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    Can the WWAN slot be used for a WLAN card?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by Hahutzy, Sep 14, 2010.

  1. Hahutzy

    Hahutzy Notebook Deity

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    I want to switch to another WLAN card because I'm getting poor reception with mine right now.

    I have a full size WLAN card on hand. I plugged it into WWAN slot, but it doesn't detect.

    Anyone know what's wrong?

    EDIT:
    I don't even see "Internal WWAN" as an option to enable in the BIOS...
     
    Hahutzy, Sep 14, 2010
    #1
  2. varnado

    varnado Notebook Consultant

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    What's your BIOS version cause perior to A03/4 WLan locked to dell only cards...

    btw I used a Sierra MC8775 with no problem (Bios v.A04), hope this helps
     
    varnado, Sep 15, 2010
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  3. nkh79

    nkh79 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm pretty sure that the WWAN slot is only wired for USB power.
     
    nkh79, Sep 15, 2010
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  4. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    If you are getting poor reception, then the problem has more to do with antennas than the card WiFi itself. Card output power is going to be limited / capped according to US FCC federal regulations on transmitter strength, so switching cards won't magically give you more signal strength.

    The better solution would be to either move your lpatop to a different location, or get an external WiFi card (maybe USB?) that has some kind of antenna that is adjustable or moveable. You want the antenna to sit in a location that has the straightest and least obscured path to the WiFi router.

    OR, you may want to look at the other end of the "antenna" equation, and get a new router. If you have an older router, you may want to consider getting a new one with better signal strength.
     
    kent1146, Sep 15, 2010
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  5. Hahutzy

    Hahutzy Notebook Deity

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    I was using A03, I updated to A05, still no "Internal WWAN" option in BIOS.


    Then how do people use actual WWAN?


    I've had 3 different WLAN cards in my AAO and had different results; just the fact that one card gave me a much more stable connection compared to others that kept dropping my connection is enough incentive for me to try other cards on my M11x.
     
    Hahutzy, Sep 15, 2010
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  6. nkh79

    nkh79 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I figure that cards like that Gobi (?) one that can be ordered preinstalled with the m11x only require USB power. When I tried my combo wifi/wimax card in the WWAN slot, the computer could only see the wimax portion of it. Swapping it to the WLAN slot made both wifi and wimax available.
     
    nkh79, Sep 15, 2010
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  7. Hahutzy

    Hahutzy Notebook Deity

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    Interesting... Perhaps the WWAN was simply instructed to blacklist all WLAN functions.
     
    Hahutzy, Sep 15, 2010
    #7