802.11g Card Hacking HOWTO

Question

802.11g miniHOWTO

OK, theres a lot of people asking what the easiest way to get 802.11g into their laptop without paying Dell etc. This isn't the EASIEST way, but its probably the cheapest. You will need:

1 Netgear WG311 54 Mbps Wireless PCI adapter ($40 @ compusa)
1 Soldering iron
Skills to use said soldering iron
Willingness to possibly break your laptop.

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU BREAKING YOUR STUFF!

1) The crux of all this is the fact that the above mentioned card (the WG311) is nothing more than a MiniPCI (the kind of wireless card your laptop takes) in soldered onto a PCI card. First, you need to melt the 3 solder points that hold the yellow cover off of the back of the PCB. Remove the cover.

2) Unfortunately, netgear soldered the MiniPCI clips onto the MiniPCI card (probably to prevent people from doing this). You will need to melt these solder points very carefully to loosen them up, and pull away the clips. Be careful not to dislodge or burn any of the components.

3) Install th card into your MiniPCI laptop (i8600 for example).

4) Install latest drivers and firmware. Be happy with your new Atheros 5212 chipset card that supports winderful things like Linux, BSD, 108MBit (in theory).

Mandrake99 · Answer

Does this mini pci card have the antenna connections that will match the ones like on the truemobile 1300 that plug right to the card? mandrake99

mattcowger · Answer

This card does have that connector - its called a U.FL or Hiroshi connector (often used in Japan and the US for GPS devices). It only has 1 connector though, for the main antenna, not two for the aux and main antennas like the TrueMobile cards do. This could have an effect on performance, however I think that effect is far outshined by the fact that this is a 100mW output power card where the TrueMobile is a 31mW card.

--m

jmwills · Answer

Hack (re-engineer) your card and void the warranty.

mattcowger · Answer

Sorry, I should have made that clear:

YES, DOING THIS TO YOUR CARD WILL VOID ITS WARRANTY.

I was willing to do this because)

a) I felt I had the experience with electronics, soldering and other equipment to do it
b) I was willing to lose the $35 for the card if it broke.

glenhead · Answer

Umm...

Not to be overly simplistic, and not to disparage someone's desire to sniff solder fumes (one of the greatest joys in this old propellerhead's life, fer sher), but why not go to eBay and buy a Truemobile 1300 for $40-45 including shipping? There's one listed right now for $32.97 plus $8 shipping, and there are a total of 24 listed from $14 to $39.

mattcowger · Answer

Good questions.

1) Hack value. its just fun to sniff solder.
2) This card uses the Atheros chipset, and therefore supports the 108mbit Atheros extensions. Since my router does as well, this is a good thing. The Dell's do not support this.
3) This is a 100mW card. The Dells are 32 mW cards. More mW = more power = more range.

mattcowger · Answer

Oh wait, sorry, that was my response for the other boards...how's this. WHO THE HECK ARE TO TO QUESTION ME? I AM THE GOD OF NETWORKING! BOWBEFORE ME PEON! heh.

Mandrake99 · Answer

With 3X the mW even with just the primary ant. makes good sense if your willing to put out a little effort.. I seriously considering the mod. As an automation / robotics tech I smell solder fumes every day. My Blitzz cardbus just ain't cuttin the mustard... dropout... dropout...

glenhead · Answer

Hmmm...

A well-reasoned response, stated intelligently.

Are you sure you belong here?

Now, before anyone else gets his/her knickers in a knot, I'm only kidding.

Thanks for giving me something to ponder, mattcowger.

Glen
i8500
2.2GHz P4m
512Mb RAM
Radeon m9000

Eschew misoneism.

mattcowger · Answer

You're right, you also need to worry about RECEIVING a signal as well. My understanding is that the Netgear WG624 router uses the exact same MiniPCI card internally...I have the router as well, and is rated for 100mW, so that helps on that side.

Anything that uses the Atheros 5212 chipset should be able to do 108MBit....the Dlinks and the Netgears support.

SwampNut · Answer

I have a card in my 8600, but more power is interesting. However, it doesn't address RECEIVING a signal from an AP. Wouldn't you need an AP with high signal too then? And what routers support double speed?

Very cool, I love hacking apart devices to make something more powerful.

SwampNut · Answer

Interesting stuff to think about. I love my Linksys router, but may have to look at the NetGear for the speed. I like using the wireless even when docked at home, so I can just walk off with the machine and not lose my connections/sessions/download/whatever. But for backups and big file moves it is annoyingly slow.

On the signal power my concern is more for public access or at a client's office. I can't control the AP situation there. I often run into reception problems while traveling. I just got my 8600, so I don't know how it compares to the 3Com PC card I used to use. I'm hoping that the dual antennas (mounted in the screen I assume??) will help a lot.

My girlfriend is getting my old HP notebook, and I may try your trick in that machine, since it has no wireless built in. No antenna either, will have to cobble something up. For the wavelengths involved, a short piece of wire may just do it.

jrittvo · Answer

mattcowger...   Netgear seems to have a WG311 and a WG311T now.  They spec the plain 311 @ 54 and the 311T @ 108.  If you get the faster speed from what was a 311, that would mean that the 311T is more or less the same baby, just being sold for a higher price, with a firmware version that could upgrade the 311 to the same speeds???  Or was it actually a 311T that you started off with???

mattcowger · Answer

I see that they have them separated...I have the 311, as teh 311T is NOT a minipci-on-pci form factor. Though, with the latest firmware and drivers, I am getting 108. So my guess is that your guess is right on, that the 311T is the same piece of equipment with newer firmware and a non minipci formfactor.

mattcowger · Answer

1) My laptop warranty isn't void, just the card.
2) The range is SIGNIFICANTLY better; I get on the order of 2x better range, and 2x the speed of the dell offering - that worth it to me, and I saved $10.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

802.11g Card Hacking HOWTO

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