Installing Wireless

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chomp · #1 Post by **chomp** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:10 pm

I just got a T40 (2373) and realized it didnt come with wireless - so I was going to install it myself with the 2200BG at http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... logId=-840
I've never done this before... Do I need to buy anything else, like an antenna or anything, or will the card itself be sufficient? Thanks,

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:28 pm

You need to find out if your T40 is wireless-upgradeable (meaning the antennae are built-in). If so, you just need the mini-PCI card. Some of us here recommend the IBM 11 a/b/g card rather than the Intel 2200. The IBM card is better (works better, no drop outs, works with all modes including WPA and SSID broadcasting turned off) than the Intel card.

However, pick your own card by all means. Then get the hardware guide for your T40 because you need to remove the palm rest as well as the keyboard. Not hard, but it is best to have the hardware guide and work carefully.
... JD Hurst

lvlolvlo · #3 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:52 pm

jdhurst wrote:The IBM card is better (works better, no drop outs, works with all modes including WPA and SSID broadcasting turned off) than the Intel card.

My 2200BG works fine on my t40, and coincidently I have WPA on and SSID hidden

chomp · #4 Post by **chomp** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:55 am

thanks for the help.
how do i find out if its wireless upgradeable? do i have to call ibm or is it something i can look for on the computer?
and if its not, is there no option for minipci?
thanks

DrSmile · #5 Post by **DrSmile** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:58 am

My 2373 s pretty old and it came with the antenna. I didn't think any came without them.

I also have the older a/b/g card and use it with no SSID and with WPA-PSK without problems. Access connections doesn't always find a new network un-hibernating but aside from that it's rock solid.

skanky · #6 Post by **skanky** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:20 am

afaik, anything from a T30 onwards are "wireless upgradeable" meaning the antenna is there, just need to isntall a card.

JHEM · #7 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:27 am

ALL T4X machines come with the WiFi antennae installed from the factory.

Here's the video for how to install the WiFi card: http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-51462

Regards,

James

#8 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:48 am

lvlolvlo wrote:
jdhurst wrote:The IBM card is better (works better, no drop outs, works with all modes including WPA and SSID broadcasting turned off) than the Intel card.
My 2200BG works fine on my t40, and coincidently I have WPA on and SSID hidden

I did the 2200BG for a client at one driver revision back from the current driver and one or two revisions back on Access Connections. I could not get it to work if I turned off SSID broadcasting. I never had a chance to upgrade the driver or Access Connections on that client machine, so perhaps the 2200BG is OK now. I still like the IBM card - it just works flawlessly for me and has done so since I installed it some months back. ... JD Hurst

sktn77a · #9 Post by **sktn77a** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:06 pm

Check to see if you need a BIOS upgrade to use the newer PCMCIA cards. I believe this is necessary for the a/b/g card (and maybe others) to work on older T40s.

chomp · #10 Post by **chomp** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:27 pm

a few more questions:
these seem the same but one is more expensive than the other.. is there a good reason?

73P4301
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... lCurrId=73

31P9701
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/store ... &storeId=1

JohnDrake · #11 Post by **JohnDrake** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:51 am

Most people have trouble with the Intel based wireless cards (2100 and 2200) because they forget to install the Sebring API buried in the driver install package.

This can be avoided by using the 30MB version of Access Connections, which will automatically update everything needed for wireless communications (if the system is not using a native Cisco adapter)

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4ZLNJB

Installing Wireless

Installing Wireless

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