Finding compatible wireless expresscards for my laptop...

[Super Warrior]

I've got a 2006 Dell Inspiron B120 laptop. Instead of the current PC Card slots, it only has a 54mm slot for the newer Expresscard format, which are available in 34mm and 54mm sizes.

Since this is a new format these are pretty hard to find last i checked, with google searches coming up empty. Recently i've been wanting to get away from the USB wireless stuff and get one of these cards.

Anyone know where i can find them at a reasonable price? Either 34mm or 54mm wireless lan cards will do(my laptop has 54mm slot which also can use 34mm expresscards).

[redwudz]

Newegg? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=expresscard
Or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000034&Description=expre...top+Networking

Most of the major companies that deal with networking should be producing them. If you can't find what you are looking for there, try checking their websites. Probably D-link, Belkin, Linksys and some others.

[Super Warrior]

Thanks for the link but someone(another board) sent me this link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Wireless-LAN-802-11g-ExpressCard-Dell-B120-B130-IBM_W0QQitemZ3...QQcmdZViewItem

A $40 wireless lan expresscard, even says specifically that it'll fit my laptop model. Not bad i guess

[redwudz]

That's probably fine, but it doesn't seem to have a manufacturer name, unless it's a Dell OEM part. It always makes me a little nervous if I'm dealing with 'no name' parts.

[rallynavvie]

You're better off getting one of the internal miniPCI cards for that laptop unless you need to use the wireless ExpressCard in more than one computer. That eBay links shows one for sale by the same seller. Your laptop must have an open miniPCI slot inside like this guy:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2732

And with the internal card you don't have to mess with an expansion card coming loose, getting in the way, or losing it entirely. Plus they're cheaper than the ExpressCard.

[Super Warrior]

You're better off getting one of the internal miniPCI cards for that laptop unless you need to use the wireless ExpressCard in more than one computer. That eBay links shows one for sale by the same seller. Your laptop must have an open miniPCI slot inside like this guy:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2732

And with the internal card you don't have to mess with an expansion card coming loose, getting in the way, or losing it entirely. Plus they're cheaper than the ExpressCard.

Oh man i WISH i could get an internal wireless card in my laptop! I have an open slot on my comp for a MiniPCI card, unfortunitly installing the damn antenna looks to be a whole lot of trouble(i don't have an antenna inside mine).

According to this guide i'd have to take apart my whole laptop just to install the antenna:
http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/systems/ins1300/en/sm/antenna.htm#wp1084976

Unless there are any miniPCI cards out there with built-in antennas?

[MJA]

I think this one works with dell(XP not Vista though)

I think you just connect the antenna to the card


http://www.amazon.com/Intel-wireless-3945ABG-Network-Connection/dp/B000EDQOK8

try the card without the antenna

[Super Warrior]

I think this one works with dell(XP not Vista though)

I think you just connect the antenna to the card


http://www.amazon.com/Intel-wireless-3945ABG-Network-Connection/dp/B000EDQOK8

try the card without the antenna

I doubt a miniPCI card will work at all, without the antenna. Maybe if i installed the antenna but shortened it...i dunno.

For a second i thought about going through the trouble to install an antenna but then i looked at the guide again and wow! I'd have to talk the whole laptop apart, piece by piece, including stuff like the motherboard and would even have to undo parts of the screen!

The sheer work required as well as the possibility of screwing something up badly...

[rallynavvie]

Take the miniPCI cover off and look inside. Most Dell laptops I've seen that didn't have wireless from the factory still had the antenna in there. All it looks like is a narrow loose cable with a circular connector on it that looks very similar to a BNC or coaxial connector. All you need to do is then to connect that cable (often there are even two antenna wires installed) to the miniPCI card when you install it. Worth checking out.

[Super Warrior]

Take the miniPCI cover off and look inside. Most Dell laptops I've seen that didn't have wireless from the factory still had the antenna in there. All it looks like is a narrow loose cable with a circular connector on it that looks very similar to a BNC or coaxial connector. All you need to do is then to connect that cable (often there are even two antenna wires installed) to the miniPCI card when you install it. Worth checking out.

I thought about that earlier and checked, nope i didn't see anything near the slot that looked like a connection/wire for it.

If i were to buy a miniPCI card and antenna, what kind of antenna would i need? Finding the cards is easy enough but the antenna's are tough. I searched e-bay for about an hour earlier and just got nothing, until i came across this which i'm not sure is the right type:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Internal-Antenna-Aerial-for-Mini-PCI-Wireless-Card-New_W0QQitemZ29...QQcmdZViewItem
and
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-Notebook-802-11-BG-Wireless-mini-PCI-Card-Antennae_W0QQitemZ1...QQcmdZViewItem

[rallynavvie]

Yeah, that second one shows the connectors really well and those are the kind I was referring to. Problem again is that if you don't have the antenna already built in then you'd have to open it up to run the antenna wires and then secure each "antenna". TBH I don't think I've seen those big flat pieces on internal antennae before, just the wires themselves were the antenna.

[Super Warrior]

Yeah, that second one shows the connectors really well and those are the kind I was referring to. Problem again is that if you don't have the antenna already built in then you'd have to open it up to run the antenna wires and then secure each "antenna". TBH I don't think I've seen those big flat pieces on internal antennae before, just the wires themselves were the antenna.

I think i'll end up installing the antenna, even though it'll be a huge job. I've built 5-7 desktop computers from the ground up before, but this will be the first time i've taken apart and rebuilt a laptop. Attaching the antenna itself looks to be a snap, as shown in the link above i posted. The hard part is disassembling the whole comp first to attach the antenna to the casing, and then putting it back together again without messing something up.

With desktops it is so EASY to go right in and fix/upgrade parts, who knows how the inner workings of a laptop might be and what you could run into. The installation guide i linked too from the dell site seems to cover everything.

It looks like i only need 1 wire, running from the opening in the back and connecting to the wireless card. The big flat pieces attach to the ports on the card:
http://s116441255.onlinehome.us/ebaystore/P5310107.JPG

I assume the second port labeled "Aux" is optional, perhaps to be located on another side of the case where reception may be better, but i'll put in both wires to be on the safe side.