T41 - upgrading wifi to 11n or g

[kaczor47]

I am looking to upgrade the wireless on my good old T41 (2378-DMU), preferably to 802.11n, but I may settle for g. I would like to avoid a usb adaptor, and instead replace the mini pci card.

I found some Intel 4965agn Mini PCIe cards on ebay, but noticed that they specifically note incompatibility with IBM/Lenovo (and HP). What makes this card incompatible, or better yet, what card should I be looking for?

Secondly, I understand that 802.11n requires 2 antennas. Since the T41 has only one, would I be able to simply place an additional one somewhere inside the chasis? Again, I saw some for sale specifically for the Intel card.

Or am I stuck with 11g (or n via usb adaptor)?

Thanks in advance for your help

[sojourner]

I understand that 802.11n requires 2 antennas. Since the T41 has only one, would I be able to simply place an additional one somewhere inside the chasis?

Hmmm, I've never seen a T41 with just one antenna, they have two; and 'N' normally requires THREE antennas. Have you physically check your TP and see only one coax? There should be two, different colors, one for 'main' the other for 'aux'.

I've utilized a T41 with only one antenna for WIFI and the other antenna connected to bluetooth. Some speak against this for various reasons but I've always had good results. On the other hand, I've heard if you run N with only two of the three antennas there will be significant degradation of signal, and most N adapters require three antennas. But seeing two antenna N adapters are made, look for one of those!

[RealBlackStuff]

Those cards won't fit, you need a MiniPCI card, NOT MiniPCIe(xpress)!
All wifi laptaps have at least 2 antennas (grey=Aux, white=Main).
Later models may have 3 to accomodate wifi-N.
However, wifi-N will also work with 2 antennas, just not up to its full capacity (which is theoretical anyway).

[sktn77a]

Non OEM IBM wireless cards will give you an "1802" error when you boot up. Supposedly due to FCC interference certification. There's a BIOS hack for this but do you really want to bother with that? I don't think you're going to find a simple "N" solution to your wishes. I would get the IBM a/b/g card - it works great in the T41. You can pick them up dirt cheap on e-bay or the marketplace on this forum.

[kaczor47]

Those cards won't fit, you need a MiniPCI card, NOT MiniPCIe(xpress)!
All wifi laptaps have at least 2 antennas (grey=Aux, white=Main).

My mistake, on both counts. I mis-read the specs on the T41 (mPCIe), and indeed, 2 antennas.

But seeing two antenna N adapters are made, look for one of those!

Hmmm, I will have to search for one of these... Mind you, I understand this would require a BIOS hack, which I may not bother with and instead go for one of the tiny usb N adaptors. Or just 11g (Intel 2200BG MiniPCI).

Thanks everyone who replied.!

[sktn77a]

I'd still recommend the IBM (atheros) a/b/g card. The Intel B/G cards were a later implementation and could be bit flaky in the earlier T40/T41 computers (they worked fine in the T42).

[craigmontHunter]

I have a 2200bg in my t41, and it works substantially better than the origional 2100b. it was $12 on ebay, an ibm compatible (no bios hack ), I don't think there will be any problems with your sysem., I have heard about people running a wireless card inside any thinkpad with the minipci slot.

I just realized, my t41 has a t42 mobo.

Jack

[thinkpad1]

These questions I would like to apply to my T41 as well...

Is there an Atheros MiniPCI card that has the strongest signal and best performance?

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Wireless_ ... rs#Atheros

Maybe this one?:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_11a/b ... Adapter_II

If there are specific parts and/or part numbers recommended, which ones?

Does Atheros wifi chipsets work better in Windows / Linux than Intel 2200bg?

Just curious...

[sojourner]

use this card for G (93P3475):
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_11b/g ... CI_Adapter

I use it in multiple TP's. It's fast (G), strong signal (long distance), doesn't drop connections, works across multiple platforms (see sig), works in numerous TP's, inexpensive. Simply love it!

If you MUST go to N, although I think you'd be disappointed, look at this:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0361094973
I don't have personal experience with this card, have thought about buying it to try N. If you buy it, please let us know how it works out!

[fongalv]

use this card for G (93P3475):
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/IBM_11b/g ... CI_Adapter

I use it in multiple TP's. It's fast (G), strong signal (long distance), doesn't drop connections, works across multiple platforms (see sig), works in numerous TP's, inexpensive. Simply love it!

Hi,

Like TS, I'm also considering to upgrade my T41P 2733-GGA to a "G" which my home router supports. I've looked up the component lists at Section 14 here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46474 but could not decipher it after several attempts of comparing the model numbers...

Looking up ebay(from where I get most of the stuff recently), are these suitable? The only MPCI cards I found to be labeled IBM/DELL compatible were non Atheros ones...

US Seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 148wt_1165
HK Seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2915wt_957
TW Seller http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 2915wt_957

[sojourner]

The service manual you looked at says your TP (GGx) would have come with an 802.11b WIFI (91P7267). But any of the cards listed there should work, including the one I like most.

As far as the ebay links you posted; none of said they were compatible with IBM's, so would they work without throwing an error in your T41? Don't know, but there are many forum members who might know and will chime in for you.

[Radioguy]

If you MUST go to N, although I think you'd be disappointed, look at this:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0361094973
I don't have personal experience with this card, have thought about buying it to try N. If you buy it, please let us know how it works out!

Interesting...I didn't think there were any mini-pci (non-express) N cards. Is this the only one?

[fongalv]

The service manual you looked at says your TP (GGx) would have come with an 802.11b WIFI (91P7267). But any of the cards listed there should work, including the one I like most.

As far as the ebay links you posted; none of said they were compatible with IBM's, so would they work without throwing an error in your T41? Don't know, but there are many forum members who might know and will chime in for you.

Hi sojourner, thanks for helping out, so what I need to look up the card you recommended is that it has to be labeled "IBM", "Atheros", "MiniPCI", "802.111a/b/g"(probably only need b/g). Do I need to get the fru number to match?

My latest search(that ships worldwide) turned up these:
FRU doesn't seem right
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-Mini-P ... 235wt_1166

Matching FRU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0537wt_940

My sincere apologies if I appear to be hijacking the thread.

[sojourner]

so what I need to look up the card you recommended is that it has to be labeled "IBM", "Atheros", "MiniPCI", "802.111a/b/g"(probably only need b/g). Do I need to get the fru number to match?

The short answer (and safe answer) is yes! Finding a card with an FRU number you know will work is best. If you want a G card try the 93P3475 as mentioned before.

Regarding 802.11a; check out this link to see if 'A' is something you need (it's mainly used in commercial applications, has short range, is not used by most people and lastly, it's old, approaching obsolesce):
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/961181

My latest search(that ships worldwide) turned up these:
FRU doesn't seem right
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-Mini-P ... 235wt_1166

Matching FRU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0537wt_940

The first one is not listed in the service manual for your T41. I don't know if it would work, but the second URL you posted looks good.

BTW, when you add a URL to a post you don't have to add the HTM code of URL /URL. In fact if you don't you'll see a nice short URL as above

[MnR]

Hi,

I have bought Many IBM/Lenovo products for my two laptops (T41 and T43) from this seller. He is good. and has what others do not have.

This is what you are looking for: http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-T41-Wi ... 5d27b311dd

And if you only want A/B/G use this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-IBM-Thinkpad-In ... 53d2f74988


MnR

[sojourner]

This is what you are looking for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-T41-Wi ... 5d27b311dd

I didn't see anything about backwards compatibility with 'B' and 'G' networks, which is important to some people. Did I miss something?

[MnR]

Hi,

It is an A/B/G/N. He has installed them in T42s that he is selling. Here is the link (Read the specsfor the laptop): http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T42-Wi ... 5d25d15a96

MnR

[ajkula66]

OK, the guy is a liar because these cards WILL NOT work at 300Mbps, they might run at 130 or so, which is fine but...let me zip my mouth...

[fongalv]

The first one is not listed in the service manual for your T41. I don't know if it would work, but the second URL you posted looks good.

BTW, when you add a URL to a post you don't have to add the HTM code of URL /URL. In fact if you don't you'll see a nice short URL as above

Thanks man! I have placed an order for the 2nd one and it has been shipped within a couple of hours . Most of the wireless points, including the one at home is only a "G" so I guess I wont need to shell out additional $$$ on a mPCI card with "inferior" network points. I'm only upgrading to the "G" because it was supposed to have better signal strength/range/stability over the "B". The speed increase probably won't affect much since my service provider maxes out at 8Mbps and I don't have a NAS to stream with

[MnR]

Hi,

I get good range using G. My Access Point (Not wireless router) is A/B/G and I can use both A and G at the same time with both of my laptops (One on A and One on G).

MnR