Wireless Advice

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budd0413 · #1 Post by **budd0413** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:34 pm

First off this is my first post here. I have been reading up for a while and finally joined. So my question is what wireless adapter seem to be the best in a t40.

Options:

Remove internal wireless alltogeather and go external.

Upgrade from the 2100b card to 2200b/g or somthing better the problem is that I dont know whats better that will be compatable.

It seems like there would be somthing better than the 2200b/g for the a t40. I was looking at the MSI MP54G4 but I don't know...

Let me know you thoughts on this thanks alot.

#2 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:22 pm

budd0413 wrote:It seems like there would be somthing better than the 2200b/g for the a t40.

I depends what you mean by "better". I have Intel 2200BG and 2915ABG cards in my T4x laptops, in both the generic Intel and IBM specific versions, and have been very pleased with their performance and reliability with a very wide range of public and private access points.

Cheers,

Bill

FTC · #3 Post by **FTC** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:38 pm

Well, when I wanted to upgrade my T40 to 802.11g I upgraded from an Intel 2100 based to a 11 a/b/g wireless LAN Mini PCI adapter (atheros based) which I had already tried in a T42, and is also working really good with the T40 now. I found this card quite cheap on ebay.

Talon88 · #4 Post by **Talon88** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:20 am

:::

IBM 11a/b/g (Atheros Chipset) is a good choice......!

:::

icantux · #5 Post by **icantux** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:36 pm

Is the wireless module in the machine hardwired or can it be replaced like a PCI card?

budd0413 · #6 Post by **budd0413** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:33 pm

Thanks for the input I think that I am going to go with AR5006XS.

davidspalding · #7 Post by **davidspalding** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 5:52 pm

It's a mini-PCI card ... search on these forums, you may find that not all cards work in the Thinkpads, but most of those discussed here are fine. I have the IBM a/b/g that comes in T43s, and couldn't be happier with the hardware/software solution.

Going wth external wifi ... I cannot imagine how this could ever be better. Suitably equipped TPs have a lovely, bodacious antenna array in the monitor/lid panel, providing unparalleled reception. A PC Card wifi card with stubby little antenna down on the side just won't compare.

christopher_wolf · #8 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 7:23 pm

I don't know why removing your internal wireless and going with an external solution, which IMHO is not as pretty. You paid for the internal WiFi in your Thinkpad; why not use it?

I have the Intel 2915ABG Card and couldn't be happier with it; I have also used Thinkpads with the IBM/Atheros cards and haven't noticed any difference across a wide variety of routers in terms of connection and performance.

Thinkin · #9 Post by **Thinkin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:28 pm

I also have a T40 w/Intel 2100 802.11b that I'd like to upgrade to g.

Seems that I read that only IBM cards work in Thinkpads because the bios blocks other cards. I could be mistaken, so please set me straight on this.

Will the Atheros-brand card (AR5006XS) work in a T40 ?

Anyone know about Linux support for any of the g cards? (may go that route in the future and would like compatibility)

Thanks!

jongordo8 · #10 Post by **jongordo8** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:32 pm

you are right...only IBM branded cards will work without an error message. There is a workaround for the error message however.

Thinkin · #11 Post by **Thinkin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:55 pm

Anyone know the IBM part numbers for the Intel 2200 802.11b/g and the IBM/Atheros-based 802.11a/b/g equivalent that work in a T40?

<edit>: Found em. 73P2801 (Intel 2200), and 73P4301 (IBM 11abg II -atheros)

Where's the best place to buy?

Thinkin · #12 Post by **Thinkin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:06 pm

jongordo8 wrote:you are right...only IBM branded cards will work without an error message. There is a workaround for the error message however.

Does the workaround eliminate the error message? I would not want to offer this laptop for sale in the future only to have a prospective buyer see an error message, benign or not.

Where can I find more info on the workaround?

#13 Post by **draco2527** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:08 am

[quote= Does the workaround eliminate the error message? I would not want to offer this laptop for sale in the future only to have a prospective buyer see an error message, benign or not.[/quote]

If you can't eliminate the error message, and can live with it; keep your old card, when you are ready to part with your TP, place the original card in there!

Holland · #14 Post by **Holland** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:28 am

Thinkin, Take a look on this site:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki

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