Laptop Mini-PCI question.

ZrByte · 09-02-2004, 05:30

I have a Compaq Presario 2100 Laptop (2143EA to be precise) It currently has an 802.11b Wireless adapter installed in the internal mini-PCI slot. Since the rest of my network is 802.11g based I have had to buy an 802.11g cardbus adapter so the laptop can reap the benefits of the highspeed network and also so it doesnt slow down the rest of the network.

I was wondering if it would be possible to buy an 802.11g mini-PCI adapter and install it myself?
I cant think of why there would be a problem doing this but before I waste a lot of money and end up breaking my laptop I thought I would ask here first

the reason I want to do this is because I hate the damn Cardbus adapter poking out of the side of my laptop.

My uncle also has a similar laptop, compaq presario 2100 (2113EA this time), could I put the old mini-PCI adapter out of my machine into his? his currently has no adapter but the bay is present, this would make things a lot easier if I ever need to take something to his house.

ZrByte · 10-03-2004, 22:36

I guess nobody knows anything about mini-PCI then??

Just thought I would add an update to this thread in an attempt to bump it up a bit....

I have successfully removed the existing Wireless network card from my laptop and everything is working ok.
You should see the size of these things, My CPU is bigger and thicker.
The hardest bit about removing it was detatching the internal antenna and even that was simple enough.

And for those who cant help with the main question of this thread I have another question....
Do you have an 802.11g (54mbit) wireless adapter integrated into your laptop? (Not cardbus).

If not an 802.11g adapter, do you have a standard wireless adapter integrated? do you get good signal? Im just wondering because the signal on my old 802.11b adapter was never brilliant.

dilli-theclaw · 10-03-2004, 22:48

Well looking in my dell manual it states that only qualified personnel should replace a mini pci wireless network card - it mentions that this is due to FCC rules.

But then goes on to tell you how to do it

btw - the signal on my .b adaptor seems to hover around %74 - even when i'm upstairs in the room next door to the access point - or if i'm down here in the sitting room.

I have no idea about the rest of your questions - I only just got my laptop... I just thought I'd mention the thing about the FCC rules tho.

ZrByte · 10-03-2004, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Well looking in my dell manual it states that only qualified personnel should replace a mini pci wireless network card - it mentions that this is due to FCC rules.

But then goes on to tell you how to do it

btw - the signal on my .b adaptor seems to hover around %74 - even when i'm upstairs in the room next door to the access point - or if i'm down here in the sitting room.

I have no idea about the rest of your questions - I only just got my laptop... I just thought I'd mention the thing about the FCC rules tho.

Cant see it affecting fcc rules anymore than fitting a standard wireless adapter into a destop PC but thanks for mentioning that.

Indians · 10-03-2004, 23:01

you should be able to get a 'g' mini PCI card, in fact some desktop PCI wireless cards use a mini PCI as a daughter board on the full size PCI adapter, I'm sure I have some details somewhere of cards that do this, it's just that I believe it may work out cheaper or be more readily available. Don't see a problem switching your 'b' to your uncles, just check it has the antenna ends in the spare bay, if it doesn't, it obviously doesn't have the antenna installed so no go, they usually fit them around the LCD screen somehow.

ZrByte · 10-03-2004, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indians

you should be able to get a 'g' mini PCI card, in fact some desktop PCI wireless cards use a mini PCI as a daughter board on the full size PCI adapter, I'm sure I have some details somewhere of cards that do this, it's just that I believe it may work out cheaper or be more readily available. Don't see a problem switching your 'b' to your uncles, just check it has the antenna ends in the spare bay, if it doesn't, it obviously doesn't have the antenna installed so no go, they usually fit them around the LCD screen somehow.

Thanks for that, I was just looking on ebay for prices for mini-pci And found someone selling antennas so even if my uncles doesnt have one I may still be in luck

Ive found plenty of 'g' Mini-pci cards online, Im just concerned about compatibility.

erol · 10-03-2004, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZrByte

Cant see it affecting fcc rules anymore than fitting a standard wireless adapter into a destop PC but thanks for mentioning that.

this is just a guess but it's probably to do with the antenna bit. basicaly the power output restrictions (in uk and in usa) are 'eirp' or emitted power - which basically means it is the effective output power of the card + the antenna. Plug a card into and antenna with too much gain and you end up over the eirp limit. Or to put it another way , it's not the power limit of the card alone that defines it's legality but the combination of the card and the antenna. That's prob why, technically, it should only be a qualifed engineer that installs the cards (as presumably they are able to claculate the total eirp and ensure that they are within the limits).

not that it really matters of course

ZrByte · 10-03-2004, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by erol

this is just a guess but it's probably to do with the antenna bit. basicaly the power output restrictions (in uk and in usa) are 'eirp' or emitted power - which basically means it is the effective output power of the card + the antenna. Plug a card into and antenna with too much gain and you end up over the eirp limit. Or to put it another way , it's not the power limit of the card alone that defines it's legality but the combination of the card and the antenna. That's prob why, technically, it should only be a qualifed engineer that installs the cards (as presumably they are able to claculate the total eirp and ensure that they are within the limits).

not that it really matters of course

I see, thanks, thats cleared that up a bit more.. though from what I can tell all the antenna are standard fitting, I think they are 3Dbi omni (Could be wrong im not very savvy on advanced wireless specs), and from what I can gather most of the mini-PCI cards output is the same due to power restrictions in the laptop itself, so I cant see me having a problem there

erol · 10-03-2004, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZrByte

I see, thanks, thats cleared that up a bit more.. though from what I can tell all the antenna are standard fitting, I think they are 3Dbi omni (Could be wrong im not very savvy on advanced wireless specs), and from what I can gather most of the mini-PCI cards output is the same due to power restrictions in the laptop itself, so I cant see me having a problem there

no problem with a 3dbi gain. Most cards have max power output of 15mw which means antennas with gains of upto 12-14dbi (can't be bothered to do the exact calculations) keep you within the UK EIRP of 100mw. You can find wifi cards that output more than the 'usual' 15mw but as you say the chances of a mini PCI card designed for a laptop doing this are remote in the extreme.

ZrByte · 11-03-2004, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by erol

no problem with a 3dbi gain. Most cards have max power output of 15mw which means antennas with gains of upto 12-14dbi (can't be bothered to do the exact calculations) keep you within the UK EIRP of 100mw. You can find wifi cards that output more than the 'usual' 15mw but as you say the chances of a mini PCI card designed for a laptop doing this are remote in the extreme.

Thanks again, Thought as much, now if only someone here had personal experience with upgrading a mini-PC I could go ahead with my upgrade.

Indians · 11-03-2004, 13:59

Look at this link....http://h30132.www3.hp.com/servlet/Pr...&UCATEGORY_S=0 it's a Compaq support forum, theres a discussion on mini PCI for Compaq's

ZrByte · 11-03-2004, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indians

Look at this link....http://h30132.www3.hp.com/servlet/Pr...&UCATEGORY_S=0 it's a Compaq support forum, theres a discussion on mini PCI for Compaq's

Thanks again Indians, I'll have to remember to rep you again once I have rep'd enough people.
Nobody on that forum has gotten one to work, however they are all trying to fit to models that dont have inbuilt antennas (Or they dont know how to attatch them, one person even claimed they dont exist), several people got thier laptops to recognise the mini-pci card though and this was my greatest concern (One of the cards mentioned is the very model I was looking at last night so that is really useful info), attatching the antenna is a doddle so to speak so it looks like I can finally retire my PCMCIA card to the spares drawer