Thinkpads Forum

For people who want newer BIOS versions, that have been hacked (and NOT cracked like it is erroneously mentioned here!) to bypass the infamous 'whitelists', check out the SECOND POST on this webpage:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thread ... y-Thinkpad.
If the BIOS shown there is not the latest, or you want something else done,
they also make other BIOS versions when properly requested.
And of course use the Search function as well for newer versions.
I flashed my X60s to one of their BIOSes, then put in a generic Intel Advanced-N 6200 wifi card.
Upon booting, Windows XP/SP3 automatically adjusted the wifi drivers. Works a treat!

For T61/R61/X61/X300, there's also a special BIOS available from Middleton, which increases hard disk speed from SATA I to SATA II, adds SLIC2.1 tables, bypasses the 'whitelists' and for some also ignores temperature sensor errors:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ost6501443
I run that BIOS successfully in my T61 (8897-03U), also with a generic Intel Advanced-N 6200 wifi card.

Thanks a lot. Just a question.
Is SLIC available for t60?
In two words: what is SLIC?

SLIC (SLP) is a method of allowing OEMs to preactivate comptuers before delivery, but without having to manually activate every system. It uses a bios table, digital certificate and a special key to validate the install with a offline checklist. If you have the key and certificate, you can activate your system (I used it on my T61, since the key on the bottom does not work). In lenovo xp preloads, the I386 folder can be used to create a slp - capable xp install disk, as long as you get their product key from your install (Belaric advisor/jellybean key finder), and use that.

Wikipeida has an article about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Loc ... stallation

Yes, but if you have to ask what it is, you won't need it!
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/thread ... at-is-SLIC

Not everyone is technically minded to risk flashing the BIOS with a hacked version, also those who know the procedures may not risk trusting this hack to be safe. So maybe the best way to upgrade would be with the Atheros N card without the risk of destroying a working notebook in order to upgrade the wireless transfer rate/quality.

It has been proven that Atheros N card will work with only the Black and Grey Antennae attached, but very soon the little niggling at the back of the mind will protrude to the surface, will it work even better with the 3rd White antenna attached ?.

So to satisfy curiosity, I am seeking this elusive White 3rd antenna but without success. So I am also seeking an alternative, what came to mind was a Wireless WAN antenna (Red cable) and will this work in place of the Wireless LAN antenna (White cable) ?

Edit: Update to my endeavor to seek the best possible download speed concluded that the White Cable is superfluous when using an Atheros wireless N card. Seems that my draft N Router have a max possible 300mps.

Grey & Black antennae = to possible 300mbps
Grey & Black & White = to possible 450mbps

So unless the installed Wireless N card & Router can both reach beyond 300mbps, White Cable is not necessary. Maybe this is the reason as to why this White Cable is near non existent.

Some ebay sellers are selling the Red LAN ? U.FL cable, well, don't bother and save yourself ten Dollars.
Whereas the Atheros Wireless N card works to surpass my expectations, I purchased another for my sibling from this seller.............http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-HP-Athero ... 4aad00be1c

Peak2Peak -- "garnet - Here is the usual antenna arrangement for the Intel 4965AGN
Gray cable = MAIN or TR1 or 1
Black cable = AUX or TR2 or 2
White cable = 3rd or R0 or 3"

My X200 doesn't have a White cable to use with the Intel 5300 AGN I installed (it previously had the Intel 5100 AGN with only two antennae connectors).

It does have a Red cable which goes under the palmrest, and a Blue cable which goes to the lid (next to the Black cable.) I first connected the 5300 using the Red in place of the third/white cable, and then tried the Blue in place of the White cable. It seems like I get 80% range (upstairs away from my router) with the Red, and 99% range (upstairs away from my router) with the Blue. I get 450mbps in the same downstairs room with the router, and 144mbps upstairs away from the router.

My question is what are the Blue and Red antennae cables intended to be used for?

They are intended for a WWAN mobile broadband module - There is probably a 2nd empty mPCIe slot next to your WLAN card.

I own a FrankenPad T61 in T60 body, with currently only 2 antenna cables installed. The modified bios is installed.

I want to replace the standard ABG network card with the new Intel Centrino Ultimate–N 6300 which allows speed up to 450 mbit. Two questions:

1: Will this card work with the T61 board?
I will use a bracket to make it fullsize (like picture): http://image.dhgate.com/upload/spider/e ... 3114_0.jpg

2: Can I use and install this WWAN Antenna cable to use it as the third antenna cable? http://www.ebay.com/itm/200610038557?ss ... 1436.l2649

I know the third antenna cable is not necessary to make it function, but since I am opening the Thinkpad I might as well install the third cable at the same time for optimal signal strength.

In theory as your frankenpad has a modified BIOS installed, the Intel Centrino Ultimate–N 6300 should work out ok with the half height to full height adapter. You could use the WWAN Antenna cable as the third antenna, but this may compromise the performance of the WiFi/WLAN card (sensitivity, range, speed etc) as these antenna's are usually tuned for different frequency ranges etc.

You could also use the Intel WiFi Link 6200 (or the older Intel WiFi Link 5100) with your existing 2 antenna setup which maybe will have a little less range & speed (up to 300Mbps) - but should cost a little less than the Ultimate–N 6300.

The price difference between the Intel Wifi Link 6200 and 6300 is not that big on eBay. I can find a 6200 for about $18, a 6300 for about $22, both inc. shipping from China/Hong Kong.

I asume any wifi antenna will fit, correct? Would this T43 Wifi cable be better than the WWAN Antenna cable? http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-ThinkPad-T4 ... 2c60eea649

Can I install this in cable the palm rest?

HI! Searching posts for best wifi card for a T60! Came across this post.
Will an Atheros Lenova FRU 42T0825 give me better Range ?clarity than my installed 3945????
Thanks!

tomjrc wrote: Will an Atheros Lenova FRU 42T0825 give me better Range ?clarity than my installed 3945????

In my not so modest experience, yes.

Thanks Again!!! Between you and RealBlackStuff getting the right answers in a timely fashion is like having a tutor sitting beside you. Speaking for Many I hope, We thank you for your patience and we are indeed gratefull for your help.

+1

Is there an 802.11AC card I could put in the T61 with the half height adapter? I have the middleton bios. There are three antenna cables and two connectors on the AC card. Which antenna cables would I use? Any suggestions on the best AC card to use?

sethwm2 wrote:Is there an 802.11AC card I could put in the T61 with the half height adapter? I have the middleton bios. There are three antenna cables and two connectors on the AC card. Which antenna cables would I use? Any suggestions on the best AC card to use?

You can install any wireless card. 7260AC works fine in T61, although I'm not impressed by its performance altogether.

There are no 3-stream AC cards at the moment.

Leave the "middle" wire out, connect gray to the left and black to the right.

If you're not in a rush, wait for more diverse AC offerings to hit the market. That's what I'm doing anyway.

Good luck.

ajkula66 wrote:

sethwm2 wrote:Is there an 802.11AC card I could put in the T61 with the half height adapter? I have the middleton bios. There are three antenna cables and two connectors on the AC card. Which antenna cables would I use? Any suggestions on the best AC card to use?

You can install any wireless card. 7260AC works fine in T61, although I'm not impressed by its performance altogether.

There are no 3-stream AC cards at the moment.

Leave the "middle" wire out, connect gray to the left and black to the right.

If you're not in a rush, wait for more diverse AC offerings to hit the market. That's what I'm doing anyway.

Good luck.

Thank you

Picking this thread up again...

I just got an Intel 7260 card which only has two antenna connectors.

I've just ordered a 42T0885 Wireless USB card..

So the question...

I have the 3 WiFi antenna leads - Gray, Black and White.

If I recall correctly, two of these leads actually join to a single "device" at the top of the LCD panel (or so it would seem from the Service manual diagram). The other one is just a wire that "dead-end"s. I may actually find out "for real" if I swap the WSXGA+ panel for a WUXGA.

I take it that the wires going to the "device" should be connected to the 7260 card, leaving the other wire that might (should?) be connected to the Wireless USB card.

Any suggestions?

wsalomon wrote:
Any suggestions?

Gray to the left connector, black to the right, leave the white one out and don't connect anything to it. Insulate with electrical tape if needed so that the antenna lead doesn't touch anything.

I hope this reply is relevant to the current topic; so Moderators, if you feel this reply is off-topic, please proceed to its transfer to the corresponding section.

Not so much ago, I was trying to upgrade my signature's T60p to a Wireless N adapter starting from a stock 3945ABG and a patched BIOS:

-First, I tried an Intel WiFi Link 5100 (a Lenovo FRU from my signature's T500). No problems at all, but I wasn't satisfied (a matter of personal preference on any other wireless card that doesn't have an Intel chipset).
-Second, I tried an Atheros AR5007EG (b/g) from HP (Foxconn T60976.07 -if I remember correctly-). Linux could work pretty well with it, but Windows couldn't. It just hanged after boot while loading the desktop and tray apps, or even while loading the driver on booting.
-Third, I went on with a Dell Wireless 1501 (n). Same symptoms as the Atheros Card.

At this point, I thought this was my particular motherboard; so I repeated the same procedure on my signature's T60, only to find exactly the same behaviour. Note that I was running an HP Broadcom 4311 (b/g) on my T 60 with no issues at all.

-Thankfully, I exchanged parts with a friend and he handed me a ThinkPad 802.11 b/g/n PCI Express Adapter II (Realtek RTL8192 if I'm correct); to my surprise it worked with no hiccups whatsoever.

So, to summarise: Do please check compatibility with your particular setup prior to buy/install your brand new Wireless N/AC card! Twice! It saves time, effort and headaches!

HTH,