CF-18 WIFI Card update..Will an Atheros AR5008 mini PCI card work?

Hello

To begin, this forum has been very helpful to me.
Finally signed up.

I have searched all I can, and have read within this forum by those in the know that any "PCI Wifi card will work" ..

That is anything but a PCI-E card obviously..

Although I have restored a MkI CF 18 and am now awaiting a MKV to upgrade as I like, I can't remember ...

....the Atheros AR5008 AR5416 mini PCI card seems a bit longer than the Intel 2915 ...

Is there still space to fit?

Please tell me so..it seems like a great card and upgrade from the Intel..


Kind regards and Thank you very much in advance.

 

Please give a brand and model of the card. Atheros AR5008 is the chip on the card. There are many different manufacturers. All with different size cards.

 

We are having a few problems with new threads by new members like yourself that the threads are not showing up. It seams I must approve them first. NBR is working on the problem and we are hoping they will get it fixed soon. Sorry about this.. I never tried that card when I had my 18 a couple years ago but someone should be along soon to belp you out.

 

Here is a shot of the motherboard on a CF-18. It looks like you should have room.

 

Atheros AR5008 AR5416 Mini PCI ABGN 801.11N 300M WIFI Wireless card

Made by Alpha networks...SKU: ALPHA5416


..and thank you for the photo upload! Very helpful!

Should be fine.

 

If it is mini-PCI, it should fit. I just installed a TP-LINK TL-WN861N, based on the Atheros AR9223 chip, in a CF-18 Mk1 w/no problems. As I said, it should fit, but someone with more knowledge might know for sure.

 

Thank you.

 

Here is that card...........Waiting for the Spaminator in 3-2-1-bang


New Atheros AR5008 AR5416 Mini PCI Abgn 801 11n 300M WiFi Wireless Card | eBay

 

I had a card that same size in my cf 29. Mine was a R2n Mikrotik 802.11b/g/n High Power MiniPCI card - 350mw output Atheros AR9223 chipset
With 350mw and 802.11n it is a really nice card. I might still have it here somewhere....

 

Maybe ya do and maybe I know where it is. Says Microtik anyway.

Just saw it the other day it while looking for a 2915. The broadcom card appeared longer too.

Hey Paul can I steal your photo? It shows a lot of stuff I might do a tutorial on. Thanks. J

 

Well at least I KNOW where it's at. I didn't even have to look.

 

Go ahead I borrowed it also, lol. Found it in google images from another NBR thread.

 

Hello all

NOTE FOR OTHERS ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL an aftermarket wifi ON MK4 or MK5 CF18

Any card of longer length longer than original WILL NOT FIT..

It will hit the SD card board....

Sigh..


Also, shoud you have a "P" model cf18, which does not come with wifi as it is a Federal machine, there is only one white antenna taped within for use.

Looking at the mk1 i have butchered which uses the 2100 IntelPro wifi card, there are 2 antenna wires, white for lan (aux), black for lan (main)..

These go in and up to either sidesof the display soldered to their respective antennae beneath the black plastic side covers.

The later intelpro 2915 used on mk4/5 has a,b,g connectivity..not only b and g as on mk1 (intelpro2100).

How to hook up other wire i dont know.....

Hopefully this will help other s new to this.


Kind regards

 

I would pull the sd card board out and use the wifi card.
Pick up a cheap pcmcia sd reader.....

 

Hmm...that's an idea...
In fact i already have the pcmcia reader..

It is how i was using sd card on the mk1.

But the problem remains ihave only one white wifi wire taped inside for use with wifi card on this mk5 (federal model..cf18PHH....)

Why i dont know..

On the side antennae panels beside the screen, the black wire is there and soldered, as are the others..

I really prefer internal wifi, but i may need to use external on this??

No point installing upgraded wifi card when i have no antennae..

Even if i remove a wire, or even 2 for use from the mk1 as antennae to use with this, where would i put them?

Would leaving them within the base severely reduce connectivity?
Are those cicuit boards used as antennae on the sides of the screen absolutely necessary?


Excuse my ignorance and gettig sidetracked here..

Kind regards

 

1 antenna will work. If you have 2 beside the screen, then the other one is just hidden somewhere. They tape them up. Post photos if you can.

 

I think I know where it may be now...of course afterputting it all back together...


There was piece of tape covering one of modem ports...i thought, hmm, that's odd...but didnt think at time that the extra wire could be beneath it...will update after looking.

On another note, are they all antennae connectors on these cards?

As noted, there are 3 connectors. Are they antennae connectors?

The mk1 uses b and g only. Later mk3 + used the intel pro 2915with abg..also with only 2 connectors.

Later cards support abgn frequencies as you know.

Anyway, why 3 antenna connectors?

Will buying an antenna and wire for laptops one finds online and taping it to the inside on the back cover of monitor work?
something im not using..like gprs..

Can I use one of the unused connectors within that has an antenna on the side of monitor?
Of course Id need to splice 2 together to make it longer to reach inside.

Lastly, what is the little card in front of wifi card at center just before hdd connector? It is slightly elevated with connector on bottom side.

Bluetooth?


Thank you!


EDIT- I decided to keep the sd slot there. I dont like the idea of removing features from it, and besides, a extra slot could come in handy especially with all the flac music and hi res images I use.

I decided toreturn the card and get the TP LINK TLTP WN861N ...

Ive read good things, and besides, it has only 2 connectors for antennae!!

Im betting money the other is beneath the tape over lan port...

...and besides, i like surprises


Also, for future ref to ppl looking. Thougt about broadcom as they seem to be everywhere cheap, but ive read bad reviews due to difficulty of finding drivers and card not being recognized by windows...fwiw

 

Well, installed the TP-Link wn861n .. and it works .. not any faster really.

I did not install the software, or rather, uninstalled it, for fear it would conflict with XP..

Is it common, or should I be concerned that Windows gives me a WARNING during installation stating it is not a supported device, etc etc..or something to that effect..?

Believed it was simply common message due to fact it was not an intel product..

Am I wrong?

Also concerned it may be making things sluggish...it seems to be. Getting a bit hung up at MUP.SYS during boot..

Concerned it maybe hardware conflict..


Oh, and the black wire was not beneath the tape mentioned over the LAN port inside...but there was one tucked away near where the GPRS would have been...more near the docking port really..So I used it. I know it goes to the antenna beside the screen.

First was getting terrible download speed having the white on the right side and black on left, so switched them (as original on the Intel 2915 with black on right and white on left and it is much better...but still, sluggish...


Need to sort it out...seems a common issue doing searches...may be router or ITALY...

May play with the other Alpha Industries AR5008 card to see if there is any difference before sending it back.

Oh, an dthey were both the same size, not really fitting, but I placed one of the little square foam cushions beneath the corner for insulation between it and the SD card chip and it seems alright, though a VERY tight fit...

I dont know how hot these things are supposed to run, but it gets kinda hot...

Considering experimenting and removing it to see if I am having hardware compatibility issues.


Anyway, that's all I know...

 

Find a current driver and try that.