some questions regarding Atheros wifi adapter and FRUs

[Marin85]

Hi,
as I´m still on my search for a suitable Atheros wifi adapter for my Z61p and my future T60p to replace the Intel one, I just want to make sure that I´m looking for the right thing I did some search in the forum that strengthened my uncertainty even more So, allow me to summarize a few questions here :
1. Correct me if I´m wrong, I should be looking for an Atheros 802.11a/b/g mini PCI Express adapter and it would fit and properly work both in Z61p and T60p?
2. If so, is this wifi adapter supported under Vista (both 32 and 64bit)?
3. This card is listed by Lenovo also as ThinkPad (802.)11abg mini PCI Express adapter?
4. What FRU does this adapter have or at least where can one find this sort of information (given the ThinkPad model it´s meant for)?
(The FRU number would make my search easier )
5. Can one buy ThinkPad parts directly from Lenovo/Europe (and specifically Lenovo/Germany, I couldn´t find any link there)?

Thanks in advance! Your help is much appreciated!

Marin

[Marin85]

A small update: I answered my fifth question myself and I´m almost certain for 1.-3. . However, I still have some "issues" with finding the correct FRU number, it looks really messy, here is what I found out:
Lenovo parts information doesn´t list anything as to wireless adapters for Z61p : Z61p wlan adapters
So, supposing there should be some similarity between T60p and Z61p, I toke a small look in the T60p section: T60p wlan adapters
From what I´ve read there the Atheros 802.11a/b/g wlan mini (PCI Express adapter is "codenamed" as a ThinkPad 802.11 a/b/g wlan mini PCI Express adapter and has a FRU number 41A4071.
So, is this the FRU number I´m looking for
In a previous thread (link) Harryc linked me to the following ebay bid ebay ThinkPad Atheros that shows another FRU number (39T0499 or 39T5578) (BTW, Harryc, thanks a lot for your reply , unfortunately I´m not a big fan of ebay). I googled a bit and found that, in fact, the latter one applies to what I´m looking for (the first one seems to refer only to Z60t models), hence my confusion
Any help in that mess is highly appreciated!

Marin

(BTW, I also found multiple different FRU numbers for that part that altogether apply only to Z60t )

[bill bolton]

5. Can one buy ThinkPad parts directly from Lenovo/Europe (and specifically Lenovo/Germany, I couldn´t find any link there)?

Whether you like eBay or not, that's the easiest place to get hold an Atheros card.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-new-Atheros-3 ... m153.l1262

This one definitely works in a T60, and the seller is reliable.

Though whether you find the interference between Atheros 802.11n capable cards and Bluetooth operation acceptable is something you need to make up your own mind about.... at the end of the day I didn't.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[steveg47]

Marin85,
Thinkpad 11a/b/g Wireless Lan Mini PCI Express Adapter - P/N 40Y7026 will work perfectly in either the T60 or the Z60T and uses the Atheros chipset. I've had mine for 14+ months with not one problem and have used it in Windows XP Pro and Vista 32bit. It's available from many vendors in the US typically for less then $50.

[Marin85]

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your replies!
@ Bill Bolton: Actually I was about to go for the newly released 802.11n capable Atheros adapter, but then I did some search in the forum and it seems that I would then have to install an additional antenna to be able to fully utilize the card. That would bother me more than any interference with Blueteeth since I don´t need the latter one. As to ebay, you are certainly right, still I have to know what to buy even by ebay If I was you, I wouldn´t bother my mind with such complicated decisions, I would simply wait for a solution of the Bluetooth interference issue and use my old Atheros card till then
@steveg47: I was just about to ask about the ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless Mini PCI Express Adapter (PN 40Y7026) (this was so to say my second finding) and you answered my question Actually, I was looking for confirmation that all these Atheros adapters would work in my TP Z61p as it is my current TP (my T60p will probabely come in something like 2 months) but I guess this one would flawlessly work in my Z61p since it does in Z60t and T60(p) Besides that, it´s quite easy to obtain it here in Europa (even without ebay).

Thanks again!

Marin

[bill bolton]

I would simply wait for a solution of the Bluetooth interference issue

The solution is simple, take the Atheros card out, put an Intel card in!

Cheers,

Bill