Is it possible to swap wireless cards?

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BentoBox · #1 Post by **BentoBox** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:44 pm

Greetings everyone! My first post here.

I have a T60p on order and currently they are not able to configure it with the new 11n card. I know many of you have got it but for some reason I haven't had the luck. So, is it possible to later buy the Atheros 11n card and swap it with the one that is already there in the machine?

If possible, how difficult (or easy) a change that is?

Thanks!

own6volvos · #2 Post by **own6volvos** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:50 pm

The change is quite easy if you know how to remove the keyboard and read the hardware manual. If you buy a replacement card, it MUST be the Lenovo brand version from Lenovo. Otherwise it will not function. They are locked to certain FCC-IDs, but you can swap between models that ship as options in that laptop.

BentoBox · #3 Post by **BentoBox** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:56 pm

own6volvos, thanks for the good information. I am glad to know it's easily changable later. And, yes, if I do end up buying one later, I will make sure it is from Lenovo.

own6volvos · #4 Post by **own6volvos** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:21 pm

One tip I want to really suggest is to wait for a full N wireless card from Intel, or perhaps something that comes around feb/march. N is still getting its kinks worked out, and a card purchased today might not be the exact thing for the N protocol next year.

planetf1 · #5 Post by **planetf1** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:42 am

Does anyone have a part number for ordering a 1/b/g/n card from lenovo? I've not seen it listed as an orderable accessory yet..

BentoBox · #6 Post by **BentoBox** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:10 am

Perhaps you mean the a/b/g/n card? The part # is 41U4780. Good luck ordering it.

claudeo · #7 Post by **claudeo** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:59 pm

Ratification of the N standard is not expected until 2008.

kulivontot · #8 Post by **kulivontot** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:07 am

I believe intel is releasing it's new A/B/G/N card in April. I would assume this would replace or at least be compatible with T60's since they currently use the intel 3945 card. However, if this new card is only an option on new laptops using the Santa Rosa chipset, a wireless refresh for this generation of T60's may not be possible, because lenovo may decide not to allow its FCC ID to be used on these machines.

planetf1 · #9 Post by **planetf1** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:38 am

Thanks for the info. I'm going to get the atheros a/b/g for now. Don't have n anyway, and I need "relief" from this 3945ABG ASAP - problems with sensitivity.

With my old T40 I replaced a poor intel card with an excellent atheros card - made the world of difference.

Worth a shot...

Lazarus · #10 Post by **Lazarus** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:56 am

You must make sure that your new WiFi card passes the BIOS miniPCI check.
The Thinkpad BIOS has an internal list of "permissable" cards and might start complaining if yours isn't it.

I find your pro Atheros info interesting indeed, as I myself switched from Intel to Atheros.

planetf1 · #11 Post by **planetf1** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:13 am

And it was a positive change?

BTW The card is the proper IBM/Lenovo branded card, which just happens to be atheros, so is supported in the T60p

DAH · #12 Post by **DAH** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:29 am

I thought part of the N was adding MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output). MIMO uses multiple transmitter and receiver antennas to allow for increased data throughput through spatial multiplexing and increased range by exploiting the spatial diversity, perhaps through coding schemes like Alamouti coding. I'm curious if these cards really will plug into the existing single antenna of T60's.

mabbas · #13 Post by **mabbas** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:47 am

It was posted earlier, but the N card HAS to be a supported card for that machine. The BIOS will not allow an unsupprted card to be put in the TP. Checj to see the card recommended is an option for your machine type/model.

On a side note, the Atheros card does get better connectivity, and stronger reception (from my experiences over the years) and works better with certain infrasctructures. The marketing claim is the Centrino, Intel wireless gives you better power management, but can you measure it? I guess the other question is can you measure the connectivity difference between Intel and Atheros. I am just stating what I know from my years of use of both types in real world environment.

Good Luck

DAH · #14 Post by **DAH** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:08 am

mabbas wrote:It was posted earlier, but the N card HAS to be a supported card for that machine. The BIOS will not allow an unsupprted card to be put in the TP. Checj to see the card recommended is an option for your machine type/model.

Good Luck

Yes well I guess I'm asking just what does that mean? I have a T60P and this is the T60 area. I understand that some T60s support the N card, as far as I know all T60 use the same BIOS. So I believe that means my T60P BIOS will support the N card. My machine a 2613 ETU came with a INTEL PRO/Wireless 3945 A/B/G card. As far as I know that has one antenna, and the 'N' card should have multiple antennas, now the antennas could be on the card, or there could be multiple antennas on the LCD panel. What I'd like to know is will it actually work with a 2613 ETU unit.

steveg47 · #15 Post by **steveg47** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:45 am

I'm not absolutely positive but I seem to recall 2 antenna connectors attached to the intel lan card on the T60 and the lcd parts diagram (not the greatest) appears to show 2 lan antennas. One referred to as "Wireless lan 3rd antenna" and the other simply as "Lan wireless antenna". This is for the 14.1 lcd.

mabbas · #16 Post by **mabbas** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:06 pm

Sorry, I can't definitively answer this question.

Basically when you get into the wireless cards, you are no longer talking about being "plug compatible" regarding the mini-PCI slot. Previous posters mentioned that the BIOS checks for approved wireless cards as they check for FCC radio approval. I am not sure about the 3rd lead for 802.11n, it makes sense that n could need another lead as it is doubling the reception via antenna, and if they are using MIMO it uses discrete radios at the same time to get better bandwith. I went to the web and didn't see any optional 802.11n options listed. This is where you are talking about "supported" vs can you do it.

I haven't ripped my T60 apart (or anyone elses) to see if you could do an inplace upgrade to 802.11n.

I guess being bleeding edge isn't easy?

mabbas · #17 Post by **mabbas** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:08 pm

All ThinkPads should have 2 antennae leads as they have physically have 2 antennaes (one on each side of display) for better reception.

Not to sound like an ad, but I have an HP as well, and while I have heard the marketing that ThinkPads have better connectivity, I for one can attest to it both in my home, mobile cafe's and work. The HP wireless sensitity/range is horrible compared to the ThinkPad, and keep in mind I only have the Intel a/b/g, not the ThinkPad/Atheros branded card.

Is it possible to swap wireless cards?

Is it possible to swap wireless cards?

Wireless 802.11 n question

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