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Wireless Mini Cards

Dell™ Vostro™ 1500 and Inspiron™ 1520/1521 Service Manual

  Removing a Mini Card

  Replacing a Mini Card

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.

If you ordered a wireless Mini Card with your computer, the card is already installed. Your computer supports three types of wireless Mini Cards:

• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
  
  
• Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
  
  
• Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)
  
  

Removing a Mini Card

WLAN Card

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Turn the computer over.
   
   
3. Loosen the two captive screws on the Mini Card compartment cover, then remove the cover and set it aside.
   
   

1

captive screws (2)

2

cover

4. Disconnect the antenna cables from the WLAN card.
   
   

1

antenna cable connectors (2)

2

WLAN card

5. Release the WLAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly.
   
   
6. Lift the WLAN card out of its system board connector.
   
   

1

metal securing tabs (2)

2

WLAN card

Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card

NOTE: WWAN is also available on an ExpressCard (see ExpressCards).

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Turn the computer over.
   
   
3. Loosen the two captive screws on the Mini Card compartment cover, then remove the cover and set it aside.
   
   

1

captive screws (2)

2

cover

4. Disconnect the two antenna cables from the WWAN card.
   
   

1

antenna cable connectors (2)

2

WWAN card

5. Release the WWAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly.
   
   
6. Lift the WWAN card out of its system board connector.
   
   

1

metal securing tabs (2)

2

WWAN card

WPAN Card

1. Follow the procedures in Before You Begin.
   
   
2. Turn the computer over.
   
   
3. Loosen the two captive screws on the Mini Card compartment cover, then remove the cover and set it aside.
   
   

1

captive screws (2)

2

cover

4. Disconnect the blue antenna cable from the WPAN card.
   
   

1

WPAN card

2

antenna cable connector

5. Release the WPAN card by pushing the metal securing tabs toward the back of the computer until the card pops up slightly.
   
   
6. Lift the WPAN card out of its system board connector.
   
   

1

WPAN card

2

metal securing tabs (2)

Replacing a Mini Card

WLAN Card

NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WLAN card, never place cables under the card.

1. Insert the WLAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WLAN".
   
   
2. Press the other end of the WLAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place.
   
   
3. Connect the appropriate antenna cables to the WLAN card you are installing:
   
   

If the WLAN card has two triangles on the label (white and black), connect the white antenna cable to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle), and connect the black antenna cable to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle).

If the WLAN card has three triangles on the label (white, black, and gray), connect the white antenna cable to the white triangle, connect the black antenna cable to the black triangle, and connect the gray antenna cable to the gray triangle.

4. Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.
   
   
5. Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws.
   
   

Mobile Broadband or WWAN Card

NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WWAN card, never place cables under the card.

1. Insert the WWAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WWAN".
   
   
2. Press the other end of the WWAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place.
   
   
3. Connect the black antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "aux" (black triangle) and connect the white antenna cable with a gray stripe to the connector labeled "main" (white triangle).
   
   
4. Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.
   
   
5. Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws.
   
   

WPAN Card

NOTICE: The connectors are keyed to ensure correct insertion. If you feel resistance, check the connectors on the card and on the system board, and realign the card.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the WPAN card, never place cables under the card.

1. Insert the WPAN card connector at a 45-degree angle into the system board connector labeled "WPAN".
   
   
2. Press the other end of the WPAN card down into the securing tabs until the card clicks into place.
   
   
3. Connect the blue antenna cable to the WPAN card.
   
   
4. Secure unused antenna cables in the protective mylar sleeve.
   
   
5. Replace the cover and tighten the captive screws.
   
   

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