The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    m11x r1 Wifi range mod

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by ejohnson, Jul 2, 2011.

  1. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I was not happy with the range that the m11x gets for it wifi system, so I ordered up some connectors and a new chassis from ebay. While looking at a place that I could put the antenna I determined that this little computer is packed very very tight. But I did find a place to put at lease one of the antenna cables. It is routed between the hdd and the battery.

    Here are a few pictures of test fitting of it all.

    [​IMG]
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Df4AoItecefh6WHsu3-wpA?feat=directlink
    [​IMG]
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gUaAkRQuTxwxCG_M0gRxaw?feat=directlink
    [​IMG]
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EzJiC3vGecQ1QY5cgMw5kA?feat=directlink
    [​IMG]
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9o7CJ9BgNiG-H_nWnmepyA?feat=directlink
     
    ejohnson, Jul 2, 2011
    #1
  2. dredd1893

    dredd1893 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    hi ejohnson,
    I take it you plan to move the insides of your current m11x to the one you've modded?
    How did you get the chassis from ebay? I tried but found none..

    Providing it is successful, this is going to be one hell of a mod :D
    Please keep us informed about the progress.
    Best wishes
     
    dredd1893, Jul 2, 2011
    #2
  3. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    ejohnson, Jul 2, 2011
    #3
  4. dredd1893

    dredd1893 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    :notworthy: :notworthy: PM me if you decide to establish aftermarket mod for alienwares.. heck, dellienware should hire you as mod consultant. I think more people will be a lot more satisfied with this level of customization :)

    +1 rep for the originality
     
    dredd1893, Jul 2, 2011
    #4
  5. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I actually am working on making a m11x tablet... give me a few minutes to take some pictures of it.
    :)
     
    ejohnson, Jul 2, 2011
    #5
  6. dredd1893

    dredd1893 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    23
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    :eek: you must be kidding me...
     
    dredd1893, Jul 2, 2011
    #6
  7. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    ejohnson, Jul 2, 2011
    #7
  8. Rypac

    Rypac Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    242
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Man this is cool, are you still working in it?
     
    Rypac, Aug 3, 2011
    #8
  9. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Range mod:
    Its all set and ready, just waiting for my 7db antenna to show up so I can test my range with it.


    Tablet:
    A little bit, I have most of the case done, I am just waiting to find a decent priced r1 withsome thing broken.... I think I found the perfect donor, but I need to wait a little bit for it.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 3, 2011
    #9
  10. Noah14

    Noah14 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    73
    Messages:
    620
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    M11x Tablet!? LOLWUT!?
    Gentleman, we have found the most powerful tablet in the universe!
     
    Noah14, Aug 4, 2011
    #10
  11. Rypac

    Rypac Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    242
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    That tablet is going to be a beast, I can't wait to see the final product. I could just imagine people's reactions...

    "Wow man, that thing is huge! It's like five times thicker and heavier than my iPad!"

    "... Yeah, but can it run Crysis?"     ;)
     
    Rypac, Aug 4, 2011
    #11
  12. potentiality

    potentiality Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    potentiality, Aug 4, 2011
    #12
  13. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I ordered some random 11.6 touch screen, still not here yet and the listing is gone.... not sure if or when it will show up
     
    ejohnson, Aug 4, 2011
    #13
  14. deadboy90

    deadboy90 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    625
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    30
    dude this is awesome make a thread when u get done i GOT to see this thing in action
     
    deadboy90, Aug 4, 2011
    #14
  15. GNandGS

    GNandGS Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    69
    Messages:
    1,247
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    angry birds will rock!
     
    GNandGS, Aug 5, 2011
    #15
  16. kevmanw4301

    kevmanw4301 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    1,476
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Any progress?
     
    kevmanw4301, Aug 11, 2011
    #16
  17. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Not really, been doing a full remodel on my house, so everything is pretty much packed away right now while there are no walls in the house anymore.

    Hoping to be done with the house remodel by next week, and can get back into the tablet.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 11, 2011
    #17
  18. some guy

    some guy Modding Addict

    Reputations:
    568
    Messages:
    1,125
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    House mods to ehh?

    Moding is an addiction... i dont know how to stop ether....
     
    some guy, Aug 11, 2011
    #18
  19. kevmanw4301

    kevmanw4301 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    1,476
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hah, yeah. I know how that is. Putting an addition on my home, gets anooying. I'm considering, if you get this to work, doing this to my R1... Seems like it would be awesome.
     
    kevmanw4301, Aug 11, 2011
    #19
  20. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I honestly am just building this to have a over complicated super charged TV remote for my HTPC :)
     
    ejohnson, Aug 11, 2011
    #20
  21. kevmanw4301

    kevmanw4301 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    146
    Messages:
    1,476
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Overkill? :) Got to love it.
     
    kevmanw4301, Aug 11, 2011
    #21
  22. tscaf

    tscaf Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    94
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    ejohnson, as if it isn't apparent, we keep running into each other on multiple threads, and now I see this one that you've done! Very nice work. What is your opinion of extending the range of the WWAN via some method of external antenna like the fitting you used for the WLAN? Possible benefits?
     
    tscaf, Aug 26, 2011
    #22
  23. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Well, Im sure it would improve your reception indoors, but outside you generally have a pretty good signal. Since cell phones have really small antenna in them the cell network is pretty strong. Any place you get cell service, you should be able to get the computer too hook up.

    But one thing that you could do is install the external antenna with a tiny 3 2 way switch. One way on the switch makes the external antenna wwan, the other way on the switch moves it over wlan. Not too sure where you could put the switch, but I think it would work.
     
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
    #23
  24. tscaf

    tscaf Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    94
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hmmm, I suppose that would work. And your right, mounting the switch on a already cramped design may be a challenge....the again, I'm up for it =p I thought about simply putting a splitter in,with no switch so it would be running off both at the same time...then again, I'm not sure if that would screw with it and not help matters.

    Where did you find your SMA wire/adapter? I'm finding some that are close from Digi-Key, but still the MCX portion of the wire seems to be a little elongated where yours is very streamlined/flush
     
    tscaf, Aug 26, 2011
    #24
  25. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    ejohnson, Aug 26, 2011
    #25