Difference between revisions of "ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter"

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=== IBM Partnumbers ===
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=== IBM/Lenovo Partnumbers ===
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IBM Option PN (US): 40Y7026
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IBM/Lenovo Option PN (US): 40Y7026
  
 
=== Linux WiFi driver ===
 
=== Linux WiFi driver ===
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=== Hardware switch ===
 
=== Hardware switch ===
  
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Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that (at least in theory) must be in the '''on''' position for the radio to work, regardless of driver state:
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Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that (at least in theory) must be in the '''on''' position for the radio to work. However this function depends on driver (thinkpad_acpi) and userland (typically NetworkManager) support, and as such nothing may happen unless you run a modern distribution like Fedora 12 or Ubuntu 9.10.
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The hardware switch is also supposed to kill Bluetooth and WWAN, but that also depends on userland support.
  
 
[[Image:Wireless-switch.png|(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)]]
 
[[Image:Wireless-switch.png|(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)]]
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{{NOTE|This may not always be the case. On at least two different T60 models, one with Atheros AR5212, using Ubuntu Edgy, Feisty, and Debian Testing, with the MadWifi driver and the other with Fedora 11 Alpha using [[ath5k]], the wireless switch has no effect. Wireless operates with the switch in either position. But there's support for the switch in [[thinkpad-acpi]] which could be used to kill wireless from userland.}}
 
  
 
=== T60 WiFi LED ===
 
=== T60 WiFi LED ===
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{{NOTE|Does anyone know how to enable this on a modern distribution with [[ath5k]]? The below solution does not work}}
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{{NOTE|The WiFi LED works out of the box with the ath5k driver in 2.6.31 and later kernels}}
 
Problem: The WiFi LED on the T60 isn't enabled by default on bootup.
 
Problem: The WiFi LED on the T60 isn't enabled by default on bootup.
  
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should work on most Laptop-OS configurations.
 
should work on most Laptop-OS configurations.
  
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=== X61 WiFi LED blink on transfer===
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==== X61 WiFi LED blink on transfer====
  
 
Howto make the wifi led blink when there is network traffic.
 
Howto make the wifi led blink when there is network traffic.
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* [http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=126266&highlight=atheros A Guide to Installing Atheros Cards Under Fedora Linux]
 
* [http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=126266&highlight=atheros A Guide to Installing Atheros Cards Under Fedora Linux]
 
* [http://kolundin.blogspot.com/2007/11/thinkpad-z60t-wifi-f7.html Howto ThinkPad Z60t WiFi - Fedora 7]
 
* [http://kolundin.blogspot.com/2007/11/thinkpad-z60t-wifi-f7.html Howto ThinkPad Z60t WiFi - Fedora 7]
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[[Category:Components]]
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[[Category:WLAN Adapters]]

Latest revision as of 12:26, 16 November 2020

ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter

This is a WiFi Adapter that is installed in a Mini-PCI Express slot

Features

  • Chipset: Atheros AR5006EX (As printed on card AR5BXB6) or AR5212
  • Integrated Mac Processor and Radio Chip: Atheros 5423
  • IEEE Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
  • PCI ID: 168c:1014
Atheros mini-PCIe WiFi Adapter

IBM/Lenovo Partnumbers

IBM/Lenovo Option PN (US): 40Y7026

Linux WiFi driver

The latest linux distributions have a driver for this (ath5k) which should automatically be used. However this driver might not be completely stable unless you upgrade to at least 2.6.29.

Alternatively you can use the Madwifi driver. This driver has support for Atheros rev 0x0024 support since svn revision 2360.

OR (not recommended)

get the driver from http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-52527 and use ndiswrapper

Hardware switch

Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that (at least in theory) must be in the on position for the radio to work. However this function depends on driver (thinkpad_acpi) and userland (typically NetworkManager) support, and as such nothing may happen unless you run a modern distribution like Fedora 12 or Ubuntu 9.10.

The hardware switch is also supposed to kill Bluetooth and WWAN, but that also depends on userland support.

(ThinkPad R60 radio switch in the ON position)

T60 WiFi LED

NOTE!
The WiFi LED works out of the box with the ath5k driver in 2.6.31 and later kernels

Problem: The WiFi LED on the T60 isn't enabled by default on bootup.

Solution: As root edit /etc/rc.local by adding the following command at the bottom:

echo -n 1 > /proc/sys/dev/wifi0/ledpin;

Save your changes, afterwards on every boot up the WiFi LED will be enabled.

Note:This has been verified on a T60 1953-D7U running Fedora 7 Linux, however this should work on most Laptop-OS configurations.

X61 WiFi LED blink on transfer

Howto make the wifi led blink when there is network traffic. I've only tested this on an X61 with AR5212 802.11abg - AR5BXB6 on Debian/Ubuntu 

sysctl -w dev.wifi0.ledpin=1
sysctl -w dev.wifi0.softled=1 //change the 1 to anything 1-9 for a more responsive blink

If you would like for this to occur on boot, add 

dev.wifi0.ledpin=1
dev.wifi0.softled=1

to 

/etc/sysctl.conf

ThinkPads this card may be found in

Related Links

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