Wireless Network Adapter for Thinkpad X30?

[johny]

Hello,

My friend bought a second-hand Thinkpad X30, which was not not functioning so well. I want to install a Wireless Network Adapter so that he can use it to connect to his wireless router at his home.

The problem is, when I went to the lenovo support website, and tried to install the driver from here, it doesn't work.

The driver I found was:
Cisco Systems Mini PCI Wireless LAN driver for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP - ThinkPad

From http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/researc ... MIGR-43800

So, how to install a wireless network adapter for thinkpad x30?

[johny]

Got the answer:

I used the wrong driver. The correct wireless network adapter driver should be "High Rate Wireless LAN Mini PCI combo card driver for Windows 2000 and XP - ThinkPad T30, X30": http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloa ... D=DS003235

Still, the wireless network adapter can't find the wireless router at my home.

What shall I do?

[RealBlackStuff]

That (ancient) wifi card only works at the B band.
Replace it with a more modern BG (like Intel 2200BG) or even an N card such as tp-link wn861n.
See also http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=108355

[johny]

That (ancient) wifi card only works at the B band.
Replace it with a more modern BG (like Intel 2200BG) or even an N card such as tp-link wn861n.
See also http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=108355

Sorry, but what is a B band card? What's its difference from a more modern card?

And the thing is, the thinkpad x30 can't find the wireless network. My Dell Latitude can, because it has a Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility, with which I can browse the wireless networks available to me, and choose to connect to one of them.

Is there such a utility for thinkpad x30?

[jronald]

If the X30 is running XP (it will) the Wireless Utility for XP will find the network. Otherwise the cards builder Wireless Utility "normally" has a program that will find it.

Regardless of that, a "B" card is the predecessor to the "G" Band. Its about 5 times slower than G. Most "new" wireless routers do not automatically broadcast in "B". Thats why the X30 will not see it.

I keep 1 B router running under (Im not kidding) the house for just such occasions.

Ron

[johny]

If the X30 is running XP (it will) the Wireless Utility for XP will find the network. Otherwise the cards builder Wireless Utility "normally" has a program that will find it.

Regardless of that, a "B" card is the predecessor to the "G" Band. Its about 5 times slower than G. Most "new" wireless routers do not automatically broadcast in "B". Thats why the X30 will not see it.

I keep 1 B router running under (Im not kidding) the house for just such occasions.

Ron

Thanks for your explanation, Ron. Could I buy a G wireless card from amazon? And, I don't know how to replace a network card for thinkpad x30. Is there any official lenovo outlet that can have this done (replace the B card with a G card) at some charge?

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

To replace the wifi card, you need to remove the keyboard, then the card.
It's all described/illustrated in this HMM PDF file: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail. ... MIGR-44018
You can do this yourself easily (and for free!).
You can buy these cards anywhere, incl. our Market forum, Amazon, eBay etc.
You will need MiniPCI with contacts along the long edge (and NOT MiniPCIe with contacts along the short edge).
These MiniPCI cards look like this (this is a very common Intel 2200BG):


Do not buy a MiniPCIe card like the one below:


Check with any friends that have old(er) laptop(s) lying around, they probably have a BG or better card in their junk pile.

[johny]

Thank you for your detailed help, RealBlack.

Still, my hands-on ability sucks, esp. with mechanical/electronic parts. Will forward this thread to my friend to see if he can do it himself, or have some help from some other friend.

Thanks again for all your help, RealBlack and Ron!

Admin edit: Removed extraneous quote with pictures

[feller95]

Hi Johny,

If you don't want to disassemble and assemble laptop, I would suggest the following upgrade:
1. Upgrade the existing USB 1.0 on X30 with an AKE 2-port USB 2.0 CarbBus card from ebay for around $6.
2. Buy a G/N wireless USB adaptor for $10-15 to use with the USB 2.0 cardbus.

I recommend AKE 2-port USB 2.0 cardbus card because it doesn't stick out and I use it on X30.

William

[johny]

Hi Johny,

If you don't want to disassemble and assemble laptop, I would suggest the following upgrade:
1. Upgrade the existing USB 1.0 on X30 with an AKE 2-port USB 2.0 CarbBus card from ebay for around $6.
2. Buy a G/N wireless USB adaptor for $10-15 to use with the USB 2.0 cardbus.

I recommend AKE 2-port USB 2.0 cardbus card because it doesn't stick out and I use it on X30.

William

Great suggestions, William. I didn't think of using an external wireless usb network adapter before.

How about the following two items from amazon?
1. cardbus: http://www.amazon.com/Expresscard-Ports ... rbBus+card
2. adatper: http://www.amazon.com/Medialink--150Mbp ... rk+adapter

If you think them OK to work with thinkpad x30, I'll place the orders.

Thanks a lot!

[johny]

Hi Johny,

If you don't want to disassemble and assemble laptop, I would suggest the following upgrade:
1. Upgrade the existing USB 1.0 on X30 with an AKE 2-port USB 2.0 CarbBus card from ebay for around $6.
2. Buy a G/N wireless USB adaptor for $10-15 to use with the USB 2.0 cardbus.

I recommend AKE 2-port USB 2.0 cardbus card because it doesn't stick out and I use it on X30.

William

By the way, William, for the cardbus card, do you think Belkin a better choice?
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-USB-2-0-4- ... _cp_5_3SJD

The AKE cardbus I found in amazon looks to be an internal one, so I may still need to dissemble/assemble the notebook? Need your confirmation here.

[RealBlackStuff]

The Belkin brand is not recommendable at all.
Stick with an AKE USB card.
You slip it in from the outside into the cardbus slot, and it will fit flush with the side of the X30.
You can then plug in your USB2.0 items.

BTW, the AKE card you link to Amazon is the WRONG type, you need a rectangular version, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/2-Port-PCMCIA-Car ... =ake+usb+2

[johny]

The Belkin brand is not recommendable at all.
Stick with an AKE USB card.
You slip it in from the outside into the cardbus slot, and it will fit flush with the side of the X30.
You can then plug in your USB2.0 items.

BTW, the AKE card you link to Amazon is the WRONG type, you need a rectangular version, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/2-Port-PCMCIA-Car ... =ake+usb+2

Thanks a lot for your advice, RealBlack!

[slvrldy17]

I've had very good results with a USB wireless adapter put out by Rosewill - model RNX-MiniN2 - got mine from Newegg and price was quite reasonable. Strongly advise installing only the driver for the unit and then use the built in Windows wireless client software - it is much simpler to use than the Rosewill utility.

[RealBlackStuff]

Rosewill is the El Cheapo in-house crapware brand from Newegg.
Most of that stuff is of doubtful quality, like your (maybe) half-decent wifi-adapter with crap software

[jronald]

My experience with Rosewill is it has worked OK, for awhile. When I first starter out building my network/collection I bought some thinking I was saving some money. Not so much, all of it has been replaced.

Ron

[slvrldy17]

Rosewill is the El Cheapo in-house crapware brand from Newegg.
Most of that stuff is of doubtful quality, like your (maybe) half-decent wifi-adapter with crap software

This Rosewill USB device in question has done quite well for its intended purpose - I recommend using only the driver for any wireless card of any brand - the "wireless utilities" that most come with are at best a reinvention of the wheel and awkward to use - This is one place that I'll give Microsoft full credit for a Wifi utility that is simple to use and works...

[feller95]

Hi Johny,

I use Tenda 11N 150M Wireless USB adaptor with the AKE USB 2.0 cardbus.
They work well for me.

William

[johny]

Hi Johny,

I use Tenda 11N 150M Wireless USB adaptor with the AKE USB 2.0 cardbus.
They work well for me.

William

Thank you, William. My friend has taken back the notebook. I don't know whether he will buy a USB wireless adapter or will just use an ethernet cable. Of course, a wireless adapter with AKE USB 2.0 cardbus is the idealest combination. But it is up to him...

Still, I am watching this thread these days, and thank you and all other guys for the advice provided.

Thanks heartedly,
johny

[gdrunk]

I realise that adding to the plethora of choices available might be confusing, but I would consider a Cardbus card over a USB one.

They are a few years old, but the D-Link DWL-650+, DWL-G650 or DWL-AG650 are excellent Atheros based B/G cards with very good driver support. I use them on all my ThinkPads that need them and cannot fault the performance. Your friend may still be able to find one new, or else very cheaply second hand.

Good luck with your search!

[Insulator_King]

In my X24 I use a DWL-G650 cardbus WiFi adapter, works great.