PCMCIA card--Able to attach antenna?

Hello all,

I have a Motorola WN825G PCMCIA card for my laptop, and I'm wondering
how to attach an antenna to it. A picture of the card can be found
here: http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0c4ae376d3.png

If a higher resolution image is required, I can email it to those who
would like it.

Thanks,

mrbiggles


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mrbiggles writes:
> I have a Motorola WN825G PCMCIA card for my laptop, and I'm wondering
> how to attach an antenna to it. A picture of the card can be found
> here: http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0c4ae376d3.png
>
> If a higher resolution image is required, I can email it to those who
> would like it.

I'm not actually sure if you will be able to read this message - you
posted via a web forum, but it has been posted to a newsgroup. You can
read/post to this newsgroup (alt.internet.wireless) directly via Google
Groups - http://groups.google.com/group/alt.i...ireless/topics

There's no need for you take/post any photos - there are some close-up
photos online in the FCC database: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2sc6hp
They don't look particularly good for making close-up pics of where to
solder, but someone may be able to tell you where the soldering should
be.

mrbiggles <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>I have a Motorola WN825G PCMCIA card for my laptop, and I'm wondering
>how to attach an antenna to it. A picture of the card can be found
>here: http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0c4ae376d3.png
>
>If a higher resolution image is required, I can email it to those who
>would like it.

Well, it's probably possible, but I can't offer any specific
suggestions from a 160x120 pixel photo of only one side.

Please DO NOT email me a photo. My mailbox is full and I like it that
way. Now I can spend the weekend doing something other than email.

You're probably going to have to do some trace cutting and butchery.
If you don't feel comfortable with a tiny soldering iron and Xacto
knife, give up now. The easiest way is to attach a length of thin
RG-316 coax cable to the card, with an SMA connector on the other end.
This is often called a pigtail. You'll also need an SMA to N adapter
for the typical antenna. The difficult parts will be where to make
the connection, and how to get around the diversity switch.

Here's one example of how it's done.
<http://www.mrx.com.au/wireless/AironetModifications.htm>
I think it sucks, but will function. Note that there's very very very
little exposed center conductor of the coax where it attaches to the
board. Also, the BNC connector is marginal idea. Use SMA or TNC.

This might also be of interest:
<http://repair4laptop.org/wireless_lan_antennae.html>

Look for the word "pigtail" for more examples. Most are fairly sloppy
so don't use them as an example of good soldering.
<http://repair4laptop.org/wireless_lan_pcmcia.html>

--
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

Kris <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>mrbiggles writes:
>> I have a Motorola WN825G PCMCIA card for my laptop, and I'm wondering
>> how to attach an antenna to it. A picture of the card can be found
>> here: http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/0c4ae376d3.png
>>
>> If a higher resolution image is required, I can email it to those who
>> would like it.
>
>I'm not actually sure if you will be able to read this message - you
>posted via a web forum, but it has been posted to a newsgroup. You can
>read/post to this newsgroup (alt.internet.wireless) directly via Google
>Groups - http://groups.google.com/group/alt.i...ireless/topics
>
>There's no need for you take/post any photos - there are some close-up
>photos online in the FCC database: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2sc6hp
>They don't look particularly good for making close-up pics of where to
>solder, but someone may be able to tell you where the soldering should
>be.

That was handy. Thanks. See:
<http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/crud/mot-wn825g.jpg>
On the right side of the phot, the red line on the right is the trace
between the RF section and the diversity switch. Cut and remove this
trace. Make sure C48 is still in the circuit. The nearby black
rectangle is some kind of RF connector pad. You can try to find a
matching connector (SMB, SMC, or uFL) or just solder a coax pigtail to
the center pin and ground pins. Keep the exposed center conductor
very very very short and ground the shield very close to the end of
the coax cable.

Good luck.

--
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