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Wireless upgrade on Insprion 1100

post #1 of 9
10/21/05 at 1:22am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #2 of 9
10/25/05 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #3 of 9
11/5/05 at 1:49am
Thread Starter 
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???
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post #4 of 9
11/5/05 at 2:26am
Maybe a docking station of some sort?
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post #5 of 9
11/7/05 at 11:15pm
the 1100 doesnt have one.

user guide.

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/sm/index.htm
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post #6 of 9
11/8/05 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #7 of 9
11/16/05 at 2:03am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #8 of 9
11/16/05 at 2:24am
Thread Starter 
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?
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post #9 of 9
11/17/05 at 8:24am
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!
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