Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter

This is a Mini-PCI Express WiFi Adapter Features Chipset: Intel WM3945AG IEEE Standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g PCI ID: 8086:4227

IBM Partnumbers

• 41A4068

NOTE!

Only the IBM Parts will work, any other parts will give an 1802 error on Post because the sub-vendor PCI ID is different, see Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card for more details

Also known (in IBM literature) as....

• From announcement letter 106-068, 'Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG8 wireless connection'

Support

• Linux has the ipw3945 and the iwl3945 drivers. iwl3945 should be used as it is newer and actively developed. Also, Kernel 2.6.24 drops the old wireless-stack so ipw3945 won't compile.

Hardware switch

Operating a radio transmitter is not permitted in aircraft, and there are times where security requires that your wireless connection be shut down. Some ThinkPads have a hardware switch that disables the wireless network. Here it is on the on position:

Note: the switch is somewhat hard to locate; look for it at the left front edge of the device.

To be certain that your wireless connection is not transmitting, turn the switch off. Just remember to turn it back on when you once again need wireless access. If the switch is off, you might encounter following Log-Message on Startup:

 ipw3945: Radio Frequency Kill Switch is On:
 Kill switch must be turned off for wireless networking to work.

Also, when you try to activate (iwconfig) your wireless connection with the switch off you may see the error,

 Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06)

The number 8B06 does not matter. It merely represents the wireless mode (auto, ad-hoc, managed, master), none of which will work with the wireless switch off.

ThinkPads this card may be found in

• T43, T43p as an external ExpressCard
• R60
• T60, T60p, T61
• X60, X60s, X60 Tablet, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet
• R61i, Z61e, Z61m, Z61t, Z61p
• Lenovo 300