Where are the R51 antenna leads ?

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#1 Post by **dorronto** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:35 pm

OK. I have a great R51 that was wireless upgradeable. So, I opened it up and I couldn't find the antenna leads ! My LCD display has the wireless icon, and now I'm using a 3com xjack for surfing with no problems. I picked up an Intel 2200bg card and wanted to install it, but again, I couldn't find the antenna leads under the keyboard or palmrest.....

Any ideas???????????

Bummed out,
Ron

Terrahawk · #2 Post by **Terrahawk** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:24 pm

Detach the LCD assembly from the rest of the R51 (as per the instructions from the Hardware Maintenance Manual) and see if you can find the antenna wires then. Normally, antenna wires should extend into the LCD display assembly.

bontistic · #3 Post by **bontistic** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 1:43 am

As far as I know, the end of the antenna cable/antenna connectors should be right below the trackpad for a wireless upgradable thinkpad such as the R51.

I think you can check externally if you have 2 small surfaces (ultra connect antenna covers) on the sides of your LCD cover similar to this:

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ntenna.gif

If you have none, I would suspect there are no antennas installed on your LCD assembly.

#4 Post by **dorronto** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:36 am

Thanks so far for the replies. I just want to (a) find the antenna leads and (b) run them through the laptop, so I can attach the leads to my Intel 2200bg wifi card. I really don't want to open up the lcd assembly. I'm hoping the wires are hidden somewhere under the keyboard, that's all.

Keep the ideas coming,
Ron

bontistic · #5 Post by **bontistic** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:42 am

Ahhh, if you have not opened it up yet, it SHOULD be at the underside of the trackpad. I have yet to see cables that are stowed away in a different location for wireless ready systems.

#6 Post by **dorronto** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:53 am

That's the problem. There are no antenna leads there!

Ron

bontistic · #7 Post by **bontistic** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:04 am

But do you see the 2 antenna covers on the external sides of the LCD cover? If these are flat surfaces my bet would be there are no antennas installed at all. (Should be with ridges)

#8 Post by **dorronto** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:09 am

The laptop is home. I'll double check tonight.

Ron

#9 Post by **carbon_unit** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:51 am

There should be a black wire and a white wire coming through the left display hinge and they should work their way diagonally across the laptop to the touchpad area.
The ridged plates are on the top edge of the screen slightly left of center and the upper right side of the screen when the display is open.

#10 Post by **dorronto** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:49 pm

Ok, I'm home and I have an antenna cover only on the right side of my lcd cover? What does that mean?

Ron

bontistic · #11 Post by **bontistic** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 11:15 pm

And there is none on the top?

#12 Post by **dorronto** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:35 am

bontistic wrote:And there is none on the top?

Of course there is! I missed it. So, does that mean I have to open up the lcd housing to find the antenna leads? I would rather not do that. I don't do lcd assemblies.... Under the keyboard is fine, but not lcd's.................

Thanks,
Ron

bontistic · #13 Post by **bontistic** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:42 am

As carbon_unit mentioned, check the left hinge as 2 wires should come out from there (3 if you have a bluetooth antenna). I also doubt if these antennas will be rolled or stowed inside the LCD cover as there is not much space inside to hold the cable.

#14 Post by **dorronto** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:41 am

Well, I checked the left hinge, from inside (had the keyboard out) and nothing! I cannot see any wires going through the hinge. The inside left hinge isn't even touching the lcd(just a fraction of space in between) and the outside left hinge, as far as I can see, has nothing going through.

Thanks to everyone for the hints and suggestions, but I'll continue to use my 3com xjack card. (secretly.........I know the wires are somewhere, but like I said, I don't want to take apart the lcd housing)

Oh well,
Ron

#15 Post by **dorronto** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:44 am

Final update.......

Still can't find the antenna wires, BUT I upgraded my cpu from Celeron M 1.3 to Pent M 1.5 thanks....underclocker..........sweet......

Anyone looking for a nice T40 ?

Ron

Chris001 · #16 Post by **Chris001** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:27 am

dorronto,

Take the keyboard off. In the upper left corner you will see a small rectangular circuit card (the modem). Running next to that card should be a lone gray wire that runs from the LCD hinge, by the modem card and into the black plactic support bracket. Do you see the grey wire?

In the upper right corner you should have a lone black wire that runs from the right hinge, along the top of the ultra bay aluminum assembly, and into the black plactic support bracket near the keyboard connector on the system board. Do you see the black wire?

Both these wires follow the black plactic support bracket and meet up under the touchpad in a white plastic envelope.

If you still have trouble finding them PM me and I'll send a picture of the systems I have here R51 2887-W23.

Chris001

#17 Post by **dorronto** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:34 am

Thanks Chris001,

I'll give it a shot in the next couple of days........

Ron

#18 Post by **dorronto** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:43 am

Chris001 wrote:dorronto,

Take the keyboard off. In the upper left corner you will see a small rectangular circuit card (the modem). Running next to that card should be a lone gray wire that runs from the LCD hinge, by the modem card and into the black plactic support bracket. Do you see the grey wire?

In the upper right corner you should have a lone black wire that runs from the right hinge, along the top of the ultra bay aluminum assembly, and into the black plactic support bracket near the keyboard connector on the system board. Do you see the black wire?

Both these wires follow the black plactic support bracket and meet up under the touchpad in a white plastic envelope.

If you still have trouble finding them PM me and I'll send a picture of the systems I have here R51 2887-W23.

Chris001

Chris001, no wires in the plastic support bracket.Wires are still, I believe, in the lcd. Thanks anyway.

Ron

Chris001 · #19 Post by **Chris001** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:53 pm

dorronto,

PM me with an email address and I'll send you a picture, of a R51 2887-W23 laptop, that has the antenna leads.

Chris001

Where are the R51 antenna leads ?

Where are the R51 antenna leads ?

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