Wireless upgrade on Insprion 1100 ... It Most likely will not work unless you find all circuits and respective components and install them as well. Ive had to A ...

Modtastic · 10-20-2005, 10:22 PM

I've got an old Inspiron 1100 that I'm tired of fooling with the PCMCIA wireless card. This model only offers 1 slot and since it sticks out it was getting caught in my bag alot when I travel. There is a mini pci slot in the back that I would like to use instead.
Does anyone know what kind of mini pci card it supports or what would be the best type to purchase? I've seen some posts which talk about bad reception.

I picked up a bottom plastic assembly for a 5100 and salvaged the antennas which I installed in my 1100 which didn't originally come with any. Since the case is the same they fit like a charm and it only took about an hour to install.

Modtastic · 10-25-2005, 12:37 PM

We'll I went ahead and ordered the Truemobile 1300. It sounds like this is a decent card and looks like it is compatable with my 1100. I downloaded the drivers from the Dell and I'm eagerly awaiting it's arival. Anyone had experience installing one of these? I know from my PCMCIA cards I had to first instal the software before attempting to instal the hardware. If you did it the other way around you'd have to reformat the hard drive and start over again.

Modtastic · 11-04-2005, 09:49 PM

Well it came and guess what it dosen't have the same connections. What I thought was a mini pci connection is some 40 pin square connector. Anyone know what this is for???

olyteddy · 11-04-2005, 10:26 PM

Maybe a docking station of some sort?

inspiron9200 · 11-07-2005, 07:15 PM

the 1100 doesnt have one.

user guide.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/sm/index.htm

Modtastic · 11-08-2005, 05:35 PM

The connector is too small for a docking station, it about 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. It's got a jp27 next to it. There is no documentation in the manual or on the Dell web site.

Modtastic · 11-15-2005, 10:03 PM

I took a look at the 5100, each side of the 123 pin mini pci connector is sodered to the motherboard and the spot where the jp27 connector is there is only soder out-lines on the motherboard (no connector is attached like the 1100). Next I'll check the 1100 motherboard to see if there is a point of connection for a mini pci slot where it is connected on the 5100.

Modtastic · 11-15-2005, 10:24 PM

I had to shut down to take the panel off but guess what, it's got the soder points, all 248 of them. It looks like the 20/40 jp27 connector would have to be removed in order to make room for the mini pci card since it looks like it would stick up far enough to interfer with it laying flat. It may be possible to solder the mini pci connector to the board but would it work? I would hate to trash a perfectly good old laptop. Anyone have an extra 1100 motherboard they would be willing to part with for the test?

ikenfixit · 11-17-2005, 04:24 AM

It Most likely will not work unless you find all circuits and respective components and install them as well. Ive had to Add firewire and blah blah blah to Compaqs be4 and its never as easy as installing the port.. (Or so it would seem).. Good luck!

10-20-2005, 10:22 PM	#1
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	Wireless upgrade on Insprion 1100 I've got an old Inspiron 1100 that I'm tired of fooling with the PCMCIA wireless card. This model only offers 1 slot and since it sticks out it was getting caught in my bag alot when I travel. There is a mini pci slot in the back that I would like to use instead. Does anyone know what kind of mini pci card it supports or what would be the best type to purchase? I've seen some posts which talk about bad reception. I picked up a bottom plastic assembly for a 5100 and salvaged the antennas which I installed in my 1100 which didn't originally come with any. Since the case is the same they fit like a charm and it only took about an hour to install.

11-04-2005, 10:26 PM	#4
olyteddy peke-a-bu...i-c-u Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: LOST Posts: 3,265 Credits: 4,906	Maybe a docking station of some sort? __________________ First PC = Vic-20, 8" 128KB Home-Brew Floppy Drive ... Current Rig = eMachines m6805 ... Quantum Leap?

11-07-2005, 07:15 PM	#5
inspiron9200 NoMoreInspiron9200 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 961 Credits: -66	the 1100 doesnt have one. user guide. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/sm/index.htm __________________ Dell B130 Pentium M 1.73Ghz 1GB533Mhz 80GB Dell 710m 2.0Ghz Pentium M 1GB400Mhz 120GB DVDRW 4 year warranty Dell XPS2 Pentium M 2.13Ghz 1GB533Mhz 80GB DVDRW 6800Ultra 4 year warranty/complete care Dell 8400 P4HT 3.4Ghz 2GB533Mhz 500GB raid 7800GTX MCE2005 HDTV receiver 2005FPW Dell XPS600 P4HT 3.6Ghz 2GB667Mhz 1x 500GBHD 7800GTX 2405FPW

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10-25-2005, 12:37 PM	#2
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	We'll I went ahead and ordered the Truemobile 1300. It sounds like this is a decent card and looks like it is compatable with my 1100. I downloaded the drivers from the Dell and I'm eagerly awaiting it's arival. Anyone had experience installing one of these? I know from my PCMCIA cards I had to first instal the software before attempting to instal the hardware. If you did it the other way around you'd have to reformat the hard drive and start over again.

11-04-2005, 09:49 PM	#3
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	Well it came and guess what it dosen't have the same connections. What I thought was a mini pci connection is some 40 pin square connector. Anyone know what this is for???

11-08-2005, 05:35 PM	#6
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	The connector is too small for a docking station, it about 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. It's got a jp27 next to it. There is no documentation in the manual or on the Dell web site.

11-15-2005, 10:03 PM	#7
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	I took a look at the 5100, each side of the 123 pin mini pci connector is sodered to the motherboard and the spot where the jp27 connector is there is only soder out-lines on the motherboard (no connector is attached like the 1100). Next I'll check the 1100 motherboard to see if there is a point of connection for a mini pci slot where it is connected on the 5100.

11-15-2005, 10:24 PM	#8
Modtastic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Credits: -347	I had to shut down to take the panel off but guess what, it's got the soder points, all 248 of them. It looks like the 20/40 jp27 connector would have to be removed in order to make room for the mini pci card since it looks like it would stick up far enough to interfer with it laying flat. It may be possible to solder the mini pci connector to the board but would it work? I would hate to trash a perfectly good old laptop. Anyone have an extra 1100 motherboard they would be willing to part with for the test?

11-17-2005, 04:24 AM	#9
ikenfixit Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 411 Credits: -243	It Most likely will not work unless you find all circuits and respective components and install them as well. Ive had to Add firewire and blah blah blah to Compaqs be4 and its never as easy as installing the port.. (Or so it would seem).. Good luck!