Thinkpads Forum

Can I install a modern 802.11ac card into ThinkPad 802.11ac? Which format of the card should it be?

AFAIK, the options seem to be mini-PCI and ExpressCard. I did entertain an idea of ExpressCard because some of the applications could use a secondary card.

You'll need a modded BIOS to begin with.

Half-size mini-PCI-e (with adapter) will work just fine.

Happy upgrading.

You don't need an adapter to use a half size card in the X200s - there are mounting holes for both half size and full size cards.

ajkula66 wrote:You'll need a modded BIOS to begin with.

1. Are you sure? Can you point me to an account of anyone who has done this successfully?

2. So, there is a whitelist of wireless adapters that are allowed to work. Can I see it?

3. I guess if coreboot would work on this machine and didn't break anything else, that would solve the whitelisting issue entirely.

Nickolai wrote:
1. Are you sure?

Yes I am, having played with several non-whitelisted cards in a X200s.

Can you point me to an account of anyone who has done this successfully?

No, because most people still maintain a healthy dose of skepticism towards the entire AC concept.

2. So, there is a whitelist of wireless adapters that are allowed to work. Can I see it?

Whitelists are not published anywhere. They never were, and we've been dealing with them since the days of A31 and T30, which was back in 2002...

3. I guess if coreboot would work on this machine and didn't break anything else, that would solve the whitelisting issue entirely.

I can't say anything about that since I've never tried it.

However, there already is a modded BIOS for X200s so there's really no need to re-invent the wheel...

ajkula66 wrote:

Nickolai wrote: Can you point me to an account of anyone who has done this successfully?

No, because most people still maintain a healthy dose of skepticism towards the entire AC concept.

Do you think it makes sense to buy and install a new non-AC card now? Even though I may not use speeds above N, I thought it would be a good idea to choose AC just in case.

ajkula66 wrote:However, there already is a modded BIOS for X200s so there's really no need to re-invent the wheel...

Well, the thinking goes like this: if you are using an open-source operating system (I am), why not use open-source BIOS as well? coreboot has no reason to disallow use of any hardware, so I guess it doesn't. The issue is: their hardware support is woefully incomplete: X60, X201 and X230 are supported, with reservations, but that doesn't say anything about the models in-between; taking into account the low-level nature of BIOS, I guess that means that the interim models, or the minor variations of them, are not supported. Meanwhile X60 managed to receive the FSF certification; finally there's a modern computer that Richard Stallman can use

Anyway, where's this modded BIOS for X200s that I can use?

Nickolai wrote: Do you think it makes sense to buy and install a new non-AC card now? Even though I may not use speeds above N, I thought it would be a good idea to choose AC just in case.

Yes I do. The whole "AC" thing is still very much in diapers. Better cards as well as routers will hit the market sooner than later.

Anyway, where's this modded BIOS for X200s that I can use?

I don't have a habit of posting links to modded BIOSes for reasons of my own. With that said, there are forums that are pretty much dedicated to developing such firmware...and not difficult to locate in the least.

Nickolai wrote:

ajkula66 wrote:You'll need a modded BIOS to begin with.

1. Are you sure? Can you point me to an account of anyone who has done this successfully?

Read my posts before you and my signature. I am using AC cards in both my X200s and X220 with modded BIOSes.

(Almost bricked my X200s in the process, but that's another story! )

Nickolai wrote:

ajkula66 wrote:You'll need a modded BIOS to begin with.

3. I guess if coreboot would work on this machine and didn't break anything else, that would solve the whitelisting issue entirely.

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n ... px=MTc2MjE