A31 Thinkpad wireless upgrade

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rthomson · #1 Post by **rthomson** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:01 pm

I purchased a IBM Intel 2200 B/G wireless card and found the card does not have the power connector. Did I get the wrong card? See the red arrow. I installed the card but I cannot get W2k to turn the wireless card on.

Rich

LtTPfan · #2 Post by **LtTPfan** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:36 pm

I believe the connector indicated by the arrow is for the modem, which would have no effect on wireless operation. The card derives its' power from the PCI bus. The only connections to the card besides the bus are the two antennas. Those snap onto the button type connectors. I can't tell from your photo if those are available. What wires are inside the little pouch?

rthomson · #3 Post by **rthomson** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 9:49 pm

No it actually connected to the Wireless Card. I believe it powers the card. IBM calls it a "Modem Cable" but I cannot "Turn On" the card in windows. No Device Manager problems and the software sees the card. Here is another pic of the two cards next to each other.

I think I have a combo Mini PCI. Modem/802.11b. Now if I am correct is there a Mini PCI combo card with Modem/802.11b/g that will work in my IBM A31?

Rich

LtTPfan · #4 Post by **LtTPfan** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:52 pm

It is the modem connector. You had a combo wifi/modem. Your new card is not. I am not aware of a combo card that is wireless-g or better but I learn new stuff everyday. Someone recently posted a combo wifi/Bluetooth so it's definitely possible but there doesn't appear to be combo wifi/modem cards jumping out of the woodwork.

Did you uninstall the drivers for your original card before installing the new drivers; you did install the new drivers, didn't you? I believe the installation notes for the 2200bg drivers mention that the old drivers must be uninstalled.

PS> You need to make mention in the title giving warning that you have pics or a mod will likely delete them for you.

ElbertR · #5 Post by **ElbertR** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:36 pm

Besides 2 memory card slots, your A31 has 3 other slots: 2 for small daughter cards and 1 mini-pci slot.

Daughter cards are usually for Ethernet, Modem and/or Bluetooth.

MiniPCI can be for modem, Wifi internet or combo card (wireless B & modem only).

You had a Wifi/modem combo card installed. The 'power' cable you refer to is indeed for the modem.

If you plan on using an Intel 2200BG mini-pci card and still need a modem you need to get a modem daughter card.

If you already have 2 daughter cards installed (ethernet & bluetooth) you will have to either remove one of those 2 or try your luck with a modem/bluetooh combo card.

I have been trying to get a modem/bluetooh combo daughter card to work, but cannot the the modem to work. I know another user here who says he got it to work, but has not yet explained how he managed to it.

LtTPfan · #6 Post by **LtTPfan** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:54 pm

Here's an eBay ad for a modem daughter card for $5.99 shipped.

rthomson · #7 Post by **rthomson** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:53 pm

Thanks, I'll order the Modem Daughter Card. I will retest everything once I get the Daughter card.

Rich

#8 Post by **underclocker** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:20 am

As a follow up, I have an A31 with XP running. I removed the wireless combo card (wifi B + modem) and replaced it with a generic (non-IBM) Intel 2200BG card and it worked without any boot errors. I used Intel's generic drivers for XP and it works perfectly.

I later added a modem daughter card from eBay. No issues at all.

A31 Thinkpad wireless upgrade

A31 Thinkpad wireless upgrade

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