will this mod void the warranty?

I want to have an external antenna to the internal mini pci wifi card. I known I could get usb but I don't like it. neither an expresscard solution.
So I've been searching for mods and how to do it and I came across with this one http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FB9/2US4/AZDEV2Z9FLQ/FB92US4AZDEV2Z9FLQ.MEDIUM.jpg
basicly it's glueing a male antenna connector to a blank a "blank" PCMCIA card and connecting the wifi cables to it.



I want to known if this voids the warranty of my M17 or if I use another "blank" express card to do the mod the warranty is still valid.

 

Normally messing with any interior components will void a warranty. Does Alienware have the warranty specifics written on the site? I'd look there. Although, all your doing is attaching a simple antenna.

 

http://www.alienware.com/purchase/warranty.aspx

 

I think it would void it.
I also don't think doing that would be worth it for the little benefit you would see.
Plus, you paid a ton of money for an aesthetically pleasing computer, why would you throw that monstrosity on it?

 

to get 20x more wifi range. about aesthetics... I don't like AW design. anyway it's just a blank expresscard mod... it's not a cosmetic modification.
tkx Lithus for the info. I'll do it anyway. I'll try to get another blank wifi card. oh well, cardboard or piece of plastic or something else will do the job All I've to do it's to change the wifi antenna connectors. if I have any problems I'll just put the antennas back where they were and warranty will still be valid

 

If you do it run new wires from your external socket thing to the wifi card and leave the original ones in place but not connected.

 

I tried an antenna on a desktop I had once, it made no difference to the range at all. That claimed something like 15x range as well.

 

I made it easier. I just bought an U.FL to MMCX connectors. http://cgi.ebay.com/8-inches-U-FL-P...dZViewItemQQptZPCC_Modems?hash=item254c581211
works great on my antennas

 

I'm a little confused as to what exactly you are trying to do.

1. How will you fit the PCMCIA card in the M15x? I thought it doesn't have a PCMCIA slot.
2. Wouldn't it be easier to to get an expresscard wifi adapter and attach an antenna to that?

Duane

 

I'd also suggest an expresscard or USB adapter with it's own antenna. As far as your mod, if you don't cut or remove any original wires, and you can completely reverse your mod, you should be OK. You can PM one of the AW people on the list to make sure.

 

I think you should do it, It'll look great. I get about a 150' feet stock so according to your post you should get more than half a mile!

Maybe you could use some rabbit ears instead and see even more range! lol

 

actually with my largest antenna I can get around 10miles. but it's not very... portable.. lol

 

If you find out that it can be done without voiding the warranty. Get a paper signed from Alienware stating it, in ink.
Dont learn the hard way later on. Manufacturers will turn their back on you if they dont. Those lousy Voodoo guys did it to me, costing me a new motherboard and the price that warranty cost me.

K-TRON

 

I was just connecting an external antenna to my mini pci-e wifi card without voiding warranty.
1 It's a M17. it has a expresscard slot. it doesn't matter if it's pcmia or expresscard, I just have to connect a cable
2 yes it would be easier. but I have special requirements for the wifi card and I already have the one I want and I didn't want to spend more money in another expresscard that fits my requirements.

I'm not gonna spend more money in another wifi card. I removed the original cables and used another ones. I also used another "blank" expresscard to connect the pigtale.
And I think with some mods I'm still able to use the expresscard slot for another device. the cable doesn't interfeer much and I can connect the cable adapter directly to the antenna.

actually with my largest antenna I can get around 10km. but it's not very... portable.. lol

 

it would not void it as long as you changed it back ... AW has stated in my thread as long as you do not damage it and you pt it back how it was yoru fine

 

Hows the thoroughput at those distances?

 

awfull of course. and pings too. it really depends on the other side. but atm I'm connecting to a friend AP and it's about 90kb. but it varies a lot. not bad for that distance.
I like to play with wifi :X

 

Cool,

Let us know how it works.