Toshiba Satellite 2410 Wireless card

Hi,

I have a Satellite 2410-303 that I would like to fit a mini-PCI wireless card to.

Can anyone give me advice about how to establish what card(s) would be compatible, where to obtain drivers and how to install them and so on?

Toshiba's UK site doesn't list any of this information anymore - presumably because of the laptop's age.

I have found an internet source for a Toshiba PA3171U, which is apparently compatible, but it will have to be shipped from the US. I don't know whether the drivers currently available from the Toshiba site (Agere v1.12.110) would be suitable for this card.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Nick

 

Here is my question? Does your laptop have a USB port? If so, purchase a USB Wireless adapter. There are lots of those types of adapters that are available in the market.

 

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, it does. USB1.1, I think. Definitely not 2.0.

I was hoping to get a completely internal solution, rather than have bits sticking out. And I suppose I thought that the fitted antenna might improve reception. Similar concerns about a PCMCIA card.

Nick

 

The only problem with internal is that the adapter is expected to be an out dated one. This internal adapter might not work with other advance wireless networks. First is that you will be purchasing the adapter and second is that you will be spending money to ask a technician to install it. I would say, go to the external. Lastly its hard to find old spareparts.

 

I understand your concerns, but I'm not really worried about compatibility or speed issues - the card will only used on my domestic network to access a 2Mb cable internet connection and print the occasional document. I keep my network at 802.11b, because of a PDA which is used over it.

I've found what I think is the part, and can physically fit it - access to the mini-PCI slot is extremely straightforward on this machine - all I want to establish is whether there are likely to be issues getting it working..

Nick

 

K, first of all, your laptop series comes with a Mini PCI Slot (according to Toshiba.com) - So You WILL want to use a MiniPCI Wireless Card.

Reason being - Unless you want *less* coverage or a weaker signal, you'd want to use the built in antennas in the laptop and NOT the pittance of an excuse of a dinky antenna or should I say 'lack of one' in USB Wireless Adapters.

If you look at the link here:

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/prowireless_mobile.htm

There are two cards called the:
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG & the Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG

..both of which use the Mini PCI Type 3 Edge Connector and which IS compatible with your laptop. All in all, they're only around $25-$30 USD for either.

Barring that - using a Mini PCI, the second option I would suggest is a PCMCIA Wireless card (typically they'd have a better antenna given the device having a wider surface area, not to mention most PCMCIA cards don't pertrude much out of a laptop if at all)


- Jordan

 

In regards to compatibility issues - there would be None.
i.e. since the debut of the first commercially available wireless standard (802.11B); there has only been the 802.11G (which is widely implemented and Still the dominant Wireless standard), and the 802.11A (mostly only used in corporate networks).

Apart from that, there's been some attempts by certain manufacturers to implement their own quasi wireless standards such as 802.11G+ and other such silly proprietary standards that are 'manufacturer specific' - i.e. only their devices will work with theirs. So I wouldn't be too worried about compatibility with non-standardized standards which are almost never deployed on a large scale basis based on the fact that it's not really a standard to begin with


Changing the Mini PCI is Very simple assuming access to the card is straight forward. The ONLY piece of advice I'd give you is - when installing the card, make sure that the primary and auxilay wires (a black wire, and white wire) are connected to the appropriate connections on the card - these are for the antennas.

And in regards to something you wrote earlier - I Highly doubt that your system doesn't support USB 2.0 - that standard came out long before the P4.

- Jordan

 

Hi Jordan,

Many thanks for the information. You've confirmed my feeling about the antenna - I shall follow up on the cards you suggest.

Unfortunately, I think my USB is 1.1. There's no Enhanced Controller listed in Device Manager, and I sometimes get a pop-up when I plug devices in, saying they could function faster off a USB2.0 port.

Regards
Nick

 

Np.

In regards to the USB Controller - Sheesh, that's Harsh! I guess they must've really skimped on the laptop design. Either way, a manual from your laptop series which is still available should be able to clearly answer which USB spec is implemented throughout that laptop series.

- Jordan

 

Well, the Tosh manual was no use, but I eventually found the specs for the controller on the Intel site - it is indeed 1.1.

I'm not too worried about that to be honest - if I really needed to use 2.0, I'd put a PCMCIA card in - I wouldn't have the same objection to bits sticking out if I was plugging in peripherals anyway.

Nick