802.11n for T61p and T60

Looking for 802.11n mini card for my t61p and t60.

This is what I'm looking at now:

Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad 802.11N MINI CARD T60 T61 X60 X61 - eBay (item 200516781756 end time Jul-03-11 12:19:46 PDT)

This doesn't look like it supports 5ghz and 802.11a though and was wondering if there were any better solutions. I'd like something with 3 antenna setup (which i know the t61p has in the display).

I'm not totally in need of 5ghz or 802.11a but if there was a good option I would be interested.

thanks

 

I mean you can look at the 6300 or 6230 and get a Lenovo branded one. You will have to buy the full height to half height adapter on Ebay for like 4 bucks. Just make sure you have extra length wire for the WLAN antennae.

 

hmm. Well I found 42T0865 Lenovo Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN on ebay which does have 5ghz/a and was meant for T61 but will it work in the T60? I haven't taken the T60 apart to check the antenna setup yet (don't know if it supports 'a' currently either), but i'm wondering if the BIOS would reject the card etc?

 

you would need to get a modified bios firmware to get that card to work in the T60.

 

If it's Lenovo branded WLAN card, why would you need a modified firmware?

 

I think its because some N cards are too new for the T60 to be added on the whitelist. So even though it is Lenovo branded, if it doesn't match the safe database of the BIOS then it will fail to work. I too would use the modified BIOS to disable the whitelist altogether, you can find a range of modded BIOS from this site by Zender.

 

I bought an Intel 5300 from eBay (full-height version w/ 3 antennas) for my T61, and it works like a charm. Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5GHz awesomeness. I believe that there is a 3rd antenna in my T61, but I don't know about the T61p. If there isn't, it'll work fine with just two antennas, as I have another 5300 in an older computer w/ just two antennas. I'm in the process of moving the fleet over to 5GHz N, and I put 5GHz cards in the fiancee's computers and most of mine.

The 5300 is a great card, great compatibility, and pretty cheap. I got mine for $20 each.

Regarding BIOSes, be advised that I am using middleton's SATA3 modded BIOS, which also removes the whitelist, AFAIK. I've had no problem with that BIOS, FYI.

 

I ended up getting:

42T0825 ATHEROS AR5BXB72 AR5008 WIRELESS N WIFI CARD 42T0825

Which is supposed to be for the T60.

I still need to figure out what to do for the 3rd antenna. At the same time I may be shopping for a higher rez display that might have it.

 

My T61p has the 3rd antenna, it isn't plugged into anything and is tucked away under the minicard...until the new minicard comes in.

 

the Intel 5300 will work fine with the 2 antenna setup, it just won't be in 3x3 mode, rather it will operate at 2x2 mode like the intel 5100.

@formerglory you can be a nbr thinkpad core now at the rate you are going with the thinkpad wildlife rescue from your university.

 

I know from actual use that an intel 5300 will operate in 3x3 mode with 2 wires plugged in. the unused wire stub still transmits and receives (poorly), and is pretty well functional when in the same room as the AP (which is, also, the only time you would EVER get a 450mbit link-rate.)

95% of current 11n routers are only 300mbit, thus do not even need 3x3, though.

 

Thanks . Still growing the fleet, always on the prowl for a good deal.

 

Well just got back from the road trip and installed the adapters into the Thinkpads.

For the T60 the two antenna is working better than 802.11g has ever worked. Got about 7-9MB/s with it. Haven't tried the T61p near the WAP yet.

All in all, this beats G.

 

My T61 also had the third antenna. I replaced the original a/b/g Atheros-based card with a Lenovo-branded Intel 4965AGN without incident.

The T60 will probably need a modified BIOS, and it is highly unlikely it will have a third antenna lead. As others have said, a three-antenna card will work on two leads, but I'd probably just put in a Lenovo-branded Intel 6205 and go that route.

EDIT: After replying to page 1, I see your post above. Looks like it's working well for you, glad to hear it.