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390E Internal Modem Slot for Wireless?
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:09 am
by normalicy
Title pretty much says it all. I never expect to need the modem any more & hate the bulk of a PCMCIA adaptor. So I wanted to know if it was possible to use the slot for a wireless adaptor?
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 6:46 pm
by rkawakami
If the 390E uses the same MiniPCI slot as, say the 600X (Type III 124 pin), then yes, you should be able to install a wireless card in there. I've looked in the HMM and the twbook but it's not clear to me if this is the case. I did find a picture of a 10L1296 modem on eBay which says it's for a 390E and it appears to be the correct MiniPCI card. However, you will still have the same problem of an antenna. You could place the antenna inside the base or lid (I believe these are plastic and "invisible" to the radio signals) or take the trouble of putting in an external antenna jack.
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:43 pm
by normalicy
The ones I've seen look a tiny bit larger than the modem that's currently in there, so I'm a bit worried. I was hoping someone else had tried before I took the plunge.
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 8:29 pm
by rkawakami
Larger, as in "wider" (along the connector to the laptop's slot) or "taller"? I can understand that some wireless cards may not fit inside the slot/compartment as I had to shave off about 1mm from a Broadcom MiniPCI card in order for it to fit inside a 600X. This was before I realized that all Broadcom BCM94306 were not the same
. Can you measure the dimensions of the card and I can compare it to the ones I have?
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 9:56 pm
by normalicy
Taller. The pinout appears the same. The dimensions are 2 3/8" (60mm) wide (along the pins) x 1 5/8" (40mm) Tall. In the case, there appears to be room for another 5mm at the max without some cutting & a creative way to hold the lid on.
Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 10:02 pm
by normalicy
Well, I did a little research & it appears that most of the wireless cards are in the 44-46mm tall range. So, I think I can pull it off. Especially if there is a bit of room on the board for trimming.
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 12:00 am
by rkawakami
And some are 51mm, like a Broadcom BCM94306MP Rev 4 card. Another Broadcom-based card that I have is only 45mm tall, the same height as most of the modem cards I've pulled out of T2x systems.
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:34 am
by normalicy
Currently, I'm eyeballing the Atheros ones. I've heard good reviews & they usually come with antennas. Also, they are 45mm tall.