Help me find working wifi card on thinkpad 240 (pcmcia slot)

[brie987]

Hi there, I am trying to get a wifi card to work on my thinkpad 240 pcmcia slot. I have an Airlink card and a Cisco Aironet card. The Airolink will not evern get noticed but the Cisco does with Ekahau driver but it comes up as Athenos in the Device manager. Has anyone with the same thinkpad got any of these to work or any other that work. I really want to run wifi thru the pcmcia slot rather then the usb because I want the usb to be available if I need it and go online at the same time.

On another note I also have Puppy Linux installed on this laptop. The usb airling dongle works with both the xp pro and puppy linux I have installed.

Thanks for any help or advice in advance. Here is the thinkpad I have.

Thinkpad

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Category:240

except I have the max of RAM of 192mb

Thanks again.

Brie

[oski]

Hi,

I have used the following cards:

- With WinXP: RoamAbout DS (Enterasys), Aironet 350 (Cisco), Linksys WPC11 (Cisco), Linksys WPC54GX4, MSI CB54G2(based on Ralink chip)

- Linux (xubuntu) only Ralink based.

Cheers!!

[tim S]

The max ram for the 240 is a 256mb chip in the slot and 64mb onboard for a total of 320MB. 320MB is highly recommended for the 240 because it runs on PII architecture (which could be part of your problem) as opposed to the 240X which runs on PIII. You can also remove the modem under the keyboard and replace it with a MINI wireless card and trail the antennas around the "guts" inside. That will free up both slots and works very well, at least in Win XP.
Tim S

[brie987]

Hey Tim, thanks for the reply. Do you know where I can get a 256mb memory for my tp240. It is an older module. Thanks.

[brie987]

Tim, I was wondering if you would know if the following memory module will work with my TP240. Its a little different from my other module regarding the speed. The 128mb that I bought is "pc-66" This particular module is "pc-133". Will it be compatible? Thanks for your time and help.

[teetee]

I have a IBM brand pcmcia wireless card with driver CD. It worked well before I replaced it with the internal wifi on my 240 running windows 2000. Leave me a message if you are interested.

[tim S]

IIRC you need a PC-100 256MB low density (whatever that means!) chip.
Ebay has some, and a Google search turns up others.
While you're on eBay look up mini PCI wireless cards. Pretty much any card will do but the Intel 2915 abg card works well.
Get a couple of antennas wires and, once you download the drivers from Intel's site, you'll be good to go. Unless you are still on dial up and need the modem?
Good luck
TIm S

[brie987]

Hi Tim S. I bought the wifi card from ebay and antennae. Is there a site that helps with the instillation? Thanks.

[tim S]

There's not that much to do really.
Remove the 3 keyboard screws from the back. They have a design that looks like a bug next to them! Lift up the keyboard and wiggle the connector off its attachment. The modem is right below that connector. Push the two metal side hold downs outwards and the modem will angle up and can be removed, after you uncouple the plug. You won't neet this plug again so tuck it out of the way on the side.

Attach one or two antenna wires to the wireless card.
Take the wireless card and push it into (at a slight upward angle) the modem slot. Once it's in, push it straight down so the two metal clips lock it in place. Now you see why the wireless card has to be a MINI card, it's very close to the keyboard connector. A full size card won't fit!
Route the antenna wire(s) all around. If the antennas have metal ends make sure they aren't resting on something electrical and SHORT OUT the laptop!
Put the keyboard connector back, pressing it firmly into place.
Put the keyboard into place and re-attach the 3 screws.
Get the correct wireless card drivers. You'll only need the drivers (if you got an Intel card ) not the software, let windows control the wireless. It may sound complicated but it's pretty straight forward.
Tim S

[brie987]

Hi again Tim. I got the intel that you recommended and now waiting for the snail probably be Wednesday. Thanks for your help and I will definitely upgrade the memory as well. I am concerned about the antenna just a bit nervous when it comes to electricity. Wish me luck.

[tim S]

Just make sure your Thinkpad isn't plugged in, remove the battery and take off any rings or jewelry. There may still be a residual charge in the motherboard but proceed slowly and you'll be OK.
I've messed around in many laptops and never got a shock or had a problem of any kind.
I put the antennas up inside the screen on both my 240 and 240X, but unfortunately the reception was not very good because the lid isn't designed to let radio waves through, so I ended up jamming the antenna ends under the hinges which helped a lot.
I'm sure that snaking the wires around the insides will be fine. On reflection I'd tape the ends on top of the battery slot. You can't miss it, it's a large silver plastic piece at the back under the keyboard.
Tim S

[brie987]

Hi there Tim, I just received my wifi card and the antenna. Which driver did you use? I'm guessing the driver from the intel site. I will be installing this tomorrow as I have to get insulating tape to tape the ends as you suggested. Thanks for your help with this, I am very excited.

[tim S]

I'm not sure I'd completely tape or insulate the antenna ends. The idea was to make sure the metal ends don't short out someplace on the motherboard. Taping them with scotch tape, so they can't move, on the battery housing is all that's required. If you got metal antenna ends they probably need to be straightened with pliers. Other types have flat insulated ends with adhesive on them which makes the install a breeze.
I got the drivers from Intel using Google. After much trial and error I ended up just using the drivers and not the whole package, which allows windows to run the wireless.
Good luck
Tim S

[brie987]

Hello Tim. Well I am typing to you via a new INTERNAL wifi connection. Only issue with it is I have to open the hood once again to rearrange the antenna to reduce the bulk in the middle of my keyboard and all is well. I do have a problem. My connection keeps popping up to tell me there are new connections and in doing so disconnects my connection, I then must reconnect, has this happened to you? As I use this just for internet purposes this can be annoying. Any ideas why this can be happening? Other then that all is well. I am still shopping for a 256mb memory chip, I cannot seem to find one under $50. I would ultimately want to find one under $30. Just to give you an idea, as I have been typing this note to you I have been disconnected 3 times and had to reconnect 3 times. I reconnected immediately to see how long I stay connected each time before being disconnected.

Thanks for your ideas and explanations I have learned much and appreciate your patience, I hope to do the same for others in this forum.

Just a couple of post questions:

1) I used 2 antennas, one said "main" the other "aux" can I do with just one or what is the advantages of having both. Also FYI the antenna I bought had a plastic one inch squares at the ends.

2) I think that is it actually. Oh well.

brie

[brie987]

Hello again Tim. I fixed the problem, I removed the Airlink software which was conflicting and I had to change the handling of authentication (?) something like that from the Airlink software back to windows so all is well with the software end. That is it. I now have a USB port free for what ever I may need it for. I hope the memory upgrade will help with the pcmcia card slot and later this summer switch to dedicated Linux OS. I have Puppy Linux on a dual boot but I am thinking Xubuntu. Take care and thanks a million!

Brie

[tim S]

I'm glad it all worked out for you. The actual installation isn't that difficult, once you find the courage to open it up that is!
I have both antennas from my wireless card up behind the screen but I understand the bulk under the keyboard pushing it up as there is very little room in there. You can always try with just one wire (Main), and since the opposite ends are so close together I don't think you'll get a loss of signal.
I let windows handle my wireless connection, the dual software issue was the cause of the interference as you found out. I can't help you with Linux but you seem to have got it all together anyway. Congratulations.
Tim S