c840 pci wireless best choice

Question

Hello, I am looking for some advice. I just bought a c840 2.2P4m, wireless ready running xp pro. I have a linksys b g router at home. I need to know which pci card to buy. should i get the 1350, 2200, I am confused as to which ones are compatible and which are the best choice. I am also not sure which is best to use in airports, hotels, etc. Should I get true mobile, intel or other. I trying to avoid an installation nightmare. I have looked on the Dell site and could not find any helpful info as to compatibilty or suggestions. I am also confused as to compatibility with processors.P4m or p4m centrino? Please help anyone, Thanks in advance

Highwingz · Answer

I have a posting just below yours about this same thing and my C800. I have found that the 2200 pro works well but there is a issue. If you look on the online service manual  http://support.Dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latc800/sm_en/html/ch2.htm#998975 under mini PCI you will see that you need a 2 or 3 inch what they call mini- coax cable to connect the 2200 to the on board antenna plug that is shown on the manual. I have checked here on line and also asked a few people selling the 220 on Ebay and no one has info. I also have had my posting up for a couple of days with no response so I am going to get in line on the phone today with Dell and try to track one of these  ( Mini - coax cable ) down. If you would like me to drop you a message or if you have any info on this please share it with me. Tim

c840guy · Answer

Highwingz I have decided to try the true mobile 1450, it has all three freq.s   a,b and g. It appears to be supported by dell tech support and should fit into my pci slot on my c840. should get it in a couple days, I will post my results. :smileyindifferent:

Highwingz · Answer

I also ordered but but it was the 2200 pro. I ordered from Dell and they tell me that it comes with the cable and is supported by them . I will post my results also. By the way, Dell is selling the 2200 for $24 and free shipping too.

c840guy · Answer

Just to update my progress,

I installed the 1450 dell true mobile card and only get reception if I am closer than 10 feet from my router. I talked with the guy who sold me the pci card and he said I should have 2 wires in my laptop not one. I then called dell and they said I should be using the 1300 card.

Help!!!, does anyone know if the c840 is supposed to have 2 wires? Is the 1300 the right card if you want b, g connectivity?

thanks

Highwingz · Answer

I just recieved my 2200pro and intalled it. It works but same as you after ten feet nothing. The c800 and 840 do NOT have antenna wires there. If you download the service manual you you will see that there is a Mini coax PCI cable that connects the new wireless card to a connector that is the internal antenna on the c800's. When I ordered Dell said the cable would be there in the pack and it wasn't ! I have found the cable at www.Digikey.com and it is a U.FL dual ended cable and the shortest they have is 200 MM. Its about $8.74 plus shipping. Digikey part number N9166-ND. Connect the cable to the card and to the connector in the corner of the card compartment and it should be fine. Again download the service manual off of dells site. Hope this helps !!!

c840guy · Answer

Thanks Highwingz

so you do have 1 wire inside the pci slot and this requires another coax jumper wire to connect to before connecting to the pci card?

i have 2 connections on my pci card, a main and an aux,

now yours is working fine ehh.

where did you stuff the 200 mm of wire? or did you cut it?

thanks,

Highwingz · Answer

I haven't got the cable yet ! I called today and it will be some $18 dollors delivered and the card was only $24 . After I come to some arangment with dell I might order the thing or have Dell send me the regular antennas and put them in my self. 200 MM should fit in there all rapped around and once you do that it should work fine. Im just ticked at Dell because the sales Lady put me on hold for 5 Minutes to make sure it came with the cable and well you know the story.What a deal from Dell , Or NOT !!!

Highwingz · Answer

The 2200 is the ticket I think on this but It didn't come with the cable like they said. I talked to Dell spare parts and got the part number and then talked to Customer support and that sent it out for N/C. I should get it On Tuesday !! I have the number if you want it for the cable from Dell ! To be continued !!!!!!

c840guy · Answer

Just to update the wireless journey, I have given up on the 1450 card for now. I am waiting for a 1300 card to show up. Will post my results.   c840guy

c840guy · Answer

The ongoing saga,

I installed a pci 1300 card and reception is better than the 1450. Waiting to see how highwingz made out with the antenna patch cable. Still not the reception I was hoping for, can only get about 25 feet from the router before signal gets very low. My son has a pc card in his c640 and he said he was able to connect from down the street, that's about 500 feet, amazing !!

I think the cable that is an added antenna is the trick because as I see it the c840 has only one internal antenna wire. Will keep you posted.

c840guy

Highwingz · Answer

Got the 2200 and then the cable came from dell free of charge and  BAM. 100% signal all through the house. I have the part number for the cable at dell and there is a guy selling the same cable on EBay. I will give you a part # or a link to the auction on ebay and Dell is sell the 2200 pro for $24 still. Let me know Tim

c840guy · Answer

Hi Tim, So you got the cable and now all is good. Does the cable stay inside the pci compartment or does it hang out like an antenna? please give me the cable part number. Maybe you can explain where the cable hooks up, thanks, I appreciate your help, Russ

c840guy · Answer

Highwingz, How are you, hoping to get more info on your cable. thanks, c840guy

Highwingz · Answer

Sorry for the not getting back to you. Here is the current auction on Ebay for the right cable you need. It is the same price as what Dell charges too. I am having a hard time finding the paper that I wrote the dell part numbers on but when I do I will post them here too. You would be better off just get it off ebay I would think. Tim http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=51151&item=6736464857&rd=1  There is a great picture there on how it hooks up so you see what I was talking about. I get a great signal with the 2200 on my C800.                  I was there and it is almost always my fault, So the wife will say !

Shar-pei · Answer

Hi c840guy,

I also have a C840 and I just bought a Truemobile 1400 dual band mini pci card. I have a hard time trying to get it working. I gathered that 1400 and 1450 are using the same drivers and since you were able to instal it I would like to get some advice from you.

Under Windows XP Pro Device Manager, the card was detected and enabled. But there is a yellow sign to the left of the card with an exclamation mark. In the General tab => Device status, there is a message: The device cannot start. (code 10).

My next problem is I have a hard time finding driver for the card. None of the recent Dell drivers for 1400/1450 indicates it is for C840 and therefore when I try to instal these drivers, a message comes up and stop me from continuing with the instalation. I manage to find 2 older drivers: R63259 (8/20/2003) and R60057 (6/27/2003) that I can complete the installation. But these two drivers cannot solve the code 10 problem. How did you do it?

shar-pei

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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