From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Sep 21 17:23:27 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 8814F16A41F for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:23:27 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from pdquilty@adelphia.net) Received: from pdq-laptop.us.nextel.com (va-sterling-u1-c5c-h-9.chvlva.adelphia.net [67.22.215.9]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id F1CEC43D45 for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:23:26 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from pdquilty@adelphia.net) Received: from pdq-laptop.us.nextel.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pdq-laptop.us.nextel.com (8.13.3/8.13.1) with ESMTP id j8LHNFhZ022249; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:23:15 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from pdquilty@adelphia.net) Received: (from quilty@localhost) by pdq-laptop.us.nextel.com (8.13.3/8.13.1/Submit) id j8LHNEb7022248; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:23:14 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from pdquilty@adelphia.net) X-Authentication-Warning: pdq-laptop.us.nextel.com: quilty set sender to pdquilty@adelphia.net using -f From: "Peter D. Quilty" To: Kevin Oberman In-Reply-To: <20050921165629.7B5A65D08@ptavv.es.net> References: <20050921165629.7B5A65D08@ptavv.es.net> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 13:23:13 -0400 Message-Id: <1127323393.1016.16.camel@pdq-laptop> Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Evolution 2.2.3 FreeBSD GNOME Team Port Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Cc: Dan Langille , freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: swapping wireless NICs X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: "Peter D. Quilty" List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:23:27 -0000 I don't have a Thinpad, but I recently found this question about them in one of Netgate's FAQs: I have an IBM T30 (or an A30, A31, G40, R32, R40, R50, R51, T30, T40, T41, X30, X31, X40) and would like to upgrade my mini PCI card. Will it work? No. Read this first then call IBM to complain. The IBM BIOS is designed to keep them from working (last update Sept 10, 2004). The BIOS will stop before it reaches the stage of booting an OS if you insert one. It's not a bug, since the diagnostic that shows up quite clearly complains about it being a non-standard miniPCI card. At least, this is the case with our T30, and we find it unlikely that IBM decided that they would no longer include this 'feature'. They claim it has to do with FCC certification. While we're not endorsing this in any way, here is a very fine link to a group who are working to correct the situation: http://www.paul.sladen.org/thinkpad-r31/wifi-card-pci-ids.html also see http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~mjg59/thinkpad/wireless.html Here is another suggested hack: Remove miniPCI card from laptop (if it's currently installed) Boot into WinXP Shutdown into 'standby' mode Install Adapter Wakeup from Standby mode XP should see and install the adapter drivers and it should then your miniPCI card will work Whenever you reboot you will have to go through this procedure again.. PDQ -- Peter D. Quilty pdquilty@adelphia.net 703-906-5633 GnuPG Key: http://users.adelphia.net/~pdquilty/gpg-pubkey.asc GnuPG Key Fingerprint: A46A 0E56 D13E 5617 4696 2B04 0D0C E34D CB6D D107 On Wed, 2005-09-21 at 09:56 -0700, Kevin Oberman wrote: > > 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!)