Dual external antennae for CF-28?

I was inspired by Toughbook's external antennae mod and Kusa's going wireless. Thank you guys! I've been wanting to do this for a while if not for tight work schedules. My package of pigtails and stuff arrived recently and here's what I've done so far.


I experimented with an Intel minipci (from CF-50) without pigtails but the CF-28S's alloy chasis rendered it pretty useless. In it's place, a AR5005GS Atheros card, with a 8" pigtail routed via the bottom panel to the rear, replacing the signal pass-through connector (1st option because the process is reversible).


Since the 28 will not be mounted to in-vehicle docking, the extruded RP-SMA doesn't bother me. With a 5dBi rubberduck antennae, signal strength was excellent but only when in the same room as the router. After a couple of solid walls, there's only fair connection.


Decided to go with TB's side-mounted mod. Added a 12" pigtail, to MAIN, running under the caddy and around the RIM module, to the 28's left plastic panel. Previous 8" pigtail re-connected to AUX instead.



Taadaaaa.... here it is! Reception is pretty good but can be much better (now I'm looking forward to do the 600mW card!)

Some observations and questions;
Running Netstumbler, I'm getting approx. 70 (Signal/Noise, dBm) with dual 5dBi rubberducks. On AUX alone, signal drops 5 points. Switching between a 5 and 7dbi rubberducks on the MAIN (side panel), Netstumber reads 65 (not sure how these figures are interpreted yet but I believe lower figures and graph plotted higher is better). More stable when dual antennae are in use though. What gives? Any idea what's the output of this AR5005GS card... 100mW?

Will it make any significant difference if the pigtail is routed to monitor's top, replacing the pull-out RIM?

I'm guessing that my old 11b Motorola SBG1000 router isn't up to mark and will post updates once it's replaced with the EnGenius ESR-9710 (Wireless N cum gigabit router).

Other thoughts;

The RIM R902M is not supported locally. Is there anything of practical usage to replace it or recycle the ribbon cables?

Is this the LAN card?


Any comments and suggestions will be most appreciated. Thanks!! Ron

 

Ron,

Welcome to the forum. Excellent first post!You've done a VERY good job... But you still have more to do!

Yes... That is the LAN card. Pretty much worthless but you may b able to get a few buck on ebay for it. They have a LAN/Modem card to replace that if you need to have the modem for any reason.

YES... SAVE that RIM board. That allows you to install GPS into the CF-28 MUCH more easily. (Se stickied thread about aftermarket GPS in the 28 at the top of the forum)

I played around with installing a SMA bulkhead mount in the passthrough location but couldn't get it installed so that it worked correctly AND still allowed the rear door to be closed. I see you don't have the rear door installed. You might want to think about that if you plan on putting one on. The GPS antenna fits very well in the RIM antenna location so you may not want to put a WiFi antenna there.

As far as WiFi cards go... I've had my best results using the Engenius 600mW card thought the 400mw card gives similar results. I like their software as it allows you to throttle the card's power. I've never had one of their cards let me down.

Overall.... Great job!

 

Not sure why or who closed this thread... It is a good one as it shows most of the steps I posted originally. However... Don't forget that the RIM antenna make s a GREAT wifi antenna if it is hacked correctly. But if you plan on mounting a Sarantel GPS antenna there... Then the side mount is a good way to go and leaves your options open.

 

Hello old thread...Still has pictures
Ron must know how to Internet, unlike some people lol


Alex

 

Yeah, yeah... I switched servers and lost the pics...... One day, when the CF-40 is out... I'll find the and repost.....