New wireless for R61e, wil Intel Intel 512AN work?

[Merc]

I want to upgrade my wireless LAN card to an Intel Intel 512ANMini PCI Express card. Does anyone have any experience doing this on an R61e?

I went ahead and ordered one and will update on my luck with it.

[RealBlackStuff]

Don't see why that shouldn't work.
It's got only 2 wires, so no problems, although you probably wouldn't get the full N-speed.

[Merc]

Don't see why that shouldn't work.
It's got only 2 wires, so no problems, although you probably wouldn't get the full N-speed.

I agree but it should be a better solution than the Belkin N card I have now. The Belkin F5D8013 N card works OK but it sticks way out the side and doesn't always activate smoothly at boot up.

One problem that I have found is that the entire N network will slow to the lowest speed adapter it sees. T he Belkin is a 300MPS card but I have some small Asus N-10's on the desktops that I will have to replace now. Just a word of warning to anyone transitioning to N wireless.

[RealBlackStuff]

If you can afford it, a dual-band router running in mixed-mode should solve that problem, as it can transmit on both 2.4GHz (B/G) and 5GHz (A/N), and support multiple wifi types at one time.
You can even go one better and get such a unit with Gigabit ethernet.

[Merc]

If you can afford it, a dual-band router running in mixed-mode should solve that problem, as it can transmit on both 2.4GHz (B/G) and 5GHz (A/N), and support multiple wifi types at one time.
You can even go one better and get such a unit with Gigabit ethernet.

I looked into the dual bands and found two things that were troublesome:
1. 5GHz has very limited range and my laptops are on the other side of the house.
2. Not a lot of adapters that handle 5GHz. My wife's laptop definitely doesn't.

So what I did was get a Netgear WNR3500L on sale from Newegg for $64 shipped (half price) and then flashed it to DD-WRT firmware and set it at N only. I then flashed my older WRT54G V8 with DD-WRT firmware and made it into an AP connected via ethernet to the 3500L. The 54G is transmitting in G only with DHCP disabled obviously. Works like a champ! I get full G and N without either effecting the other (one set at channel 1 and the other set at channel 11).

[bill bolton]

1. 5GHz has very limited range and my laptops are on the other side of the house.

The reports of 5GHz range issues are not holding well up in comparision to the bulk of reported user experiences out in the field. In most cases 5GHz range is fine.

I get full G and N without either effecting the other (one set at channel 1 and the other set at channel 11).

Good for you perhaps, but bad for other 802.11b/g users in the vicinity.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Merc]

Good for you perhaps, but bad for other 802.11b/g users in the vicinity.

Cheers,

Bill B.

As for range with 5GHz all I can go by is the myriad reviews. From those reviews my conclusion is that 5GHz is great for same floor, one or two wall set ups with less than 50 feet range. Regardless, a Netgear WNR3500L at $64 shipped is too good to say no to.

As for the neighbors, the closest rates about -90dB on inSSider RSSI so I hope I am not causing problems. If I lived in an apartment I'd be more concerned about "jamming" but we are all fairly well separated.

Anyways, I love the fact that I can keep using my tried and true WRT54G while moving to N. Honestly, the 54G was fine for our households surfing but I am going to build a little NAS and want the highest network throughput possible in anticipation of that. This NewEgg black Friday early sale was too good to pass up so I dove in. I hope the Intel mini works in my very modified R61e.

[Merc]

Well I just installed the 5100 (512AN) and the laptop boots to two beeps and "Unauthorized wireless mini-pci card installed. Power down and remove. error=1802. " Any suggestions?

[91011]

To run that card you'll need a BIOS mod, it's not on the 'whitelist' for your machine - post a request here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=55837

Since I don't know where you got the card let me be clearer, if you bought a generic Intel card (no FRU number on it) then it will give the 1802 error on any Lenovo with an unmodified BIOS. If it does have a FRU number on it, the card is not on the whitelist for your laptop and it will need a BIOS mod.

Or, this card (must have a Lenovo FRU number on it) is on the whitelist, Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN, and will run without the 1802 error. There may be others but this is the only Intel N card on the R61e parts list.

[Merc]

To run that card you'll need a BIOS mod, it's not on the 'whitelist' for your machine - post a request here:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=55837

Since I don't know where you got the card let me be clearer, if you bought a generic Intel card (no FRU number on it) then it will give the 1802 error on any Lenovo with an unmodified BIOS. If it does have a FRU number on it, the card is not on the whitelist for your laptop and it will need a BIOS mod.

Or, this card (must have a Lenovo FRU number on it) is on the whitelist, Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN, and will run without the 1802 error. There may be others but this is the only Intel N card on the R61e parts list.

Ok, I'll check it all in about an hour and a half after my son goes to bed. I did find a refurbed 4965 for $28.

[91011]

Be careful, there are two Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN models listed in the system parts list. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-68171#6

One is N-disabled. The full AGN you want is FRU 42T0865. You do not want FRU 42T0873 with N-disabled

If you're not in a big hurry (2-3 weeks) the ones from China are probably the cheapest.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH_Pr ... 86.c0.m283

The one you found for $28 seems reasonable - if it is a 42T0865.

I would start by putting a WTB in the Marketplace.

[Merc]

Be careful, there are two Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN models listed in the system parts list. http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... GR-68171#6

One is N-disabled. The full AGN you want is FRU 42T0865. You do not want FRU 42T0873 with N-disabled

If you're not in a big hurry (2-3 weeks) the ones from China are probably the cheapest.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?rt=nc&LH_Pr ... 86.c0.m283

The one you found for $28 seems reasonable - if it is a 42T0865.

I would start by putting a WTB in the Marketplace.

Nope, it is a 42T087 and has three antenna terminals http://www.compuvest.com/Desc.jsp;jsess ... iid=884048 In fact all the cards in that link are the N disabled.

The 5100 I have does not have a FRU # on it. I bought it at Newegg and can RMA it.

I am hesitant to do a BIOS mod as I have already bricked the BIOS once. I had it reflashed by this guy for $100 http://www.aqstech.com/ He had an ad here at one time and did the job very quickly and even installed a CPU fan I was planning on installing (he had the thing torn apart anyways) at no charge. Highly recommend him.

I think I will get one of the cards you recommend from ebay. I see they have three antenna terminals but I only have two leads. Will that card still work for me?

Hey thank you very much for all the help. I learned a lot.

[91011]

Your're welcome, glad I could help. But I'm afraid I can't be of any help with the 2/3 antenna question. Think I've read on the Forum that it will work almost as well with two but maybe you should post that question on its own.

I would post a WTB for the card - I always start my parts shopping here.

John

[Merc]

Your're welcome, glad I could help. But I'm afraid I can't be of any help with the 2/3 antenna question. Think I've read on the Forum that it will work almost as well with two but maybe you should post that question on its own.

I would post a WTB for the card - I always start my parts shopping here.

John

Agreed on shopping here first. I bought my CPU in the marketplace. I also read that you can buy a small additional antenna so I may do that. Thanks again mate.

[Merc]

Here is an update:

First of all, thanks for all the help John (91011). I bought a 4965AGN FRU-42T0865 card in the marketplace here at the forum for $25 delivered. I got back from travel tonight and installed the card in a little over 5 minutes and the system booted right up with no error messages. Windows 7 quickly recognized the card and installed the driver before I even logged on and I was on the net off my N router with just reentering the password.

The card works great even though my R61e has only two antenna leads for the cards 3 terminals. I may buy a third lead just to see if I can boost throughput but the signal is very strong even with just the two attached.

This is definitely the way to go and once again, thanks for the help 91011