The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    SZ480 Rubber Antenna thing

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by bennychains, Aug 10, 2007.

  1. bennychains

    bennychains Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    what is it?

    why is it there?

    can it be replaced with something cooler?

    thankssssss
     
    bennychains, Aug 10, 2007
    #1
  2. vassoom

    vassoom Guest

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    It's the antenna for the Wireless WAN option that comes with the SZ480. It allows you to use a cellular carrier's data network for internet access outside of a WiFi hotspot.

    I suppose it could be replaced with one of those 10' long whip antenna things you occasionally see streched from the hood to the bed of a pickup truck or an El Camino. But I wouldn't recommend that. ;)
     
    vassoom, Aug 10, 2007
    #2
  3. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

    Reputations:
    478
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Lol @ vassoom. You can remove the antenna and put a little cap instead(The thing that is on the other side)
     
    Sponsi, Aug 10, 2007
    #3
  4. bennychains

    bennychains Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    the rubber thing is an antenna?

    i heard if you sign up with cingular they will send you the real antenna to put there and this was a dummy antenna... ?

    maybe im wrng
     
    bennychains, Aug 10, 2007
    #4
  5. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

    Reputations:
    478
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I don't think so, at least I've never heard that before.
     
    Sponsi, Aug 10, 2007
    #5
  6. vassoom

    vassoom Guest

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Yup, it's an antenna.

    I think they are formally called "Rubber Ducky" style omnidirectional whip antennae.
     
    vassoom, Aug 10, 2007
    #6
  7. kevler

    kevler Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Your also able to use broadband faster wiht that thing so i advise you to keep it on
     
    kevler, Aug 10, 2007
    #7
  8. TEKWRX

    TEKWRX Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I don't think it has anything to do with Wi-Fi, because not all SZ's have the antenna....
     
    TEKWRX, Aug 10, 2007
    #8
  9. Sponsi

    Sponsi Badibade

    Reputations:
    478
    Messages:
    1,869
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Its for Cingular EDGE, and from what I've heard it is very slow.
     
    Sponsi, Aug 11, 2007
    #9
  10. vassoom

    vassoom Guest

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    You heard correctly. AT&T/Cingular EDGE is, as the kids say, "teh sux". But their coverage is decent and if you're not in a hotspot, it's better than nothing.

    But only barely.
     
    vassoom, Aug 12, 2007
    #10