EXHIBIT 5.1



                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
               Telephone: (650) 493-9300 Facsimile: (650) 493-6811



                                JANUARY 13, 2006



PCTEL, Inc.
8725 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, Illinois  60631

         RE:      REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about January 13, 2006
(the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 700,000 shares of your Common Stock (the
"Shares") issuable under the PCTEL, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). As
your counsel in connection with this transaction, we have examined the
proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by
you in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Plan.

         It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner described in
the Plan and pursuant to the agreements which accompany each grant under the
Plan, the Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully-paid and
non-assessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI

                                                WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                Professional Corporation