- July
- 27th
- 2008
Eee PC upgrade : 802.11n wifi module
Posted by MaEl in: Bits-and-Bytes, Do-it-Yourself Comments
My broadband router support the latest Draft N(802.11n) standard but the default Mini PCIe-WIFI card on Eee PC only support 802.11b/g. The 54Mpbs is ok but sometime I need a greater speed especially to transfer files. To make full use the technology and availability, I decided to upgrade my Eee PC wifi to support the 802.11n standard. I found cheap Intel 4965 AGN Mini PCI-e WIFI card in local auction site.
Above: AzureWave AR5BXB63
Below: Intel WLAN 4965 AGN
Cost
Intel WLAN 4965 AGN : JPY 1,550
Shipping : JPY 1,050
Tax : JPY 315
Total Cost: JPY 2,915
shipping + tax, cost nearly same as the card. Assembling the card was a very easy task. The hardest part was to disassemble the Eee PC. To many screw to be unscrewed. I managed to broke the default thermal pads which later be replaced by Artic Silver 5 thermal compound.
The 3rd antenna still missing
Forgot to buy the 3rd antenna 
At first the connection stays at 54Mbps even thought the 802.11n is being enabled. Why?? because the missing antenna?? No. Later I found out the cause on Intel support site:
Data rate will not exceed 54 Mbps when WEP or TKIP encryption is configured
144Mbps fits for now.
I change the encryption to AES and finally it worked but only 144Mbps.
Some info says that Intel 4965 AGN 802.11gn(2.4Ghz) only MAX to 144Mbps. 300Mbps is only for 802.11an(5Ghz).
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