Enable WPA on T30

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yanqui · #1 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:39 am

Our company uses IBM thinkpads. The notebook in question is a T30 model. With all the XP updates and the firmware update and the driver updates, I am still unable to enable WPA on the wireless adapter. Anyone got a fix for this?

The network card is High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter with Modem II.

danage · #2 Post by **danage** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:41 am

your adapter might not support wpa. can you send us the fru number of the adaptor?

yanqui · #3 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:45 am

Do I find that under "Firmware Revision" in the Details tab of the properties? If so, that field is blank.

danage · #4 Post by **danage** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:07 am

probably the easiest way is to unscrew the plate on the bottom of the case - the one with the two screws, and look on the card itself (larger card).

yanqui · #5 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:17 am

got it (I love getting an education!)

FRU p/n 91P7212

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:19 am

If the T30 came with the IBM wireless supplied at the time T30's were new (4 years ago), it definitely does not support WPA.
... JDH

yanqui · #7 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:23 am

As is, or even with the IBM Updates? We know it didn't support WPA as it was, but the website indicates that the firmware updates should enable WPA support. "SHOULD." I'm trying to figure out if I've missed a step or looked in teh wrong places, before I tell the boss that we can't do it, and have him find out next week that we could if I'd looked someplace else.

danage · #8 Post by **danage** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:47 am

actually, the fru you sent belongs to the system board, not the wireless card. the wireless card is mounted into a slot about 2 inches wide and has two tiny antenna connectors on it. the card itself has about the size of a pack of cigarettes.

you can always put in a new wireless card for about 20 dollars including shipping to achieve wpa compatibility.

yanqui · #9 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:33 am

Okay, how about this one? 12p3872

danage · #10 Post by **danage** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:58 am

that is the bluetooth daughter card. you looked under the correct hood this time, though. :)

this card has only one antenna connector and the slot is not visible. it is also affixed via two screws.

do a google image search on "mini pci" and you'll know what the WLAN card should look like.

yanqui · #11 Post by **yanqui** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:56 pm

26p8519

danage · #12 Post by **danage** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:38 am

i believe you have this. it looks as if it wouldn't support wpa.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_High_ ... h_Modem_II

if you don't need the modem, just replace it with a cheap minipci wlan. a search will give you plenty of info. cheers!

summa · #13 Post by **summa** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:29 pm

We have many T30's. We replaced all of the wireless cards with Intel 2200BG cards and use the Intel ProSet Wireless software. They handle WPA very nicely and users find the software fairly intuitive. There are lots of them available on EBay and elsewhere -- very cheap.

The key to using this card is to get around IBM's restrictions on what cards the T30 can use. BEFORE installing the 2200BG, you need to boot from a floppy and run the NO-1802 program (Google for it or look around this forum for links).

A couple of other hints:

-- connect the antenna leads before you put the card in the slot.

-- be sure to use the latest drivers and ProSet software available from Intel

-- you will give up the Fn+F5 functionality. We tried to make this work but couldn't. We decided it wasn't worth all that much effort to begin with.

dhutch · #14 Post by **dhutch** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:31 pm

Ive posted a post on this thread [link] but i beleave i am in the same boat as the op of this thread, with a t30 that im wanting to use on a WPA encripted network.
- Although i have the cisco card (fru 26P8367) rather than the hghrate.

Daniel

#15 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:31 pm

This guy on eBay has tons of them: http://stores.ebay.com/osstore001

Check his posts, he can sell the Intel 2200BG for $9.50 ea. per 50, and $9.- ea. per 100
He also has Atheros AR5211 (802.11b only) for $5.99 each, but I'm not sure if they support WPA.
(Plus shipping from Hong Kong)

dhutch · #16 Post by **dhutch** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:09 pm

A box of 50, thats maddness!
- But yes there are a lot on there for £10-15 buy now isnt there.

So if i just get one of them, is that good?
- Does there Atheros have a marked inpact on range as mentioned on the other thread?

Daniel

Enable WPA on T30

Enable WPA on T30

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