Second Wireless (Mini PCIe) doens't detect Networks

I have an AOD 250 running Windows 7 Pro, I just installed the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 wifi card into the mini PCIe slot, and installed the drivers that came on the CD, as Windows 7 couldn't find them. The problem is, even though the device is enabled, it doesn't detect any wireless networks. When I disable the default Broadcom wifi, I can't detect any wireless networks, when I enable the networks come back. In the Network Connections > adaptor settings of the control panel, I even try to connect by right clicking and selecting "Connect / Disconnect" on the Intel wifi (when the Broadcom wifi is enabled), and it connects to one of the shown networks, but the intel wifi doesn't connect, it shows that the default broadcom wifi is the the device that actually connected to the network.
I got the Intel wifi for being Wireless n vs the Broadcom's wireless g, plus the intel wifi is dual band and has a data transfer rate of 450Mb/s, and I'd really like to get it to work. I'm hoping that I don't need to open up my netbook and take out the original broadcom card and replace it with the intel card (if that's even possible).

 

Hi there,

Did you connect a new set of antennae to the Intel card? If not then that will explain why it cannot see any networks or connect to them.

My personal feeling is that you will be better to get a half height Wireless-N card (like a Dell DW-1520) and install it in place of the Broadcom one.
I have done this on my D250 and get a much better wireless connection because of it.

Cheers
Paul :ugeek:

 

No I did not install a antennae, that makes sense though. The intel card I got is half height, how complicated is replacing the included broadcom card?

 

Hi there,

It's not complicated, its just fiddly.
You need to get hold of a copy of the D250 service manual which details how to remove the wireless card. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16212
Basically, from what I can remember you undo some screws on the base. Lift out the keyboard undoing some connectors as you go. Prise off the plastic top piece and then the card is there.
It requires a steady hand and patience as you are removing plastic parts that are held in by snap clips. I am a touch heavy handed at times and get frustrated with things such as this quite easily, but I managed to do it in my lunch hour without breaking any clips :mrgreen:

Any questions, just ask

Cheers

Paul :ugeek:

 

That's pretty much how you do it, i've had my D250 disassembled many times.

* Prise the keyboard out
* remove the screws from the botttom of the unit and prise off the palm rest
* GENTLY remove the antennae from the WiFi card
* Remove the retaining screw from the WiFi card, it should now sort of spring upwards a little
* Gently slide out the WiFi card and your done.

 

Thanks to the service manual I was able to get the thing apart and replace the wifi card (it works great!), thanks for the advice everyone. It was a bit more complicated than expected due to a screw with a stripped thread (I could turn it but it wouldn't come out) that was one of the big but not deep screws next to the battery socket. I had to drill the thing out to get that screw out, but I managed not to go through the upper case, so I just put a piece of electrical tape over the empty screw whole and with the battery in place, you'd never know it was there.