T30 internal wireless card?

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mbh · #1 Post by **mbh** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:09 am

Hello! I am new to this board... I have just purchased a used T30, it is an 81U, and they (the IBM sales people) told me that it was "wireless upgradeable" and that the antennas are installed. However, after some searching, it looks as though the internal wireless card that IBM originally issued for it (Cisco AIRNET WL Adapter 802.11b, part #31P8301) has been discontinued (I found this on the IBM site... said they stopped selling it this time last year). There are new cards listed on the Lenovo website, but they say they are only compatable with T40 and up... is this true? Also, where can I go to find a card, or is it even worth it (since it is only 802.11b)? Very many thanks!

#2 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:27 am

I have an 81U and yes it is definately worth it. I purchased the Intel Pro 3B card from AbsoluteRaleigh.com very simple, very fast and a great wireless card at $20. Unless you have something against "b".

LtTPfan · #3 Post by **LtTPfan** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:26 am

I bought an Intel Pro 2200bg mini PCI wifi card off eBay for $9.98 shipped that I installed in my T30. I had to use the no1802 bios fix to avoid the 1802 non-compatible card error but it works perfectly on b & g systems. Had I not gotten it so cheap I would have rather gotten one of the newer super-g cards. You might search here for info on which cards are compatible if you'd rather not use the no1802 fix (a small DOS program which must be run only once).

andrey · #4 Post by **andrey** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:52 am

mbh wrote:Hello! I am new to this board... I have just purchased a used T30, it is an 81U, and they (the IBM sales people) told me that it was "wireless upgradeable" and that the antennas are installed. However, after some searching, it looks as though the internal wireless card that IBM originally issued for it (Cisco AIRNET WL Adapter 802.11b, part #31P8301) has been discontinued (I found this on the IBM site... said they stopped selling it this time last year). There are new cards listed on the Lenovo website, but they say they are only compatable with T40 and up... is this true? Also, where can I go to find a card, or is it even worth it (since it is only 802.11b)? Very many thanks!

You can use virtually any MiniPCI WiFi card you can find in your T30, you don't have to stay only with Cisco or IBM. Look on eBay and you can easily find a card for $10 or so.

-- Andrey

mbh · #5 Post by **mbh** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 7:58 pm

All -- Very many thanks for the info!!

Kyocera ---- no, nothing against 'b'... i had just run a quick search on google and it brought up cards for around $100, so i wasn't sure if the older standandard was worth it.

Guest · #6 Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 5:04 pm

With some mini PCI cards, there have been reports of an error message on boot up of "too many ethernet controllers". Do a search and they will turn up. The computer will still start and function, you just have to wait for the error to time out before the boot proceeds (1 min?).

I recently installed an Intel 2915 a/b/g card in my T30, and it works fantastically. $30 from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6833106219
I especially like the Intel ProSet program & drivers. It makes finding and selecting a network easy if you travel a lot. It also give you an icon in the system tray to allow you to easily turn the antanna on and off to save power (since there is no function key combination on the T30 to do this).

The card seems to have great range with the built in antannas. I have my access point (802.11g) in the basement and I get good signal anywhere in the house, and can pick it up all the way out in the street.

The only downside with this card is that you have to run a small bios hack to make it work (but only once). Do a search for no-1802.com.

Steve

mbh · #7 Post by **mbh** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 2:54 am

Does this BIOS patch extend the max RAM capacity as well (to 2 gigs)? Thanks!

LtTPfan · #8 Post by **LtTPfan** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:44 am

mbh wrote:Does this BIOS patch extend the max RAM capacity as well (to 2 gigs)? Thanks!

No, it just sets one bit in the CMOS that avoids the 1802 error. Updating with the latest BIOS version available from IBM will insure your machine will handle 2gb ram. I think it's unclear what earlier versions will allow 2gb so it's best to update to the latest. BTW, updating the BIOS did not overwrite the no1802 fix on mine but removing the backup battery did.

viscous · #9 Post by **viscous** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:34 pm

hey guys, I got Actiontec wireless card in my T30 type 2366-41U but the laptop is not able to find new hardware nor I have any software to install it. Can anyone help me with this????

#10 Post by **Kyocera** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:09 am

Try searching their website for support and drivers

viscous · #11 Post by **viscous** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:48 pm

Kyocera wrote:Try searching their website for support and drivers

tried but failed miserably, even tried on google. Ok what kind of card is this which is covered by a lid beside the lid which contains a ram underneath the laptop? is it PCI or what???

Website · #12 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 3:20 pm

It is a Mini-PCI slot.

rosehatten · #13 Post by **rosehatten** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:53 am

Hello all,

Is there a wireless card like the Intel 2915 abg card that also has a modem? Is it correct that installing the Intel 2915 card would replace (eliminate) the modem?

I still need to use the modem (have only dialup at home in the boonies), but want to add wireless capability to my T30 for when I travel.

Thanks.

Rose

LtTPfan · #14 Post by **LtTPfan** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:23 pm

rosehatten wrote:Hello all,

Is there a wireless card like the Intel 2915 abg card that also has a modem? Is it correct that installing the Intel 2915 card would replace (eliminate) the modem?

I still need to use the modem (have only dialup at home in the boonies), but want to add wireless capability to my T30 for when I travel.

Thanks.

Rose

I believe the answer to your question is, no, adding a card like the 2915 will not eliminate your modem.

What model T30 do you have? If your machine did not come equipped with wifi then it came with a modem daughter card, not a mini-PCI modem. Some T30s equipped with wifi came with a combo wifi/modem Mini-PCI card but most came with seperate MPCI wifi and modem daughter cards. Even if the latter was the case, which does not appear so as you wouldn't be asking about adding MPCI wifi, you could add a MDC and MPCI wifi. They can be found very cheap, under $10 shipped.

rosehatten · #15 Post by **rosehatten** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:07 pm

ltTPfan,

Thank you for your reply.

My T30 is 2366-96U. I believe it is wireless upgradeable, but not equipped, and it has the antennae built into the case.

When I read the help file, it did mention a daughter card (which I didn't understand), but I have seen other posts that say that they lost the dailup modem when they put in the Intel 2915 card.

In your note, you said "you could add a MDC and MPCI wifi. They can be found very cheap, under $10 shipped". I am sorry, but I just don't understand the acronyms. It sounds like you are saying that I _could_ use the Intel 2915 abg card ( which is about $31 on NewEgg), or I could find "a MDC and MPCI wifi" for less elsewhere.

Would you know which specific card I might look for? Thanks for your patience with a wireless novice.

Rose

LtTPfan · #16 Post by **LtTPfan** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 5:31 pm

rosehatten,

The TAWBOOK (an IBM .pdf file containing a list of withdrawn (no longer produced) series T, A, X & G Thinkpads and their original configurations) indicates your machine came equipped with a Modem Daughter Card (MDC) and an open (unused) mini-PCI (MPCI) slot, and is indeed wireless upgradeable. That is good news for you as it means you only have to purchase the MPCI wifi card of your preference and snap it in, literally, without losing your existing modem or having to install another.

The reason some folks lose the use of their original modem is because about 25% of the T30s produced came with a mini-PCI wifi/modem card combination. The remaining 75% either came with neither MPCI wifi or MDC, or came with one or the other. Those that came with the combo card were upgrading because their original card was wireless-B only and not compatible with the faster wireless-G or Super-G.

Which specific wifi card you choose is very subjective and a matter of great debate and the subject of many threads here. A lot depends on what router/access point you will be connecting to and at what speed, how much you are willing to spend, and if you are willing to use a "non-compatible" card, among other things.

brooklynboy · #17 Post by **brooklynboy** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:34 pm

Just to beat this to death...

Mine is one of the 25% that came with the combo modem/WiFi card. Are you saying that I can replace it with, say, an Intel 2915 plus an MDC (Modem Daughter Card)? To what is the MDC a daughter? Does it sit atop the 2915, or someplace else?

Will the existing internal cabling clip properly onto the 2915 and the MDC without modification?

Thanks.

brooklynboy · #18 Post by **brooklynboy** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:46 am

I answered my own question. The hardware manual shows the MPCI slot holding either a WiFi card or a combo modem/WiFi card, and a separate slot alongside holding either an MDC or a BDC (Bluetooth). It appears that the same modem connector fits both the combo card and the MDC.

For the record, some T30s shipped with a Cisco WiFi card and an MDC.

rosehatten · #19 Post by **rosehatten** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:54 am

ltTPfan,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

That was EXACTLY the information I needed.

May you have a prosperous New Year as a reward for your good works!

Rose

T30 internal wireless card?

T30 internal wireless card?

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