Hi,
After playing a lot with multiple Linux distributions, I had hard time make my wireless card working. This was back to the release of Ubuntu 6.06. My wireless card was a Dell TrueMobile based on the Broadcom chip. Broadcom is known to not release chip specifications, so at that time, I had to use the just released open source driver built using clean-room reverse engineering, or rely on NdisWrapper to run the native Windows driver. I managed to make the open source driver work but it was painful: Needed to reconnect repetitively to get a “B” (11 mb/s) connection while my card could go “G” (54 mb/s).
Finally I got tired of all this… Since the Inspiron is using a mini-PCI card for the wireless card, I looked for a replacement card that was working well with Linux and found the Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG for less than 50$ CDN. After installation, it worked flawlessly!
If you are tired of you TrueMobile (or Broadcom based) wireless card and you want to replace it, here are the steps:
- Oh, by the way, if you follow these steps… remember that your doing it at your own risk!
- First, it is suggested to ground yourself. You can use an anti-static wristband like this Belkin.
- Turn your Inspiron on the back and identify the battery and Wi-Fi compartment.
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- Turn your Inspiron on the back and identify the battery and Wi-Fi compartment.
- Remove the battery
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- Once the battery is removed and the Wi-Fi compartment is opened…
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- Now we need to remove the old Dell TrueMobile wireless card.
- Gently unplug the two antennas represented by the red circles on the picture beside.
(click on the picture for a bigger display)
- Then press outwards on the little metal clips (blue circles on the picture) holding the wireless card in its socket and it will pop out at a 45 degree angle.
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- Install the new card by holding the card at a 45 degree angle and slide into the socket.
- Push down the card and snap it into place alongside the metal clips.
- Replug the two antennas (see picture beside).
- Screw the panel back to close the Wi-Fi compartment.
- Put the battery back in place.
- If you are using Windows, install the new drivers. For Linux, it should automatically detect it.
- Enjoy!
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3 comments
[...] This guide will help you to install a new wireless card (Wi-Fi) into a Dell Inspiron 8500/8600 laptop. The original wireless card is installed into the Mini PCI slot on the bottom of the laptop. Since the Inspiron is using a mini-PCI card for the wireless card, I looked for a replacement card that was working well with Linux and found the Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG for less than 50$ CDN. After installation, it worked flawlessly! [...]
Buen artículo me sirvió para ver porque mi laptop no funcionaba el wireless y casí la mando a soporte. Olvidalo lo que hubiese gastado!!!!
Buen artículo. Más con este tipo de equipo que ya es algo pasado de moda u obsoleto.
Gracias.
thank you very much!