Toshiba a75-s209 Laptop Wireless

J

jw

Anyone know where I can buy what I need to make my new toy - a Toshiba
a75-s209 Laptop - Wireless? I have found what look to me to be USB
adapters to do that, but i don't want to sacrifice a USB port. There
should be one that connects in a compartment in the case bottom.

Thanks

Duke
 
1

123Jim

J

jw

There's a wireless antenna on/off button on the right hand side of your
laptop ..
http://www.fixya.com/support/p264377-toshiba_satellite_a75_s209_pc_notebook/manual-14833

turn it on?


Oh yeh

There is a compartment on the bottom that has two unconnected wires
which I presume would connect to a wireless module or whatever it
would be called. I was thinking that is what I need. Am I wrong?

I have a diagram I downloaded that shows the compartment cover to be a
'optional wireless module cover'. Since there is an on off switch on
the side, I figure I just need a module.

Thanks

Duke
 
J

jw

Since I cannot find a wireless module for my Toshiba a75-s209 laptop,
I am wondering if a so-called wireless LAN USB adapter will work?
Yes, I do have and am now using a wireless router (with this desktop).

Thanks

Duke
 
1

123Jim

Since I cannot find a wireless module for my Toshiba a75-s209 laptop,
I am wondering if a so-called wireless LAN USB adapter will work?
Yes, I do have and am now using a wireless router (with this desktop).

I think you need a Mini PCI Wireless card or an Express Mini PCI wireless
card.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MiniPCI_and_MiniPCI_Express_cards.jpg

Parent article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express_Mini_Card#PCI_Express_Mini_Card

Trouble is I was unable to find the exact details of your laptop's PCI WIFI
slot.

Here's what I found at amazon uk

Express Mini PCI wireless card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-WiFi-..._1_cc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1291238072&sr=1-2-catcorr

Mini PCI Wireless card
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Broadcom-BC..._1_cc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291238072&sr=1-3-catcorr
 
G

GlowingBlueMist

Oh yeh

There is a compartment on the bottom that has two unconnected wires
which I presume would connect to a wireless module or whatever it
would be called. I was thinking that is what I need. Am I wrong?

I have a diagram I downloaded that shows the compartment cover to be a
'optional wireless module cover'. Since there is an on off switch on
the side, I figure I just need a module.

Thanks

Duke
You should be able to find a compatible card at the following URL.
http://www.thefind.com/query.php?query=ATHEROS+wifi+card+a75-s209
 
P

Paul

Oh yeh

There is a compartment on the bottom that has two unconnected wires
which I presume would connect to a wireless module or whatever it
would be called. I was thinking that is what I need. Am I wrong?

I have a diagram I downloaded that shows the compartment cover to be a
'optional wireless module cover'. Since there is an on off switch on
the side, I figure I just need a module.

Thanks

Duke

Did you try a search on

Toshiba a75-s209 wireless

You can find a module that way.

Toshiba PA3373U-1MPC 802.11B/G Internal Mini PCI card
http://www.impactcomputers.com/pa3373u-1mpc.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/impactcomputersmiami_2129_3078391688

Or, you could go to the Toshiba site itself, and see if they
list a part number, then search for that part number.

The connectors at the top, are pretty tiny.

*******

Probably a lot of different modules would work. Some modules,
would have more antenna connectors, than you have antennas. In
the above example, the module has two connectors, and your
laptop has two antenna wires, so they match in that respect.

Modules also have different electrical interfaces. Mini PCI is
one type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_PCI#Mini_PCI

Mini PCI Express card is the other type. The two are compared
in this picture. These are different enough, that you won't
get them mixed up. Mini PCI Express is smaller.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/MiniPCI_and_MiniPCI_Express_cards.jpg

Paul
 
J

jw

Did you try a search on

Toshiba a75-s209 wireless

You can find a module that way.

Yes I did. And variations thereof.
Guess I didn't know exactly what I was looking for.

This one looks like what would want. As I look around using the term
wireless card I see a bewilderment of various cards. Clearly I have
to be careful to choose one that fits my Satellite A75-S209 which your
suggestion says it does. So I think I will simply look a little more
at the specs and order it.
Or, you could go to the Toshiba site itself, and see if they
list a part number, then search for that part number.

I did not see a part number on the Toshiba site.
The connectors at the top, are pretty tiny.

Indeed they are.
*******

Probably a lot of different modules would work. Some modules,
would have more antenna connectors, than you have antennas. In
the above example, the module has two connectors, and your
laptop has two antenna wires, so they match in that respect.

Yes I saw the two wires. Someone had removed the care I think.
Modules also have different electrical interfaces. Mini PCI is
one type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_PCI#Mini_PCI

Mini PCI Express card is the other type. The two are compared
in this picture. These are different enough, that you won't
get them mixed up. Mini PCI Express is smaller.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/MiniPCI_and_MiniPCI_Express_cards.jpg

No idea which card my laptop came with. They appear to be
incompatible to me. I'll have to open up the compartment again to
study the contacts (slot). Got a feeling it is the first though.

Thanks again. You're one of the good guys Paul.

Duke
 
J

jw

No idea which card my laptop came with. They appear to be
incompatible to me. I'll have to open up the compartment again to
study the contacts (slot). Got a feeling it is the first though.

Thanks again. You're one of the good guys Paul.

Duke

I took another look in the compartment for all this. I am more
confused now, but I suppose reading on my part will make things
clearer.

Paul - In the meantime I am sending you what I see just in case you
can or care to suggest anything to keep me out of trouble:

1) The compartment is 5"W X 3"L overall. its cover is labeled 'memory
and optional wireless module cover' (in the pdf manual).

2) In the compartment there is a card plugged in on the right that is:
a) 1.5"W X 2.5"L
b) It has two wires dangling from it
c) It has a chip labeled ATHEROS AR5213A-00
d) I guess it could be RAM, because I can't find RAM elsewhere and
of course the cover specifies memory. OTOH, Google doesn't
tell me that.

3) On the left side of the compartment there is room for a 2 1/2"W X 1
1/2"L card:
a) It has adjacent sockets 2" and 1/2" to plug a card into
b) There are some stickers in there:
104147 2500588 (BARCODE)
EDW 10 17 (BARCODE)
46129 151017 (BARCODE)
MFG 437

4) On the outside of the case near the compartment, I see these
BARCODE stickers:
WIRELESS LAN 009096-F6A679
LAN MAC 00023FD87639
1041753101313

Thanks

Duke
 
P

Paul

I took another look in the compartment for all this. I am more
confused now, but I suppose reading on my part will make things
clearer.

Paul - In the meantime I am sending you what I see just in case you
can or care to suggest anything to keep me out of trouble:

1) The compartment is 5"W X 3"L overall. its cover is labeled 'memory
and optional wireless module cover' (in the pdf manual).

2) In the compartment there is a card plugged in on the right that is:
a) 1.5"W X 2.5"L
b) It has two wires dangling from it
c) It has a chip labeled ATHEROS AR5213A-00
d) I guess it could be RAM, because I can't find RAM elsewhere and
of course the cover specifies memory. OTOH, Google doesn't
tell me that.

3) On the left side of the compartment there is room for a 2 1/2"W X 1
1/2"L card:
a) It has adjacent sockets 2" and 1/2" to plug a card into
b) There are some stickers in there:
104147 2500588 (BARCODE)
EDW 10 17 (BARCODE)
46129 151017 (BARCODE)
MFG 437

4) On the outside of the case near the compartment, I see these
BARCODE stickers:
WIRELESS LAN 009096-F6A679
LAN MAC 00023FD87639
1041753101313

Thanks

Duke

Atheros makes Wifi gear.

There are some pictures in this disassembly article.

( http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/satA75_1.htm )

In picture 2, there is a metal brace, over top of a wireless card.
That could be the Atheros underneath there.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_02.jpg

And this is the picture, with the metal brace removed, and the mini-PCI Wifi
module unplugged. You can see one antenna wire loose in the picture.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_03.jpg

The RAM is to the left of the metal brace, and is a module with multiple
chips on it.

*******

Did you look for an Atheros driver on the Toshiba site ?

There are two ways to run Wifi. A "basic" driver, plus Windows "wireless
zero config". Or a "full" driver, which includes a manufacturer specific
management layer.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...S209&selCategory=2756709&selFamily=1073768663

You would think the Atheros driver would already be installed on your
laptop - assuming it came with the module installed. I see a driver
labeled...

"Atheros 802.11a/g Wireless LAN Driver for Windows XP(v3.1.2.45; 01-17-2005; 2.01M)"

That one could be the basic driver. I can't look inside it, because it is
InstallShield. I'd have to fire up Wine in Linux, to take that one apart
for a look.

This file is a lot bigger. This might be the equivalent of Wireless Zero
Config, for managing the Wifi.

"Toshiba ConfigFree Utility for Windows XP/SP2(v4.90.57; 09-01-2004; 23.59M)"

ConfigFree

Overview

ConfigFree is a set of utilities for configuring your network. ConfigFree
contains the following utilities.

* Search for Wireless Devices
* Connectivity Doctor
* Devices
* Profiles
* Quick Connect

So that one looks like it goes "on top" of the Atheros package. You'd install
that one second, and presumably it's intended to take the place of Wireless
Zero Config.

They also have a diagnostic tool. Maybe that can tell you whether the
Wifi module is working, or answering to probes etc.

"Toshiba PC Diagnostic Tool for Windows XP/2000"

HTH,
Paul
 
J

jw

Atheros makes Wifi gear.

(clip)

Paul - before I read and act on your quick and detailed response for
which I thank you - I need to tell you something.

If you remember, originally I said there was a wireless on/off slide
switch on the side of the laptop and that it seemed to do nothing.
Well - just now I removed the card from the compartment and glared at
it and reseated it in the compartment slots. Lo, now the switch
lights a little led which says I guess that it is working.

It produced a new wireless icon in control panel. However I still
have no Internet connection (my cat5 is disconnected). I tried to
create one to no avail.

Duke
 
P

Paul

(clip)

Paul - before I read and act on your quick and detailed response for
which I thank you - I need to tell you something.

If you remember, originally I said there was a wireless on/off slide
switch on the side of the laptop and that it seemed to do nothing.
Well - just now I removed the card from the compartment and glared at
it and reseated it in the compartment slots. Lo, now the switch
lights a little led which says I guess that it is working.

It produced a new wireless icon in control panel. However I still
have no Internet connection (my cat5 is disconnected). I tried to
create one to no avail.

Duke

What does the Toshiba ConfigFree utility say ? It's supposed to
help you with Wifi setup. Since you have a Wifi icon,
I'm guessing that implies the basic driver is present.

Look in Device Manager as well, just to verify it is present
and the driver is OK. You can use Start : Run and "devmgmt.msc"
as one way to get there.

Paul
 
J

jw

What does the Toshiba ConfigFree utility say ? It's supposed to
help you with Wifi setup. Since you have a Wifi icon,
I'm guessing that implies the basic driver is present.

I downloaded it and tried to install it on the laptop but it failed to
install because of a problem installing a required Microsoft Network
module. Apparently a MS download failed. The laptop has XP SP3
running. So I can't answer your question.
Look in Device Manager as well, just to verify it is present
and the driver is OK. You can use Start : Run and "devmgmt.msc"
as one way to get there.

A Ethernet Controller is flagged yellow.


Duke
 
P

Paul

I downloaded it and tried to install it on the laptop but it failed to
install because of a problem installing a required Microsoft Network
module. Apparently a MS download failed. The laptop has XP SP3
running. So I can't answer your question.


A Ethernet Controller is flagged yellow.


Duke

Isn't the Toshiba ConfigFree already installed on the computer ?

The Ethernet controller, could be for your wired connection. I
wouldn't expect that to affect your Wifi problem.

On the third page of the Toshiba downloads, I see this one.

"Realtek Ethernet LAN Driver for Windows XP/2000(v5.606.811.2003; 02-25-2004; 1.99M)"

That could be the driver for the Ethernet interface.

And if you can't get ConfigFree to run, you can always try
Wireless Zero Config. Perhaps some of the links near
the bottom of this article will help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Zero_Configuration

Paul
 
J

jw

What does the Toshiba ConfigFree utility say ? It's supposed to
help you with Wifi setup. Since you have a Wifi icon,
I'm guessing that implies the basic driver is present.

Look in Device Manager as well, just to verify it is present
and the driver is OK. You can use Start : Run and "devmgmt.msc"
as one way to get there.

Paul


All is good now Paul. The Duke household is happy.
I needed to install the latest driver(s) to make the wireless work.
Thanks loads

Duke
 
J

jw

All is good now Paul. The Duke household is happy.
I needed to install the latest driver(s) to make the wireless work.
Thanks loads

Duke


Hey Paul

What would the two wires dangling from the wireless module be for?
They actually shorted the board and caused the laptop to power off.
At least I think that's what happened. I secured the wires a bit and
it has not happened again.

Duke
 
P

Paul

Hey Paul

What would the two wires dangling from the wireless module be for?
They actually shorted the board and caused the laptop to power off.
At least I think that's what happened. I secured the wires a bit and
it has not happened again.

Duke

I don't see any wires on this module. Is this similar to the one
you've got ? At least it's got an Atheros chip on it. All I see
here, is the two antenna connectors in the upper right.

http://i.ebayimg.com/04/!BiykW9g!mk~$(KGrHqUH-D8Esf4V+ZsiBLQvoqFBYg~~_12.JPG

It sounds like the wires might have been connected to power ?

When I look at the taped wires (one white and one black) here, they
sort of line up with the antenna connectors.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_02.jpg

Where do the wires go ?

Paul
 
J

jw

I don't see any wires on this module. Is this similar to the one
you've got ? At least it's got an Atheros chip on it. All I see
here, is the two antenna connectors in the upper right.

http://i.ebayimg.com/04/!BiykW9g!mk~$(KGrHqUH-D8Esf4V+ZsiBLQvoqFBYg~~_12.JPG

This link does not work at all for me. I get an error.
It sounds like the wires might have been connected to power ?

When I look at the taped wires (one white and one black) here, they
sort of line up with the antenna connectors.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_02.jpg

This link works.
Where do the wires go ?

In my case, the wires are also black and white wrapped in a little
black tape. As I look closer the wires do not connect to the card we
have been discussing at all. Instead they go under to case in the
upper left of that side of the compartment, presumable to connect with
the mobo maybe? The wires seem to go through a hold in the mobo to
connect maybe with the underside? If I fold them and lay them flat
they would resemble the wires in the picture almost 100%. My wires
have stripped ends, so no wonder they shorted out my laptop. I still
feel they were connected to something, now removed, tho I know not
what. They are taped protectively now.

The picture does show another card on the left side of the
compartment. I do not have that at all, and have to wonder what it
is. Another wireless card? If so why? More range?

I thank you again Paul.

Duke
 
P

Paul

This link works.


In my case, the wires are also black and white wrapped in a little
black tape. As I look closer the wires do not connect to the card we
have been discussing at all. Instead they go under to case in the
upper left of that side of the compartment, presumable to connect with
the mobo maybe? The wires seem to go through a hold in the mobo to
connect maybe with the underside? If I fold them and lay them flat
they would resemble the wires in the picture almost 100%. My wires
have stripped ends, so no wonder they shorted out my laptop. I still
feel they were connected to something, now removed, tho I know not
what. They are taped protectively now.

The picture does show another card on the left side of the
compartment. I do not have that at all, and have to wonder what it
is. Another wireless card? If so why? More range?

I thank you again Paul.

Duke

In the picture here, I see the wires, and they seem to stop, over top
of the RAM chips on the left. like there was, perhaps, a thermal sensor taped
to the RAM module or something.

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_03.jpg

If you look at this picture, of a laptop motherboard, you can see roughly where
some yellow tape is located. There seems to be a three pin connector, just
below the mini-PCI slot. (The picture below, is rotated 180 degrees with
respect to the other picture.) In this picture, it looks like some RAM chips
are soldered to the motherboard. And there is a white SODIMM connector
which allows a memory module, to be plugged in just above the soldered
memory chips. It could be, that a thermal sensor, gets taped to a
memory chip on the upper module, as a means of monitoring temperature.

http://www.laptopbattery-usa.com/images/Toshiba_A70_Motherboard.jpg

But that doesn't explain why the power went off. If isn't necessary to
put raw power connections on such a cable. They could arrange the
design a bit safer than that.

I also considered, it might be the cable belonging to a CMOS battery.
The CMOS battery, helps keep BIOS settings, and maintains the CMOS
clock, when the main battery is pulled. If you pull your main battery
right now, is clock time maintained properly ? Or does the computer
return to "1970" if you do that ?

Paul
 
J

jw

Good morning, Paul.

I am really getting confused on this.

Returning to basics -
First, this Toshiba (?Satellite?) A75-S209 functions fine except for
the fact that the wireless has no range. It works fine as long as the
laptop sits within a few feet of my router.

Second, I would suspect the range of the router (Verizon), except for
the fact that my daughter uses her laptop wirelessly here when she
visits, and she uses it on the other side of my house. So the lack of
range must be a problem with this Toshiba.

Third, the pictures you have posted clearly show a second card plugged
in on the left side of the compartment and such card is missing from
this Toshiba. Therefore I figure that the missing card may be related
to my lack of range. So - what is that card? The appearance and
dimension of the slots etc in my compartment suggest to me that the
missing card is a Mini-PCI express card. Can you post for me any
labeling on your second card?

Fourth, This Toshiba has a label on the compartment cover over the
card in the compartment that says PA3373U-1MPC. I think I understand
that this card is a wireless card. Must be, because wireless at least
works, if not with any range at all. So, why would there be two
wireless cards?

Fifth, I have the same black and white wires you have. They even go
to the mobo similarly. My wires lay disconnected and bare on the ends
whereas yours are connected it looks like to the missing card above.

In the picture here, I see the wires, and they seem to stop, over top
of the RAM chips on the left. like there was, perhaps, a thermal sensor taped
to the RAM module or something.

Maybe so.
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA75/disassembly/big/Toshiba_A75_03.jpg

If you look at this picture, of a laptop motherboard, you can see roughly where
some yellow tape is located. There seems to be a three pin connector, just
below the mini-PCI slot. (The picture below, is rotated 180 degrees with
respect to the other picture.) In this picture, it looks like some RAM chips
are soldered to the motherboard. And there is a white SODIMM connector
which allows a memory module, to be plugged in just above the soldered
memory chips. It could be, that a thermal sensor, gets taped to a
memory chip on the upper module, as a means of monitoring temperature.

http://www.laptopbattery-usa.com/images/Toshiba_A70_Motherboard.jpg

I agree.
But that doesn't explain why the power went off. If isn't necessary to
put raw power connections on such a cable. They could arrange the
design a bit safer than that.

I didn't mean to say that the bare wires shorted out the power to the
laptop. What happened was that the Toshiba locked up, and I had to
re-power up.
I also considered, it might be the cable belonging to a CMOS battery.
The CMOS battery, helps keep BIOS settings, and maintains the CMOS
clock, when the main battery is pulled. If you pull your main battery
right now, is clock time maintained properly ? Or does the computer
return to "1970" if you do that ?

I am familiar with the effect of a bad or missing CMOS battery.
I am experiencing none of those problems, so I don't think that is a
problem.

Thanks again

Duke
 

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