Toughbooks & Atheros AR5006X Mini PCI

Hi all,
I bought 4 Atheros based mini pci to upgrade from Intel 11b cards. Two AR5005GS SuperG that installed without a hitch and worked well in a 28mk3 with dual antennae and a 48.

Installing the other two AR5006X cards is now beyond me after testing these in the M34, 28mk1, 28mk3, 48 & 73. Tried everything I knew, including multiple insertion/removal, cleaning imaginary oxidation, and still couldn't get it to work.

Suspecting it may be software related, I even tried the drivers from google search, eg. http://list.driverguide.com/list/company2100/ and Atheros AR5xxx Series 5.0.0.107
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/Other-DRIVERS-TOOLS/Others/Atheros-AR5xxx-Series-500107.shtml

Each time, after successful installation of client & driver, I experience a 'radio disable' problem when I tried to scan for networks or create a profile. The 'radio enable' is greyed-out. No exclamation mark within device manager and card is installed correctly.

Linknergy's prompt suggestion was to mask * out pins 11 & 13 on the card. When Win2kPro boots up, the card is no longer recognized/detected in Device Manager and from the client utility, none of the diagnostic features are available (not even disable). [ *I cut & paste a very narrow strip of electrical insulation tape over the said pins instead of applying nail lacquer]

In a later email, he suggested (from other online reports) to tape the 13 pin only, which is 7th pin on the front, like so... http://www.minipci.biz/pin7.jpg

Now card is re-detected, Troubleshooting Utility works and loads at startup but "Running Radio test - test failed". Clicking on the 'Show Connection Status', the Auto Profile selection is Disabled.

Device Manager now shows;
Atheros AR5006X Wireless Network Adapter
Atheros AR5006X Wireless Network Adapter - Wireless Intermediate Driver (not sure what this is)

I un-install the card. Remove the utility program and let Windows detect the card again from scratch but that didn't work out as well. Back to the drawing board. Re-installed the card that originally came with the laptop, an Intel 11b, and that worked just fine. [rules out buggy minipci connectivity]

Uncertain if this issue is peculiar to Pannys but am looking forward to hearing from those who have successfully installed/configured this AR5006X card. Game to try all suggestions as I'm at wit's end.

Many thanks in advance,
Ron in SG

 

I don't know anything about the minipci ones but I do remember putting clear fingernail polish on my ABGN card when i put it into my 30 to make it work with the switch correctly, otherwise it was always off...

 

Guys,
I finally got the bluddy thing to work and boy, I've not felt this stoopid in a long time.

Linknergy's suggestion to mask out pins 11 & 13 was spot on but I didn't get it through my thick skull that the odd numbered pins are at the top while even numbers were on the underside of the card, like this...


If I had masked the correct pins, in red, it would have saved me lots of frustration. My mistake and jackazz mind was just set on counting 11th & 13th (blue) pins at the top!

I'm just glad to say that the card works as it should and typing this post from a 73 with the AR5006X installed. My son hasn't fiddled with it yet but he's liking it. I've also emailed Linknergy regarding this thread so yup, he can stop holding his breathe!

Gotta hit the sack. It's 4.30am here in SG. Hope this bit of plain stupidity (on my part) will help some sorry ass with the same problem.

Nite,
Ron in SG

 

lol thats the way RAM is numbered as well for pinout

 

Bump on a very old thread

I just bought a cf-73 mk-1 that the wi-fi card was missing (It had the antenna's)
I installed a spare 2200BG m-pci ,and after 1/2 an hour of fussing around could not see any networks

I looked up this old thread and followed Ron's directions and taped 11+13 and its working fine

The seller that sold this had been using a pcmcia b/g wireless adapter hanging out the side , he must of tried to upgrade at one point and found it would not work

Where else but right here to find this type of info

 

Thanks! I'm actually biding on a few 73's and would have been up a creek trying to figure that out.

 

Alex,
Very old thread indeed but always glad to be of service.

BTW, the 73 is a very nice semi rugged unit. My daughter loves hers to bits (and none of her friends' lappies have handles ).

Ron in SG

 

I owned for a short while a new F8

Frankly the older cf-73 is a better laptop in my opinion and at a fraction of the $2500 that the Cf-F8 sell for

The only item the F8 has that is better is the widescreen ,the speakers and build quality are superior on the 73's