Wireless pcmcia notebook cards w. non-protruding antenna

Hello everyone,

Do these things exist? I have an tablet/UMPC that I'd like to get
wireless on, but it really bothers me and other users that the PCMCIA
card has an antenna sticking out. :(

If anyone know of one, or even a hack/mod, please do tell - I'd really
appreciate it! :)

Thanks!

~Steven

stevenwcheung@gmail.com hath wroth:

>Do these things exist?

Does what exist? Oh, you must mean the other part of your question
that you left in the subject line where I can't see it. Hang on, I'll
try to retrieve it.... "Wireless pcmcia notebook cards w.
non-protruding antenna". Got it.

>I have an tablet/UMPC that I'd like to get
>wireless on, but it really bothers me and other users that the PCMCIA
>card has an antenna sticking out. :(

There are some with fairly tiny antennas. However, they all protrude
as it would be a rather bad idea for most of the RF to be radiated
inside the laptop instead of outside to the access point. There are
some PCMCIA cards that have antenna connectors, that are flush with
the outside of the case, but you'll still have a dangling coax cable,
which is not what you want.

>If anyone know of one, or even a hack/mod, please do tell - I'd really
>appreciate it! :)

If your unspecified tablet computah has provisions for a MiniPCI
wireless devices, it's antennas are always internal.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

> Do these things exist? I have an tablet/UMPC that I'd like to get
> wireless on, but it really bothers me and other users that the PCMCIA
> card has an antenna sticking out. :(

As Jeff suggests, the antenna has to be OUTSIDE the case of the computer in
order for it to work. The case is usually engineered to keep RF signals
inside of it. Otherwise the RF noise would potentially disrupt things.

So you're going to have an external antenna unless the device already has a
mini-PCI slot and a provision for an internal antenna. Check with the
manufacturer for more info. A tip to this is if they offer their own
internal wireless option.

There are various external choices. Firm part of the card, flexible stalk,
flimsy pivoting cheap thing or support for a connector.

Then there's also power consumption, some cards are worse than others for
how the impact battery life.

On Oct 18, 11:05 am, stevenwche...@gmail.com wrote:
> Do these things exist? I have an tablet/UMPC that I'd like to get
> wireless on, but it really bothers me and other users that the PCMCIA
> card has an antenna sticking out.

Just curious...why does it bother other users so much?

I can understand how a small antenna sticking up from a plug-in card
that sits right near the front of your laptop where the outside of
your wrists keep hitting it.

<stevenwcheung@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1192723516.220935.194110@i13g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
> ...
I have used a 3Com 3CRPAG175 with "XJACK[R]" retractable antenna - 11a/b/g -
satisfactorily for about 4 years in my Panasonic CF-R1N. (I downloaded
various 3Com software updates for the card over that time.) The XJACK
antenna is a spring-loaded pop-out antenna, so for transport(which was my
concern) it is very close to flush with the laptop's chassis. There is also
a similar 11g/b-only 3CRXJK10075.

"B Campbell" <b.campbell@null.co.nz> hath wroth:

><stevenwcheung@gmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1192723516.220935.194110@i13g2000prf.googleg roups.com...
>> ...
>I have used a 3Com 3CRPAG175 with "XJACK[R]" retractable antenna - 11a/b/g -
>satisfactorily for about 4 years in my Panasonic CF-R1N. (I downloaded
>various 3Com software updates for the card over that time.) The XJACK
>antenna is a spring-loaded pop-out antenna, so for transport(which was my
>concern) it is very close to flush with the laptop's chassis. There is also
>a similar 11g/b-only 3CRXJK10075.

Good idea, but those didn't work well for me. I had several problems
with Xjack cards.
1. The Xjack connector or antenna would pop out when the laptop was
inside the carrying bag and eventually break in transit.
2. I would forget to retract the jack when storing the laptop. The
jack would eventually break in transit.
3. Repair was difficult as it required prying off the metal shields
from the PCMCIA card.

Xjack works, but one has to be very careful. However, it does have
one big advantage. It's one of the few wireless cards that has a
genuinely flat antenna. This allows me to insert an additional PCMCIA
card in the adjacent slot at the same time.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558