The main trick is figuring out how to remove the black plastic cover
without destroying it. I use a small straight-blade (flat)
screwdriver for this. Holding the card in both hands, I use both
thumbs to push up on the plastic cover and separate it from the metal
bottom.
Once space has been created between the plastic cover and the metal
bottom, I use the screwdriver to pry between the visible PC board and
the plastic cover. An audible "pop" will be heard as the two
connectors linking the plastic cover to the PC board come loose,
allowing the plastic cover to be slid off of the PC card.
There are two extensions of the plastic cover, each one reaching under
opposite sides of the metal case of the PC card. Elevating the
plastic cover just enough so that it won't snag on the antennas, I
carefully slide the plastic cover off, away from the main body of the
PC card. This extracts those plastic extensions without breaking
them -- they can be reseated later.
Once the cover is removed, the antennas are pretty obvious. They're
the two L-shaped pieces of metal, attached with two solder points on
one end and with double-sided foam tape on the other. Bend up the
tape ends and scrape any remaining tape off the PC board, then use a
desoldering iron and vacuum to remove the solder joints with the
antennas.
Replace the plastic cover by reversing the instructions above for
removal. The only difference is using the screwdriver to press up on
the under side of the external antenna connector, gently bending the
PC board up, so that it will mate with the connectors on the plastic
cover and expose the external antenna connector through its hole in
the plastic cover.
When the plastic cover is in the right place in relation to the PC
board, allow the plastic cover and PC board to fall back down against
the metal bottom. The two pins or tongues on the metal bottom will
fit into their holes on the plastic cover, and your job is done.
-Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 11:22
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
Cool Brian. You wouldn't happen to have any documentation or digital
images
of the solder points that need to be removed and any gotchas to watch
out
for when doing this, would you?
-Ben.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Brian H. Oak
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 10:21 AM
> To: Karlnet Mailing List
> Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>
>
> We purchase the standard internal dipole antenna ORiNOCO cards for
> cheap (<$40 for Silver), and just remove the internal antennas. We
> have found that this cuts WAY back on the noise and interference on
> our bases and satellites, especially where more than one radio card
is
> in the same enclosure.
>
> Admittedly, we are already busy with tools and soldering irons,
> assembling our outdoor radio packages. If you are not comfortable
> getting your hands dirty and desoldering the antenna joints, this is
> probably not the solution for you. It works pretty nicely for us,
> though.
>
> We have tried to use the high power (200mW) Prism cards, but have
> found them to be a poor replacement for a normal 32mW ORiNOCO card
> paired with a high quality amplifier; I prefer the RF Linx
> (http://www.rflinx.com) amps. I believe the problem with the high
> power cards to be the lack of amplification on the Rx side. The RF
> Linx amps do a great job of boosting the desired Rx signals and
> increasing our SNR. Even though the Tx power on the Prism cards is
> great, they don't do much of anything to help the situation on the
Rx
> side.
>
> As usual, all of this is just my own anecdotal experience. YMMV,
but
> it's what we've found works.
>
> -Brian
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 06:48
> To: Karlnet Mailing List
> Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
>
>
> Thank you very much Kevin.
>
> -Ben.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Kevin Knuth
> > Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 4:06 AM
> > To: Karlnet Mailing List
> > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
> >
> >
> > Sure,
> >
> > The OEM version of the card DOES NOT have the little black
> > plastic piece on
> > it. What you will find are 2 antenna ports. It is important you
> use the
> > correct port! The card can recieve signal from 2 antennas, BUT-
> > AND THIS IS
> > IMPORTANT- it only transmits on one! This allows for diversity
> > antennas to
> > be used for recieving data.
> >
> > There are really 2 major sources of RF interference from radio
> cards- the
> > mini-antenna inside the plastic cap, and the IF that the cards use
> > internally. The IF is not much of an issue if there is just a
> little
> > seperation between cards. The mini-antenna problem is solved if
> > you use OEM
> > versions of the cards.
> >
> > Only place I know of that has the cards is YDI. Not sure if you
all
> have
> > accounts there, but back in my WISP days Matt Facas was my account
> rep and
> > he is still there.
> >
> > Tell them you want the card WITHOUT the black plastic
> > thing....they'll know
> > what you are talking about!
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Ben Polson
> > Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 12:05 AM
> > To: Karlnet Mailing List
> > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
> >
> >
> > Kevin,
> >
> > Can you share a little more information on this with the list
> please? I,
> > for one, would like to know where I might be able to get a few
> > for testing,
> > etc. Thanks!
> >
> > -Ben.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> > > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Kevin Knuth
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 7:14 PM
> > > To: Karlnet Mailing List
> > > Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
> > >
> > >
> > > FYI-
> > >
> > > You can purchase OEM versions of the Agere card without the
> > black plastic
> > > antenna. This reduces interference!
> > >
> > > Kevin
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
> > > [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]On Behalf Of Caleb Carroll
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:28 PM
> > > To: Karlnet Mailing List
> > > Subject: Re: [Karlnet] Thanks to Zcomax
> > >
> > >
> > > Yes, the built in antenna on Orinoco cards receives alot of
local
> signal
> > > from other sources (interference). I'm doing the same thing
> > > myself with the
> > > Prism 2.5 cards in some of our Base Stations. The noise floor
> > > reads -101dBm
> > > when using the TurboCell Client Manager link test but I don't
> > > quite believe
> > > the reading. If it were a true indication of noise at the base
> > station I
> > > would expect to see some diurnal variation in the noise floor
but
> > > I don't -
> > > the reading is always -101dBm. I think the only way to figure
> > out if this
> > > is reading is really an indication of anything is to place a
> 2.4GHz
> > > telephone next to the Base Station and select a channel on the
> > phone that
> > > will cause interference.
> > >
> > > Just out of curiosity, what bit rate are you receiving messages
> > > at when you
> > > look at the Client Manager link test under "This Station" ?
When
> > > using the
> > > Prism 2.5 cards, I've noticed that the bit rate is always
"locked"
> at
> > > 2Mbit/s.
> > >
> > >
> > > *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
> > >
> > > On 2003-Apr-02 at 11:26 AM Wisp Notes wrote:
> > >
> > > >You are right Chris. They are not entirely junk. 98% of our
> network is
> > > >using those cards. The biggest problem is each of those cards
has
> an
> > > >internal antenna and recieves a LOT of noise especially on the
AP
> side.
> > > >Thats where the major improvement came from, not the extra
> > power. I know
> > > >there is an Orinoco card that has no internal antenna but $150
> doesn'y
> > > >justify it. Besides, the Zcomax cards are solid, the pigtails
> > > aren't prone
> > > >to falling out, the internal antenna comes right off, and the
> price is
> > > >right. I'm done using Orinoco in any access point. Dropping the
> noise
> > > >floor from -73db to -101db was enough to convince me of that.
> > Our quality
> > > >and range increased drastically because of a better signal, not
> > > a stronger
> > > >one. I apologize if I ripped on the Orinoco too much, I'm just
> really
> > > >excited about the results these new cards have produced.
> > > >
> > > >Sincerely,
> > > >
> > > >Paul
> > > >Source One Internet
> > > >
> > > >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
> > > >
> > > >On 4/1/2003 at 11:58 AM Chris Conn wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>Wisp Notes wrote:
> > > >>> Just wanted to pop in here and say thanks to Tony Morella.
> > We talked
> > > >>with him last week about some things with Karlnet we needed
> > to fix. We
> > > >>bought the Zcomax cards and installed them as he directed.
> > Installation
> > > >>was smooth and you would not belive the difference it made!
> > > 25db to 30db
> > > >>drop in the noise floor on the AP which makes that much more
> useable
> > > >>signal for all the connections. Everybody on the link has
> > 30db of signal
> > > >>and everybody is GREEN! Score 1 point for Demartec and
> > Zcomax. Minus 1
> > > >>Point for Orinoco/Agere/Lucent for the junk wireless cards
they
> make.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Thanks Again,
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Paul
> > > >>> SourceOne Internet
> > > >>
> > > >>Hello,
> > > >>
> > > >>I would not say that Orionoco is "junk wireless cards" because
> brute
> > > >force
> > > >>power is not always the answer. However, I am an advocate of
> > Demarctech
> > > >>cards
> > > >>that Tony Morella does sell for particular applications, and
> > I have many
> > > >>deployed in the field, either in RG-1000s, AP1000s and
> > Flashroms. Some
> > > >>are
> > > >>bases, some are satellites, but overall they perform well.
> There are
> > > >some
> > > >>issues with the Karlnet's support of these cards in their
> software,
> > > >>however it
> > > >>is related to any Intersil card, not just the Demarctech ones.
> I have
> > > >>voiced
> > > >>these concerns to Karlnet and I know for a fact that progress
is
> being
> > > >>made to
> > > >>address these issues. The problems are not severe and are not
> in the
> > > >>scope of
> > > >>this discussion. I would recommend these cards to anyone
where
> the
> > > >>application
> > > >>suits a need for a slight power margin.
> > > >>
> > > >>My 0.02$,
> > > >>
> > > >>Chris
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