Mini PCI card for T41p.

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dc81 · #1 Post by **dc81** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:47 pm

I recently purchased a wireless router unfortunately my computer wireless card only has 802.11b, my wireless connection allows me to have a 802.11g connection. Where can I purchase one, I found some on Lenovo.com, but is that my only option?

On a side note, 802.11b is supposed to be 11 Mbps, but it often goes down to 5.5 Mbps, and I am sitting right next to the router. Does anyone knows what causes this?

Sloba · #2 Post by **Sloba** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:34 am

deleted

Sloba · #3 Post by **Sloba** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:37 am

1. my absolute recommendation
http://cgi.ebay.com/ThinkPad-a-b-g-Wire ... dZViewItem

2. the rason is power managament/adaptive speed, similar to speedstep for CPUs

dc81 · #4 Post by **dc81** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:46 pm

Thanks Sloba, I ended up playing with some of the settings and it appears to have solved the issue of speed.

And also I went to Ebay and purchased a b/g card for $21 shipped.

Are these typically pretty easy to install?

Thanks,

Sloba · #5 Post by **Sloba** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:23 pm

You are more than welcome.
You have found a great deal for wifi card! Excellent choice.

Yes, it is pretty straight-forward. Just follow the instructions and keep a record of screws and you will be fine.

Regards

dc81 · #6 Post by **dc81** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:24 pm

The issue with the speed that I thought was fixed, is not. I have a WRT54G, and an Intel Pro Wireless LAN 2100 3B card and it keeps on cutting out. On startup it seems to work fine, then after a few minutes the speed goes down to 5.5 Mbps, then shortly after it disconnects. I was considering taking the router back and exchanging for a different model. Any recommendations or solutions to my problem?

This is the card that I bought from Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/11G-IBM-ThinkPad-Wi ... dZViewItem

Anybody have any negative experiences from this card?

Thanks,
Dan

coreman · #7 Post by **coreman** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:57 am

I experienced the very same problem with the same router...thought it was my laptop for a while.

However after I changed to Netgear Rangemax 240 router, I've never looked back...

Just recently I came across some articles on 3rd party firmware for WRT54Gs that claim better performance, as well as fixing some connection issues...here is just one of many articles on this subject, probably not the best but should give you some idea.

Good thing about this is if it doesn't work, you can easily revert to the factory firmware...

Love to hear if this fixes the problem!!

Brad · #8 Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:14 am

Dan,

I would try a new or different router before you do anything else like CM says he has seen this before and I have too....

Brad

#9 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:18 am

That card was made by Gemtek, and was a draft-G, not a full G card.
http://www.gemtek.com.tw/pro_wl850f.htm
In it's days it was probably very good, but it misses the important WPA encryption, it's 'only' WEP.

Sparklan make an almost identically-named WL-850R card, which does have full G and WPA as well.
http://sparklan.com/product_details.php?prod_id=27

I have no experience with either though.

dc81 · #10 Post by **dc81** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:39 pm

So if WEP encryption is sufficient for me, the card will work fine? Is 802.11g draft compatible with current 802.11g wireless routers? (I hope the answer is yes.)

dc81 · #11 Post by **dc81** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:55 pm

Small update, I purchased a Netgear WGR614 Router and so far no problems. My mini pci card still didn't come in yet so I don't know how that will work.

dc81 · #12 Post by **dc81** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:37 am

I received my mini-pci card, and I got that much heard about 1802 error. After looking through the site, I found the no-1802 fix, but isn't that only for cards with the Atheros chipset? I have an Intersil chipset. What can I do?

#13 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:58 am

Draft-g should be mostly (if not fully, depends on brand/mfg. date compared to when full-G came out) compatible.
For web-browsing and email you would not notice any difference, regardless. Only if you want to transfer large files over your network MIGHT you see some lag.

The 1802-fix can be applied to any laptop that has the error, it just changes one bit in your BIOS and has no influence on performance. Be happy you don't have the 01c9-error.

dc81 · #14 Post by **dc81** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:12 am

This is what one of the post said:

Linux live CD to remove the 1802 and 01C9 POST errors

For information on the problem, read this thread first. Instead of many "thank you" replies, please show your appreciation by contributing to the Thinkwiki, for example by expanding the list of Thinkpads affected by the 01C9 error. Here is the link. Problem/Bug discussion as well as detailed success reports (PCI ID's of cards, Thinkpad models) are welcome.
Massive credit goes to all contributors to this project: LtTPfan with his constant support, Borg Number One, Vojtech Pavlek for the Linux no-1802, mjg59 for his website, Paul Sladen for tons of helpful information and suggestions and most of all wulu, who created the current code and put it all together on this live CD.

--> This patch does not change the way your card is recognized by the operating system or drivers. You do not need to uninstall your card drivers before applying it.

DISCLAIMER: This software was designed FOR ATHEROS CARDS ONLY. It has undergone only minimal beta testing and can harm your computer. The authors are in no way to be held liable for any damage caused by this program. There is no warranty given, either express or implied for any fitness for any kind of purpose. YOU AGREE TO USE THIS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Download here (~4 MB).

Usage
1. If you want to use this to remove the 1802 error, do not install your Atheros card yet.
2. Burn the ISO to a CD or DVD. Make sure to open the image instead of burning it as a regular file on the disc.
3. Boot from the CD.
4. If you choose to remove the 1802 error, do so and reboot with Ctrl-Alt-Del.
5. If not already present, install the Atheros card now and boot from the CD.
6. Choose not to apply the no-1802.
7. Select your Atheros card from the list. MAKE SURE IT'S THE CORRECT ONE, a wrong selection may cause damage!
8. Shut down by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del, turn the machine off and on.

It specifically says "Make sure it is an atheros card".

Any more info on this?

#15 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:24 am

Perhaps someone else can confirm, that the 1802 patch is universal, and the 01c9 specifically only for Atheros?

Just in case, get the latest BIOS for your TP and apply it. Should the 1802-patch cause a mis-function, just re-apply the BIOS and you are back in business. There should be no problem though.
I put my Intel card in my TP23 after I had it 1802-patched for my Atheros, and I did not re-apply the BIOS (because I forgot initially, I re-did it afterwards).

dc81 · #16 Post by **dc81** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:53 pm

I think I misunderstood the instructions steps 1-4 are for the 1802 error, and 5-8 are for the 01c9 error. I will try it when I get home. Wish me luck.

#17 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:49 pm

Well, you asked for it: 'Best of Irish'!

dc81 · #18 Post by **dc81** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:15 am

The card is up and running. Aside from receiving incorrect drivers and having to go and find the correct ones online, it works.

#19 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:07 pm

Hurray!

dc81 · #20 Post by **dc81** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:12 pm

Is there any way to use the Thinkpads Wireless Connection interface? Or is that only usable with IBM Branded cards? Right now I am forced to use the one that came with the card. I just thought it was kind of cool having the integrated Thinkpad interface.

Mini PCI card for T41p.

Mini PCI card for T41p.

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