Thinkpads Forum

Today I got the T7600 and then replaced it without any difficulty. However, since I already bought a 3rd antenna a long time ago, I think it's also a good time to add this 3rd antenna into my machine. It's a bit difficult for me to remove the LCD bezel since this is my first time doing this. Anyway, after probably 2 hours effort, I finally installed the 3rd antenna. Actually right now I am connecting the Thinkpad a/b/g by the 1st and the 3rd antenna (leave the 2nd one alone to see if the 3rd one works). So, I think I did the job successfully.

However, after I assemble everything together again, a minor thing is wrong: the power light stops lighting when I plug the power plug. I check all the other light, such as the wireless light, the bluetooth light, the number lock and capital lock lights, they are all fine. The HDD light is also flashing if some programs are accessing the HDD. So... the only missing part is the power light. I don't know what's wrong with that, although it doesn't really affect anything. But if it's possible, I would like to have a "perfect" machine Do anyone have any idea about what is going on?

Today I removed the LCd bezel again to check what's wrong with the light, and found that it's because I didn't connect the inverter card firm enough. After reconnect the inverter card with the cable, everything works fine now. Don't need to bother you all. Thanks for reading.

cchsiao,

I own a T60 and I'm looking for a tutorial how to exactly install the 3rd antenna, as I'm considering to purchase a Thinkpad Atheros "N" card, since I've a "N" capable Access Point (Netgear WN802T).

Could you point me to a link?
If not, any recommendations/advice?

Marie-Anne

It's actually not very hard to install the 3rd antenna if you did it once. So... it's (only) hard at every beginning...

By the way, which model of T60 do you have? Is it a 15 inch one of 14.1 inch one. I was installing the 3rd antenna on my 15 inch Thinkapd and according to the hardware maintenance manual, it will be easier to install the 3rd antenna on a 15 inch model (less screws have to be removed). For hardware maintenance manual, please check either
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 844_01.pdf (for the 4:3 one)
or
ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 8137_01.pd (for the widescreen one)

Make sure that you get the correct antenna (there are two type of antennas, according to the size of your Thinkpad), and read the hardware maintenance manual very carefully. All the procedures are shown in the manual, and your should be able to do it by yourself after reading the manual.

If you have any question, I am more than happy to assist you on this matter (if your Thinkpad is a 15 inch one as well).

Hello cchsiao,

Thank you for your quick reply and to-the-point support! Model of my TP60 is: 2008ZWA (purchased in august 2008). This model has a LG Flexview monitorscreen. For this regular 15 inch model, I've found another manual:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 844_01.pdf

The supplier of the Thinkpad Atheros "N" card, will send the unit accompanied by a 3rd antenna. How could I and my supplier determine which 3rd antenna is required? I doubt he's aware of 2 different models of 3rd antenna's. Can you help me further?

I've looked in the manual, but it's not quite clear to me WHERE AND HOW EXACTLY the 3rd antenna should be mounted on the rear of the panel. Have I overlooked someting?

In the meantime I've found an engineer in my country (The Netherlands) who is specialized in repairs (disassembling and assembling) of notebooks (I'm scared to death to do it myself). He's familiar with Thinkpad notebooks, and will allow me to be present his workshop, while he's doing the job for me to replace the Intel ABG card for IBM Atheros "N" card including adding the 3rd antenna.
But I'm sure he's NOT familiar with the specific Atheros "N" card and where to mount the 3rd antenna on the rear of the panel.
Any recommendations?

According to the hardware maintenance manual (HMM), your Thinkpad needs 42R9910 but not others. Therefore, if you can get a 3rd antenna when ordering the N card, make sure your get this antenna.

The 3rd antenna is located on the right side of the LCD panel. If you look at page 123 in the HMM you provide, 3 is the location of the 3rd antenna. However, your thinkpad won't look like the one shown in the picture after installing the 3rd antenna since the picture is for those thinkpads with WWAN antenna installed. In other words, on T60, the 3rd antenna and WWAN antenna will be installed in the same place (but different antenna), and you can only choose either of them.

If that engineer is familar with disassembling parts of Thinkpad, he should be able to do this very quickly once he reads HMM. Although there is probably no instruction of how to add the 3rd antenna into the panel, it's actually very intuitive once you remove the front LCD bezel. So don't need to worry about that too much.

Dear cchsiao,

Thank you so much for your explanations !!
I'll contact the supplier of the IBM Atheros "N" card, if it will be accompanied with the antenna partnumber, you've mentioned.
Very helpfull and I'm sure that the enigeer will now succeed in mounting the 3rd antenna properly, although this will be done in november.

Marie-Anne