Do MiniPCI wireless adapters need the external antenna?

InlineFive

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2003
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I just installed an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG in my laptop. However it won't connect to my network. The question is, do I need to buy a cable to connect the card to the antenna integrated into my laptop LCD screen?
 

Lord Evermore

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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The cable should already be sitting right there beside the mPCI slot. Assuming your laptop had a wireless adapter originally. If it had some other integrated wireless, then you might have to open the machine to find the wires and move them, voiding your warranty of course.

This is why you can't just buy a retail mPCI wireless card (or most others). People would be buying them then complaining when they try to install it without an antenna.

Might help to know what laptop. But no matter what, yes, you need the antennas. mPCI cards don't have them integrated. That's what the large external part is on PCCard wireless adapters, sort of just a coiled up antenna wire.
 

InlineFive

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2003
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Dang. This is an OEM card. From what the diagram said the laptop looked like it had the cables in it. It didn't have a WiFi adapter originally. Too old.
 

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
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Yes it most definitely requires both wires connected!

Try unplugging your coax from your TV (or if you have cable / SAT disconnect and switch TV to local) and see how good reception is!

Cheers!
 

Lord Evermore

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Oct 10, 1999
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You wouldn't be able to properly route a cable to get great reception I think (aside from being able to actually fit it inside a laptop). All you HAVE to have would be a couple of pieces of wire, they look like about 14ga maybe 18, but the connectors would be an issue. Doubtful that anybody sells them separately since they're only used by OEMs. If you have an existing antenna you might be able to splice some wire in, not too much hurt to the signal if you do it well I think.

Resellers ought to make it clear that you need to have a wireless capable laptop to use these things. Not just the Intel brand of course, since there are others. With the Intel models though it's assumed you're going to put it in a Centrino laptop, otherwise you could just get any other brand (which would also work just fine with a Pentium-M of course).
 

Lord Evermore

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
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Ooh, it appears that the connector is a "Hirose uFL" type. It's the teeny tiny part that connects to the card itself (and in my Toshiba, the wires connect to a secondary board which then patches to the wires in the display). You can get cables with the connectors on them it seems, though they don't seem to be the type of thing Radio Shack will ever have. They do seem to be available though as some wireless devices with detachable antennae use them. A tad expensive. 30 bucks but I don't know the length on the one I'm looking at.

I guess you could order them direct...in 10000 unit lots...

http://www.hirose-connectors.com/products/U.FL_1.htm?_SearchHRS%3DUFL*
 

WackyDan

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: PorBleemo
Any idea where I could get a cable? Dell Latitude C600 by the way...

Good luck.

the cables are generally only there is the laptop is what's called "wireless ready" - Meaning the ant's are already on board. A lot of notebooks were sold that had woreless models, but the ones that were'nt didn't neccesarily have the ant's and cables.
 

AWhackWhiteBoy

Golden Member
Mar 3, 2004
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just curious,where did you buy the card and how much was it? i'd like to get one for my C800,which has the antenna

they usually aren't built into the LCD,either,they are mainly build around the base of the laptop.
 

AWhackWhiteBoy

Golden Member
Mar 3, 2004
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also, is mini-pci just as much a standard as PCI? can i get any old mini-PCI card and toss it in my laptop so long as it has a mini-pci slot,or are there variations?
 

merlocka

Platinum Member
Nov 24, 1999
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Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
You wouldn't be able to properly route a cable to get great reception I think (aside from being able to actually fit it inside a laptop). All you HAVE to have would be a couple of pieces of wire, they look like about 14ga maybe 18, but the connectors would be an issue. Doubtful that anybody sells them separately since they're only used by OEMs. If you have an existing antenna you might be able to splice some wire in, not too much hurt to the signal if you do it well I think.

Resellers ought to make it clear that you need to have a wireless capable laptop to use these things. Not just the Intel brand of course, since there are others. With the Intel models though it's assumed you're going to put it in a Centrino laptop, otherwise you could just get any other brand (which would also work just fine with a Pentium-M of course).

FYI - those aren't just a couple of 14/18ga wires... They are 50ohm coax lines which carry signal to internal antenna.

If your laptop isn't hooked up for WiFi, you'r pretty much SOL with mPCI.
 

AWhackWhiteBoy

Golden Member
Mar 3, 2004
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there are many internal antennas being sold on e-bay,but they are fetching $25+ because so many are in the same boat.