Upgrading the wireless in a R50

[AndyKH]

Hi

I have an R50 with a 802.11b wireless mini PCI card. It has served my well, but after new years, my broadband provider dropped the prices essentially turning my 5 Mbit connection into a 10 Mbit connection without it costing me more. So now I have a luxury problem: My DSL line has a greater effective throughput than my wireless connection, so it's time to upgrade or get a new laptop. I have no other reasons to buy a new computer, so I'm thinking of upgrading the wireless card.

However, I have read of various problems manifesting themselves when new hardware ins installed.

I've understood that the unauthorised HDD problem only exist on models later than my R50, but what about the 1802 error regarding the wireless card? Will it be enough to upgrade the BIOS prior to installing the new card, or do I have to get a special card version especially for thinkpads? If so I have a problem, as the Intel/Pro 2200BG card which is compatible with my machine isn't available on the lenovo site anymore (and if I buy it elsewhere I can't be certain it's gonna work without the 1802 error).

I've also looked at the "11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter II" card, but it is not stated on the Lenovo site if it's compatible with the R50. Also I'm a bit reluctant to choose this card, as I've read that it uses more power than the Intel/Pro cards, required for the centrino platform.

What should I choose?

Thanks in advance

[aaa]

You have to get a card that says "IBM" on it. Like an "IBM 2200BG" (somehow it's different from a regular 2200bg). Then you can get the IBM part number and see if the R50 supports that card. Upgrade the BIOS, too, as that might add newer cards to the list.

The other alternative is the no1802 hack, I don't know if it works on R50 but since R50 is quite similar to the T4x series I would think it does.

2200BG would be the choice for battery life. The Atheros (IBM A/B/G) cards are said to make more reliable connections and such. If you have a 2100B right now and are happy then you should be OK with the 2200BG as it acts the same.

[underclocker]

Any mini-pci IBM rebranded wifi card will work fine in an R50, without the no-1802 hack.

I have the Intel 2915 a/b/g model available for sale now in the marketplace - http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=51385

Or, you could pick up any of the following IBM rebranded models;

Intel b/g
IBM b/g
IBM a/b/g
IBM a/b/g II

[holdenburg]

Hi...

Anyone venture down this path? I would like to upgrade to 802.11n on an r51 1836 Q4U.

Thanks...

H.