Wireless upgrade question - R31

[PVS-1959]

I have an Atheros "G" card I'd like to put in my R31, but I noticed there are 3 wired connectors on the original Intel "B" card, and only 2 on the Atheros card.

On the Intel card... two of the connectors are the black & white snap-on types, and the third is like a mini power plug that goes into a socket on the card.

Can someone tell me what the third connector is for, and do I need to worry about it not being used when I put the Atheros card in?

Thanks in advance.

[Thane_Bitter]

Hi PVS-1959,

The black and white cables are the antenna leads, the white cable is the main (or primary), and the black is the secondary lead. Just hook them up to the right sockets on your new card. The other small connector is for the modem (56K Plain Old Telephone Service type hardware). R30/31 systems that shipped with Wi-Fi have the modem hardware incorporated into the mini-PCI cards; models without wireless had a separate modem card installed else ware on the mother board along with slightly different internal modem wire.

My thoughts are go for the better card; you will end up with better speed and security, though at the cost of a dialup modem. Most people use broadband (cable / DSL) for connectivity, I don't think I have had to use dialup in over two years, perhaps more. If you still need a modem for dialup (or perhaps fax software) you could easily find a "CDC modem" card on eBay.

Thane

[PVS-1959]

Thanks... I appreciate the prompt & thorough response!

I looked at device manager and sure enough... the modem hardware is no longer listed with the new Atheros card.

Only downside is that I am usually at a cabin twice a year for 4 weeks total and I have to resort to dial-up for internet connection.

Do you happen to know of any "G" cards that also have the modem feature that the original Intel "B" card had?

[Thane_Bitter]

Do you happen to know of any "G" cards that also have the modem feature that the original Intel "B" card had?

Unfortunately I am not aware of any other Combo cards capable of G. Given the small size, and relative simplicity of swapping the cards you could just swap back to the old one when traveling abroad. The disadvantages are excess wear on the connectors, need for tools, risk of ESD, etc.
Conversely installing the CDC modem, though a one time procedure, requires dismantling much of the laptop base unit, including completely separating the LCD unit, and requires much more time, and risk as well.
Should you go the latter route the part number of the CDC modem is 26P8256, and note that you will also need the short modem cable as well (your existing cable is too long and is currently routed beneath the main board). The short cable does not have its own part number, but is readily identifiable because it is slightly longer the CDC modem itself (about 2 or 3 inches) with 3 connectors.
If you have not done so already, check out the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) for the laptop; it lists parts numbers and procedures for hardware servicing – you will see how the parts all fit together.
I guess it boils down to a choice thing – either solution works, it is just a matter of choosing the solution you like.

[PVS-1959]

I typically keep the R31 just for use at the cabin (since I also have another newer thinkpad) so probably best just to keep the 'b' card installed... then I have the modem working anyway.

Sounds like just too much trouble to get both working.

Thanks again for your help!

[Thane_Bitter]

No Problem,
My wireless card died last year, and like you I was hoping to upgrade to something better, but I also needed to keep the modem as well. I had no difficulty in finding venders of the CDC modem, but I could not find the short modem cable anywhere, and IBM Parts wanted around $300 to replace the existing card. In the end I replaced the old card with a new (used) one via eBay, rather then upgrading and ripping my machine apart to maintain full functionality.

Thane

[schen]

Or you can go the "low-tech" route like me and get on ebay or in your drawer of old computer junk and find a PCMCIA modem card. I actually found an honest to gosh IBM card with X-Jack (contracted from 3Com/Megahertz), that I just throw in my bag with the computer. XP already has drivers so you don't even need to fool with that.

[PVS-1959]

Good news & bad news....

I got a CDC modem & connector wire from another dead IBM laptop so I can install that (hopefully) in the R31.

But unfortunately, the R31 with the Wireless G card in it keeps freezing up in Windows. I even tried reinstalling XP from scratch with the new card to make sure there wasn't an IRQ conflict... but it still freezes after about 5 minutes or so of internet surfing/downloading. I tried old & new drivers... same result.