Replacing the wireless adapter

I have a M1530, with the Dell 1505 Wireless N card installed.

To say the least, it is probably the worst card I have ever seen, getting no more than 6Mb/s on internal transfers (basically wireless G speeds) even though connecting at 130Mb/s.

I have a Dlink Extreme N DIR-655 router and it is pretty good, so I know it isn't that.

Looking at PCMIA cards on the internet, I suddenly realized that there is no expansion port on this system (or I am just stupid and can't see it), so I have to go with an internal card.

Is there anything I should be looking for when getting the new card? Are they easy to install?

 

Why don't you just replace your Dell wireless N card with Intel card? why would you want PCMIA? Just replace your internal card with something else such as Intel card. I know fora fact that it is better than broadcom chipset that Dell card has.

 

can u replace the dell G card in the 1530 with the intel N card? ive heard there are problems upgrading from a G to an N cause of not enough antennas or something? I have the G and sometime in the future once i buy an N router id like to swap it out for an N card, specifically the intel one.

 

I don't know about G card, but my N card has 3 antennas connection.

 

yea ive heard G only has 2 so idk what id be able to do with that

 

Knowing Dell......if you open that port where your antenna is you'll have 2 wires connected to the antenna and an extra one taped to the case


BTW: I have a Intel N and it rox dude.....best wireless card I have had the pleasure of working with lol

 

Yeah, but the problem is getting enough slack on that 3rd antenna wire to connect it to the Intel card.

-Funk

 

Well it was made to work sooo I don't see why not.........


My other Dell (way back b4 N was out) didn't have a internal antenna....I got my girls HP's antenna and it fit just fine....the wires had enough slack and what not...


Remember the computers where made to handle that...just that instead of putting it in..they put a little piece of tape to hold the wire.

 

so what your saying is it might have the 3rd wire needed for the n card? cause if its possible i totally wanna put the intel N card in it in the near future. I mean ive heard its not hard and they have directions on doing it right in the manual they just dont specify wire antenna numbers and stuff

 

It will have that wire...


If you really want to check (doesn't hurt) look underneath your computer and there will be a small rectangle/square partition around the middle towards the front...it will have vents or some sort of passive cooling solution....


Open it up (it's usually just one screw)... and look at your current antenna....there to the side (or beneath it) there would be an extra wire lying around (i'm more than sure)


BTW: tried to find you a pic of it already opened.....couldn't lol

 

i know what area you are talking about, the area where it intakes air right? ill open it up tonight and see if the wire's there, thanks

 

With the XPS it is a different story. Do a search and you will see others have had trouble getting that 3rd wire to reach.

-Funk

 

awww come on guys i dont want bad news lol

 

I already had the Dell 1505 Wireless N card in my system, but the performance was horrible. For some reason it only had two connections to it, yet the third wire was available. It just didn't seem to need it.

So I just replaced it with an Intel PRO/WIRELESS 4965 MINI-PCI-E 802.11A/B/G Draft N Wireless LAN Card OEM for Notebooks, and I had no problems connecting all three wires and getting it to work.

The only thing bugging me is the WIFI light between the Media Direct button and the power button constantly blinks, and only turns off if I disable the wireless mode.

I have read this is standard when replacing it with an OEM part, so I guess I will have to live with it.

Performance is _much_ better however. I use a D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N router (my desktop has a D-Link 552 Wireless N card in it that matches the router), and I get a solid 130Mbps now. Before it would drop as low as 13Mbps when sound was being used.

 

thats good to hear, i have the dell g card but i wanna put in the intel n card.