diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.c
index 06909cbc9808..954a095eeb51 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.c
@@ -9600,7 +9600,7 @@ static  void init_sys_config(struct ipw_sys_config *sys_config)
 	sys_config->disable_unicast_decryption = 1;
 	sys_config->exclude_multicast_unencrypted = 0;
 	sys_config->disable_multicast_decryption = 1;
-	sys_config->antenna_diversity = CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_BOTH;
+	sys_config->antenna_diversity = CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_SLOW_DIV;
 	sys_config->pass_crc_to_host = 0;	/* TODO: See if 1 gives us FCS */
 	sys_config->dot11g_auto_detection = 0;
 	sys_config->enable_cts_to_self = 0;
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.h
index d9f57f456fb7..e8f133666c65 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ipw2200.h
@@ -1895,6 +1895,7 @@ struct ipw_cmd_log {
 #define CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_BOTH            0x00	/* NIC selects best antenna */
 #define CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_A               0x01	/* force antenna A */
 #define CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_B               0x03	/* force antenna B */
+#define CFG_SYS_ANTENNA_SLOW_DIV        0x02	/* consider background noise */
 
 /*
  * The definitions below were lifted off the ipw2100 driver, which only