The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Installing WWAN module possible?

    Discussion in 'Fujitsu' started by TWY, Jul 26, 2008.

  1. TWY

    TWY Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi everyone I'm new here :eek:

    Would like to find out if I could install a WWAN module by myself on my S6410? I've come across a revised S6410 with 3.5G support built from factory.

    Since they are the same chassis, would that be possible? Thanks..
     
  2. andrey99

    andrey99 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi TWY,

    I had the same idea.

    First I called Fujitsu support and was told that it is not possible since "they would have to replace motherboard".

    I opened back cover on my S6410 and saw an empty slot for miniPCI module, but I found no antenna connectors nearby.
    So I understood that it is possible to install WWAN module but it won't work because there's no antenna for it installed.

    Hope this helps.

    Andrey
     
  3. f4ding

    f4ding Laptop Owner

    Reputations:
    261
    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Exactly. That is the main problem for almost all notebooks, from Dell, Lenovo, etc. If you don't order the notebooks with WWAN, no antenna will be installed.

    On the other hand, if you open the LCD, you can see that is where the antenna for wi-fi is installed (to the back of the LCD). So if you can get the antenna for the WWAN (different frequency from the wi-fi antenna) maybe you can get it to work.
     
  4. TWY

    TWY Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Oh man... :(

    Are there any WWAN devices that use the laptop's card slot to recommend? I'm currently using a USB WWAN stick, but that thing sucks a lot of power. Will switching to a card-type help with battery life?
     
  5. f4ding

    f4ding Laptop Owner

    Reputations:
    261
    Messages:
    2,085
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    There are WWAN device using PC Card or Express Card. But I'm not sure how much more power they use compare to USB.
     
  6. TWY

    TWY Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks! :)

    I'll try to find out.
     
  7. naton

    naton Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    806
    Messages:
    2,044
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    you can get an antenna from ebay. you don't have to place the antenna in the lid like is the case for a new laptop. You can just fix it the with some type beneath the palmrest. You don't have to use both antenna, one will be fine as the second one is usually there to cover if the main one fail.

    If the miniPCI slot is already used, it is likely that it is used by the 56k modem installed in your laptop. In my case I removed the modem card and replaced it with a wireless one in a Dell inspiron 5000.