verizon MIFI in an optic drive caddy

Ok here is what I am thinking. I use the verizon MIFI for internet access. I put it in my optic drive port the other night and closed the door. no signal loss on the cell side ! even in the magnesium this thing picked up. Now out in the woods I think signal would be compromised. I have noticed moving the MIFI around in the vehicle when signal is weak helps reception. the plan is to take a cheap optic drive caddy like a floppy, gut it and tap the pin strip at the appropriate location to obtain voltage for charging. the MIFI uses a micro USB in the side and is charged off the USB drive on the computer or by an optional 12v adapter that no doubt steps voltage down. So I get a micro USB pigtail, wire it to the caddy and plug it in to the MIFI. Now we have power to keep the unit charged when plugged in. MIFI does not have an external antenna port unfortunately. Any thoughts?

 

It probrobably would be easier to tether it via a tiny bluetooth dongle or a bluetooth pcmcia card in the hidden slot like I did, but the love of experimentation is what keeps us going........

 

MIFI does not need to be tethered the reason I need to hook it to the computer is just for power to keep it on and charged

 

When I said tethered I meant via bluetooth, but I understand what you are doing and the thought of an internal wwan on a CF-28 is interesting and if you can get power to it through the floppy connection then you will be on to something, now if you can figure out how to hack an external antenna onto the mifi.

 

Will... Good luck and please keep us posted! A lot of people have tried to hack the floppy drive...Most want ed to try to make it into a DVD... NOPE! But there are all the connections (or a lot anyway) to allow for some serious mods..... Please keep us posted on your progress.

And feel free to ask questions... Some have been through at least part of what you are doing....

 

hacking the antenna on the MIFI would be very cool, only problem is this little device is pricey to say the least. I can see me opening it and it never working again! LOL. the other problem is I use the MIFI for work 7 days a week so I can't break it! I wish I had a buddy at one of those places that provides the warranty on for MIFI's. I would like to get a broke one or one that went for a swim.
Does anyone know what voltage the floppy drive uses? or more importantly what is the highest voltage available on the plug in terminal in the optic drive port?

 

This is interesting. Do you have anybody else that tethers off of your MIFI? I have the GOBI, currently using Verizon. I would love for somebody to create a detailed list of what or how to enable me to tether off of it. I think on my next personal Toughbook will not get an embedded card, just get one of those MIFI like you have.

Your'e onto something good, let us know how it goes. What are you using as a plug?

 

The thought occurred to me last night after reading up on the specs of the mifi that you could run a small internal wifi antenna off of your internal wifi to the media bay to get a clear signal to your wifi card from the mifi. That way you would not have to worry about hacking an external antenna onto the mifi.

 

TOYO- yes i can run 4 other devices in my bubble of about 30 feet. I have used the express card slot style of wireless card and the larger PCMCIA style. both of these hang precariously outside the laptop and I have broken both types in some degree.the MIFI does not have to be attached at all. it has a password printed on the device. you have to have this password to gain access to the MIFI. it is great. also interestingly the MIFI has far better reception than the other cards I have used.
KLONSDALE I smell what your cooking but please expand on that thought.
here is a dumb newbie cf-29 question, what is that little pull out antenna on my lid? it's the one on the corner??? thanks and don't laugh

 

If you have a CF-28 it could be a wifi antenna or an obsolete cell antenna, If you hae a CF-29 I think that it is going to strickly be Wifi. Without knowing the specs on your machine it is hard to tell.

 

If you have GOBI built into your CF-30 and want to share your internet as an access point, you must use Linux or Windows 7. Vista/XP does not allow your WiFi card to become an access point, only ad-hoc network. I've tried Windows 7 and Connectify (free) and it works!

 

Sorry, had to run earlier, most wifi cards have two U.fl antenna connections on them, what I was suggesting was that you run a internal wifi flag antenna from the auxillary connection on your wifi card to the media bay if your wifi card is having a hard time connecting to your mifi. This would work great if you are only concerned with getting yourself on the internet, however if you want to share the connection you will have to find a way to get the signal out of your Toughbook.