installation of wifi card

[Snivel]

Hi - Very new to this!

I have a Evo N1050v , somewhat dated and slow. Trying to increase the performance.One choice is to install  a modem card internally. I currently use a belkin wireless adaptor in the back USB 1.0 port. I think the USB port itself is slower than the incoming internet signal. I have a wireless network card that fits the board and I wish to try.

There are two wires that go to the card (black and white or main and aux). These go through to somewhere on the morherboard (not currently visible). I have nothing to connect to OR the wires have dropped through.

Are these wires just power (5v)

Can anyone advise what the lower connections are - not sure I fancy climbing in with a soldering iron!!!!

Regards

Snivel 

ps a photo or diagram would be most useful. 

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Unbelievably the Service Manual is still on the HP site:

Manual

See page 1-10. There is a "mini-pcie" door on the bottom. 

Also see p. 2-7. You put the card in the slot and connect the antenna wires to the attachment points on the card. Power comes from the slot not the wires, which are just antennae. They run up through the screen hinge and wrap around the display. 

I don't believe laptops of this era had a whitelist so any card you put in there of the right form factor should work. I have several laying around my shop. In that time wireless cards were 802.11b which was a very slow wireless protocol but you should be able to find an 802.11g card which will work and will operate with current wifi equipment. 

Please explain further what you are doing if this is not a good enough explanation for you and accept as solution if it is . 

[Snivel]

Dear Huffer

As mentioned I am new to the Hp site, the forum and computer servicing in general.

Firstly well done sir for mentioning the manual - a very useful document indeed!

Secondly I think your advice is spot on - not to blame others but there was an EVo on youtube where the guy plugged into the black and white wires close to the card (no explanation on the sound track. ) The manual does not show the antennae.

Thanks also for the thumbs up regarding replacement cards (my machine never had one, so the antennae were perhaps never put in.) I am taking apart an old acer travelmate and now having some idea what the wires are will get that out. Those wires also head down one 'floor' into the guts. The card fits. I get what you say about slow protocol but knowing my friend's acer before the hard disk blew I think it will be faster than now. Also saves me a USB port.

Thank you for your interest and kind reply

Regards

Snivel