Wireless Network Adapters

This document covers integrated Wi-Fi (802.11 Wireless) devices (so called MiniPCI cards). It does not cover PCMCIA, Cardbus or USB adapters.

IBM a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter

IBM Partnumber: 31P9701
PCI ID: 168c:1014
Chipset: Atheros

Driver: madwifi

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad X40 (2371/2372/2382/2386)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836)
ThinkPad R50p (1832/1833)
ThinkPad R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889

IBM a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II

IBM Partnumber: 73P4301
Field Replacable Partnumber (FRU): 93P4262

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X40 (2371/2372/2382/2386)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836)
ThinkPad R50p (1832/1833)
ThinkPad R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889)
ThinkPad G41 (2881/2882/2886)

IBM High Rate Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Adapter

PCI ID: 1260:3873
Chipset: Prism 2.5
Drivers: orinoco_pci or hostap

Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Mini-PCI Adapter

IBM Partnumber: 73P2801
PCI ID: 8086:4220
Chipset: Intel
Driver: ipw2200

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X30 (2672/2673)
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R50/R51 (1829/1830/1831/1836)
ThinkPad R51 (2883/2887/2888/2889)
ThinkPad R50p (1832/1833)

Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI adapter

PCI ID: 8086:1043
Chipset: Intel
Driver: ipw2100

Cisco Aironet Wireless 802.11b Mini PCI

IBM Partnumber: 31P8301 Field Replacable Partnumber (FRU): 26P8435

Compatible with wireless upgradable models of:
ThinkPad X30 (2672/2673)
ThinkPad X31 (2672/2673/2884/2885)
ThinkPad T30 (2366/2367)
ThinkPad T40 (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad T41/p T42/p (2373/2374/2378/2379)
ThinkPad R32 (2658/2659/2677)
ThinkPad R40 (2681/2682/2683/2896/2722/2723/2724/2897)

Unsupported MiniPCI adapter

Although the MiniPCI slot is an industry standard and can accept any MiniPCI adapter, the IBM BIOS is set to only allow you to boot with a 'supported' adapter installed. Attempts to install an unsupported card will result in the following message:

  1802: Unauthorized network card is plugged in - Power off and remove the miniPCI network card.

The reason for this is that the combination of MiniPCI card and the integrated antenna in the ThinkPad needs to be certified by the US FCC (Federal Communications Committee).