Replacing internal wireless adapter? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Big Ben · 2011-02-05, 08:25 PM

I have a toshiba satellite laptop with:

AMD Athlon II P320 Dual-Core Processor 2.1 GHz
3GB RAM
Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter

The wireless adapter is awful. I often have 4/5 bars of reception and it has trouble connecting, or 3/5 bars and sometimes it will not be able to connect at all, not to mention I can be within 20 feet of any router and half the time it won't show a full signal strength. I've compared with a friend that has an Acer and his laptop gets way better reception from the same routers I've tried, so I know it's just my laptop.

My question is how simple it is to replace the adapter and which one I should be looking at? I am assuming all I have to do is disconnect the antenna wires and pop it out and then pop in a new one - am I missing anything?

recneps77 · 2011-02-05, 09:10 PM

Its about that simple (assuming it's a mini PCIe and not integrated..)

Hardest part is getting the case open and access to the mini PCIe. Unless your laptop happens to have an access door..

Larry · 2011-02-05, 09:43 PM

While not as convenient, why not just get an external adapter that connects via USB?

Big Ben · 2011-02-05, 10:38 PM

I'll have a look to see if it's easily accessible. I actually do have a usb adapter, but it's simply the convenience. It's ok for at home, but when I'm on the go I don't want to have to have it with me all the time.

Any suggestions on which adapter I should be looking to replace mine with?

gzink · 2011-02-07, 01:04 PM

Have you tried "carefully removing the antenna" and re-seating it. I think they are only good for a few careful re-seats.

Flashman · 2011-02-07, 05:00 PM

If the antenna sucks, the new card won't fare much better. Also if it's getting cooked, unless you happen on a low low power one, the new one will flake as bad or worse.

2011-02-05, 08:25 PM	#1
Big Ben Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kingston Posts: 59	Replacing internal wireless adapter? I have a toshiba satellite laptop with: AMD Athlon II P320 Dual-Core Processor 2.1 GHz 3GB RAM Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit) Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter The wireless adapter is awful. I often have 4/5 bars of reception and it has trouble connecting, or 3/5 bars and sometimes it will not be able to connect at all, not to mention I can be within 20 feet of any router and half the time it won't show a full signal strength. I've compared with a friend that has an Acer and his laptop gets way better reception from the same routers I've tried, so I know it's just my laptop. My question is how simple it is to replace the adapter and which one I should be looking at? I am assuming all I have to do is disconnect the antenna wires and pop it out and then pop in a new one - am I missing anything?

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2011-02-05, 09:10 PM	#2
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	Its about that simple (assuming it's a mini PCIe and not integrated..) Hardest part is getting the case open and access to the mini PCIe. Unless your laptop happens to have an access door..

2011-02-05, 09:43 PM	#3
Larry Veteran Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Rogers) Posts: 1,521	While not as convenient, why not just get an external adapter that connects via USB?

2011-02-05, 10:38 PM	#4
Big Ben Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kingston Posts: 59	I'll have a look to see if it's easily accessible. I actually do have a usb adapter, but it's simply the convenience. It's ok for at home, but when I'm on the go I don't want to have to have it with me all the time. Any suggestions on which adapter I should be looking to replace mine with?

2011-02-07, 01:04 PM	#5
gzink Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 914	Have you tried "carefully removing the antenna" and re-seating it. I think they are only good for a few careful re-seats.

2011-02-07, 05:00 PM	#6
Flashman Rookie Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Niagara Posts: 20	If the antenna sucks, the new card won't fare much better. Also if it's getting cooked, unless you happen on a low low power one, the new one will flake as bad or worse.