Mini PCI Wi-Fi Card = sucky signal.. Help?

[phaxmohdem]

I have a compaq PResario 2100 (2178CL) notebook. IT did not come with Wi-Fi originally, so I bought a card on eBay, to install. A mini PCI Broadcom BCM94306MP card that ussually ships with the compaq 2100 series notebooks. (802.11g)

I installed it and windows detected it, I downloaded drivers for the card off of compaqs website, but it won't pick up a signal. I placed it 3 feet from my router, and the best it would do is detect a VERY weak signal, not even strong enough to get online with.

What gives? IS there some sort ot antenna that needs to be hooked on this baby? I was hoping to ditch the ol PCMCIA card for this but things are not looking good. Any suggesitons would be greatly appreciated.

THanks!

Phaxmohdem

 

[Fardringle]

Mini PCI wireless cards require the use of antennas built into the laptop. These are usually wire antennas that run up the sides of the LCD screen. These antennas need to be connected to the PCI card in order to function properly. The connection will either be managed automatically by the laptop hardware (rare) or else will be done via plugs inside the Mini PCI slot enclosure. If your laptop does not have built-in antennas, it's not going to work with a Mini PCI adapter and you'll need to use a PCMCIA or USB adapter.

 

[spanky]

yup, i'd make sure that there is an antenna properly installed.

 

[Paperlantern]

the antennas usually connect to two coaxial connectors right on the card itself, one (usually) labeled main and one labeled aux, cables are usually black and white, white for main, black for aux, if theres no antennas in the machine, you can buy some, but might be difficult to route if not originally designed to come with one

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Another thing: most laptops have a function key combination that enables/disables the Wifi. Some laptops even have a switch somewhere that turns the wifi on and off. This is used to force the laptop to use a physical network connection instead of the wifi.

Sometimes it's a special button on the keyboard, sometimes it's a small switch on the back of the unit, but most often it's just a function key. Check your laptop's manual, or go to the manufacturer's website and download it or check their FAQ.

Hope this helps...

 

[Paperlantern]

i dont think his would have that if it didnt come with his machine, the model he listed is old enough to not have included wireless

 

[phaxmohdem]

Thanks guys, I looked over the card and it sounds like you guys are right on. There are two coaxial conectors on the card, labled MAIN and AUX. and I could not find any connectors in the laptop itself to plug into these, so I guess I"m just SOL. Time to start thinking about that upgrade to my dream IBM T42 I guess.

Thanks a bunch guys. Anand and Company ROCK!

 

[phaxmohdem]

One more thing. The coaxial connections on the card... IF I ran a wire around the LCD panel, and back to the Wi-Fi card, and soldered the wire to the middle prong of the coax connection, would that work?

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Paperlantern
i dont think his would have that if it didnt come with his machine, the model he listed is old enough to not have included wireless

If it has a mini pci slot then it probably has an antenna. Most dell systems shipped with a mini pci slot vacant have a little wire inside for the antenna conenctionm, even the ones sold with out wi-fi.

 

[Paperlantern]

its not a dell, its a compaq, and compaqs dont come with antenna unless they have the wifi card in them, you can prolly get some wifi antenna somewhere, lemme do a quick search

EDIT: Found something
check this out
http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Compaq,Laptop,Part,319467001.aspx

check and see if your 2100 series model is in that list to be compatible, if its not, maybe keep searching thasite, but it looks like they DO make them seperately

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Lots of laptops have a spare MiniPCI slot but no antenna wires for a Wifi card.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Thanks for the tip Paperlantern. I got to looking and found a couple on eBay that look compatible. I may try to canibalize some broken units at work as well to se if they can cough up an antena or two.

Thanks

 

[Paperlantern]

no problem man, lemme know how the frankenstein turns out, i love making 1 working out of broken crap =)

 

[rodmanSJ]

I put a wifi module into an old Inspiron laptop. behaved like the title sez. Then towards the bottom of this thread, discussed the antenna coax connections.

So I went back to look, and sure enuf you have to connect a tiny cable with a tiny coax connector to the module. I had to use a magnifying glass to see what was going on.

First time I ever installed a wifi module. and too old to see where things go. :\