are the antenna cables fungible?

Hi,

I am about to install a mini PCI wireless adapter
into a laptop. It has two antenna cables in the
(empty) slot. I was thinking of just connecting
the longest cable to the furthest connector.

Which brings me to the following question:
Are these antenna cables fungible (can they go
to either RF connector)? Or, do they need
to go to a specific RF connector on the network
card?

-T

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 11:08:10 -0700, Todd and Margo Chester
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <e814j0$dd2$(E-Mail Removed)>:

> I am about to install a mini PCI wireless adapter
>into a laptop. It has two antenna cables in the
>(empty) slot. I was thinking of just connecting
>the longest cable to the furthest connector.
>
> Which brings me to the following question:
>Are these antenna cables fungible (can they go
>to either RF connector)? Or, do they need
>to go to a specific RF connector on the network
>card?

Hard to say, because it depends on the particular mini PCI Wi-Fi card.
Some do seem to favor the "Main" antenna; others not so much. This
might matter if one of the two antennas is significantly better than the
other.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Todd and Margo Chester <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I am about to install a mini PCI wireless adapter
>into a laptop. It has two antenna cables in the
>(empty) slot. I was thinking of just connecting
>the longest cable to the furthest connector.
>
>Which brings me to the following question:
>Are these antenna cables fungible (can they go
>to either RF connector)?

Fungible? If it's a problem, use a fungicide.

>Or, do they need
>to go to a specific RF connector on the network
>card?

There are two ports, MAIN and AUX on the card. They should be
labelled on the MiniPCI card. As John mentioned, if the two antennas
are roughly identical and in symmetrical locations, then it doesn't
matter which antenna goes where. However, many laptops have one
antenna in the display section and other in the base. In such
laptops, the best antenna would go to the MAIN, while the worst
antenna would go to the AUX.

Next time, please disclose the laptop and MiniPCI makers and models.
--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558