A31p WiFi and Bluetooth upgrades

[Vlan]

Hi

Can anybody tell me if the A31p (mine is just over a year old) has all the in-built antennas installed by default.
At present my Thinkpad doesn't have WiFi/Bluetooth installed. I have checked the installed hardware which are a modem & ethernet (RJ45) daughter cards. There is nothing in the mini PCI slot.

Would it be as easy as buying the correct cards and plug/play or will I have to purchase other parts as well.........

Many Thanks......

[JHEM]

All of the A31p machines are supposed to have the WiFi antennae already installed. I say supposed as I've heard from several people that their A31p doesn't have them. I don't know if this is in fact true or they simply can't find them.

Open the mini-PCI card access on the bottom of the unit and have a look for some loose wires coiled up and tucked out of the way above the slot. they should be there.

BT is a bit more difficult as most of the machines don't have the antenna installed and it requires a complete disassembly of the machine to put one in.

Have a look at the HMM for your machine: http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-39796

Regards,

James

[gregpilot]

James:

I took a look at the page you mentioned as I would like a copy of the HMM myself. But since IBM went to a password type ftp site many of their web links don't work. This page contains one of them.


For a while now I have been unable to connect to the IBM ftp server....more accurrately I can connect, navigate to the folder mentioned in the link "pc/pcbbs/mobiles_pdf" but the folder appears empty. So are the folders with the driver updates.

I read somewhere this is due to some sort of "security" ibm has to prevent direct ftp access to their files. You have to go through http. I sure would like to figure out how to get on their server as there is a lot of info there.

Anyone got a copy of the a31 HMM they can post or email?

edited 11:16 mdt today: Seems my proxy (localhost) using proximotron (web filter) was blocking the referral (javascript) code. Direct connection worked thru http. But I sure would like to get direct ftp access.

Thanks!

[ksaisjja]

I found the service manual from IBM for the A31. I think I did an HTTP download. I don't remember. It's in PDF format.

I added the internal wireless hardware to my A31 nad it runs great so far. I just used the standard 802.11B / modem combo card and internal antenna.


--Henry

[JaneL]

I took a look at the page you mentioned as I would like a copy of the HMM myself. But since IBM went to a password type ftp site many of their web links don't work. This page contains one of them.

Working fine for me at 12:44 EDT. Try it again.

[JHEM]

But I sure would like to get direct ftp access.

Sorry Greg, Verboten! Most things are accessible via HTTP, IBM just wants to cover their butts by having you agree to their terms and conditions in a popup before allowing the download.

You can still access the FTP server if you know the exact name of the file you're looking for and it's location, but you can't wander around anymore.

There are some "open" FTP servers on IBM, but nothing like the access users had previously.

Email me if there's something special you're looking for.

Regards,

James

[Vlan]

Thanks James for the reply......

I will check for cables this evening......

[ElbertR]

My A31P (2653-R8U) did not have wireless and did not have the wireless antenna.

Looked up the partnumber in the HMM, did a google search on it and purchased it from a parts supplier.

Installed the antenna myself (full disassembly required) and installed a intel 2200 b/g mini pci card. Found out that I had to use the '1802' utility to make the bios error go away.

Works great.

[stingbandel]

My A31P (2653-R8U) did not have wireless and did not have the wireless antenna.

Looked up the partnumber in the HMM, did a google search on it and purchased it from a parts supplier.

Installed the antenna myself (full disassembly required) and installed a intel 2200 b/g mini pci card. Found out that I had to use the '1802' utility to make the bios error go away.

Works great.

Do you have any problem at all upgrading using the 1802 utility for your A31?

I hear people are having problem with the led on their T series. Does this problem also arise with the A31p series?

thanks

[ElbertR]

[quote="stingbandel
Do you have any problem at all upgrading using the 1802 utility for your A31?

I hear people are having problem with the led on their T series. Does this problem also arise with the A31p series?

thanks[/quote]

No problem at all. A31/A31p does not have a led. Just upgraded to the latest Bios (1.09 - NET version) and embedded controller (1.05) and now don't need to use the 1802 utility any more.

[wireless4laptop]

A30, A31 has 2 cdc slots and 1 mini pci slot.

You can choose BDC01(bluetooth card) , Modem CDC card and 802.11a/b/g mini pci wifi card. (will no WLAN)

Or

BDMC200(BT modem Combo card), WLAN CDC card. 802.11a/b/g

Or

BDC01 BT card, WLAN CDC card, 802.11b/56K combo card or 802.11a/b/g(will no modem)

Any questions, please email to me.

[elemental666]

I just picked up an A31 and want to put wireless and BT in it, mine came with ehternet and modem, both CDCs, nothing in the MPCI slot. So I shoule be able to go with Ethernet CDC/BT+Modem CDC/Wireless A/B/G MPCI. I'm not sure about the FRUs or how to find out if they will work for the A31. I've found some info from other sources and would like to confirm them with the community if possible.

BT+Modem : FRU 91P7315
Atheros MPCI a/b/g: FRU 91P7301

Questions about the antennas:
1. Are there seperate antenna for both the BT and the Wireless? I only see mention of a BT antenna in the A31 literature.

2. Are there High Gain antenna available?

3. Anyone happen to know the FRUs for the antenna?

[ElbertR]

Wifi and Bluetooth use different antennas.

The Wifi antenna runs along the side of the screen. See this link for more info: http://www.jordanautomations.com/tpa31- ... grade.html

For bluetooth you will also need some other parts:
Clearplate for A31p 46L5024
Antenna 27L0685
Inverter 26P8133 (Not sure about this one)

I have seen 3 different versions of the Bluetooth/modem daughter card:
BMDC200(BMDC-1) 91P7315,
BMDC200B(BMDC-2) 91P7319
BMDC-3 IV 39T0022

Not sure if they will all work or which one is best for the A31.

[wireless4laptop]

I just picked up an A31 and want to put wireless and BT in it, mine came with ehternet and modem, both CDCs, nothing in the MPCI slot. So I shoule be able to go with Ethernet CDC/BT+Modem CDC/Wireless A/B/G MPCI. I'm not sure about the FRUs or how to find out if they will work for the A31. I've found some info from other sources and would like to confirm them with the community if possible.

BT+Modem : FRU 91P7315
Atheros MPCI a/b/g: FRU 91P7301

Questions about the antennas:
1. Are there seperate antenna for both the BT and the Wireless? I only see mention of a BT antenna in the A31 literature.

2. Are there High Gain antenna available?

3. Anyone happen to know the FRUs for the antenna?

You can install 91P7315 on A31. So another CDC slot is WLAN. You can also choose a 802.11a/b/g wifi card, but instead of 91P7301 which only works with Centrino, Pentium M laptops. We have high signal antennas for A31.

[wireless4laptop]

Wifi and Bluetooth use different antennas.

The Wifi antenna runs along the side of the screen. See this link for more info: http://www.jordanautomations.com/tpa31- ... grade.html

For bluetooth you will also need some other parts:
Clearplate for A31p 46L5024
Antenna 27L0685
Inverter 26P8133 (Not sure about this one)

I have seen 3 different versions of the Bluetooth/modem daughter card:
BMDC200(BMDC-1) 91P7315,
BMDC200B(BMDC-2) 91P7319
BMDC-3 IV 39T0022

Not sure if they will all work or which one is best for the A31.

BMDC200 and BMDC200B both can work with A31. BMDC3 only works with T43, X41, X32, and R52. (someone uses it on X31 as well)

[elemental666]

Atheros MPCI a/b/g: FRU 91P7301

You can also choose a 802.11a/b/g wifi card, but instead of 91P7301 which only works with Centrino, Pentium M laptops. We have high signal antennas for A31.

I can't use the Atheros wifi? I was hoping to use it for linux support reasons. The machine doesn't have wifi now.

[wireless4laptop]

Atheros MPCI a/b/g: FRU 91P7301

You can also choose a 802.11a/b/g wifi card, but instead of 91P7301 which only works with Centrino, Pentium M laptops. We have high signal antennas for A31.

I can't use the Atheros wifi? I was hoping to use it for linux support reasons. The machine doesn't have wifi now.

I recommend you choose an Intel 2915 802.11a/b/g card. You can find the linux driver from this link

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts ... 7&lang=eng

Any questions, please write to us by PM. Cheers.