X23 Built-in Wireless (Picture warning)

[hwittenb]

I have an X23 that I bought recently. It works well except the "built-in" wireless card. The reception of the built-in card is much lower than with a pcmcia card inserted in the side of the machine. The X23 is a model (2662-D1H) where the wireless card was installed after manufacture. The wireless card is the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200B/G Network Connection. The notebook runs under WinXP Pro

I removed the keyboard and looked at the card. There are two antenna wires that lead up to each side of the lcd and appear to go on up into each side of the lcd.

Is there anything I can do to improve the reception of the built-in card?

[Harryc]

I am not seeing that model as wireless ready in the specs at Lenovo, so the first thing I'd suspect is the after market wifi install. Where were the wires run, and did the installer use the wireless LCD cover with the louvered sides?

[gator]

Where were the wires run, and did the installer use the wireless LCD cover with the louvered sides?

I was just about to ask that. If the wires run through the LCD cover, the reception would be bad since the metal lid would screen the EM waves. On the other hand, if the wires are routed into the base (near the keyboard etc), the reception would be better than the lid case, but not too good compared to a good PCMCIA card.

[hwittenb]

I removed the keyboard again and got a fresh look. Perhaps my initial description wasn't quite accurate. In the attached picture the wireless card is the white card on the left. There are two antenna wires attached to the card. One wire goes up into the base on the left and another goes up into the base on the right, both near the respective lcd hinges.



Note from Admin: Points for including the subject warning, but pics should be < 50k.

[Harryc]

Look at the pic in the following link. On the upper sides of the LCD cover there are louvers (look like black and white stripes in the pic) . Does your machine have something similar?

http://www.screentekinc.com/photos/rm-e ... 1-huge.jpg

Also indicated by #9 in the pic at this link

[hwittenb]

On the upper sides of the LCD cover there are louvers (look like black and white stripes in the pic) . Does your machine have something similar?

Thanks for the detailed pictures. No, my machine doesn't have anything like that.

Does that mean there basically isn't anything that I can do to improve the wireless reception of the "built-in" card?

[Harryc]

You might as well stick the antenna in a steel box for all the good those wires are doing in the LCD with no louvers. You can replace the lid with the correct one or run the antenna wires under the palm rest area. Even easier is to use a PCMCIA WiFi card.

[hwittenb]

You might as well stick the antenna in a steel box for all the good those wires are doing in the LCD with no louvers. You can replace the lid with the correct one or run the antenna wires under the palm rest area. Even easier is to use a PCMCIA WiFi card.

Thanks for the comments. I appreciate the prompt response. Do I have to purchase anything to run the antenna wires under the palm rest area?

[Harryc]

Nothing, just reroute them under the palm rest. Use double sided tape so they don't move around.

[hwittenb]

Nothing, just reroute them under the palm rest. Use double sided tape so they don't move around.

Thanks. I'll try to get the wires out from the lid and try that. Actually, though, the pcmcia card is a pretty good alternative.

[gator]

Try getting a X2X lid with the wireless antenna louvers if you can afford one ... its a better solution technically. Routing the wires below the kbd will be a bit better by much since you have a lot of metal in the bottom of the kbd - but then, its an easy and cost-free solution Tradeoffs, tradeoffs!