potential wi-fi antenna port locations on CF-28

Right I'm looking at where I can route the antenna patch cable that came with the Intel 2200BG card I bought from a seller that some of you believe is shonky. Anyway the patch cable is almost 300 mm (about 12") long and I was initially aiming to install the external socket next to where the RJ11 modem line socket is, but that means it would mount to the plastic stick-on fascia (using the small former rectangular hole in the breakout panel) but not secure to any hard plastic or metal part of the computer so the socket wouldn't be firmly fixed in place.

The cable isnt long enough to reach into the LCD housing (I'm aware that people have wi-fi antennas mounted there), but it could make it to the back of the computer where I've seen other people route their patch leads (to the space next to the docking station connector). I actually plan to use my system with a docking station so that's probably not feasible at present, however I note some docking stations actually provide ways to join up antennas so if there is an 'official' way to mount a wi-fi antenna to the rear panel of the main casing, I'm interested to know more. The other option I thought of was the GPS antenna 'bump' housing, however the proximity of a w-fi antenna immediately next to a GPS antenna housing could be problematic.

Can anyone else suggest some alternatives apart from using a pair of small 'pad' antennas mounted internally somewhere? How effective are those pairs of 'pad' antennas compared to a proper external wi-fi antenna?

Craig.

 

Craig,
This has been dealt with exhaustively, in fact there have been several posts on the subject in the last two days! I'm not sure about the Intel card I use EnGenious/Atheros cards which work quite well with one paddle antenna in the left plastic cover by the palm rest. There have been significant developments in GPS antenna hacks this week, look in the stickies at the top of the first page.
CAP

 

A search turned this up....

http://forum.notebookreview.com/search.php?searchid=3487810

 

So you can all see what I mean by the small hole in the breakout panel (this also ties into the PCMCIA bluetooth mention in the other thread regarding use of the 3rd PCMCIA slot), here are the pics I took yesterday of the breakout panel with my very non-professional siliconing in place of the RJ45 socket and short lead to connect to up to the 3com ethernet/modem card I've installed:

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This shows the size of the extra opening which I was considering using for the wi-fi antenna socket mounting which will be covered by the new stick-on outer fascia which just has cutouts to fit over the RJ11 and RJ45 sockets.

I haven't siliconed around the RJ11 socket yet as the original stick-on fascia has a small rubber gasket that fits around the outside of the socket and I'll re-use that. Otherwise I'll goop up the RJ11 socket the same way I've done the RJ45.

Craig.

 

You may want to epoxy a small piece of at least 1/8" plastic or, even better, a small piece of sheet metal... You'll need something that can take the strain of an SMA connector along with the antenna that would be attached.

Also... You may want to buy some black RTV.... It would look better!

 

Yeah I'll need to figure out a way to mount a metal plate to the plastic (got loads of small fasteners with all my model railway stuff back in Sydney) and secure the antenna connector to that. Or find some compatible plastic and join it with the right solvent so it bonds to become part of the original part.

Looking more at how this would fit back into the main system casing, the cable coming off the back of the antenna connector might foul the magnesium case and at the moment I'm not sure where it could route due to interference with the positioning of the balun which the modem socket cable twists through a few times. What about modifying the irda port location? How much room is in there to change it so an antenna port comes out there (next to the DC power socket)?

I'm a grey kind of person.... besides all these hacks are definitely 'gray market' category mods... Can't let them become too professional or the commercial companies will want to steal them from us.

lol Besides when the new stick-on fascia is in place the silicone will be covered up. I can probably punch a nice circular hole in it so the antenna socket doesn't push down directly on it but instead secures directly to the panel behind it somehow.

Craig.

 

You could modify the irda spot... You can remove the little PCB inside to make way... But I doubt the flimsy plastic cover would hold the SMA connector... especially with an antenna installed on it.

 

Yes well at least the IR pcb can be removed which makes room for cabling. and I think the red filter window is just a clip-in part so no reason why somthing can't be fabricated to provide a solid metal fillerpanel with a hole for SMA antenna socket.

Other side might be an issue though as stock GPS antenna bump probably doesn't support an SMA socket on the curved plastic surface, though certainly feasible. Might interfere with GPS antenna though to have wi-fi radiator close by.

Craig.