Best wireless for cf 28

what is the best way to install wifi in my cf28? I have read over several ways, has any one been able to get the mini pci to work good with the rim antenna. Or can you replace it with a retractable one. I am looking for something that will be internal, and that i dont have to mount an antenna on my machine. I look at a 3com wireless card that will fit in the pcmia port with the cover closed. Will this pick up a signal, or do will I have to open the cover to do it? Any help?

 

How far away will you be from your router? I just installed a mini-pci card and for grins.. am using an internal antenna at the moment... its sandwiched between the card slot and the hard drive caddy at the moment.. I know until I get an external antenna I won't have much range.. but I don't have a RIM antenna to test with. as of now..I keep my "28" on my desktop..so range isn't an issue at the moment. I am working on fabbing an external antenna that I plan to mount in the unused RIM antenna location.(I moved across the room..I am about 20 feet.from the router.... and I still have a signal..low..but a signal..)

 

ya i was going to be further than that. Do you have any info on how to use the rim, or fabricate one that will retract

 

Using the RIM antenna is easy... But you haver to take the laptop totally apart. Are you ready to do that? Short of that... If you want to splice the lead instead of running a straight one you could get an 18" long lead and run it along the back. You can take off the four screws on the bottom that houses the PC board for the keyboard light control. Run it from the wifi card, under the bottom, through the light control housing and up the back. You can come out where the monitor plugs into the motherboard. You can either splice it there or open up the whole thing and solder it to the antenna jack for the Kodiak mount.

The RIM antenna give moderate results at best. My Sony Vaio gets better signal than when I use the RIM antenna. Your best bet, if you want a strong signal, is using a U.fl to RP-SMA bulkhead mount and mount an antenna on the side of the laptop. There are a couple of pictures posted here where other have done the same thing.

 

What about running a cable to the base of the RIM antenna mount -- then replace the RIM antenna with a SMA or other chassis-mount antenna connector in that waterproof housing?

That way one may experiment with a variety of antennas.

doc

 

That's exactly what I do. We've discussed this before. I run a lead from the RIM location to the wifi antenna. BUT... You have to take the laptop apart for this. That is no problem if you are fairly skilled and handy with tools. (And have the tools!) But if you don't know what you are doing you can really screw things up. The reason I suggest the side is because it is easy, takes very few tools and is hard to screw up. Anyone could do it.

 

Well, if *anybody* can do it then there's no challenge!

So, is there a thread with some details disassmbly instructions, gotcha's, and perhaps pictures?

Or, should I expect to find that in the downloaded Service Manual I have here somewhere?

Just came in from yard work and saw your post so I haven't looked further yet.

Thanks! doc

 

The manual pretty much shows everything. Just remember that if your laptop has an emissive illuminated keyboard that there will be three wires in the back that need to be undone (very carefully) as you lift the bottom off. You do NOT want to rip them off. Oh... And you'll need to carefully remove the speaker and On/Off connection under the hard drive. You'll also need to be carefull not to rip the heat dissipation pad between the cpu and the heat sink. If you do it will never cool down properly again! You can't just use Arctic Silver paste... You must use the pad that is in there as it has the proper spacing.

 

Toughbook R&R is, in my opinion, pretty easy and routine for anyone with a little mechanical aptitude. The only "gotchas" I can think of is the sizes of the screws.. Make sure you have a P1, a P0, and a P00 screwdriver on hand when you start taking things apart. If you try to remove a tiny P00 screw with a P0, you'll strip it out. (which REALLY sucks.. trust me on this Keep in mind that many of these screws have thread locking compound on them, too.

Another thing to keep in mind on a radio model toughbook is the coax cable. If you want to separate the lid from the base, you have to remove the connector from the little PC board at the inside rear of the computer. This isn't easy to get to.

Another trick is, if you're taking the lid off, close it fully before removing the four screws. that way you can re-attach it later without having to balance it at the right angle while you screw it in.

After you take a couple apart you'll pick up on little things like this. There's nothing to fear if you keep things organized and take your time.

And one last comment, you should be taking reasonable precautions against ESD.. (I don't fully practice what I preach, but do avoid carpet and other obvious hazards

 

Yes... I forgot about the screwdrivers! They have to be pretty good quality too with hardened tips. (It will make it MUCH easier!).

That's funny about the lids... I always open mine all the way up instead of closing them all the way down. I'll have to try your way!

I didn't worry about ESD during summer... But as we are moving into winter I guess I'll have to start wearing my grounding strap again just in case.

Gravitar... It's easy for you and me... But remember the first time you took one apart? I was terrified of breaking something or shorting something out. I have broken things along the way... Usually when I am in a rush.

Like I said... If you are a handy person and have the tools... Go ahead and try it. (However, I really think you'll be disappointed with the results from the RIM antenna.) But if you are an "all thumbs" type person... You might want to back away.