Atheros a/b/g in X31 2673

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#1 Post by **gator** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:18 am

I recently won an ebay aution for a used X31, and I beleive it has the Cisco b card. I was wonfering if x31 accepts Atheros a/b/g mini PCI card (if I buy directly from IBM). Or will I get the 1802 error and have to go around it? Can someone confirm?

There is a good deal going on at IBM Used Certified for the Atheros card - $18.10 shipped! Check the foll. thread for more info:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=34673

#2 Post by **tomh009** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:26 am

On my 2672-PBU I tried the BIOS update first but ended up having to do the no-1802 at the end anyway. It has worked very well ever since ...

wolfman · #3 Post by **wolfman** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:27 pm

In the case where you applied the no-1802 hack, does the wireless radio light still work and the function key combo to toggle the radio on and off still work? Do you use the IBM Access Connections software? Thanks a lot!!!

#4 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:52 pm

Both still work. All the hack does is switch off the bit in NVRAM that controls checking for non-IBM wireless cards.

wolfman · #5 Post by **wolfman** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:59 pm

Excellent, thanks. I've read probably 20 different threads here on this subject and it seems *most* people have no issues at all with the 1802 hack. Thanks again for the good info!

#6 Post by **tomh009** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:06 pm

Both of our X31s have the same hack, and I know a few other local ThinkPads that have the same happy results.

What I like about this method is that it's just changing one byte in the NVRAM. Some of the other methods involve rewriting wireless card firmware which has a greater risk of failure.

vennstrom · #7 Post by **vennstrom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:37 am

Hmm...bought Intel 2915ABG after reading the above, applying the no-1802 patch, work fine.......BUT.....Wireless indicator light & Fn+F5 shortcut is not working...(I have downloaded the latest 2915ABG driver & Hotkey from Lenovo, BIOS 3.02)

Is it suppose to be like that?

#8 Post by **tomh009** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:28 am

One of ours had the Intel 2915ABG for a while, and I think I had difficulty with Fn+F5 as well, though I don't remember a wireless indicator light issue.

Which driver are you using with the wireless card?

vennstrom · #9 Post by **vennstrom** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:30 am

I use below driver downloaded from Lenovo site.

Intel PRO/Wireless 2200bg, 2915abg, 3945bg, 3945abg Mini PCI adapter
* 10 Jul 2007 - v11.01.0_7KWC26WW
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62875

I was thinking to buy FRU73P4301, however reading the post above doesn't guarantee it'll work.

after the no-1802 patch my TP can boot normally with Pentium M logo instead of Centrino, wireless work OK from windows. Fn+F5 will bring you message that there's no wireless adapter installed and the indicator won't blink at all, software installer or system update doesn't recognize the card as well.

Bob_760 · #10 Post by **Bob_760** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:43 am

I just got my X31 today and I had some parts waiting for it so I updraded the ram and I put in an IBM FRU P/N: 39T0073 AR5004G chpiset Wi-Fi card in it. So the X31 read 1802 error at first and I cracked it and installed XP and everything including in the process updating the BIOS. I've since un 1802 cracked the CMOS (afaik) and it still works fine (the BIOS update was supposed to fix it) but I still get no light. FN+F5 turns my bluetooth & bluetooth light on/off but nothing for my Wi-Fi. It's a fresh XP install with only a few IBM drivers and no IBM utilities. Is there something I need to make it work? I'm getting a Pentium M logo at startup but I think it should allways say that since IIRC Centrino P-M + Intel Wi-Fi.

mazzinia · #11 Post by **mazzinia** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:45 am

Aehm, sorry to put my nose here but I've noticed the part of your signature about the solid state drive...

I think/guess people will be interested if you do a small review about it with real life benchmarks, battery life improvements due to it (if any), weight saved, etc etc etc.

#12 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:01 am

Bob_760 wrote:I just got my X31 today and I had some parts waiting for it so I updraded the ram and I put in an IBM FRU P/N: 39T0073 AR5004G chpiset Wi-Fi card in it. So the X31 read 1802 error at first and I cracked it and installed XP and everything including in the process updating the BIOS. I've since un 1802 cracked the CMOS (afaik) and it still works fine (the BIOS update was supposed to fix it) but I still get no light.

A BIOS update won't undo the no-1802 fix as no-1802 does not modify the BIOS; it simply sets a single bit in CMOS memory that tells the BIOS to skip the wireless card check.

Does it show up as a "11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II"? Which driver version do you have?

Bob_760 · #13 Post by **Bob_760** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:46 am

My friend in Germany origonaly made me a bootable CD for my 1802 fix long long ago when i first got my wiag01 (from him). It has a patch (no-1802.com) and unpatch (1802.com) files. I've succesfully unpatched my T30 before but since I'd allready upgraded the BIOS on the X31 and it seems to have worked (accepted the new card) everything still acts the same. I think I'll put another card in to make sure it notices later today.

tomh009 wrote:Does it show up as a "11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II"? Which driver version do you have?

I'm using a non IBM driver/software that I use on all my computers I was wondering if that would be a problem. They are acctually from the FUJITSU website because they acctually update their drivers, but It's just a standard atheros driver and acu. I got IBM drivers with it but haven't tried em yet.

As for the SSD I was wondering if such would be in order, I threw it in my X31 as soon as I got it so I don't have much of a comparison but on the other computers I tested it in it's an amazing difference (Boots like it's just coming out of standby). At some point I'll image my XP install back onto it's factory 40GB HDD and a 7k60 I used to have in my T30 and run some tests for everyone.

So far the only thing techincal I can say is it's silent (obviously). When I use my laptop at night in a quiet room it seems like the keyboard is soooo loud. Especially now in the X31 because it runs pretty much passively cooled most of the time so there's no fan noise

.

#14 Post by **tomh009** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:19 am

Bob_760 wrote:I'm using a non IBM driver/software that I use on all my computers I was wondering if that would be a problem. They are acctually from the FUJITSU website because they acctually update their drivers, but It's just a standard atheros driver and acu. I got IBM drivers with it but haven't tried em yet.

I do think you need to use the IBM drivers in order for Fn+F5 to work (and maybe for the light, too, but I never pay attention to it so I'm really not sure!).

Bob_760 · #15 Post by **Bob_760** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:58 am

OK so I installed the IBM drivers and now the light works

. FN+F5 dosen't work but I'm glad because now... I have a wifi light and I can turn the wifi on/off with my software (still ACU). And I have can independantly turn the Bluetooth and it's light on/off with FN+F5. I don't know how it's supposed to work if you have both but maybe if I installed the IBM software FN+F5 would do the wifi too, either way I'm happy with it how it is.

sktn77a · #16 Post by **sktn77a** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:55 am

I got the latest spec IBM Mini PCI Atheros a/b/g adapter II for my T40 and it works fine (no 1802 hack needed, WiFi light works fine) but Fn F5 doesn't work. I, too, update the BIOS, driver, PM and OSD drivers, but no joy.

If you get the Atheros a/b/g card, I'd get the original Adapter II part number, which I know works with Fn F5.

Atheros a/b/g in X31 2673

Atheros a/b/g in X31 2673

Re: Atheros a/b/g in X31 2673

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