How can I properly connect my internal wireless antenna properly?

June 22, 2006 9:10 PM

I need some help with my internal laptop wireless antenna.

Tonight I threw a new stick of RAM into my Dell Inspiron 700m. I popped off the keyboard first and realized that the stick that I wanted to replace was on the other memory bay, so I flipped the laptop over, popped off the lid for the other stick of RAM and swapped them. I then screwed the back lid on, flipped the computer back over, and put the keyboard back into place.

I then noticed that a little barcode sticker which was folder over in the upper left corner next to the left keyboard screw was loose.

I ignored it, screwed the keyboard back into place, started up the computer and was happy to see my new RAM.

Then I opened Firefox in a few different windows and saw that the wireless internet was a lot slower. One Firefox window would open okay, but the others wouldn't connected. I disabled and re-enabled the wireless connection, but had the same problem. I tried to ping google and it timed out. The connection (from the neighbor) regularly connects at Very Good and in in the high 20 Mbps. Now it is connecting at Good at 12 Mbps or 18 Mbps. I also cannot see as many networks as I could before.

I have determined that the little sticker thingy is the wireless antenna. I need to know what it is supposed to be like -- does it need to touch something?

This page gives me a hint, but it isn't enough information:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins700m/en/SM/display.htm#wp1109844

Anyone have any ideas?

posted by k8t to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Response by poster: I have determined that the little sticker thingy is the wireless antenna. I need to know what it is supposed to be like -- does it need to touch something?

Rather the little sticker called "display cable tab" holds something down? Maybe a cable got loose?
posted by k8t at 9:13 PM on June 22, 2006

Response by poster: Oh, and there is also a chance that this is total coincidence because there is a thunderstorm right now. Somehow I don't think so though.
posted by k8t at 9:16 PM on June 22, 2006

Response by poster: I have determined that the little sticker thingy is the wireless antenna. I need to know what it is supposed to be like -- does it need to touch something?

Rather the little sticker called "display cable tab" holds something down? Maybe a cable got loose?

Right now even, I have 2 Firefox windows open and the internet will only work in 1 of them.
posted by k8t at 9:17 PM on June 22, 2006

Response by poster: Okay, at 54 Mbps, then dropped to 36 Mbps, then dropped to 24 Mbps, then back up to 36 Mbps, then down to 10 Mbps.

When pinging the router, some requests are timing out.

When opening router config page, sometime pages are slow to load.

I looked at who is connected to this open wireless network, and there are a lot less computers than normal. (And, strangly, I am the first user -- generally I'm not.)

I downloaded the newest (oddly this week) driver for the wireless card. I also took the new RAM out and put it back in. Still no go.
posted by k8t at 9:40 PM on June 22, 2006

Perhaps your neighbour is using a portable phone? Or an 802.11b WAP?

b + g = trouble for the g. This is why all my hardware is b, it never runs any slower. Except if someone has a portable phone.
posted by shepd at 6:49 AM on June 23, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks Shepd. But it is a G router and it was fine up until the minute that I opened up my laptop.
posted by k8t at 10:04 AM on June 23, 2006

Response by poster: I put the old RAM back in and now it is fine.

Any ideas why it won't handle the extra 1G of RAM?

I now have 2 256 sticks in, instead of 1 G and 1 256.
posted by k8t at 12:33 PM on June 23, 2006

Response by poster: Okay, went to 1 stick of RAM and it is fine. Woo.
posted by k8t at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2006