Anybody put minipci wifi into T2x? (T22)

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nichevo · #1 Post by **nichevo** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:11 pm

I bumped my T41p's 802.11 from 2200 b to 2915 abg card. Now I have a spare 2200.

Gave my T22 to Dad w (384 certified MB and) a Linksys WPC54g PC Card. But of course it protrudes. My machine now has the minipci 10/100+Modem card.

Wondering: anyone ever put a 2200 or the like into a T22 or other T20 series? How to?

Alt.: Trade a 2200 card for a T22 PC100 256MB SODIMM to match the certified one i have. You can have my 128 in trade as well. Or maybe someone wants the WPC54G?

Let's talk. PM me or discuss on forum as you please.

Kaervak · #2 Post by **Kaervak** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:18 am

Well, I haven't done it to a T22 but a T23. In my opnion there are two potential issues with adding MiniPCI wireless to a system that doesn't have it.

1) Mounting the antennas.
2) The 1802/01C9 patch.

Most of what I've read about mounting antennas have people putting them under the keyboard bezel because there's no metal there to cause interferrence. The lid is titanium so putting them there wouldn't work all that great. In my case with my T23 I got the IBM OEM antennas, wi-fi specific screen lid and bezel from eBay for $11.00 shipped. So my T23 originally wasn't a wi-fi specific model, but now it technically is.

The second and more pressing issue, http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... light=1802 does a far far better job explaining what it is than I can. I had to do this with my Atheros 5212A card and it was rather easy. Booted from the CD, followed the prompts and that was pretty much it. No problems ever since. Since the card you have came from a Thinkpad I don't think you'll have to use the patch.

As far as actually installing the card, there's not a whole lot to it. If you don't go the wi-fi specific lid/bezel route it's even easier. You can probably get away with just removing the keyboard and sliding the antennas under the plastic palm rest. Worst case is you have to remove the bezel to place the antennas which isn't too bad. If there's anything else you want to know, ask away. and as always if there's something I'm wrong about, correct away.

#3 Post by **rkawakami** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:16 am

nichevo wrote:Wondering: anyone ever put a 2200 or the like into a T22 or other T20 series? How to?

To answer your question in the other post about this...

Your T22 has an ethernet/modem combo card, so yes, you would lose them both (I believe that the 2200 is wireless only, right?). The T23 has the separate ethernet CDC (communication daughter card) so that capability stays in those systems.

I have not tried to install any wireless card inside a T22 simply because I didn't think it was worth the effort and it meant that I would lose the built-in ethernet. Losing the modem is not a problem for me. Having several T23s also didn't help either. Not sure if you would need any BIOS tricks/hacks to get around the 1802 and 01C9 issues, but if you do then Kaervak has supplied
the needed information. I've replaced the T23's Actiontec modem/wireless combo card with a Broadcom-based board and there's nothing needed in the way of BIOS hacks. I wouldn't think that something like that would be needed for the T22 as that system did not come with factory wireless.

Rix · #4 Post by **Rix** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:36 am

Yes I did, put cheap Gigabte card in miniPCI slot, but I have problems with antena (ypu must put in by yourself - throught all laptop) , signal is not good enought, seems problem is in bad quality of cabels or wrong placement of antenas. Still working on it.

nichevo · #5 Post by **nichevo** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:45 am

Rix wrote:Yes I did, put cheap Gigabte card in miniPCI slot, but I have problems with antena (ypu must put in by yourself - throught all laptop) , signal is not good enought, seems problem is in bad quality of cabels or wrong placement of antenas. Still working on it.

Any plans, how-tos?

Which card, what model? Does it have wifi PLUS ethernet? Is there such a card? DO you feel you can get along w/o enet?

Where and how, the antennas? Where did you buy them, what is the part called, how much?

What model thinkpad you working on?

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:11 am

nichevo wrote:Any plans, how-tos? <snip>

Are you sure you're not in Jersey? (Old, OLD, SNL joke

)

Plans, how-to: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=32377 and http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=37619

I use a Broadcom 802.11b/g card. There are no wireless/ethernet combo card to my knowledge. Antennas should probably go under the keyboard bezel, between the battery compartment and outside edge of the bottom case. If you put them in the lid, the metal will severely limit your reception/transmission. Said antennas can be sourced from eBay and will have a U.FL jack at the end. Price ~$10 each. You can usually get away with using just one.

nichevo · #7 Post by **nichevo** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:14 am

Ray, Kaervak
, thanks for your input...as this is a 2200 type card from my T41p it is not 1802-prone. Yes, I would lose the ethernet, which is a concern. Would there exist combo enet/wifi cards? Would either enet or wifi by USB (1.1

) work?

But frankly, as you say the T22 has limits...RAM among others; so I am not into a big investment here. I suppose a T23 would be nicer, if I had one.

Hmm. Well, it works as is, more or less. I do feel the lack of a 2nd 256MB SODIMM though, or rather my dad may.

What part name or number would the antenna(e) be? What would I search for?

Sorry I did not get the SNL ref...a hint?

#8 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:24 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseanne_Roseannadanna (Richard Feder from Fort Lee, NJ)

No real part number per se for locating the antenna. Plug in "U.FL antenna" into eBay's search field and you should get some examples.

edit: ethernet capability - you could install a PCMCIA-ethernet adapter card.

Robbyrobot · #9 Post by **Robbyrobot** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:47 am

I'm presently lurking at an Ebay auction (320146077885) where a WLAN card + antennae for a T2x are offered. The seller has already informed me that putting the antennae underneath the palmrest works fine.

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:27 am

My advice would be to top up the memory of that T22 to 2x256MB, and, instead of internal mini-PCI, buy a USB WiFi-dongle. If you get the model that has a flexible 'gooseneck' between USB-port and dongle, your reception will probably even be better than with a PCMCIA card, and it is less accident-prone.
Even the USB2.0 dongles work great in a USB1.1 port.

Anybody put minipci wifi into T2x? (T22)

Anybody put minipci wifi into T2x? (T22)

Re: Anybody put mnipci wifi into T2x? (T22)

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