WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

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Zeitgeist · #1 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sat May 29, 2004 11:18 am

Does anybody know whether it is possible to upgrade this model with a internal wlan card or not? Does the display have already the internal antenna? How can I check this?

G-Man · #2 Post by **G-Man** » Sat May 29, 2004 11:50 am

According to this site your T23 already have the wireless card. It supposed be a IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini PCI combo card. The driver and firmware update can be downloaded here.

Regards,
G-Man

G-Man · #3 Post by **G-Man** » Sat May 29, 2004 12:01 pm

Update:
In addition download and install IBM Access Connections 3.21.

NOTES:

If Access Connections (earlier version than 2.70) is already installed, uninstall Access Connections. Then, update any wireless drivers first before proceeding with the Access Connections installation.

Regards,
G-Man

#4 Post by **erik** » Sat May 29, 2004 1:22 pm

Zeitgeist wrote:Does anybody know whether it is possible to upgrade this model with a internal wlan card or not? Does the display have already the internal antenna? How can I check this?

if your lcd cover is 12.1" wide and has ribbed plastic pieces at the top of each side of the lcd (.25" x 1.5"), then the antennae are already installed. if your lcd cover is exactly 12" then you do not have the wlan antennae.

i just upgraded my father's T23 to wireless and have all of the old parts lying around. it is definitely possible to upgrade.

here is a list of parts that you will need:
46L4910 lcd cover $39.00
26P9196 lcd hinge set $21.50
26P9197 antennae $15.00
91P7661 mini pci wlan+modem card $35.00 (ebay)

again, the ibm maintenence parts retail site will help you purchase the above.

if you already have the antennae installed, then all you need is the $35 mpci card from ebay.

let me know if you have any questions as i am very familiar with this upgrade.

-erik

#5 Post by **erik** » Sat May 29, 2004 1:26 pm

G-Man wrote:According to this site your T23 already have the wireless card. It supposed be a IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini PCI combo card.

actually, not all T23's came with wireless. here are the specs for the 2647-8MG:

PIII-M 1.13GHz (512KB), 128MB RAM, 30.0GB HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 8x-3.3x DVD-ROM, Modem(MPCI), Ethernet(CDC), TV out, Li-Ion battery, WinXP Pro

-erik

G-Man · #6 Post by **G-Man** » Sat May 29, 2004 1:48 pm

Go here http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41929 then click "Detect and identify your Mini PCI communication card"

Regards,
G-Man

JHEM · #7 Post by **JHEM** » Sat May 29, 2004 1:58 pm

Zeitgeist wrote:Does the display have already the internal antenna?

Sorry, that unit did not ship with the antennae installed.

Follow Erik's excellent instructions and you can install it yourself.

Regards,

James

Voodle · #8 Post by **Voodle** » Sat May 29, 2004 3:22 pm

Does this mean that the 46l4910 is the entire back cover and front bezel for the LCD? it would have to be wouldn't it, since the ribbed parts for the antenna have to be plastic. Surprising that in the UK it's just about £10, while any other LCD cover part from IBM costs around £100.

Neat though, if I get enough money to waste, I might have a go at upgrading my T23 to internal wireless.

Zeitgeist · #9 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 30, 2004 2:04 am

Wow, I am surprised to have found so many experts here. THANKS!

I think I will follow erik´s way. (Hope you look from time to time in the forum- I might have questions...)

Have a nice weekend.

Zeitgeist · #10 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 30, 2004 3:03 am

erik: Do you know if it is possible to upgrade to the b/g-combi card instead of the b card you suggested? Will the antenna support g-standard?

Zeitgeist · #11 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 30, 2004 3:19 am

Another question:

When I replace my present ethernet/modem card by the wlan card flatdraft suggested (IBM High Rate Wireless 802.11b LAN/56K Modem MiniPCI Combo Card) what happens to my ethernet (LAN) connection?

JHEM · #12 Post by **JHEM** » Sun May 30, 2004 7:33 am

Zeitgeist wrote:When I replace my present ethernet/modem card by the wlan card flatdraft suggested (IBM High Rate Wireless 802.11b LAN/56K Modem MiniPCI Combo Card) what happens to my ethernet (LAN) connection?

Your T23 doesn't have a combination Ethernet/Modem card. The Modem is a mini-PCI card, the Ethernet card is a separate Communications Daughter Card (CDC), so replacing the mini-PCI card will have no effect on the Ethernet card.

Turn the unit over and open the access panel, you'll see the two separate cards.

Regards,

James

#13 Post by **erik** » Sun May 30, 2004 10:11 am

Voodle wrote:Does this mean that the 46l4910 is the entire back cover and front bezel for the LCD? it would have to be wouldn't it, since the ribbed parts for the antenna have to be plastic. Surprising that in the UK it's just about £10, while any other LCD cover part from IBM costs around £100.

Neat though, if I get enough money to waste, I might have a go at upgrading my T23 to internal wireless.

46L4910 includes the lcd rear cover, the ibm thinkpad logo, the front bezel, the plastic data cable hinge pieces, and an entire set of adhesive chassis screw covers. ibm is very thorough with what they include. sounds like £10 is a steal.

-erik

#14 Post by **erik** » Sun May 30, 2004 10:33 am

Zeitgeist wrote:I think I will follow erik´s way. (Hope you look from time to time in the forum- I might have questions...)

not a problem. i'm glad to be of assistance since i've already gone through the upgrade.

you will need to download the HMM (hardware maintenence manual) for the T2x series. the only tools needed are a #1 philips screwdriver and a tiny knife or pick to pry up the adhesive screw covers. new covers will come with the kit so don't worry about saving the old ones.

you will literally have your T23 about 80% disassembled when performing this upgrade, so it's definitly not for the faint-of-heart.

if you need any help during the upgrade then feel free to p/m me or post directly to this thread. we have a lot of knowledgeable members that can help you if i'm not available.

good luck!

-erik

Zeitgeist · #15 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 30, 2004 12:55 pm

Again thanks all of you!!!

I am a bit scared to disassemble 80% of the T23... What about the warranty (still until november 2005)?

On the other hand 100 $ for the upgrade is reasonable.

Have a nice weekend

Zeitgeist · #16 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 30, 2004 1:35 pm

I opened the access panel as shown in the movie

http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-45923

and it´s true there are two cards: the ethernet and the modem card. But if I replace the modem card by a WLAN/modem combicard then there would be no space for the ethernet card?!

#17 Post by **erik** » Sun May 30, 2004 4:54 pm

Zeitgeist wrote:...and it´s true there are two cards: the ethernet and the modem card. But if I replace the modem card by a WLAN/modem combicard then there would be no space for the ethernet card?!

there is plenty of room for both cards. the wlan/modem card is exactly the same size as the modem-only card.

Zeitgeist wrote:I am a bit scared to disassemble 80% of the T23... What about the warranty (still until november 2005)?

this modification would indeed void your warranty since you must disassemble the thinkpad well past what ibm considers a "consumer upgradable" modification.

if you aren't confident performing the modification then perhaps you should consider james' (JHEM) favorite alternative, a 3com xjack wlan pccard. they come in two flavors; an 802.11b-only version (3CRWE62092B / ~$60) and one that does a/b/g (3CRPAG175 / ~$100). i have never tried either card but james swears by them.

given the fact that you still have warranty and can get a/b/g compatibility for less money than modifying your chassis, i would recommend going that route.

hope that helps a bit.

-erik

Zeitgeist · #18 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Mon May 31, 2004 1:51 am

Thanks, now I hesitate again. I was just going to order the parts...

G-Man · #19 Post by **G-Man** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:03 am

Zeitgeist,

You can also consider IBM's a/b/g Wireless Cardbus Adapter. On sale now.

Regards,
G-Man

Zeitgeist · #20 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Mon May 31, 2004 3:17 am

Thanks, G-Man, but what I really find tempting is a notebook without any "extension" at the side. I would follow Erik´s solution if I hadn´t still warranty (I am still not sure if I should risk it).

The 3com card with the x-jack antenna appears to me as the only alternative. Besides, I don´t live in the US so the IBM card offer is a bit difficult for me

Erik, if you have time I would appreciate a little summary. I think the most relevant parts of the HMM are pages 134-136. Just in case I decide in the future for an upgrade and you are not arround.

#21 Post by **erik** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:00 pm

Zeitgeist wrote:Erik, if you have time I would appreciate a little summary. I think the most relevant parts of the HMM are pages 134-136. Just in case I decide in the future for an upgrade and you are not arround.

i typically check the board quite often but p/m me and if you want my direct email address.

to get to pages 128-130 (134-136 as acrobat sees them) you must remove the following parts first:
- “1010 Battery pack” on page 60
- “1020 Backup battery” on page 61
- “1030 Hard-disk drive” on page 63
- “1070 Ultrabay 2000 device” on page 73
- “1080 Keyboard” on page 74
- “1090 Keyboard CRU insulator” on page 82
- “1100 Hinge cover” on page 83
- “1110 Keyboard bezel” on page 88
- “1120 Fan assembly” on page 94
- “2010 LCD assembly” on page 119
- “2020 Front bezel” on page 122
- “2030 Inverter card” on page 123
- “2040 LCD panel” on page 124

installing the antenna onto the lcd cover is fairly simple. the antenna ends will clip into the sides of the lcd cover and the antenna cables will fit into plastic guides all the way to the bottom. tape them in place using thin, clear tape (3M scotch tape works well). there are heat shrink tubes installed where the cables exit the lcd, so as long as those line up properly then the cables will be protected. then, feed the cables through the main board (through an oval hole) and out the bottom where they can clip into the wlan/modem mpci card.

if you were in the u.s. i'd offer to do the modification for you. however, the amount you'd have to invest in shipping+insurance would make an a/b/g xjack pccard even wiser of an investment.

-erik

Zeitgeist · #22 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Mon May 31, 2004 2:03 pm

I am touched... Thanks!!!

jtheun · #23 Post by **jtheun** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 7:52 am

Phillips Wireless LAN 802.11 a/b/g Mini PCI by IBM
IBM FRU 91P7301

The list of compatible computers seems to be:
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885), X40 (2371/2372/2382/2386), T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379), T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379) , R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836), R50p (1832/1833), R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889)

If not, any other 802.11b/g mini PCI that I can use?

wireless4laptop · #24 Post by **wireless4laptop** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:30 am

upgrade

91P7661 mini pci wlan+modem card $34.99

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ActionTec-802MIP- ... dZViewItem

the past link is from our ebay shop, now a set of antennas included.

WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

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Re: WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

Re: WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

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Re: WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

Re: WLAN for T23 2647-8MG

Will this work on a T23?

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