CF-28 Wi-Fi Modification/Upgrade

Hello, I hear so much about wifi upgrades to the CF-28. Well my Cisco card for whatever reason no longer works and I am searching for a better solution based on peoples reccomendations on this forum I have decided to get the Atheros AR5005GS Mini-PCI Wi-Fi and a 3COM Combo card to replace the modem and LAN cards. All of this is good and I just purchased what I needed on eBay for under $30. However, like alot of people, I wish to keep the factory LCD mounted retractable antenna. The only way I figured I could do it was to have a special pigtail made which has a MMCX Female on one end to a U.fl on the other. I was curious if anyone else had a better solution in mind to link the atheros with the factory antenna. I have no doubt that it will work, I'm just curious if there is a more efficent way than having a U.fl connector go into a MMCX, then to the passthrough then back into a U.fl and then finally onto the antenna. Any thoughts would be greatly apprecaited!!

 

This is my solution

This has worked on both cf-72’s and cf-28’s

I purchase generic built-in antenna’s c/w cable

I cut the cable so I am left with just the wire pigtail and connecter that attaches to the wi-fi card

I remove the antenna wire coming from the lid antenna that attaches on the back antenna pass-through and I remove the pass-through

I solder the end of the new wire to the docking station antenna pass-through where the original wire was attached from the old RIM card

Then you reinstall the antenna pass-through and hook up the antenna

On the other spare antenna outlet on the wi-fi card you can hook up another generic wi-fi antenna and find a spot on the side behind plastic to add to the reception


Alex

 

That's pretty cool how you did that. My hands aren't as steady for soldering as they used to be otherwise I would copy the design. Thanks for your contribution.. Btw, I hope you diddnt take that out of your laptop for the sake of that picture, I would feel horrible! Thanks for everything though. I got that MMCX Female to U.fl pigtail on the way and I will post my results as soon as I get everything installed. Hopefully I won't lose too much signal due to the resistance of going through so many connections, but that's also why I got the 600Mw card, I figured that would make up for any loss of power coming from the antenna. I'm also only using it for basic home use and since it is capable of 108Mbps I'll probably upgrade my router too which should also add connection power. What does everyone else think? Thanks to everyone!

UPDATE: Apparently the card that I bought is not a 600mw transmit card, it is only 250mw, from what my research tells me the AR5006 series is 400mw transmit and it goes up from there. I can only confirm that will personal research. If anyone else has a better idea about this, that would be great! Thanks! ~Vinnie

 

I can't see well enough for this kind of detail
I had a electronics shop do the work
Its a spare for a cf-28 or cf-72 ,I don't remember for sure as I have so many spare parts over the years that I can't keep track of them all
The 250mw adapter will be at least 4 times the power output in comparison to the intel 2100B, so thats a great improvement



Alex

 

I am not sure what the 2200BG's ERP is but for the time being at least it'll only be used for wi-fi at home, so probably not a major concern for my setup here (will be getting a Dlink DIR-451 in the next few days to create wi-fi for my UMTS wireless modem).

The Atheros cards seem quite popular though. I've got some u.fl to sma pigtails coming (25 cm long) and some 5 dbS SMA antennas and will see if I can work out a way to hook two wi-fi antennas up without using the LCD casing (want to leave that for GPS later).

Craig.

 

Well Tomcat, it looks like the shop did an awesome job. That would be perfect for my application as well. But I suppose there isn't any harm in using the custom pigtail to get everything connected. I don't know alot about the Intel Wireless cards except my fathers HP had one and the signal was so-so. He has a CF-48 MKIV now with a linksys w/SRX and MIMO installed in the PCMCIA and that alone brings more power than the intel. I decided I'm going to use the main antenna port for the factory RIM Antenna and the aux port for one of the flag antennas with a sticky back, I think I'm going to stuff it the best I can into the right plastic door in the top corner, above the Modem/Network Jacks. I figured it wouldn't yield too much extra signal but every little bit helps. I am having a factory GPS unit installed, otherwise I would use the left plastic door which from what I hear yields better performance. Also, I am confused again as some more research claims that the Atheros AR5005GS transmits 400mw, and not 250mw as I originally found. If anyone knows better than I do and could put my restless mind to rest about this subject, that would be awesome! Thanks to everyone who contributed, your input means alot to me!

Also, Tomcat, if my pigtail solution does not work, would it be possible to purchase that 'spare' part from you? Just as a back up plan incase I'm not as smart as I think I am, lol

Thanks to all!

 

Hi Alex,

I am in BC also, where did you have the work done, and was it expensive? Sorry I don't know how to contact you off line.

cheers, Paul

 

Hi,

I used a slightly different approach on my CF-28.

I got a pair of complete antennas off ebay. These are just a little patch of flexible circuit board with a bit of double sided tape on to attach them, plus fitted cables and connectors.

I used a mini-PCI card and located the two antennas in the tops of the plastic covers at either side of the keyboard.

The wiring is easy a it's just through behind the battery & hard drive.

The range is not quite as good as my CF-29 with the screen mounted antennas, but comparable some to other pre-fitted laptops.

Robert.

 

rjenkins,
Nice, you found one of the best locations for the flag antennas without knowing its one of the standard hacks here. I think our fearless leader Toughbook was the first to post it. How the he**did you join in 2007 and have only 6 posts? Dells boring? Welcome to the nut house, we at least keep busy here if a "little off topic" at times.
CAP

 

Paule..You can only pm to a member when you posted atleast 15. BTW, where is your location in B.C. as I am also in BC, Richmond area to be specific.



ohlip

 

Cap... Click on Robert's name and then follow to his home page... You'll see why he has a low post count....

 

Thanks for the info. I live in Vancouver.

cheers, Paul