[Thinkpad] I have an Atheros 802.11g 108MB card in a T23 and Idon't notice any improvement wifi range over my B or G card

[John Toliver]

OK.  I placed the antennas such that most of the wire is in the space
between LCD and the top cover of the lid.  The ends are tabed to the lid
and the wires are spread out to fit aganst the lid.  If you can imagine
pulling the mini pci slot off, you would only now have about an inch of wire
for the main and aux antenna.  My problem is that if I'm not sitting at a
table that is line of sight with router, I might have difficulty connecting,
however someone else can connect from a farther distance reliably.  I would
THINK that my 108MB 802.11* card should be able to connect from at last the
same distance but it appears it's actually less.  I'm not sure if it has to
do with the fact that the laptop didn't have antennas originally and so need
to be placed better or if it's not enough power to the card itself.  The LCD
cancelling out the LCD is an interesting take on it, how would I get around
this?  Is their some way of testing this?

-----Original Message--
From: Cottrell, Eric [mailto:ecottrell at doble.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 5:19 PM
To: John Toliver; thinkpad at stderr.org
Subject: RE: [Thinkpad] I have an Atheros 802.11g 108MB card in a T23 and
Idon't notice any improvement wifi range over my B or G card

Hello,

Likely the antennas are being blocked or detuned by the LCD.  Laptops tend
to have the antennas at the top and side of LCD.  You need to put the
antennas in the gap between the LCD and the outer covering (lid).  For best
performance antennas have to be away from other metal objects and have the
widest clear view possible.  For laptops it is a compromise.  Some plastics
and metals used for the lid can attenuate signals.

If the laptop has a wi-fi version you might try to get the lid component
that has the antenna built-in.  Otherwise talk to an engineering student
studying RF Engineering.

73 Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: thinkpad-bounces at stderr.org [mailto:thinkpad-bounces at stderr.org]On
Behalf Of John Toliver
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 4:05 PM
To: thinkpad at stderr.org
Subject: [Thinkpad] I have an Atheros 802.11g 108MB card in a T23 and Idon't
notice any improvement wifi range over my B or G card


This version of the thinkpad didn't come with wifi but I "modified" it with
a mini pci 108 MB wifi card.  I ran the antennas behind the LCD and the
excess cord I made sure was as high up on the screen as possible.  I notice
when I try to connect to my wifi network at school, the newer laptops seem
not to have a problem connecting to the network but I almost have to sit
next to the router.  I will post the number of the card but it's 108 MB card
sp it should be able to communicate at least as well as the cards in the
newer laptops right?  What are some ways to improve the range?   I know this
was a hack and it might have to do with the amount of power going to the
card not being sufficient for wifi as one theory.  Any ideas would be
appreciated.
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