IBM thinkpad wireless lan question

Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want to add
to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready (the antenna
wires are already installed and there is a mini pci slot) I've been looking
at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports 802.11a/b/g. In trying to determine
weather this card is compatable with my system I found the following
information on the IBM USA site:

On this page,
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and P4
2681.

but on this page,
http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and
P4 2681.

Anyone know which is true?
Thanks,
Tracy

Tracy wrote:

>Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want to add
>to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready (the antenna
>wires are already installed and there is a mini pci slot) I've been looking
>at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports 802.11a/b/g. In trying to determine
>weather this card is compatable with my system I found the following
>information on the IBM USA site:
>
>On this page,
>http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
>the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and P4
>2681.
>
>but on this page,
>http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
>the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and
>P4 2681.
>
>Anyone know which is true?
>Thanks,
>Tracy
>
>
>
>
I am not at all familiar with thinkpads, but any mini-pci wireless card
should fit into and work in any mini-pci slot on any system.

Jerry Park wrote:

> Tracy wrote:
>
>> Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want
>> to add to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready
>> (the antenna wires are already installed and there is a mini pci
>> slot) I've been looking at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports
>> 802.11a/b/g. In trying to determine weather this card is compatable
>> with my system I found the following information on the IBM USA site:
>>
>> On this page,
>> http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
>>
>> the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron
>> and P4 2681.
>>
>> but on this page,
>> http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
>>
>> the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40
>> Celeron and P4 2681.
>>
>> Anyone know which is true?
>> Thanks,
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>
> I am not at all familiar with thinkpads, but any mini-pci wireless
> card should fit into and work in any mini-pci slot on any system.

Let me correct my previous post. I think I read somewhere that IBM
thinkpads have some BIOS or something which prevent use of devices other
than those approved by IBM. That may be the case?

On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:06:16 GMT, "Tracy" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want to add
>to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready (the antenna
>wires are already installed and there is a mini pci slot) I've been looking
>at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports 802.11a/b/g. In trying to determine
>weather this card is compatable with my system I found the following
>information on the IBM USA site:
>
>On this page,
>http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
>the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and P4
>2681.
>
>but on this page,
>http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
>the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and
>P4 2681.
>

Dunno. Thinkpad and wireless are potentially a mess, where a
substantial number of mini-PCI cards simply do not work with the IBM
drivers. (They may work with the Intel, Broadcom, or vendor drivers).
See:
http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~mjg59/thinkpad/tables.html
for part of the horror story. Unfortunately, the above URL does not
include anything on the R40.

I can't find the 31P9107 in any of my IBM references. However, the
31P9701 is a valid number. This URL sorta hints that it will work
with the R40.

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview...5359&loc=en_US

It's also the same as the 91P7301 which probably (not sure) works with
the R40. Both are available on eBay for $40-$50.

Do your really need the 802.11a capeability? If not, the selection of
802.11b/g cards is much better.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831.336.2558 voice http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
# (E-Mail Removed)
# (E-Mail Removed) AE6KS

"Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FaY7e.59724$(E-Mail Removed). ..
> Jerry Park wrote:
>
>> Tracy wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want to
>>> add to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready (the
>>> antenna wires are already installed and there is a mini pci slot) I've
>>> been looking at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports 802.11a/b/g. In trying to
>>> determine weather this card is compatable with my system I found the
>>> following information on the IBM USA site:
>>>
>>> On this page,
>>> http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
>>> the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and
>>> P4 2681.
>>>
>>> but on this page,
>>> http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
>>> the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40 Celeron
>>> and P4 2681.
>>>
>>> Anyone know which is true?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Tracy
>>>
>>>
>> I am not at all familiar with thinkpads, but any mini-pci wireless card
>> should fit into and work in any mini-pci slot on any system.
>
> Let me correct my previous post. I think I read somewhere that IBM
> thinkpads have some BIOS or something which prevent use of devices other
> than those approved by IBM. That may be the case?
Thanks Jerry, I'll look into the BIOS and see if I can get some clues... An
IBM card is (obviously) going to be more expensive because of the name but I
want to make sure that I get something that works...

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:06:16 GMT, "Tracy" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi, I have an IBM thinkpad R40 Celeron (model# 2681 CTO) that I want to
>>add
>>to my home wireless network. It's wireless upgradable ready (the antenna
>>wires are already installed and there is a mini pci slot) I've been
>>looking
>>at the IBM 31P9107 as it supports 802.11a/b/g. In trying to determine
>>weather this card is compatable with my system I found the following
>>information on the IBM USA site:
>>
>>On this page,
>>http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-52623
>>the information shows a compatability with the ThinkPad R40 Celeron and P4
>>2681.
>>
>>but on this page,
>>http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/st...9701&storeId=1
>>the list of compatable laptops does not include the ThinkPad R40 Celeron
>>and
>>P4 2681.
>>
>
> Dunno. Thinkpad and wireless are potentially a mess, where a
> substantial number of mini-PCI cards simply do not work with the IBM
> drivers. (They may work with the Intel, Broadcom, or vendor drivers).
> See:
> http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~mjg59/thinkpad/tables.html
> for part of the horror story. Unfortunately, the above URL does not
> include anything on the R40.
>
> I can't find the 31P9107 in any of my IBM references. However, the
> 31P9701 is a valid number. This URL sorta hints that it will work
> with the R40.
>
> http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview...5359&loc=en_US
>
> It's also the same as the 91P7301 which probably (not sure) works with
> the R40. Both are available on eBay for $40-$50.
>
> Do your really need the 802.11a capeability? If not, the selection of
> 802.11b/g cards is much better.
>
>
> --
> # Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
> # 831.336.2558 voice http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> # (E-Mail Removed)
> # (E-Mail Removed) AE6KS

It was the 31P9701 I was origionally looking at (I just fat fingered the 7
in there somehow...) I have been looking at the 2200bg cards since I
origionaly posted and your right, I doubt that I will need .11a. Added with
the fact that b/g caeds are about half the price I'll probably go that
route. I just hate to spend a dollar before I know that it's going to work