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    upgrade wireless to intel 5300

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by ShadowVlican, Oct 15, 2009.

  1. ShadowVlican

    ShadowVlican Notebook Enthusiast

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    i'm got a SL400 with ThinkPad 11bg Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III

    i opened her up and saw only two antenna wires :eek:

    i've also read about the possibility of the BIOS rejecting "non-lenovo" wireless cards or "non-SL400" cards... but the SL400 DOES have an option to ship with the intel 5300....

    so.... can i upgrade my SL400 to the Intel 5300?
     
    ShadowVlican, Oct 15, 2009
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    My guess would be you could do it with a Lenovo branded card. I'm not as familiar with the SLs. You'll also probably need the third antenna for the N reception.
     
    ZaZ, Oct 15, 2009
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  3. erik

    erik modifier

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    the SL400 can definitely accept the 5100, 5150, and 5350 but i'm not positive that the 5300 is whitelisted.   there was a thread about this a while back on the lenovo forum and a user couldn't get a 5300 with a lenovo FRU number to work.   since it's not listed on the [URL="http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-70451]SL400 service parts page[/URL], i can't say whether or not it will work without modifying the BIOS.

    regarding N antennas, you don't need three.   both the 5100 and 5150 are N and only use the gray and black antennas.   the white antenna is only needed for high-speed.   a 5300 will work perfectly fine with only two.
     
    erik, Oct 15, 2009
    #3
  4. ShadowVlican

    ShadowVlican Notebook Enthusiast

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    thanks for the replies

    erik, i guess i should order the 5350 then? (i don't need the WiMAX but if my SL400 can accept it, then i'll go for it!)
     
    ShadowVlican, Oct 15, 2009
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  5. ShadowVlican

    ShadowVlican Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok.. my SL400 rejected my intel 5350

    what should i do now?
     
    ShadowVlican, Oct 22, 2009
    #5
  6. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    The intel card that is used by Thinkpad must be from Lenovo, aftermarket version won't work.
     
    lead_org, Oct 22, 2009
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  7. cn_habs

    cn_habs Notebook Deity

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    cn_habs, Oct 22, 2009
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  8. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    the T61 doesn't support the 5100 and 5300, unless you edit the bios.

    It only can take AGN 4965, provided that you have three antenna setup.
     
    lead_org, Oct 23, 2009
    #8