Wireless-N on a T60?

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#1 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:07 am

I currently have a T60 2623D6U with Thinkpad Wireless a/b/g mini PCI adapter.

Will this Wireless-N adapter from the Lenovo website work with my current notebook without modification?

If not, is there a Lenovo or other Wireless-N mini-PCI adapter that will work?

ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe
41U4876
$60.00

Thanks,
Andrew
Austin, TX

#2 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:04 am

You would need to install an additional antenna under the keyboard or back of the lcd if it's not already present other than that the card would work.

sugo · #3 Post by **sugo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:33 am

The new card probably will not pass T60's BIOS check ...

#4 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:36 am

sugo wrote:The new card probably will not pass T60's BIOS check ...

Thinkpad branded cards are an exception. Intel AGN wouldn't pass the BIOS test. I have thinkpad a/b/g/n installed in my T60 from factory also.

sugo · #5 Post by **sugo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:54 am

ryengineer wrote:Thinkpad branded cards are an exception. Intel AGN wouldn't pass the BIOS test. I have thinkpad a/b/g/n installed in my T60 from factory also.

The atheros abgn in your T60 is AR5008 based card (Part 41U4780, FRU 42T0825).

It is likely that the card with Part number 41U4876 is a different card that uses AR9001 chipset - which can mean different VID and 1802 BIOS error on a T60.

#6 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:35 am

You're probably right sugo, didn't realize there was a new generation of Atheros NIC chipset available now. I'll also be interested to know if it works with thinkpad T60 or not.

aamsel wrote:snip....If not, is there a Lenovo or other Wireless-N mini-PCI adapter that will work?.....snip

FRU # 42T0825 will work.

Marie-Anne · #7 Post by **Marie-Anne** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:24 am

sugo wrote: The atheros abgn in your T60 is AR5008 based card (Part 41U4780, FRU 42T0825).

It is likely that the card with Part number 41U4876 is a different card that uses AR9001 chipset - which can mean different VID and 1802 BIOS error on a T60.

Fair enough, but is it possible to sent a request for a T60 BIOS-update related to the AR9001 chipset based Atheros ABGN card?
Where and how?

#8 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:42 pm

ryengineer wrote:You're probably right sugo, didn't realize there was a new generation of Atheros NIC chipset available now. I'll also be interested to know if it works with thinkpad T60 or not.

aamsel wrote:snip....If not, is there a Lenovo or other Wireless-N mini-PCI adapter that will work?.....snip

FRU # 42T0825 will work.

Thanks.
What antenna would I need to buy?

Andrew
Austin, TX

sugo · #9 Post by **sugo** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:05 pm

Marie-Anne wrote:Fair enough, but is it possible to sent a request for a T60 BIOS-update related to the AR9001 chipset based Atheros ABGN card?
Where and how?

I haven't heard anyone did that before. A better route might be filing a support case with Lenovo saying the new card one bought from Lenovo site doesn't work in T60.

#10 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:35 pm

aamsel wrote:snip....What antenna would I need to buy?....snip

A third antenna for N support, FRU # 42R9909.

#11 Post by **aamsel** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:06 pm

ryengineer wrote:
aamsel wrote:snip....What antenna would I need to buy?....snip
A third antenna for N support, FRU # 42R9909.

Thanks a lot!
Do any instructions come with it, or is there a link to any on the Lenovo site?
(or is it too simple to need any?)

Andrew
Austin, TX

#12 Post by **ryengineer** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:12 am

If you buy from lenovo they'll send you a pamphlet sort of booklet to install the card. However I'm not sure about the antenna if they send you any instructions or not.

But you can always:

Watch the videos:

Mini PCI removal movie - ThinkPad T60/p.

Mini PCI installation movie - ThinkPad T60/p.

Refer to HMM:

Hardware Maintenance Manual - ThinkPad T60/p (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2613, 2623, 2637).

I also found an auction on ebay that shows a little procedure in pictures:

Card procedure (although for Dell).

Please refer to HMM for installation in a thinkpad.

Antenna procedure.

Again you can refer to HMM for this procedure as well.

#13 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:49 am

You may find this (long) thread of some interest....

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 2fb5b26566

Cheers,

Bill B.

Marie-Anne · #14 Post by **Marie-Anne** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:00 am

ryengineer wrote:You would need to install an additional antenna under the keyboard or back of the lcd if it's not already present other than that the card would work.

Next blog shows pictures where the 3 antennas are located, although on a T61p:

Scroll down!!

http://blog.mobile01.com/merlin/article/981

#15 Post by **aamsel** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 1:22 pm

Thanks everyone!

I had searched for "Wireless N" and "Wireless-N" instead of "802.11n" so I didn't see the previous threads.

Andrew
Austin, TX

#16 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 5:04 am

Andrew,

There is a seller on eBay that currently has brand new Atheros 300Mbps 802.11n XSPAN for IBM cards for sale. This is the 802.11n card that is whitelisted in the T60!

Cheers,

Bill B.

#17 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:27 am

Thanks a lot!
Andrew

bill bolton wrote:Andrew,

There is a seller on eBay that currently has brand new Atheros 300Mbps 802.11n XSPAN for IBM cards for sale. This is the 802.11n card that is whitelisted in the T60!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Marie-Anne · #18 Post by **Marie-Anne** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:41 am

bill bolton wrote:Andrew,

There is a seller on eBay that currently has brand new Atheros 300Mbps 802.11n XSPAN for IBM cards for sale. This is the 802.11n card that is whitelisted in the T60!

Cheers,

Bill B.

But notice: Driver support for Windows XP and Windows 2000 (ONLY?)

#19 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:49 am

Marie-Anne wrote:
bill bolton wrote:Andrew,

There is a seller on eBay that currently has brand new Atheros 300Mbps 802.11n XSPAN for IBM cards for sale. This is the 802.11n card that is whitelisted in the T60!

Cheers,

Bill B.
But notice: Driver support for Windows XP and Windows 2000 (ONLY?)

I emailed the seller and told him/her that I want one if I can locate the VISTA drivers.
You are saying that they are NOT these drivers: ???
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-67351

Andrew
Austin, TX

#20 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:14 pm

Andrew, the mentioned drivers from lenovo would work.

#21 Post by **aamsel** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:21 pm

Great.
I bought one of these cards.

Thanks!

Andrew
Austin, TX

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