Wireless Network Adapters

This document covers IBM integrated (MiniPCI), Cardbus and PC Card (PCMCIA) Wi-Fi devices.

Finding out which adapter you have

For MiniPCI or Cardbus adapters run the command:

 lspci -n

And compare the PCI IDS with the once below.

MiniPCI adapters

IBM a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter

IBM Partnumber: 31P9701
PCI ID: 168c:1014
Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad X40 (2371/2372/2382/2386)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836)
ThinkPad R50p (1832/1833)
ThinkPad R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889

IBM a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II

Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g

Specifications: MIGR-57210

IBM Dual-Band 802.11a/b Wi-Fi Wireless Mini PCI adapter

Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b

IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter

Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b, 802.11g

IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter

PCI ID: 1260:3873
Chipset: Prism 2.5
Drivers: orinoco_pci or hostap
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b

Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Mini-PCI Adapter

IBM Partnumber: 73P2801
PCI ID: 8086:4220
Chipset: Intel
Driver: ipw2200
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b, 802.11g Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X30 (2672/2673)
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836)
ThinkPad R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889)
ThinkPad R50p (1832/1833)

Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI adapter

PCI ID: 8086:1043
Chipset: Intel
Driver: ipw2100
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b

Specifications: MIGR-50022

Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11b Mini PCI

IBM Partnumber: 31P8301
Field Replacable Partnumber (FRU): 26P8435
Chipset: Cisco
Driver: airo
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X30 (2672/2673)
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad T30 (2366/2367)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R32 (2658/2659/2677)
ThinkPad R40 (2681/2682/2683/2896/2722/2723/2724/2897)

Unsupported MiniPCI adapter

Although the MiniPCI slot is an industry standard and can accept any MiniPCI adapter, the IBM BIOS is set to only allow you to boot with a 'supported' adapter installed. Attempts to install an unsupported card will result in the following message:

  1802: Unauthorized network card is plugged in - Power off and remove the miniPCI network card.

The reason for this is that the combination of MiniPCI card and the integrated antenna in the ThinkPad needs to be certified by the US FCC (Federal Communications Committee).

Cardbus adapters

IBM 11 a/b/g Wireless Cardbus Adapter

Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g

Specifications: MIGR-51855

IBM 802.11a Wireless LAN Cardbus Adapter

Supported wireless modes: 802.11a

Specifications: MIGR-42209

PC Card (PCMCIA) adapters

Cisco Aironet 350 802.11b wireless PC card with 128bit

Chipset: Cisco
Driver: airo_cs
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b

IBM High Rate Wireless LAN PC Card

Chipset: Prism 2.5
Drivers: orinoco_pci or hostap
Supported wireless modes: 802.11b