t42p wireless upgrade

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JLoft · #1 Post by **JLoft** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:54 pm

My question is on upgrading the wireless. I just got a T42p-96C (with XP Pro). Nice machine, but it has the Cisco b wireless card (driver ver 3.8.26.00). I’ve had lots of dropout problems in my house. It just goes from almost 100% to nothing, then mysteriously comes back in a few minutes. Maybe there are some solutions to get better response? Or I’m thinking just to upgrade to the Atheros b/g, correct?

I think I’ve read all the threads on the Atheros. But there does not seem to be one complete upgrade menu to follow. I want to avoid the Fn+F5 problem, 1802 workaround, and any other problems.

So here is what I think are the steps. Please help with critiquing this and offering suggestions. Hopefully I remember all I read.

1. Buy an Atheros card. This one seems recommended:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Lenovo-Thinkpad ... 0181699391

Same seller has this one too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-MiniPC ... 0182024337

Or is this one the same or better (save $8):
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Atheros-a-b-g-m ... 0189682255

Or even a different one (better one?).

2. Download the driver. Is this the right one? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67214
Or is it this one:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52527

3. Disable antivirus (In my case Norton Antivirus / Norton Internet Security)
4. Upgrade the BIOS.
5. Remove Access Connections (ver 3.53 now). Use Add/Remove Programs?
6. Reboot
7. Update Hotkey Features to latest version (1.22.0512 or later?).
8. Replace the Cisco card with the Atheros. Where are the instructions for the 15” display?
9. Power up.
10. Ignore the install driver message?
11. Reload Access Connections (what ver? 4.11 or later?). Or do you do this after loading the driver?
12. Use the driver loader to install the driver.

So how close is this?? Suggestions??

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:35 am

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67214

with

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Lenovo-Thinkpad ... 0181699391

I'd also update the BIOS. The rest sounds like you are on the right track.

JLoft · #3 Post by **JLoft** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:43 pm

OK, will do that combo. Is the Atheros really a 100mW card? On my last laptop (600E), I changed from the Cisco PCMCIA 40mW 350 card to the same 350 with 100mW and it made a big difference.

sugo · #4 Post by **sugo** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:47 pm

I have used 3 different Atheros cards. They were all capable of 100mW trasmit power.

closersource · #5 Post by **closersource** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:23 pm

I have been looking at the same two ABG auctions. I want to upgrade a few T42 2378-FVU to Atheros cards, but have hesitated with the 1802 problems.

The machines in question are all updated to the latest IBM official BIOS revisions, and after collecting some feedback from the cheaper seller's buyers it seems that the card does work without any type of workaround with T4x models. As for X3x models they experience the 1802 error.

What is interesting is that the cheaper seller's card seems to be a newer revision of the Atheros ABG card. Perhaps this is the Thikpad ABG versus Thikpad ABG II card difference? The difference seems to be apparent when you notice the FRU numbers between the two sellers.

Either way let's keep this topic running and I hope the combination works for you.

#6 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:38 pm

I have used the seller 'Dragon on the Edge' (linked to their auction above) many times for WIFI cards, and their compatibility claims are 100% accurate.
I did buy one of their cards for an X31. No hack required.

closersource · #7 Post by **closersource** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:29 pm

The survey I took was referring to the other buyer mentioned. The card offered by that seller may be a newer revision of the Thinkpad ABG II card with a 2005/10 manufacturing date. The fact that it is 15$ cheaper makes me want to buy that more. As for the X31 compatible card mentioned by the previous poster it is a Thinkpad ABG I card (as the FRU indicates.) I think I might want to try the cheaper option, as why pay more for the same thing?

#8 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:03 pm

I'd prefer to deal with a known seller who backs their products. A few dollars more is worth it to me for an IBM FRU that is known to be compatible. YMMV.

closersource · #9 Post by **closersource** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:29 am

That's very true and I hope the OP can get back to us to tell the result of the combination. And specifically if ,

the wireless lights correctly light up
the radio can be disabled and enabled properly through windows
and if the Fn+F5 combination works

JLoft · #10 Post by **JLoft** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:33 pm

closersource wrote:That's very true and I hope the OP can get back to us to tell the result of the combination. And specifically if ,

the wireless lights correctly light up
the radio can be disabled and enabled properly through windows
and if the Fn+F5 combination works

Will update as soon as I can (three relatives with a total of 21 of the last 22 days in the hospital makes for late hours with a computer). I know the wireless card is in the mail.

But on the other answer about the 100mW.... It sounds like you have to set it to 100mW?? I just had assumed that it was a fixed power.

sugo · #11 Post by **sugo** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:24 pm

JLoft wrote:But on the other answer about the 100mW.... It sounds like you have to set it to 100mW?? I just had assumed that it was a fixed power.

With Atheros Client Utility (ACU) you can make profiles that limit the max transmit power. Without ACU you can change the transmit power setting in driver properties.

JLoft · #12 Post by **JLoft** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:42 pm

Thanks for the input everyone. I have the new wireless card up and running great. Here is a summary of what I did in hopes that someone else might benefit.

Remember that my project was to upgrade the Cisco ‘b’ only wireless card in my newly acquired (purchased used) T42p-C96 to the b/g Atheros card.

I purchased the Atheros card on ebay from ‘dragon_on_the_edge’ (delivered promptly). The description is:
IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad Mini PCI Atheros 802.11 a/b/g IH.
The part number is 39T0081.

The driver I used is this one at the Lenovo web site called ThinkPad Wireless LAN (11a/b/g) ver. 4.1.2.156
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67214

Here are the steps I followed:

1. Updated to the latest BIOS.
2. Reboot.
3. Download the new Atheros driver, latest Access Connections, and latest Hotkey Features from the Lenovo web site. Note where you put them all.
4. Uninstall Access Connections using Add/Remove programs in Control Panel.
5. Reboot.
6. Uninstall the Cisco wireless driver using the Device Manager.
7. Reboot.
8. Ignore the New Hardware Found message.
9. Uninstall Hotkey Features. Use the Hotkey installer and select the Uninstall option. Select all the items on the list.
10. Reboot.
11. Ignore the New Hardware Found message.
12. Power off.
13. Replace the wireless card. I used the Hardware Maintenance manual for a guide.
14. Power up.
15. Ignore the New Hardware Found message.
16. Install Hotkey Features.
17. Reboot.
18. Ignore the New Hardware Found message.
19. Install the Atheros driver using the installer provided.
20. Reboot.
21. Install Access Connections.
22. Reboot.

Access Connections found my home network and connected without trouble. I have 100% signal strength all over my house and no dropouts so far. Fn+F5 works fine. No 1802 install problem.

Thanks again. I’m now cruising at 54 Mbps (fast enough for me).

#13 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:16 pm

t42p wireless upgrade

t42p wireless upgrade

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