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    Simple e1705 mod turns out to not be so simple...

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Hawkshark, Jan 4, 2008.

  1. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    So a friend of mine begged me to save his newish VAIO from the numerous ills and infections(virus' from midget porn) he had managed to get it in under 4 weeks... Not a big deal really, but he wanted to repay me so we agreed to swap WiFi cards. His Intel 4965 for my Intel 3945. He had no use for N, and didn't even understand the point, so w/e. I also carefully removed the 3rd antenna knowing that i'd need to graft it into my 1705 to make the 4965 work.

    I've never added an antenna before and have no experience with -n, but i will be able to test the -n workings in about 2 weeks when im back at school. turns out swapping the card had a few unforeseen results...

    The Wireless indicator light now blinks randomly (and yes i did update drivers)... More annoyingly it seems to lose wifi connectivity to a router less than 10 feet away occasionally then reconnect very quickly. The blinking sometimes seems to coincide with uploads/downloads, at times interrupting them.

    Also, since this is my first time doing an antenna i tried to simulate to appearance of the original 2 as much as possible, so i added a piece of aluminum foil under the VAIO antenna. Any recommendations for this?

    The gain from the ghetto rigged antenna seems weak, although i dont know of any good software with which to check that, any tips?


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    In general any comments/advice would rock :)
    Thanks

    -HawkShark
     
  2. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Interesting, my N card only has 2 antenna wires.

    Also it's not a silver tin foil like material in the monitor lid.

    Mine has copper.
     
  3. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    B2theEyo, you have 1520 and the N card has only 2 antennas? so i'd guess you have the Dell 1505-n Card not the intel 4965 i do :)
    Copper though? thats curious...
     
  4. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Mines Intel, not a Dell version :p
     
  5. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    Really?!
    Then they didnt give you full -n functionality... i'd complain... If its not too much of a hassle could you post a picture of what the display panel looks like after the screen itself is removed, so i can see your antenna layout etc?
    I know its annoying, but it could help me understand this a bit better. Also what intel card do you have?
     
  6. SteveJonesy

    SteveJonesy Notebook Evangelist

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    Draft N requires 3 antenna's by definition.
     
  7. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    You would think so wouldnt you... But, the Atheros and Broadcom chipsets and PCIe 802.11n cards only have 2 antennas docks... Intel require 2 to function but only with 3 does it work at N speeds.. You can find the Broadcom chipset in Dells, and the Atheros in Airport Extreme...
    So if he has Intel 4965 and only 2 connections, he has every right to complain

    edit: typo
     
  8. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    lol, well I just ripped my machine apart last night to do a throughly inspection. (have massive issues with ignorant management at Dell).

    I'll rip it apart now.

    I believe mine is a broadcom chipset. Not entirely sure, but I do know I selected the Intel wireless, and it says it on my computers invoice. I couldn't say because never use the wireless..

    I got beef to take up with Dell because theres rust forming on the card where the clips hold it down..

    I'll get the pictures of the atenna layout etc for ya though soon.
     
  9. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    There you go man.. lol.. Took them 3 hours ago, just got to uploading them now.

    I just noticed the bottom antenna's are silver. I never noticed them until I took the picture :p.
     
  10. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    WOW B2TheEyo nice pics, and you have a ton on antenna's it seems... Pretty sick too, now i know that my antennas aren't too close to eachother or too small... Im curious as to how none of your antennas interfere with eachother by touching the same metals... Back to your faux Intel chip.

    there are 3 chipsets at work in most common laptops for 802.11

    Atheros has 2:
    [​IMG] Apple
    [​IMG] IBM

    The Broadcom:
    [​IMG] Dell 1505
    [​IMG] Dell 1505

    Intel:
    [​IMG] Intel 4965 that i have

    So im still thinking you have the dell 1505 card, regardless of whatever device manager tells you :) What does it say anyways?
     
  11. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Mines a Broadcom definitely. Stupid Dell, I picked the Intel when I configured my machine. I even check my invoice from when I purchased my machine and it says Intel on list..

    Thanks for all the pictures bro, that clears that up, LOL! Since my card is rusting and seems Dell screwed things up - Looks like that'll be getting fixed..

    Hope my pictures helped, had to compress them like mad to upload them on the Dial-up connection which my home can only get.. (Stupid rural Atlantic Canada)

    I was wondering the same how they don't interfere when I was looking at it carefully today. I assume the lid is just coated so it doesn't act as a ground or anything or have any connectivity with the antennas. If you look closely you'll see each antenna is touching and connected to a steel bracket or rail attached to the lid.

    It's all black magic anyways.. LOL
     
  12. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    glad i could help :)
    I just wish someone would help me with my antenna woes...
    Im getting packet loss like crazy too...
     
  13. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Are there any tiny metal parts around you can attach the antenna too?

    Try moving it toward the middle bottom of the lid.

    Make sure the shiny side is facing the lid not you.
     
  14. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    I dont understand why i would want to attach the antenna to metal? Wouldnt that just kill the gain by adding interference?

    ill try the moving idea...
     
  15. B2TheEYo

    B2TheEYo Notebook Deity

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    Did you move it and make sure the shiny side of the tin foil is face the lid? how did it work out?

    Also just tape it around the edges, not covering the whole thing with tape :p that could help.
     
  16. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    I think both sides of the foil were shiny

    Just the edges you say? i tried to find a tape that wouldnt interfere with anything hense the scotch tape... i'll try the edges next... i also managed to salvage out a pair of other antennas from an old laptop that never even had the internal card, but did have the wiring for it... Maybe one of those will serve me better...
     
  17. Hawkshark

    Hawkshark Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm... So, HELP! (Bump)