Wireless options for Inspiron 1150

Question

Hi

I'm thinking of buying an old Inspiron 1150 without any wireless capabilities, and I would like to know which options I have for getting wireless.

I would prefer a mini-pci card, but will I be able to buy just any card, or are only certain cards supported, as I know is the case with certain laptops? Also, will I need a special cable to connect it to the internal antenna (which I assume the Inspiron 1150 has, since I know it could be configured with built-in wireless)?

My last concern is the ethernet. Is this built-in or on a mini-pci card? Getting a wireless mini-pci card kind of defies the purpose if it means I'll lose ethernet :(

Sune

supos · Answer

Cool. Only problem is that Dell doesn't sell the Truemobile 1350 mini-pci in Denmark, where I live. They do sell the Truemobile 1450 which they say is compatible with the Inspiron 1150, but at an absolutely ridiculous price (more than 200 usd!).

I don't need a card that is Officially Supported(tm) or whatever by Dell, I just need it to work...

bacillus · Answer

With the latest A07 BIOS installed you can also use an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG, Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG or Broadcom Wireless 1470ABG and 1370BG cards. Message Edited by bacillus on 08-28-2005 11:56 PM

bacillus · Answer

The 1150 can accommodate a Dell True Mobile 1350 mini PCI wireless card and also comes with a built-in LAN port.

supos · Answer

Hmm, that's too bad. If you ask me, it's just plain lousy for a manufacturer to cripply their products like this.
In fact, I'm not even sure I want a laptop (or any product) from a company that tries to lock in their customers like this :(

Thanks a lot though, you've been very helpful.

supos · Answer

Thanks a lot. One of those it is then.

Btw. do you know why the BIOS need to be upgraded for those to work? Does Dell only allow certain whitelisted cards to work (like some other manufacturers), or is there a technical reason for it?

bacillus · Answer

The BIOS will only recognise certain predetermined cards in these OEM laptops. If you try using a card that is not on the list it will not be recognised by the BIOS and be unusable.

the new features and enhancements which are included in BIOS A07 are listed below:

1. Added support 1920 resolution for Dell 2005FPW external monitor.

2. Added support for Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG and Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG miniPCI devices, so that these cards show up in setup as "Wireless" cards.

3. Added support for Broadcom Wireless 1470ABG and 1370BG miniPCI devices, so that these cards show up in setup as "Wireless" cards.

4. Added new microcode update for Mobile Intel Pentium 4 and Celeron D1-stepping CPU.

5. Added 'Configure Passwords' feature to Setup.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R103929&SystemID=INS_PNT_P4_1150&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=5983&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=7&formatcnt=4&fileid=134110

NemesisDB · Answer

I'm going to have to disagree with you a bit.  The bios update in this case lets the bios recognize the card, which I'm sure is nice for some reason or another, but the card should run fine without it.  I'm using a pro2200BG in my i5100 that the bios doesn't recognize and the card still works.  There maybe exceptions and you may lose some special features (not sure?), but dell isn't breaking cards the way some other companies do

supos · Answer

Yeah, that's what I feared. I know IBM and HP does (did?) it, but I'm glad Dell (at least in this respect) is a more respectable company.

supos · Answer

In that case I guess I jumped the gun on this one. I assumed from the previous post that the card would indeed be unusable, but if it's only a case of it showing up correctly in the BIOS I guess it's perfectly fair.

bacillus · Answer

I made the generalised statement regarding 'unusable' as my knowledge of some IBM laptops that appeared to only allow you to use a certain combination of laptop and wireless card. Trying to use a different card is a no-no.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Wireless options for Inspiron 1150

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