5 ms·

The default Realtek wifi card in t440/t440s (maybe also some other models) does not yet have a stable Linux driver, wifi keeps dropping. (The most recent driver

by sampo 12y ago

The default Realtek wifi card in t440/t440s (maybe also some other models) does not yet have a stable Linux driver, wifi keeps dropping. (The most recent driver from github is a bit better, it only drops a couple of times per hour, the default driver in Ubuntu 14.10 drops in like 5-10 minutes.) https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1239578 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1239578 An Intel card is only about $20 off ebay, but you need to open the laptop in order to replace it.

evandev 12y ago
I have a X230 that had one of those Realtek cards. It would drop a lot and be rather funky since I run linux 99% of the time. Then it finally died in February so I spent $13[1] for a replacement non-realtek. It has worked absolutely great, even with a minimalist Arch setup. [1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008V7AAJU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008V7AAJU/ref=oh_aui_detai...
fencepost 12y ago
If you're replacing WiFi cards in ThinkPads, check into which cards are supported by the unit - there's a whitelist that varies by each model. I learned the hard way trying to get someone with one of the cheaper models onto 802.11a with a replacement card - the new card was used in other models, but the laptops he had only shipped with one type of card and a correspondingly short whitelist. You can find hacked firmwares to remove the whitelist functionality, but that depends on your willingness to run hacked firmware.
- sampo 12y ago
  Yes, you need to buy a card that has a FRU code that is whilelisted by Lenovo.
- monksy 12y ago
  > whitelist Jesus that should be made illegal on laptops. MSI did that with the wireless card. (Won't buy a product from them again) There is no reason that I shouldn't be able to switch out what's in the mini-pci slot.
  - fencepost 12y ago
    Debatable but understandable. They whitelist cards that they tested and certified the laptops with, which may actually be significant / required for some devices. The problem device for me was a ThinkPad Edge something, I believe the lists for the better systems are significantly larger. Still annoying though.
    - monksy 12y ago
      If they don't support the 3rd party card you put in there: Who cares? I'm not going to expect them to support the wireless functionality if I subsitute out the wireless card. What do they need to whitelist cards for?
      - fencepost 12y ago
        Compliance, particularly the section and additional info for Electromagnetic Compatibility Compliance http://www.lenovo.com/lenovo/us/en/compliance.html http://www.lenovo.com/lenovo/us/en/compliance.html
  - brudgers 12y ago
    ThinkPads traditionally wound up in specifications for sophisticated systems. http://web.archive.org/web/20110720220124/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/space/space_thinkpad.html http://web.archive.org/web/20110720220124/http://www-03.ibm....

by sampo 12y ago

evandev 12y ago

I have a X230 that had one of those Realtek cards. It would drop a lot and be rather funky since I run linux 99% of the time. Then it finally died in February so I spent $13[1] for a replacement non-realtek. It has worked absolutely great, even with a minimalist Arch setup. [1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008V7AAJU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008V7AAJU/ref=oh_aui_detai...

fencepost 12y ago

If you're replacing WiFi cards in ThinkPads, check into which cards are supported by the unit - there's a whitelist that varies by each model. I learned the hard way trying to get someone with one of the cheaper models onto 802.11a with a replacement card - the new card was used in other models, but the laptops he had only shipped with one type of card and a correspondingly short whitelist. You can find hacked firmwares to remove the whitelist functionality, but that depends on your willingness to run hacked firmware.

sampo 12y ago
Yes, you need to buy a card that has a FRU code that is whilelisted by Lenovo.
monksy 12y ago
> whitelist Jesus that should be made illegal on laptops. MSI did that with the wireless card. (Won't buy a product from them again) There is no reason that I shouldn't be able to switch out what's in the mini-pci slot.
- fencepost 12y ago
  Debatable but understandable. They whitelist cards that they tested and certified the laptops with, which may actually be significant / required for some devices. The problem device for me was a ThinkPad Edge something, I believe the lists for the better systems are significantly larger. Still annoying though.
  - monksy 12y ago
    If they don't support the 3rd party card you put in there: Who cares? I'm not going to expect them to support the wireless functionality if I subsitute out the wireless card. What do they need to whitelist cards for?
    - fencepost 12y ago
      Compliance, particularly the section and additional info for Electromagnetic Compatibility Compliance http://www.lenovo.com/lenovo/us/en/compliance.html http://www.lenovo.com/lenovo/us/en/compliance.html
- brudgers 12y ago
  ThinkPads traditionally wound up in specifications for sophisticated systems. http://web.archive.org/web/20110720220124/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/space/space_thinkpad.html http://web.archive.org/web/20110720220124/http://www-03.ibm....