What do you guys think about this combo card?

I think there are some confusion with regards to the combo card and wi-fi card. Let me clear this out, the combo can be 45mm-46mm height without cutting or any kind and the wi-fi is up to 44mm max. otherwise you can not install your card.


Note: aha!!It looks like somebody on ebay was copied a combo card style auction from the first one and selling with the same unit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Tough...ryZ42205QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

An old thread, but a question was asked about the combo card pinouts.

I found this detailing what I think is the pinout:

http://opcenter.de/tmp/MiniPCI-EthernetPinout.pdf

 

I just want to know if my 3COM combo card from an IBM Thinkpad will work. Tonight I will (alas) remove the cushion thing and try again.

 

YES!!!:yes:

Got a shipment of the combo cards in. Uninstalled the existing modem and NIC and replace them with the combo card in the outside of the 2 PCI slots. Rebooted and XP recognized them and I have internet up on my CF-28 as I am writing this on my desktop! It even came up with some updates to install.
Finally something has gone right.

T - just find that OEM version of XP someplace and you should be good to go.

(These are the 3com 10/100 + 56k mini-pci combo card - IBM thinkpad
Model # 3CN3AC1556B as discussed earlier in the thread)

 

Well.... I tried that 3COM combo card in another CF28 tonight and when it's installed each machine is not booting, non-responsive. It's from an IBM T20. I took it out, put it back in the T20 and it works. I give up on this one.

 

For more clarity on my install - and I don't know if it makes a difference:
I first booted the CF-28 into bios and made sure the network card and modem card were both enable, then continued into XP. I uninstalled both the modem and the NIC, and shut down. I removed the 2 existing mini-pci cards and installed the combo card into the slot the NIC was in, inserted both connectors, replaced one of the insulating plastic pieces on top (no grounding cushion) and reassembed everything.
At reboot into XP the card was recognized and installed and I was able to access my network.
< Right - one install makes me an expert >

Had you gotten the XP install done, or was this the other machine?

PM me if you need one of the cards I have.

 

Nope that can't be it. Seems as though it must be like 500 posts or something.





klboo
Notebook Consultant

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 167
Rep Power: 1

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to get past simply being 'liked' to get on that distinguished road.

:laugh:

 

klboo, can you post the exact model number? I'm going back to ebay to look for one that will work. I'm mystified why the one from the IBM Thinkpad didn't work.

 

These are the 3com 10/100 + 56k mini-pci combo card - IBM thinkpad
Model # 3CN3AC1556B as discussed earlier in the thread).

I got them from here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3Com-10-100-56K...ryZ42196QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think gravitar said they were in his near him.

 

yup, they're about 30 miles from me. been there once, nice people. they also have cisco aironet mini pci wifi cards for $15-16.. i was meaning to get back over there and pick up a few for experimentation!

 

I made them an offer of $150 and they countered with $2 each.. I bought 50 of them. But I guess if you only need one then the extra 25 cents won't kill you.

 

yeah.. i was trying to wheel and deal on their wifi cards but they wouldn't come down much..

 

Thanks for the heads upon those cards. I just have a CF-28 with 56K jack. At that price $2.25 + $7.00 it's tempting.
What's a source for the cable and jack that I would also need for the 10/100 connection?

 

I'm still trying to figure that out too. There are some cable assenblies available on eBay, which would take a little modification to mount the NIC jack on the existing part. Still haven't worked out the best way to accomplish that though.
The hole for the jack exists on the side piece ( at least on one I looked at), so it would just be a matter of cutting the plastic card cover (maybe with a small chisel to get a sharp cut), no Dremel work required I don't think.

This may need a call to Heartland for parts.

 

don't pay $7 shipping on one of those.. if you want a combo card i'll send it to you for $5 shipped

 

Thanks to klboo I now have a working mini-pci combo card and a free slot! I dunno what's up with that Thinkpad 3Com card but whatever it was I don't care now.

I can say "confirmed working" ....