Toshiba 1805-s207 and Mini PCI card and antenna

[paulsiu]

My girlfriend has a Toshiba 1805-s207 with a mini PCI card slot. Originally, I wanted to install a mini PCI wireless card there. However, when I check, it appears that some models of Toshiba came with the card slot and the software, but no antenna hookup. Is there a way to add an antenna.

If not, I could add a PC Card wireless. How safe is it to have the card stick out the side like that? Do people carry the laptop with the card install or do they commonly remove the card before putting it in the laptop case?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: paulsiu
My girlfriend has a Toshiba 1805-s207 with a mini PCI card slot. Originally, I wanted to install a mini PCI wireless card there. However, when I check, it appears that some models of Toshiba came with the card slot and the software, but no antenna hookup. Is there a way to add an antenna.

No. Unless there's already an antenna wired, there's no way to add one without tearing the whole thing apart.

If not, I could add a PC Card wireless. How safe is it to have the card stick out the side like that? Do people carry the laptop with the card install or do they commonly remove the card before putting it in the laptop case?

Perfectly safe. I've never heard of anyone breaking one off. I removed it before putting it in a travel case.

- M4H

 

[paulsiu]

Oh well, I'll check with Toshiba but I am pretty sure that this computer lacks an internal antenna. Why would somone leave a PCI slot without a antenna? I only see mini-PCI with wireless and bluetooth and both need an antenna.

Paul

 

[WobbleWobble]

Just open up the mini PCI slot and check if there are antennas. You should see one white and one black wire taped down.

I've personally installed a wireless mini-PCI card into my Toshiba and it works great. I also know my buddy's Toshiba has antennas in case he wants to add a wireless mini PCI card.

Also, you do not need too buy the card directly from Toshiba. You can purchase an Intel 2100/2200 card (the ones used in Centrino systems) much cheaper and it'll work fine, maybe save for the hardware wireless off switch. I'm not sure how this affects warranty though.

 

[jrichrds]

Sometimes, you have to tape/cut pins on the MiniPCI wireless card to get it to work properly if your Toshiba laptop series wasn't designed for that particular brand of cards (e.g. using an Intel card in a Toshiba laptop series made for Agere cards).

As for PC Card, if it protrudes from the slot, I always remove it before travelling with it in a laptop bag. Personal preference...just use your common sense on whether it'd be safe if that side of the laptop bag happened to take a small impact.

 

[joeyjones]

paulsiu,
Did you find out if the Toshiba 1805-207 has an internal wifi antenna? I've got one too, and would like to put in a internal wifi card.
thanks,
Joe

 

[joeyjones]

I opened up my Toshiba 1805-207, which was no small task being that they used special star shaped security screws to cover the mini-pci slot, and found that there is no internal wireless antenna. I already have an Intel Pro Wireless 2200BG card, so I installed it and version 8 of the intel software (version 9 doesn't install, I'm not sure why). Everything seems to be working fine, although there is no wifi reception, as there is no antenna.
Here's my question:
Should I go to the trouble of installing an internal wifi antenna or forget the convience of the internal card and get a PCMIA card?

 

[paulsiu]

I think those star-shaped screws are Torq screws. I figured that there were no antenna from some of the other post.

One person actually took an antenna and coiled it and left it in the mini pci bay. He say he can get reception if it's in the same room. You could probably install an antenna, but that would be a horrible difficult task (probably involve taking apart your display and running it behind the monitor or if you don't mine the appearance, snaking it out of a vent or a hole you drilled and taping it to the laptop cover).

You're better off with a PCMIA card. Internal antenna generally has better reception than PCMIA, but only if they are properly installed.

Paul