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    I'm looking for an Ethernet USB Dongle

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Rodster, May 15, 2011.

  1. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Does anyone know who might sell this? The LAN has failed in my notebook, much too expensive to repair.

    edit: The LAN connector is soldered onto the motherboard. So would a USB LAN dongle work?
     
    Rodster, May 15, 2011
    #1
  2. 3Fees

    3Fees Notebook Deity

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    3Fees, May 15, 2011
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  3. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Is the Ethernet socket broken? You might be able to solder a new on the mobo, that would be a neat and cheap solution.
     
    svl7, May 15, 2011
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  4. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Good call, i'm not sure tbh but I will pull the back cover off and have a look. The socket appears to be OK but i'm not sure if I have a bad solder joint.

    Thanks 3Fees I also found a USB 2.0 dongle at Amazon with high ratings 50% off at $14.99 :)
    http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Ethe...IEJS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1305469338&sr=8-4
     
    Rodster, May 15, 2011
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  5. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    I was able to get my internal NIC card working again, not sure what fixed it though. It appears some of the solder joints on the NIC connector are a little suspect where it's soldered to the motherboard.

    But the only thing I did was remove a little bit of glue off of some of the solder points going to the on board NIC card. I wiped it with some alcohol put it back together and Windows 7 loaded the drivers.

    If it goes belly up again I may go the dongle route.
     
    Rodster, May 15, 2011
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  6. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Great to hear! In case it's not a loose contact in the socket it could really be a bad solder joint... you can still renew the solder if necessary.
     
    svl7, May 15, 2011
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  7. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Don't think I want to attempt that. :eek:

    That's some weird solder joints, they're like flat. Besides my eyes aren't as good when I was younger so i'd have a tough time not making things worse. Although I could go the heat gun route ! :)
     
    Rodster, May 15, 2011
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  8. Abidderman

    Abidderman Notebook Deity

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    I bought mine at Frys. It was $9.99.
     
    Abidderman, May 15, 2011
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  9. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    If you are under warranty do not hesitate to send it in for repair while you can. USB solutions are going to be a lot slower than native support and take a USB port you may want to use for something else.

    Even if you got it working now, just knowing its prone to failure I would not hope for the best if you still have warranty.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, May 15, 2011
    #9