Thinkpads Forum

Hello, I am interested to buy an ThinkPad 570 to have a Linux on the go. According to ThinkWiki, it is equipped with miniPCI connector where a Lucent faxmodem sits originally. Is it possible to install a WiFi card there, if I will implement antenna into the body also? I've read some posts here about 570's BIOS compatibility with miniPCI Wireless cards but I don't understand the issue very well - problem with IRQ?

I'm not really up on all the details on this topic, and what I do know about it actually relate to the 600X rather than the 570. But I think that those two machines are very very similar in construction. I recall seeing a few examples here and there of people attempting to install a MiniPCI wireless into their 600X's. One example is rkawakami, a moderator here, who has provided a thorough write-up of his experience along with helpful photos and further advice:
http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_600x/mini_pci_wireless/

He may chime in with more complete info or advice.

If I'm not mistaken, the biggest challenge will probably not be getting the wifi card recognized (there is no whitelist in the BIOSes of the 570/600 machines as far as I know) [This point about compatibility of MiniPCI in the 570 series may be wrong. Continue reading posts below for more complete answer.]. The biggest challenge will be to figure out how to attach antennas that will actually get a good signal. There appear to be two problems:

1. the lid of the 570/600 series are very tightly fit, and so it is difficult to thread an antenna through them.
2. the lid is constructed of metal that does not allow wifi signals to pass through easily.

I think I recall seeing some images on a Japanese forum somewhere where someone had cut out a piece of the lid of their 600X and replaced it with a plastic piece that would allow the signal to pass through.

You might also check out:
600X mini PCI wi-fi card problems

Phil.

I used to have a 570e a few years ago and wanted it to have internal WiFi.

Both the 570 and 570e were very picky with wifi minipci cards. Most cards (such as the Intel ones) would throw a Code 10 error in Windows.
One card that worked was the Broadcom BCM94306 which I managed to get working in my 570e but I never got around to installing the wireless antennas.

I have a broadcom 4306 in my 570e. Works with Linux too.

Most of the Wifi cards (Intel 2100, 2200BG) that I've installed to my 570E and X20 had one problem: the CPU started to overheat. This problem has been occurring on many board members and there have been few threads about this issue also.
Root cause of this problem is unknown but it is definitely related to wifi card because when you have removed it, CPU temperature goes back to normal.

You could get a usb 2.0 pcmcia card and then one of these and call it a day: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2704

It is an easy solution. However, if you are itching to mod the lid, go after it and update us with pics. IMHO I do not think it is a good idea to go hacking at structural gussets and sawing off tabs like on the rkawakami photos. The classic ThinkPads are cheap and good machines.