Wireless Network Adapters
This document covers IBM integrated (MiniPCI), Cardbus and PC Card (PCMCIA) Wi-Fi devices.
Contents
Finding out which adapter you have
For MiniPCI or Cardbus adapters run the command:
lspci -n | grep "Class 0200"
And compare the PCI IDS with the ones below.
MiniPCI adapters
Atheros
- IBM Dual-Band 11a/b Wi-Fi Wireless Mini PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 168c:0012)
- IBM 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 168c:0013)
- IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 168c:1014)
- IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II (PCI-ID: 168c:1014)
- ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter
Cisco
- Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11b (PCI-ID: 14b9:a504)
Intel
- Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 8086:1043)
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Mini-PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 8086:4220)
- Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Mini-PCI Adapter (PCI-ID: 8086:4224)
- Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Prism
- IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter with Modem (PCI-ID: 1260:3873)
- IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter with Modem II (PCI-ID: 1260:3873)
- IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter III
Error 1802 - "Unauthorized" MiniPCI network card
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.
For a resolution, see the Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card page.
Cardbus adapters
Cardbus is a 32bits bus that runs at 33MHz, and is in many ways simular to the PCI bus. In fact under Linux Cardbus adapters are handled by the PCI subsystem.
You can differentiate a PC Card adapter from a Cardbus adapter as the later has a gold coloured grounding strip
IBM 11 a/b/g Wireless Cardbus Adapter
Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
Specifications: MIGR-51855
Users Guide: MIGE-51855
Service Parts: MIGR-51874
Looking for a reverse PCI to cardbus (ie - want to fit a PCI card into a cardbus slot)
IBM 802.11a Wireless LAN Cardbus Adapter
Chipset: Atheros
Driver: madwifi
Supported wireless modes: 802.11a
Specifications: MIGR-42209
Users Guide: MIGR-42233
Service Parts: MIGR-42231
PC Card (PCMCIA) adapters
PC Card or PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) as it used to be called, is an 8 or 16bits bus limited to 8MHz, in many ways simular to the old ISA bus and not suitable for highspeed devices.
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