M4400 WLAN Upgrade - extra antenna?

If I want to upgrade my M4400's WLAN from Dell's 1397 card to an Intel 5300 card, do I need to install an additional (3rd) antenna or isit already installed?

 

If the intel N cards were offered with the M4400 - then the 3rd antenna should already be there.

 

And do I need a 'mini-card' or a 'half mini card'?

 

You do need a half-height mini PCIe card. You might be able to use a full-height mini PCIe card if you haven't populated the various full-height slots on the motherboard, but I'm not totally sure this will work. Furthermore, you'll also be missing that third wire, but from what I hear the Intel 5300 works fine with just two.

 

Check out the pic in this thread, the WLAN card is on the bottom, and you can see the three antenna wires. Not sure what form factor that is, but that's what you need. Edit: looks like that's the half-height card, full height is not an option.

 

full height is not an option, you cant put it in any slot you want. only one slot has the antennae wires.

the m4400 comes with all antennae installed in the lcd back panel assembly, even the ones for cellular wireless

you should have no problem installing the intel 5300

 

If you take a look at Dabeer's pic, there are two wires for the WWAN slot and one wire for the other slot, but like I said, I don't know if a full-height WLAN card will actually work in the WWAN slot.

 

D'oh! I have order a mini-card rather than half mini. Does anyone known of a source for a half-mini card in the uk?

 

huh?? this dosent make sense?? he wants to upgrade to a 5300....5300 is wifi...and in that pic you can clearly see 3 wires going to the wlan card. (grey, black, white) at the bottom of the notebook near the latch

he'll have to remove his existing dell branded wlan card and install the new 5300.

you cant use the wwan slot for the same purpose as it has different antenna (cellular wireless)

 

Thanks for your inputs. I have now checked my laptop and the third antenna is present (but unattached at the moment). I have oreder my 5300 half mini card from Dell - The only UK source I could find!