From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Sep 21 16:56:35 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2DE2D16A41F for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:56:35 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from oberman@es.net) Received: from postal1.es.net (postal1.es.net [198.128.3.205]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 115A143D75 for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:56:30 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from oberman@es.net) Received: from ptavv.es.net ([198.128.4.29]) by postal1.es.net (Postal Node 1) with ESMTP (SSL) id IBA74465; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:56:29 -0700 Received: from ptavv (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by ptavv.es.net (Tachyon Server) with ESMTP id 7B5A65D08; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:56:29 -0700 (PDT) To: "Dan Langille" In-reply-to: Your message of "Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:35:40 EDT." <4331296C.30519.E5549A5@localhost> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:56:29 -0700 From: "Kevin Oberman" Message-Id: <20050921165629.7B5A65D08@ptavv.es.net> Cc: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: swapping wireless NICs X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:56:35 -0000 > From: "Dan Langille" > Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:35:40 -0400 > Sender: owner-freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org > > On 21 Sep 2005 at 15:15, Marcin Jessa wrote: > > > On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 08:58:11 +0200 > > "anon anon" wrote: > > > > > Im currently looking to purchase a wireless card, preferably mini-pci for my > > > thinkpad R40. Are there any well supported mpi/pcmcia cards for fbsd. > > > Please don_t mention the cisco mpi350 as this card has not worked for me > > > since 4.10. This card only works for about 5 minutes or until it is placed > > > under reasonable load. It then timeouts and cannot be brought up unless the > > > system is power cycled. And yes, I have downgraded the firmware to 5.00.1 > > > or whatever it is numerous times. I need a card that is known to work > > > without problems under 5.x. > > > > Use an Atheros based card. > > This brings up something I have been thinking about. Someone > mentioned that the ipw problems I've been having on my T41 could be > resolved by changing ton an Atheros based NIC. > > Question: have you replaced your wireless NIC? On my T41 it is > internal. I'm told it's a matter of replacing it. I understand, but > haven't looked into buying an Atheros NIC and putting it in my > Thinkpad, but seeing as I'm going to be in the US next week, I might > just pick one up while I'm there. > > Comments please. The physical swap is pretty easy. Just open the access door in the bottom of the unit, unplug the antenna wires and pop out the mini-PCI card. Then reverse to add the new card. In the past, ThinkPads have BIOS set to refuse to allow the system to boot if any mini-PCI card not of a type sold by IBM was seen. I don't know if the T43 still does this, but you can deal with this in a couple of ways: 1. Get the Cisco card that Lenovo sells 2. Hack BIOS to not get upset about it. I've seen articles on this and I suspect that you can Google for it. (I don't take any responsibility for dead systems if you muck with the BIOS, though. Take care!) -- R. Kevin Oberman, Network Engineer Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) Ernest O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) E-mail: oberman@es.net Phone: +1 510 486-8634