Thinkpads Forum

Posted: **Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:51 am**

first of all let me say what a great site

and this is my first post

I have a thinkpad T60 and i want to upgrade the wireless to 802.11n what i am looking for are recomendations for which wireless card to go for and and some fru numbers.
i checked to see if this model had the third antenna present but sadly not so i need a part number for that too and maybe recondations as to where to buy the parts i need.
thanks

Posted: **Tue Aug 11, 2009 6:10 pm**

Welcome to the forum -

I have found the Atheros cards pretty sensitive & stable - The Lenovo 802.11abgn card that directly works for the T60 is FRU 42T0825
If your T60 is a 14.1": Wireless LAN 3rd Antenna - FRU 42R9909
If your T60 is a 15.0": Wireless LAN 3rd Antenna - FRU 42R9910
If your T60 is a 15.4" WS: Wireless LAN 3rd Antenna - FRU 93P4386

However if you can get around the BIOS restrictions (see: T6x BIOS device whitelist (error 1802/1804) [solved]), then you will have the choice of the latest cards from Intel (5100 & 5300 - also previous generation 4965) as well as SparkLAN & GIGABYTE.

Lenovo FRU's can be purchased directly from IBM UK Parts Service online or by phone: 01475 557601. (Ebay maybe another source).

Posted: **Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:17 pm**

I too have been thinking about this upgrade, and here's my question:

What about the antennas? The T60 wireless ABG cards use 2, and from what I understand, the ABGN cards use 3. Is that an issue at all?

Posted: **Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:40 pm**

sweet im not bothered by stripping open my t60 as i would not even invalidate the warrenty as i am IBM accredited

handy to know what seems to work best.

just tried to order the 3rd antenna direct for IBM £4.50 for the antenna £17 for postage, are they having a laugh

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:38 pm**

I am ordering an Intel 5300N WiFi card form eBay, as well as the 3rd antenna. Does it matter which antenna is hooked up to which port on the card?

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:09 pm**

I read that the Intel 5100 is an N card with only 2 antennas (but correct me if I'm wrong...)

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:04 am**

My T60p originally comes with a ThinkPad 802.11b/g/n Wireless Adapter (Atheros chip) and 3 antennas. I replaced its SXGA+ screen assembly recently with a UXGA screen, which comes only 2 antennas. It seems my N card does not complain about the missing antenna at all. It works absolutely fine in both G and N modes with just 2 antennas. So I think the 3rd antenna is just optional even for an N card.

To those who want to use an Intel 5300N/5100N and 4965N cards in T60/p, your T60/p's BIOS may reject these cards. You need a hacked BIOS (search this forum).

To Worzyl: Yes, Intel 5100 is an N card with only 2 antennas.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:58 am**

bmwman91 wrote:Does it matter which antenna is hooked up to which port on the card?

This is the usual arrangement for a WLAN card:
Gray cable = MAIN or TR1
Black cable = AUX or TR2
White cable = 3rd or R0

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:08 pm**

Quote of something I've written in PM:

Actually, you can have the 802.11n card with only two antennas and still get 300Mbps speeds - the physical link speed tops as 150Mbps per radio, and each radio needs it's own antenna. It's definitely better to have three, and mounting generic flat one on the left side (if you're right-handed, that is) between card slots and palmrest improves signal strength when you're further from the AP, but that's only about what coverage/speed you need

There are cards like the Intel 5300 which actually have three radios and can use three antennas at once to achieve 450Mbps (link speed again, I guess real world speeds will top as usual for wifi around 30-40% of the link speed). The only little downside is that as of now, there are no Access Points (to my knowledge) which can do more than two radios at once.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:22 pm**

Actually, you can have the 802.11n card with only two antennas and still get 300Mbps speeds - the physical link speed tops as 150Mbps per radio, and each radio needs it's own antenna. It's definitely better to have three, and mounting generic flat one on the left side (if you're right-handed, that is) between card slots and palmrest improves signal strength when you're further from the AP, but that's only about what coverage/speed you need

There are cards like the Intel 5300 which actually have three radios and can use three antennas at once to achieve 450Mbps (link speed again, I guess real world speeds will top as usual for wifi around 30-40% of the link speed). The only little downside is that as of now, there are no Access Points (to my knowledge) which can do more than two radios at once.

..and make sure you check out Zenders set up - N and WWAN at the same time!

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:34 pm**

Zender wrote:The only little downside is that as of now, there are no Access Points (to my knowledge) which can do more than two radios at once.

Does the TL-WR941ND 300Mbps Wireless N Router (3T3R) meet these spec's?

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:18 pm**

Great information, thanks guys! I am really excited to get my new card (has the original 3945ABG card, a 5300 Ultimate-N is coming, along with an antenna from eBay, and a new magnesium chassis to replace the broken one).

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:03 pm**

Peak2Peak wrote:Does the TL-WR941ND 300Mbps Wireless N Router (3T3R) meet these spec's?

It doesn't seem so.....

11n: Up to 300Mbps(dynamic)

Cheers,

Bill B.

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:12 pm**

Peak2Peak wrote:This is the usual arrangement for a WLAN card:
Gray cable = MAIN or TR1
Black cable = AUX or TR2
White cable = 3rd or R0

Hi,
I am thinking of upgrading to Intel 4965AGN for my T60. I have 2 antennas now and since it seems that a wifi n can do with 2 antennas can anyone tell me which cable goes to which connector?

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:17 pm**

garnet - Here is the usual antenna arrangement for the Intel 4965AGN

Gray cable = MAIN or TR1 or 1
Black cable = AUX or TR2 or 2
White cable = 3rd or R0 or 3

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:24 pm**

Peak2Peak wrote:garnet - Here is the usual antenna arrangement for the Intel 4965AGN

Gray cable = MAIN or TR1 or 1
Black cable = AUX or TR2 or
White cable = 3rd or R0 or 3

Hi
thanks,
I don't have the white cable. Can I use it with only gray and black cable.

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 2:37 pm**

Should be OK, but the overall speed & distance maybe reduced etc

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:09 pm**

You can also use the newer Intel 6200-N (2-antennae) or 6300-N (3-antennae).
See this thread for more info: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=88029

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:24 pm**

RealBlackStuff wrote:You can also use the newer Intel 6200-N (2-antennae) or 6300-N (3-antennae).
See this thread for more info: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=88029

thanks a lot for the info.
I will give it a try for the 4965AGN first. Just to reiterate: Do I connect the 2 antennas to TR1 and TR2. and R0 stays empty?

By the way have you used the cracked BIOS for a t60 as here:

RealBlackStuff wrote:It's a no-brainer really!
'Your' card costs $47.-
'My' card costs $17.- incl. the adapter bracket (card+bracket makes 1 unit, using 2 screws, how confusing is that?)

And I wouldn't recommend something that doesn't work!
I use the exact same combo in my T61 and just ordered another set for my T60.

and does it work OK on t60.
If I flash successfully and the new card works, but I want to reinstall the old one, if I fash the BIOS with an original lenovo iso, is it going to revert to what it was?

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:03 pm**

In all my newer laptops (from T43/R52/X41 and up) I use modified BIOS versions.
T43/R52/X41 initially BIOS made by Zender.
After the "Error 2010" was finally solved, I changed to BIOS made by TPF/forum.notebookreview.com user TTAV134, which bypasses the whitelists and "Error 2010" and also includes a Slic2.1 table.

T60/R60 BIOS made by Zender. These are older ones by now, without Slic table and only bypass the whitelists.

T61 BIOS made by forum.notebookreview.com user Middleton, because it also allows SATA II speed, bypasses the whitelists and includes a Slic 2.1 table.
I don't have any newer TPs.
All of the above work without a hitch.
As there will be no foreseeable newer Zender BIOS versions, I get newer (proven) ones wherever available.

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:39 pm**

RealBlackStuff wrote:In all my newer laptops (from T43/R52/X41 and up) I use modified BIOS versions.
T60/R60 BIOS made by Zender. These are older ones by now, without Slic table and only bypass the whitelists.
T61 BIOS made by forum.notebookreview.com user Middleton, because it also allows SATA II speed, bypasses the whitelists and includes a Slic 2.1 table.

Hi
really appreciate your time re: this issue.
So it seems pretty safe to use the t60 Zender BIOS. Just a bit timid not to brick it. Any counter measures is something cocks up? Have you heard about any better/safer cracked BIOS fot t60 than Zender's or this is good enough?
In that note on my t60 (2008) I dont think I have SATA II. My HD is SATA 1.5 GB/s now. Am I missing SATA II?
If indeed no SATA II, does this mean t61 have SATA II? I thought they are around same year 2008.
Have you notice any huge differences in Intel 4965AGN and Intel 6200-N speeds if you have tried both?
Thanks a lot again and sorry for the bunch of questions.

Posted: **Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:42 pm**

I am hosting the Zender-BIOS files on my website The Board Room (link in my signature), because I find they are reliable.
I will not answer any more questions about them.
Only T61/R61/X61 can achieve SATA II with a special BIOS, but not the T60.
I don't have an N-router, just using N-cards.
End of story.

Posted: **Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:44 am**

RealBlackStuff wrote:I am hosting the Zender-BIOS files on my website The Board Room (link in my signature), because I find they are reliable.
I will not answer any more questions about them.
Only T61/R61/X61 can achieve SATA II with a special BIOS, but not the T60.
I don't have an N-router, just using N-cards.
End of story.

thanks a lot.

Posted: **Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:10 am**

RealBlackStuff wrote:You can also use the newer Intel 6200-N (2-antennae) or 6300-N (3-antennae).
See this thread for more info: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=88029

I assume you got the drivers for t60 for the above cards from Intel's website not lenovo's.
Is this the case?

Posted: **Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:38 pm**

Hi
I came across this

Intel Mini PCI-e WLAN Card 802.11 Draft-n (MIMO)
Model: 4965AGN (MM1 / MM2)
Lenovo FRU: 42T0865 / 42T0947

Is this going to work in my t60 without BIOS cracking?

Posted: **Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:27 pm**

Unfortunately NO - The Lenovo Intel 4965N is not BIOS whitelisted for the T60. The official 802.11n that is recommended according to the T60 HMM is FRU: 42T0825 (Atheros AR5BXB72?) -

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:28 am**

Peak2Peak wrote:Unfortunately NO - The Lenovo Intel 4965N is not BIOS whitelisted for the T60. The official 802.11n that is recommended according to the T60 HMM is FRU: 42T0825 (Atheros AR5BXB72?) -

Thanks.
I was confused because of this:
http://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/conte ... l#wireless

my machine number is there and they mention Intel 4965N. So what should I make of this?

Posted: **Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:27 pm**

OK - The Intel software download from the lenovo link you have posted just indicates that it has a set of drivers for the cards listed in its title (Intel PRO/Wireless 2200bg, 2915abg, 3945bg, 3945abg, 4965ag, 4965agn Mini PCI adapter).

Posted: **Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:18 am**

Can anyone confirm that there is no problem if your current BIOS version is newer than the cracked BIOS version.
Will it let you flash to a older version?
I have BIOS 1.26 now, cracked is 1.25.

Posted: **Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:16 am**

Just finished upgrading a T60 with the Atheros ABGN adapter, Lenovo FRU: 42T0825. I'm only using two antennas and it works great. No need for installing a hacked BIOS with this adapter.

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