I_Died_Once

I apologize for this, but I'm having the hardest time figuring this out.

I am having trouble locating where exactly on my notebook my 802.11g is. The notebook is a compaq nx9010 which I see after getting it - has "integrated 802.11g" So, I wanna go War Driving (of course) and see what kind of AP's I can find here in big Savannah Ga.

According to Windows 2000 Pro's Device manager, the device is working properly. Its a Broadcom 54g MaxPerformance 802.11g. About the driver - Digial Signer: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher. Version: 3.40.25.3 On my windows taskbar, the icon says "netword cable unplugged" with the red X... it's under Network and Dial Up connections (right click My network places, hit properties) as Local Area Connection 2. The properties on it tell me it is the 802.11g device.

I know about the program Netstumbler, I know about need an antennae. I don't know much about networking, but I'm no novice by far. But that can be disputed, 'cause get this...

I can't find the damned Broadband MaxParformance card so I know what kind of antennae I'm going to need to shop for! I have looked it up and down. I have an IEEE 1394 port... I do not think an antennae will go in that tiny little thing. There is one PCICIA (whatever it is... this is my first laptop!) slot, and right below it looks like another slot should be there, but there is a hard sirface with a sift, thin pad thing going on... (hanceforth this being posted in the newbie lounge!)

On the left side there is a floppy, the pci slot thing, phone jack, security lock, ieee 1394 port. On the back is the s-video, monitor port, printer, usb... nothing even resembling an antennae outlet. I'm thinking maybe the 1394, but no one is selling a 1394 wi fi antennae.

Someone told me that the antennae might be internal... but I do not know. Is the Broadcom 54g MaxPerformance 802.11g worth a damn? I havent found any specifications like I wanna, like maybe a picture of the blasted thing!

I don't know. I really wanna go war driving, and I know where the card it and where I would hook an antennae up to it. Its a campaq nx9010, I cant find any god pix on hp's site.

Thanks for the help, and sorry about the backassward question.

The Others

None of the prts you list are antenna ports. Most laptops featuring integrate wireless don't have external wireless ports. A quick google confirmed that your laptop does not have an external antenna connector:

1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) ¦ 1 x keyboard / mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) ¦ 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ¦ 1 x display / video - S-video output ¦ 1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ¦ 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ¦ 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 ¦ 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45 ¦ 1 x infrared - IrDA ¦ 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A

What have you got on the bottom of your laptop? The connector will be on the mini-pci card, usually accesible under a small panel on the bottom of the laptop.

You should google for details about your card, google for a servive manul for the laptop and, finally, expect to find a hirose connector. Search here for more info on gaining a pigtail for one of these.

If all else fails, buy an orinoco classic card.

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fordem

Flip the laptop over, there will be several doors in the underside, open them - one covers the memory expansion socket, another covers the miniPCI wireless card, the modem & ethernet cards are probably under one also -

The wireless card will be easy to recognise - it will have the antenna cables attached to it - the antenae are internal to the laptop.

I would consider it quite unusual to find an external antenna port for WiFi on a laptop

I_Died_Once

Thanks to those of you who replied. Been tending to a personal crisis my way, I'm sure everyone feels me.

Now, my next question - would a USB antennae work? I've seen a couple of those for sale...

I took that panel off the bottom, and yeah, identified the card, and everything is wired up to it, no sockets or anything to expand on the antennae. I would splice the wires, but I don't wanna fugg up and break anything, not knowing exactly what I am doing. So, I'm hoping a USB would work. But I do not know these things. Anyone???

The Others

I'm sure I having been feeling you...

You can't buy a USB antenna. You can buy a USB client adapter, however.

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I_Died_Once

Now, I do have a thin client. A WYSE thing with 4 USB connectors, a monitor hook up, mic and headphone jacks, and an ethernet jack...

Am I going to have to get a new 802.11 device to go war driving with my setup? If not, someone post a link to what it is I will need to get and read up on so I'll know... I'll be eternally greatful!

Chris

King_Ice_Flash

You may be able to use your internal antenna of your laptop, however if your laptop is on the floor or seat of your car, you will lose a lot of signal. Placing it on the dash/roof of your car will greatly improve this problem. Otherwise, you will need to get another wireless card with an external antenna jack, pigtail, and an antenna.

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Apollyon

A decent, affordable omni antenna may be 5 dBi gain, but the coax and connections will likely be the same loss, resulting in possibly no better than your integrated laptop antenna. Because adding an external antenna with a length of maneuverable coax is a gain, loss situation, I recommend getting a USB wireless client.

This USB client adapter is free after rebate if bought before 30 June. Add a 6' or 10' USB extension cable for $28 and you've got a great way to put the antenna and radio outside the vehicle. With the radio at the antenna's location, you remove any losses normal for lengths of coax between the radio (card) and antenna.

It also allows you to make a high-gain, directional antenna as described within this forum and many other places. Just put the end of it at the focal point of the reflector.

I used it for the WWWD4 atop a 6' pipe sticking up above the bed of my truck. Even without any added directional elements, it is still an immense improvement over my internal (integrated) client.

Apollyon

thost71

Sweet deal! Free shipping even (although there's some BS handling fee). Still, $6.40 net cost is pretty nice!

Thanks for the link!

I_Died_Once

The USB adapter device - would it be an "extension" of the 802.11g I already have, or is it a brand new network connection, having nothing to do with what I currently have installed...???

Thanks for all the help

The Others

Correct.

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Madhadder

The 2nd part...

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