108 mbps with IBM/atheros 802.11a/b/g adapter II

Message

sktn77a · #1 Post by **sktn77a** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:09 pm

I've just ordered an IBM/atheros 802.11a/b/g adapter II (FRU# 39T0355) for my T40 to replace the Intel 2100B card. I also have a Netgear WAG302 Atheros-based Wireless Access point. Both the AP and the card are capable of 108mbps. Has anybody had any success with this combination? If so, what was involved?

Thanks

toad · #2 Post by **toad** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:20 am

I'm afraid I can't help you there... Instead I'd be interested in how you fare, 'cos I was told that a T41 might require a CMOS update, as the Atheros chip is not supported, i.e. the laptop will quite simply fail to boot stating it has an unrecognised network card. Is that really the case?

sktn77a · #3 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:05 pm

Well, I have the latest BIOS update. It's an IBM card for the T4x (so won't give the 1802 error, as for a non-IBM card). But I've seen a statement on this board that IBM disable the 108mbps mode but this was not confirmed by anybody.

gg3761 · #4 Post by **gg3761** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:14 pm

http://s116441255.onlinehome.us/IBM.htm

This link may help.

toad · #5 Post by **toad** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:55 am

Are you saying that a normal BIOS update will get rid off that annoying glitch where the machine does not accept any other wlan chips than IBM?

sktn77a · #6 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:59 am

No, it won't get rid of the 1802 error with non-ibm cards but it may allow some newer IBM cards to work with an older computer (such as the T40). I probably won't get to installing this until the weekend as the wifi cards are buried below the touchpad!

danage · #7 Post by **danage** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:18 pm

in my t41 the machine will accept that same card with the newest bios as it appears to have been added to the whitelist.

you can always use the no-1802 tool, there's a bootable cd-image available in the thinkwiki.

you will not be able to get 108mbps even though the card is theoretically capable. ibm branded cards have it deactivated in the eeprom. it can be patched i read it somewhere in this forum but it's dangerous. i broke a card before trying.

try a forum search, it's around here somewhere.

edit: oh wait. the t4x dont have the 1802 error, do they?

toad · #8 Post by **toad** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:23 pm

Cheers danage!

I'll be doing some searching but your info is a great start!

sktn77a · #9 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:09 pm

danage wrote:in my t41 the machine will accept that same card with the newest bios as it appears to have been added to the whitelist.

So, Danage, you are using the 39T0355 in your T41 and have had no problem (other than just installing the latest BIOS)?

Where is the "whitelist" you refer to?

Thanks

gg3761 · #10 Post by **gg3761** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:35 pm

Here's a question. I have enabled the 108 mbps in my T42 for my radio card that i had upgraded to. I had the Intel and swapped it for the IBM with 108 mbps capability.
When i check the stats for the wireless it shows still a 54 mbps transmit. For that to show 108 do i need the router to transmit 108?
Before everyone thinks i'm a idiot i know i need to transmit 108 to get 108 but i was curious if the wireless stats would show that at least the card was ready for 108. Wow. Now i'm confused.
So in a nutshell. Will i need to get a router that transmits 108 mbps to varify that my card will receive it? I should of started with that question.

Thanks

jsteele · #11 Post by **jsteele** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:46 pm

gg3761

I have the registry settings in my TP 40 for 108MB with the LAN II card and I have several 108MB routers and I do NOT get 108 with the TP (I do get 108 with my wife's Dell and my daugher's Toshiba however so I know the router is capable.)

I think it has been pointed out elsewhere that the LAN II card has 108 disabled on the card and it needs to be reprogrammed to support 108. I'm not comfortable with making the card changes so I live with 54 until IBM/Lenovo decides to favor us with an update.

No joy here for the 108 crowd

sktn77a · #12 Post by **sktn77a** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:36 pm

Well, I replaced the Intel 2100B wireless card in my T40 with an IBM/atheros 802.11a/b/g adapter II (FRU# 39T0355) today and it appears to be working just fine - 54mbps on both 11a and 11b. I'm using the driver from 5/23/2006 (v4.1.102.147), not the most recent one from 2007 which apparently no longer supports the T40/41/42 series computers. No 108mpbs, though, and I don't think I can be bothered to mess around with the registry hacks (which don't appear to work for most people).

sktn77a · #13 Post by **sktn77a** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:04 pm

I did notice thet the Fn-F5 toggle no longer works to switch the wireless card on and off. Did IBM drop this from their latest software or is this an incompatibility with the newest card in the older computer? For what it's worth, I uninstalled Access connections and Fn-F5 still worked with the Intel 2100B card but after uninstalling the Intel card and driver and installing the IBM card and driver, no Fn-F5.

danage · #14 Post by **danage** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:29 am

1. for the fn+f5 to work, i believe using the original ibm drivers is necessary, not generic atheros ones.

2. a registry hack will not enable 108mbps on your atheros card, it needs to be hacked into the eeprom. there is a thread on this in the forum, just do a search.

3. compared to 54, 108 will increase transfer speed about 20%, but only if you are REALLY close to the access point.

sktn77a · #15 Post by **sktn77a** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:03 pm

Thanks Danage. I'm using the IBM driver (5/23/2006 - the latest driver supporting the T40). I have also updated the power management and hotkey software to the latest version - no joy.

corrado85 · #16 Post by **corrado85** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 2:06 pm

why would IBM disable the 108mbps feature??? what is their motive behind this? to screw its customer to the fullest!?

danage · #17 Post by **danage** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:29 pm

i think it's policy. the 108mpbs is a proprietary standard only used by atheros and does not conform the 802.11a/g specification.

i don't get the wifi enable fn#f5 under vista either, but i am using the out of the box drivers. the antenna led doesn't come on either. the card works flawlessly though.

sktn77a · #18 Post by **sktn77a** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:13 pm

Well, my antenna light works fine under XP/SP2, as does the 54mbps functionality. The error I get when I press Fn-F5 is:

"Unable to change power status of 802.11 wireless radio.
Please update wireless card driver."

But, of course, I'm using the latest driver supported by the T40.

So Fn-F5 recognizes there's a wireless card installed now that I updated the other software (Power Mgt and Hotkey).

108 mbps with IBM/atheros 802.11a/b/g adapter II

108 mbps with IBM/atheros 802.11a/b/g adapter II

Who is online