded, you'll need more luck than skill.
>
> Since 100mW and even 200mW Prism 2.5 miniPCI and PC Cards are available,
just why is
> it you want a (closed) Cisco card?
>
> Jim
>
> p.s. I've started to sell the 200mW PC Cards, and as soon as I get FCC
clearance,
> I'll be selling a 200mW miniPCI/pigtails/antennas kit as well.
Contact me
> off-list if you're interested.
>
