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    XPS M1330+ Wifi Link 5300

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Sparxxx, Feb 1, 2009.

  1. Sparxxx

    Sparxxx Notebook Consultant

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    Hi guys,

    I currently own a Dell XPS M1330 with the Dell 1505 Draft 802.11n wifi card.
    I have to say this is the worst wifi card ever. Download speeds and signal are awful. I would like to order a new Intel Wifi Link 5300 card but I don't know if it's compatible with the M1330. Anyone here who knows if it will work? I saw there area full lenght and half lengh Wifi Link 5300... which one works for the M1330?
    Thanks in advance, would appreciate some info on this.
     
    Sparxxx, Feb 1, 2009
    #1
  2. slpro

    slpro Notebook Geek

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    Yes. it´s 100% compatible. I have one in mine.
    Cheers.
     
    slpro, Feb 1, 2009
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  3. Sparxxx

    Sparxxx Notebook Consultant

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    Sparxxx, Feb 1, 2009
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  4. slpro

    slpro Notebook Geek

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    I have the longer one, the full size.
    This here: 533AN_MMW
    533AN_MMW(supports 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N1 in a PCIe Mini Card form factor)

    Just one thing: You gain the wifi blue led flashing when there´s activity, but you loose the Wi-Fi Catcher.

    Greets!
     
    slpro, Feb 2, 2009
    #4
  5. GL4662

    GL4662 Notebook Geek

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    How do you swap this? did you see a good inscrease in wifi speed?
     
    GL4662, May 25, 2009
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  6. nitehawke

    nitehawke Newbie

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    FYI: I just figured out how to fix the flashing LED issue. On a number of forums, others have been able to stop the flashing in other operating systems because it is a SOFTWARE configuration.

    Fix for Windows requires going into the registry and setting a registry value to the appropriate setting.

    Navigate to the following registry key:
    HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class

    There are two more key structures you have to nagivate thru, but they are unique to each computer you have to search for them:

    The additional navigation required is:
    %GUID FOR YOR NETWORK%\%NIC#%

    Since the GUID and NIC# will be unique on every computer, you will need to navigate to the Class key, and then perform a search based on the model name of your wireless NIC (i.e.: when you go to Network Connections, Windows will have some model name associated with your adapter).

    Windows identifies my WiFi NIC model as a 'Intel(R) WiFi Link 5300 AGN' so I performed a search for 'Intel(R) WiFi Link'. Hopefully you get the idea.

    You will know you've found ther right key if you see a large number of registry values, including 'AdapterModel', 'DriverDesc', 'DriverVersion', etc.

    Once you've found the right key for your wireless NIC, start looking for the value: 'LedMode'
    LedMode is a 32-bit DWORD value. There are three settings that I know of:

    0 = LED is ALWAYS OFF
    1 = LED is ON and BLINKS during activity
    2 = LED is ON (constantly)

    Set the LedMode DWORD value to '2'

    Disable your WiFi adapter, and re-enable it and volla! No more blinking LED!

    Enjoy!
    Nitehawke
     
    nitehawke, Sep 22, 2009
    #6
  7. richan90

    richan90 Notebook Consultant

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    Any chance I can have your old card? I need something to test out because the 1515 card is just terrible.
     
    richan90, Sep 22, 2009
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  8. crayonyes

    crayonyes Custom Title! WooHoooo !!

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    Thanks nitehawke, Nice share :D
    now my LED doesn't blink anymore :cool:
     
    crayonyes, Sep 23, 2009
    #8