The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    help needed with wireless card for notebook

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by rbig, Feb 18, 2007.

  1. rbig

    rbig Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    My son has a ThinkPad T22 with no wireless card (not sure why not). When I type in "notebook wireless cards" on Ebay, a whole bunch of cards are listed. Most say they fit almost all notebooks, a few are model specific.

    If I pick one of the inexpensive "fits most notebooks" ones, is there a good chance it will work OK with my son's notebook?
     
  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,266
    Messages:
    7,360
    Likes Received:
    14
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Incorrect Information Voluntarily Removed.

    -usapatriot
     
  3. coriolis

    coriolis Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,319
    Messages:
    14,119
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    455
    T22, hmmmm you may need to do some research if it has a mini-PCI slot for the internal wireless cards. I don't think it does(IIRC, not entirely sure).

    However, for sure there is a PCMCIA slot, so you can look into those, they come pretty inexpensive and you don't need to open it up.
     
  4. rbig

    rbig Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    is the PCMCIA card an external plug-in? And if it has a mini-PCI slot it's an internal card?

    I'd like to get one that fits the internal slot if the notebook has a place for it. Are the internal ones called mini-PCI cards?
     
  5. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    599
    Messages:
    1,463
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Mini PCI cards are usually easy to install. They are the internal type, and plug into mini PCI slots.

    http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/prowireless_mobile.

    http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/sbs/100342823/16403140.html

    These cards are the most reliable and work the best.

    The cheaper and easier to use variety are the PCMCIA and Express Card cards, which do the same job as a Mini PCI card, but use an external interface thats easy to connect hardware to.

    PCMCIA cards are the older PC card versions. Express Cards are the newer version. You need to check which one your laptop has as they are compatbale with each other.

    http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=prodspec&sku=3CRGPC10075&pathtype=purchase

    http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=prodspec&sku=3CRPAG175B&pathtype=purchase

    Both of those use PCMCIA (Type II Notebook PC Cards).
     
  6. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    22,339
    Messages:
    36,639
    Likes Received:
    5,080
    Trophy Points:
    931
    One thing you need to check is whether or not your T22 has a wireless antenna. Installing a mini-PCI wireless card will do no good without an antenna, because the range will be terrible.

    The Intel 3945ABG will not work. It is mini-PCI Express.

    I would suggest a PCMCIA wireless card. They are generally inexpensive.
     
  7. rbig

    rbig Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Got it! Thanks for the info and responses.