Dear wireless fans,
I've been searching the network section for a while looking for information, and I'm overloaded....so I'll just ask.
I would like to buy a wireless PCI card and remove its mini pci card so that I can install it in to an 8200.
I can not do any soldering....none.
Is there an item I could buy that I could extract without soldering AND connect to the 8200's internal antenna WITHOUT soldering.
I've seen instructions for doing this with the Linksys wireless G router
at http://www.geocities.com/flipsoft/linksys.html
but the router is $115. Perhaps this could be accomplished with a similar, less expensive item? What do you recommend.?
thank you,
Don
I think that one actually has the antenna's .. i'll just let john tell you there's one from Best Buy for $48 after rebate :D
But wait a min, aren't you the infamous with the Wirless G hotspot... so are you looking for G or B? The one i posted was B but some Linksys G routers have a mini-pci card in em too and you can use that as well :D
Edit
Hi everybody,
I've just found out that the Dlink 520+ PCI card for Desktops is a real MiniPCI card. Just take off two screws, take of the cover plate, and voila, there is your MiniPCI card.
It works just like a charm on my Inspiron 8200. There is only one connector for the antenna, for people who might have two connectors, but the 8200 has only one anyway.
And this cost me 60$, I remember 2 months ago, Dell wanted 150$ for their 1150...
Have fun,
Nico
See, he posted that already and it's right under this on the same page too and is over about 100 replies long :D
Here, notice the 2 connections on the top that'll plug into the Inspiron 4100 2 antenna cables or just use one for the 8200. This is a mini-PCI G card but i can't say it work and it's an expensive solution since you rip apart a $130 router to get it :D
Gentlemen, that is exactly the kind of help I was looking for.
Thank you for being gracious enough to provide it.
I think today, I'll go to the local computer stores and see
about the Dlink wireless PCI (not pcmcia) cards. G would be nice,
but I've noticed that 11mbps is just fine for browsing. I think
I'll try the DWL-520+ card. It seems to be the right price.
I'm interested to see if the reception is as good as the Linksys
card I'm using now. I also have a Dlink 802.11b card... sounds like
an opportunity to use netstumbler to check which receives the best.
Walking around just one block in my neighborhood registered 4
different wireless networks! Some locked down, some open.
thank you again,
Don
Don, that DWL-520+ PCI card will work (I use it) and is simple. It is 802.11b 22mb, but with your Linksys will probably only be 11mb. You take off the antenna, remove 2 screws, lift off the shield, lift off the antenna lead from the mini-pci card, and unstap the mini-pci card from a connector just like in your notebook. This is the 3rd time I have written this in the last 2 weeks, once with pictures. You will probably really want to wait and look at the 802.11g PCI cards for one of equal ease of removal. D-Link makes one, but not sure of the antenna lead.
Anyways, there's that link i posted about the mini-pci G card.... it's in the Linksys router and uses the broadcom chipset and if you notice it has the MAIN and AUX connectors.... for the 8200 you'lll just connect the one you have to the MAIN but we 4100 users have 2 so who hoo!! :D
Post back with your internal/pcmcia comparison. I will post mine (both D-Link) then - I don't want to prejudice you beforehand. Besides, I have a 4000 with 2 internal antennas.
OK... went by BestBuy and found the Dlink card for $60. It's $40 online, so I think I'll purchase it that way.
Is this the right one?
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=359012
I confess I'd really rather have the Linksys G mini pci from their router in there, but that one is $120. I wonder if the dlink's reception is worse/better? Probably won't matter that much.
At last, I understand the reason for some of my confusion...
there are two dlink PCI wirless cards...one is the "520", and the other is the "520+"... the "+" denotes the G version?... think I'll try to find one of those.
cheers,
-Don
Get Dell True Mobile 1400 instead, under $90 with shipping from Dell's Spare Parts Dept. This Mini-PCI card is an a (54Mb), b (11Mb), & g (54Mb) NIC with dual antenna ports. I use it currently in my Inspirion 8200. Works great, even when Dell said it might not! This will work for me until I can find a Mini-PCI NIC supporting a (54), a turbo (108), b (11), b+ (22), g (54), and maybe even blue-tooth. TI's TNETW1130 (802.11a/b/g) seems to be the closest thing.
SHoTTa35
73 Posts
1831
0
Posted March 24th, 2003 20:00
guess you didn't look that hard. You can even get a router and do that :D The Dlink card does that tho
http://www.dlink.com/products/digitalHome/wireless/11b+/dwl520+/
I think that one actually has the antenna's .. i'll just let john tell you there's one from Best Buy for $48 after rebate :D
But wait a min, aren't you the infamous with the Wirless G hotspot... so are you looking for G or B? The one i posted was B but some Linksys G routers have a mini-pci card in em too and you can use that as well :D
Edit
Hi everybody,
I've just found out that the Dlink 520+ PCI card for Desktops is a real MiniPCI card. Just take off two screws, take of the cover plate, and voila, there is your MiniPCI card.
It works just like a charm on my Inspiron 8200. There is only one connector for the antenna, for people who might have two connectors, but the 8200 has only one anyway.
And this cost me 60$, I remember 2 months ago, Dell wanted 150$ for their 1150...
Have fun,
Nico
See, he posted that already and it's right under this on the same page too and is over about 100 replies long :D
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_network&message.id=2057 Lots of other cards work too
Here, notice the 2 connections on the top that'll plug into the Inspiron 4100 2 antenna cables or just use one for the 8200. This is a mini-PCI G card but i can't say it work and it's an expensive solution since you rip apart a $130 router to get it :D
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/Reviews-39-ProdID-WRT54G.php
If that's not enough info :D
Message Edited by SHoTTa35 on 03-24-2003 05:57 PM