TP Wifi a/b/g Mini-PCI Adaptors Difference

[treker]

Confused. As usual. I am tired of intermittent timed out wifi with my Intel 2200. Reloads, uninstalls, updates, following the guidance of the many posts here, etc, etc, I still do not get rock solid connections with my home Dlink 524 access point. So, I am going to try IBM's.

On their website, I see TWO a/b/g mini-pci adaptors for my T42 2378FVU.
31P9701 $89.10
http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=8657707

73P4301 $65.00 http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Id=8770176

The latter one just says must be wifi upgradeable. Well, I have the Intel wifi card now, so this should work.

What's the difference between the two Thinkpad a/b/g cards? Why should I get the more expensive card?

[wireless4laptop]

The card not supporting the extended channels (12+13) is called IBM 802.11abg Type II(Atheros 5213A). Retail price is $65.00. 31P9701(93P7301) supports all channels(Atheros 5212). We sell it as $55.00USD. Both cards support 108M super G.

[halfcard]

have you looked on ebay

[treker]

Thank You halfcard for the suggestion.
I found an OEM Atheros a/b/g card on ebay for $26.50 shipped. Seemed to have the same specs as the IBM 31P9701 $89.10 plus $8 tax free ship.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Atheros-802-11-A-B- ... dZViewItem

I hope it works For $70 less than IBM, I will give it a try.

Update... With the generic Intel drivers 9.0.3.9 dated 9/12/05 (deleted Access Connection and Intel managing my network) seems to be staying up okay. So far...

NOPE...worked great at 54mb excellent signal for a long while, then navigating to google.com and it just timed out. Wouldn't find any site. Then a minute later, sites are just banging in again, fast. This is crazy.

[DIGITALgimpus]

It may not work.

IBM hardcodes the ones that work in the BIOS (there's a discussion about this somewhere). Not sure if it will recognize an OEM version as being the same as an IBM branded one.

[wireless4laptop]

The items on ebay use AR5001X. which is Atheros 5212 chipset. Same with 93P7301. You can use it on T40-T42 by carcking 1802 wrong code. But please note that: you cannot use Fn+F5 and LED light. (someone can use F+F5 by a software, but LED problem is still holding.)

[treker]

Update: Reloaded WXPP with the generic Intel drivers 9.0.3.9 dated 9/12/05 installed, went online and got all the latest drivers from Lenovo site using TP Software Installer. Did NOT get Intel 2200b/g wireless or TP Access Connections. T42 is working just great now. No intermittent stalls. Surfing is FAST. I note that Byron also had some problems with his Intel 2200 also and reloaded Windows.

I am a happy camper now. Don't need the Atheros card from Ebay afterall.

[daeojkim]

Good to hear that everything worked out. I also have a FVU and never had problems with wireless connections so it looks like most of the times the problem lies on the drivers.

[stangri]

It may not work.

IBM hardcodes the ones that work in the BIOS (there's a discussion about this somewhere). Not sure if it will recognize an OEM version as being the same as an IBM branded one.

There's a way to hack the Intel 2915 to report a different model (sub-vendor) code so that even non-1802 patched BIOS will take it. The LED wouldn't work tho, haven't manager that yet.

[treker]

Update: Still getting less than stellar consistent surfing. Radio stays connected 100%...just normally good/fast sites will time out. Then a minute later...boom...they load fast. PC can run a day or two surfing perfectly. Then it will have a day of intermittent surfing. Getting 100% signal...all bars...54mbs...latest Lenovo drivers.

YUP...the OEM Atheros mini pc card did NOT work. BIOS locked it out. Darn IBM. Put the Intel 2200 card back in and everything seems to be working...for now...see above. Anybody want an OEM card cheap?