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    is it pssible to extended range

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by TheGOG, Mar 11, 2010.

  1. TheGOG

    TheGOG Notebook Geek

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    I have an HP dv7 laptop with an intel 5100. I would like to know if there is a device out there that I can plug into the usb port that can get more reception for my notebook?
     
    TheGOG, Mar 11, 2010
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  2. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    It is called an antenna, do a google for laptop antennas.
     
    reb1, Mar 12, 2010
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  3. TheGOG

    TheGOG Notebook Geek

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    i did know that a high db antenna would probably work, but there is no where to screw it in on the laptop.
     
    TheGOG, Mar 12, 2010
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  4. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    reb1, Mar 12, 2010
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  5. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

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    If you buy anything that you connect to USB it is not an antenna.
    It is an external high power USB Wi-Fi card- so you do not upgrade your own card you just buy another one.
    Not that it changes anything if it works.
    It may be more convenient to replace your current mini-PCI/mini-PCI express card with a better one- which is not hard when you own a 5100.
     
    downloads, Mar 12, 2010
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  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Except that, with an HP, replacing the card is going to be a difficult endeavour because, as far as I know, HP still uses a BIOS-based whitelist of wireless cards and the notebook will not be able to use any internal wireless card that's not on the version of the HP whitelist it has in its BIOS.

    The best solution, really, is to simply go with a good external wireles card, either USB or PC card.
     
    Shyster1, Mar 12, 2010
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  7. downloads

    downloads No, Dee Dee, no! Super Moderator

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    You are right but there are whitelisted i5300s available that should be better.
    Then again if the signal is really poor high power external card may be needed anyway. Neither solution is perfect.
     
    downloads, Mar 12, 2010
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  8. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    I know a lot of people say the 5100 is crap, but mine was excellent. I could not tell the difference between it and the 5300. They both performed identically. I have a feeling some issues may be due to drivers used or not used. I mean, it is the same exact chipset.
     
    Trottel, Mar 12, 2010
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  9. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    True, but then the question is whether or not the whitelist on the OP's notebook contains any of those NICs - a simple way to check, I suppose, would be to see if HP ever sold that same model with the 5300s; if not, then it's unlikely that HP ever updated the BIOS whitelist in that model notebook; if they did, however, then it might be possible that updating the BIOS would also update the included whitelist.
     
    Shyster1, Mar 12, 2010
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  10. ren3g7ade

    ren3g7ade Notebook Evangelist

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    I'd try buying an Intel Ultimate-N 6300 from babyhemi. He has a thread in the marketplace for it. I replaced my stock card with this one. It's fantastic!!
     
    ren3g7ade, Mar 12, 2010
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  11. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    But will it work with the HP whitelist in the BIOS?
     
    Shyster1, Mar 12, 2010
    #11