How easily can I swap my 1390 mini-card for a 802.11n mini-card in my Inspiron E1705?

I have a Dell Inspiron E1705 that's about 1 1/2 years old. I just bought a D-Link DNS-323 Storage Enclosure and I'd like to take advantage of the gigabit connectivity.

Assuming I have a Wireless-N (802.11n) router (i.e. Linksys WRT310N) ....Can I just swap my 1390 WLAN Mini-Card for something like a Dell Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini Card to get faster speeds when accessing the DNS-323?

Is this a direct hardware replacement or are there drivers/software issues I would need to know?

I am moderately computer savvy and it seems to be a straight forward swap.
Any opinions or comments are appreciated.

Thanks.

Jim

 

It should be a direct hardware replacement EXCEPT that 802.11n cards use three antennas, but the 1390 only has two attached (and your dell probably only has two pre-installed). It's not the end of the world, you can purchase the third for a couple of bucks, or you can try running it without it (not sure how the reception will be)

 

I would check out the Gigabyte GN-WS30n-RH card. I swaped out the 1390 card in my Dell E1505 a week ago and every thing is working grate the swap was Easy also the Drivers came on a CD so there wasn't the hastle of downloading Drivers. I also installed a third antenna I looped it between the motherboard and the case frame below the keyboard. I purchaced boath the Card and antenna from OxfordTec.com there service was Grate. You can view more conversation on my upgrade at a thread titled G to N upgrade started by redsteve.

Good luck Steve

P.S. My laptop is runing at 270 MBPS Using a d-link Dir 615 Router

 

Seemed to have really sold Steve here on the Gigabyte GN-WS30n-RH card
It's a piece of cake to install, put new one in in reverse order of taking the other out.

Drivers don't use the included ones, I have links at lv2go for much newer ones.
Where the Client Utility works in Vista as well.

Have swapped cards in my E1705 more time than I've had hot B'fasts

 

Steve & wlan,

After I posted mine, I read your posts in "G to N upgrade ". That is great info and perfect timing. I already ordered my Gigabyte GN-WS30n-RH card and antenna from OxfordTec.com.

One question. I haven't cracked open my E1705 yet (or any laptop for that matter). What is the easiest way to get the card swapped in?

Thanks a bunch,

Jim

 

Remove the two screws, lift up the cover, remove antennas, remove card, insert new card. No kidding - it's that easy. Dell even provides instructions:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins9400/en/sm/cards.htm#wp1009645

 

props to the beer man. thank you kindly.

 

Another sale, woohoo

Yes the WLAN card replacement is that easy.
Becareful with the little clip that holds the miniPCIe card in.
Carefully with your fingernails (if you have not chewed them) pull the 2 tiny little tabs that hold the card back.

The lock tab is pressed in, but can come loose (as mine has) making it a little awkward to hold the card.
Pity Dell didn't use the 2 screw holes.

Other than that enjoy your new purchase.

 

OK, follow up question:

I installed my Gigabyte card and 3rd antenna (while still using my "G" router) cause i didn't want to do everything at once. If there was a problem I could pin-point what hardware it was.

Anyway....card worked with my "G" router showing the usual 54Mbps.

Tonight I got my Linksys "N" router up and running and when I checked the speed in Vista, it's only at 130Mbps. And when I check the speed using the Linksys "Easy Link" software supplied with the router, it says 111Mbps.

What gives? I thought it would be showing between 250-300 Mbps??

Thanks,
Jim

 

Update.....

I changed the settings of my router. I switched the radio band from 20MHz to 40MHz and now I have 270Mbps.

Hope this helps anyone else with similar issues.

Jim

 

Let it be a lesson to all.

Draft-n 2.0 means the device MUST default to 20Mhz in 2.4ghz (or it isn't 2.0 complient)
So always check this first if you are stuck with 130Mbps nax connection.