Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

FreakyCheeseMan · 2014-10-28 19:01:15

I've gotten deeply frustrated with the wifi card (BCM43142) in my thinkpad, and am planning to swap it out for something less troublesome. I've been trying to find information on which models/manufacturers provide the best linux support, but I've had no luck. And recommendations? (Mostly looking for laptop cards, but I also need a replacement for a PC, if you've got any suggestions.)

Last edited by jasonwryan (2014-10-29 16:12:16)

jasonwryan · 2014-10-28 19:42:12

Have you done any research yourself?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Fo … n_Requests

Closing -- for deletion

Trilby · 2014-10-28 19:45:26

Based on the thread title, I would have answered Broadcom. But it seems you don't like your current one. Broadcom certainly hasn't provided the most support with open source drivers, but as a result, Broadcom chips are extremely well documented. I find them to be by far the most easy to track down the right drivers for because the OS community has had to document them well. Just check out the archwiki page on Broadcom and you'll get links to complete lists of every broadcom chipset along with which drivers can be used (b43, bcma, or wl).

I'd say check those lists, and get a Broadcom card that is covered by b43.

edit: cross posted with the above - I was beat to moving it.

jasonwryan · 2014-10-29 16:11:17

Additional information submitted by report. Moving to Laptop Issues.

ANOKNUSA wrote:

Although this thread has been binned, I was wondering it might be restored in [Closed] status with some new information, since the OP specifically mentioned being a ThinkPad owner. My previous ThinkPad T520 had a Broadcom card as well, and when looking to replace it I learned that Lenovo writes a whitelist to the motherboard firmware of all ThinkPads restricting what wifi cards can be installed and used. Without overwriting that whitelist (that is, flashing custom firmware to the motherboard at the risk of bricking the machine), buying and installing a new wifi card would just be a waste of money and time. It seems wise to me to make that information available here, since as it is the thread implies that simply buying and swapping out the wifi card is a possibility.

Pse · 2014-10-30 04:01:01

I'd say definitely something by Atheros (now Qualcomm). Even monitor-mode works great. I've been using Atheros cards for years without issues (802.11g cards, 11n cards, STA mode, AP mode, monitor mode, Ad-Hoc mode).

Last edited by Pse (2014-10-30 04:03:41)

QuimaxW · 2014-11-04 05:13:54

My Thinkpads (and HPs...if curious) have had excellent fortune with the Intel Wireless cards. I don't know if they perform as well as the Atheros do, but the install and setup is dirt simple in Arch.

Basic suggestion to avoid the whitelist issue would be to purchase an IBM/Lenovo branded card, or maybe a generic Intel card. I would avoid any cards that come from another brand of laptop with the whitelists.

WonderWoofy · 2014-11-04 05:28:21

The wifi card is detected by a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) number. You need to find the list of compatible FRUs for your particular laptop model. Then you should be able to search by FRU on ebay or wherever for what you need. Wireless cards that are not the right FRU will prevent the machine from booting since they will not be included in the BIOS whitelist.

ANOKNUSA mentioned that you can reflash a modified firmware image without this whitelist. While this is still true, it is much much harder these days. The firmware image must now be digitally signed with Lenovo's RSA key. So modifying the image and then trying to flash it with the standard flashing utilities will not work. You would need to tear down the entire laptop to use a hardware flasher to write it straight to the chip.

You should see if you can find the available Intel wifi cards for your machine if you are not satisfied with the Broadcom ones. Stay away from the ones with the Realtek chipsets as your frusturation will only increase.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-10-28 19:01:15

Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#2 2014-10-28 19:42:12

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#3 2014-10-28 19:45:26

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#4 2014-10-29 16:11:17

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#5 2014-10-30 04:01:01

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#6 2014-11-04 05:13:54

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

#7 2014-11-04 05:28:21

Re: Replace wifi card in Thinkpad

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