T60 1952A97. WIRELESS LAN VS WIRELESS WAN CONFUSION.

[slaterlp]

Hi there all,

T60-1952A97 Intel Graphics. Windows 7 Pro.

Question 1.
This is probably a silly question, but I confess I'm confused.
What is the difference between a W/Wan card and a W/Lan card. How/why would I use a W/Wan card in my T60?

Question 2.
Hopefully not so silly, but I'm still confused.
My T60-1952A97, lists both a W/Wan and a W/Lan card in the Bios. But even when I enable the W/Wan card in bios, it doesn't show up in W7 Device manager in the main list, -- unless I view by "hidden" devices. Why is this? The W/Lan Intel pro card shows in Device manager as not hidden, but not the W/Wan card. The W/Wan card is a Miniport device btw, and does show in System information provided by the MS office help About MS office.

Question 3.
This may be silly if I'm not reading the manual properly.
According to the hardware maintenance manual I have, (Sept 2008), the system board FRU lists don't show the T60-1952 with Intel Graphics as having a W/Wan card on the system board. But mine has one. So what system board is actually installed in my T60? Can I find out without taking the T60 apart? What FRU number would I look for if I wanted a replacement?

Thanks in advance.

And PS. What does T60 CTO mean?

[MikalE]

CTO is Customer To Order. It is a custom machine and not off the rack.

I had a T500 like that with all of the communication options including 3G or 4G options but without the sim card installed.

[RealBlackStuff]

WLAN, also referred to as WiFi, is intended for “local” use (the “L” in WLAN), and is probably the most common way to wirelessly connect to the Internet. WWAN, also known as a “3G” or “4G” network, is a mobile broadband3 option that covers a “wide” area (the “W” in WWAN).

Enabling something does not mean it is also there...

HMMs were made just when the first models came out, and were hardly ever properly updated.
So don't just believe what you (don't) see in them.

CTO = Configured To Order

[MikalE]

CTO = Configured To Order. Yep. I knew what I posted didn't sound quite right.

[dr_st]

As far as the MTM shows, 1952-A97 has no WWAN card.

[Hans Gruber]

A WWAN is a wifi hotspot. A network card in the laptop that uses Verizon, Tmobile, AT&T, Sprint etc for wireless internet access. WWAN is a special order item or something put in after market for broadband access. WLAN is wireless Local Area Network commonly referred to as a wifi radio receiver connection card built into your laptop.

[slaterlp]

Hi all,

OK, thanks for those answers. I get it now. . As regards there not being a W/Wan card in my T60, I'm still a bit confused why W7 loads a W/Wan driver if I don't have a W/Wan card. But hey ho.

Going back then to what system board I have.
The HMM says :
FRU 41W1360 -- 1952-CTO, 24x, 43x, 44x, 45x, 4Gx, 4Mx, 4Tx, 52x, 58x, C2x
Or
FRU 41W1450 -- 1952-CTO, 2Sx, 2Qx, 2Rx, 3Gx, 4Nx, 4Px

What are the "x" numbers? How do I find out which type of 1952 I have and which of those 2 FRU numbers I should look for?

Thanks

[ajkula66]

What are the "x" numbers? How do I find out which type of 1952 I have and which of those 2 FRU numbers I should look for?

Think basic math where "x" can represent any letter or number depending on the actual equation. 24x can mean 24G or 24U or...you get the picture.

Your model is not listed, but the difference in T60 planars with Intel graphics are next to non-existent anyway.

[dr_st]

I'm still a bit confused why W7 loads a W/Wan driver if I don't have a W/Wan card.

What makes you think Win7 loads a WWAN driver?

What's the name of the device in the Device Manager?

What files are listed if you go to Properties --> Driver Tab --> Driver Details?

[slaterlp]

"What makes you think Win7 loads a WWAN driver?" "What's the name of the device in the Device Manager?"

These are loaded. They are Microsoft drivers

WAN MiniPort (IKev2)
WAN MiniPort (IP)
WAN MiniPort (IPv6)
WAN MiniPort (L2TP)
WAN MiniPort (Network Monitor)
WAN MiniPort (PPPOE)
WAN MiniPort (PPTP)
WAN MiniPort (SSTP)

Systemboard.
------------ Ah OK, yup I get that the x represents a number, but none of those listed are anything like mine. But as you've confirmed that mine isn't listed, I guess that's thats the answer then. Thanks.

Actually I was able to plug my serial number into Lenovo support, and it came up with yet another FRU. --- 41V9912. Why did they keep changing the numbers if the boards are all essentially the same. Crazy. But if I can use any of those other listed for an Intel graphics without a Wan, that's fine.

Ta again:).

[axur-delmeria]

Why not open up the laptop and see if there's a WWAN card?

[dr_st]

These are loaded. They are Microsoft drivers

WAN MiniPort (IKev2)
WAN MiniPort (IP)
WAN MiniPort (IPv6)
WAN MiniPort (L2TP)
WAN MiniPort (Network Monitor)
WAN MiniPort (PPPOE)
WAN MiniPort (PPTP)
WAN MiniPort (SSTP)

These are standard Windows drivers for virtual WAN devices (different methods of connecting to the internet). None of these are for any Wireless WAN devices. They are hidden because they are not used. Your laptop does not have a Wireless WAN adapter.

[slaterlp]

OK thanks dr_st.

I said at the beginning i was confused. Not confused now though. .

[JBUK]

Two easy ways to identify a WAN enabled Tpad:
If you take out the battery and look carefully at the rear end of the Tpad you will find a pull out slot for a SIM card and there is a bulge/blister on the RH side of the lid which contains the aerial which has a concealed wired connection to the WAN card under the keyboard.

[ajkula66]

If you take out the battery and look carefully at the rear end of the Tpad you will find a pull out slot for a SIM card and there is a bulge/blister on the RH side of the lid which contains the aerial which has a concealed wired connection to the WAN card under the keyboard.

Not applicable to most of the older ThinkPads sold in the U.S. such as *61 and *61 series.

Vodafone models were exactly as you describe them, but the Verizon ones - which are a vast majority in that generation on this continent - had no SIM card to begin with since they were using a CDMA network.

[JBUK]

Not applicable to most of the older ThinkPads sold in the U.S. such as *61 and *61 series.

Vodafone models were exactly as you describe them, but the Verizon ones - which are a vast majority in that generation on this continent - had no SIM card to begin with since they were using a CDMA network.

OK thanks, interesting, never heard of a CDMA network.
But the OP like me is in the UK and I was only talking about T60s although I omitted to say this.

The WAN confusion continues

[dr_st]

What's true is that T60/R60/Z61 models had the special bulge on the lid for the third antenna, so it's easy to recognize a WWAN-equipped Thinkpad of that generation by that sign. T61/R61 units already had the third antenna integrated into the lid with no bulge.

[ajkula66]

OK thanks, interesting, never heard of a CDMA network.

Back in those days, Cingular - which became a part of AT&T - was the only GSM network in the U.S. Everything else was TDMA or CDMA.

But the OP like me is in the UK and I was only talking about T60s although I omitted to say this.

No harm done. The only reason for my post was the fact that I wanted to prevent the future readers of this thread from wasting time looking for a SIM card slot on a VZ-spec'd machine. You are absolutely correct in stating that a European/UK model would most likely have a SIM card slot.

The WAN confusion continues

TBT, most of the WWAN cards from that era were not great to begin with and are outright useless nowadays

What's true is that T60/R60/Z61 models had the special bulge on the lid for the third antenna, so it's easy to recognize a WWAN-equipped Thinkpad of that generation by that sign. T61/R61 units already had the third antenna integrated into the lid with no bulge.

Correct. More confusion comes from the fact that *some* X61/s/T units also had the "bulge" unlike the rest of the *61 generation...