This is a MINI PCI E card right?

and any suggestions about where to buy a dual band N replacement online (no luck at Tiger Direct or New Egg.

 

You are correct. That is a regular height Mini PCI-e. Make sure to NOT get the Half Mini PCI-e as they won't be long enough to snap in place. The best dual band adapters I know of are the Intel ones or Broadcom. You can go to ebay and get a Dual Band ABGN that's been pulled out of a MacBook or iMac and they work really well.. they are just most of the time Broadcom. Atheros is good, but the only dual band they make is also out of a Mac I believe. eBay is the best place for the Notebook Wireless cards. Also most dual band models require a 3rd antenna. Here are some models..

Intel 4965 ABGN (Very good card, and also requires 3 antennas)
Intel 5300 ABGN (Requires 3 antennas)
Atheros AR9280 (rock solid drivers, also supported through windows update)
Dell 1505 (it's just a broadcom card re-branded)
Intel 6100/6300 Extreme N (these are the absolute newest from intel)

Also, steer clear of the Intel 5100 as it's not a good wireless card.

 

Thank you!

I was wondering about the 3 antennas from various photos I was finding...I don't know how I would add one (this unit was never available with a dual band solution) so perhaps I would be better off to just go with an expresscard or PCMCIA solution.

I was hoping to get this unit off of 2.4G since it is getting crowded in my neighborhood. We have trouble keeping this unit connected, while my SZ has no problem on the 5G side of the router.

 

Actually running a 3rd antenna is really easy... actually easier than most people would think. Plus they are dirt cheap on eBay! But even if you do get one with 3 antenna ports, it will still work with just 2 antennas, although I'm not sure dual band will function. BTW.. If you're looking for range and signal clarity, I'd recommend the Atheros cards... they're KNOWN for really good signal quality.

 

Thank You so much for your help...

O.K. Unfortunately for me in this case I don't do e-bay, me and them have some fundamental principal disagreements. Probably shouldn't go into it, but I'm one 100% positive feedback buyer and seller who they will never get one more cent from.

I did find an Intel 5300 new for a good price from an online seller with an excellent biz rate rating (provantage) but can't seem to find an antenna... I am assuming that any U.FL antenna will work for 5g or 2.4G?

I think I will give it a try, the card is inexpensive enough that I am not out a great deal if it doesn't work.

 

Oh one more thing...

Fry's website is horrible, but would they have something like this?

 

I'm not really familiar with Fry's, but heres one at amazon... I don't think Fry's is specialized enough to carry what you're looking for.

Intel 5300

WiFi Antennas

 

Thank you again...

Got those ordered!

 

You're welcome! Glad to help!

 

I've got a 4965 in my SZ and a 5100 in my TT. I haven't had any problems with the 5100. I also upgraded my neices laptop to a 5100 a couple of weeks ago and that went fine also.
I have also used a 5300 in my TX and a 3rd antenna and cannot tell a difference between the 5100 and 5300.
I get the same drop outs with all of those cards.

 

To bring this to closure.

I want to thank XGX2007 again for all the help and for talking me into adding the 3rd antenna.

I bought the linked tyco antenna (excellent service from that seller I might add) and an Intel 5300 card.

The installation was easy and I was able to run the antenna so that it is at the top of the unit by routing it along existing wiring.

I also installed the 4GB memory discussed in another thread.

I do guess I should come clean and say this isn't a laptop technically, it is a Sony LS-37E "All-In-One", but as you can see the internal architecture most resembles a laptop, so that is why I asked here!

She's up and running on 5.2GHZ n band, with 4 GB, next comes Win 7, wish me luck!