IBM T40 Wireless: Experiences?

[Resh]

Have any of you T40 owners been using your wireless connections?

If so, please post which wireless card you're using (Intel b, Cisco b, IBM a/b), the wirelesss router/access point you're using, and your impressions about speed (quick enough for UT2003?), reliability, and range.

Continuing to avoid a decision on a purchase, I remain...

N

 

[oaaltone]

Yup. Just got my refurb T40 today with the Intel PRO/Wireless (Centrino) card. Works fine with my Netgear MR814 router, but has problems with my D-Link 614+ router. (That router had problems with my 600m with the same card as well... it's a know bug with that particular router.) So far, range is on par with all of the other wireless solutions I've used in the past, I have a signal no matter where I go in my house, so I'm satisfied.

 

[Resh]

Thanks ollie.

Anyone else? Everyone knows the forum is littered with T40 owners so don't be shy!

 

[Pennstate]

Di-614+ can't deal with Intel Pro 2100's powersave mode. Turn it on to maximum power consumption and you won't have a problem.

 

[bgibb]

I got a Dlink 614+ router last week, and its working fine with my IBM a/b card. I'm happy with the speed and range of the card. At work I connect to a linksys 54g router, without a problem either, but haven't really tested the range so much as I'm almost always at my desk or not far from it.

Honestly, having an integrated solution was a requirement of the laptop I bought and I think anyone who is even half considering using wireless at some point should make it a requirement as well- it so nice not to have to worry about having the antenna sticking out the side of the laptop or having to plug it in everytime you want to use it.

 

[Baldy18]

Intel 802.11b card in my T40 works great with my Linksys router but not impressed with the range when used in Ad-hoc mode with the other laptop that is using a DLink Air+ PCMCIA card. Both cards have great range though when used with the router.

 

[arcain]

Originally posted by: olliebg
Yup. Just got my refurb T40 today with the Intel PRO/Wireless (Centrino) card. Works fine with my Netgear MR814 router, but has problems with my D-Link 614+ router. (That router had problems with my 600m with the same card as well... it's a know bug with that particular router.) So far, range is on par with all of the other wireless solutions I've used in the past, I have a signal no matter where I go in my house, so I'm satisfied.

Wow.. my girlfriend has the exact opposite experience between the Netgear router (I think it's the MR814 as well) and the Intel wireless card. The Intel wireless card absolutely hates the router. It works for a little bit, and then locks up the router, kicking everybody off, requiring a hard reset of the router.

Are you using any special options on the router or card? hrmm.. Maybe it's a firmware issue.

 

[xm0nkey]

Funny thing, my T40's wireless has been completely screwed up lately. I've got the T40p with IBM a/b card and a few days ago it just acted up and kept dropping the connection every other minute. I never changed any settings, just started happening one day (it had been working flawlessly before)

I at first thought it was the WEP and so I disabled it on the access point and modified the profile in the IBM Access Connections but for some reason it still thought WEP was enabled. Next thing I did was change the ssid of the access point and move it to a new channel, but it still drops the connection. When it is connected, the Status cant get an IP from the DHCP server and only lists it as "Invalid IP Address". It almost seems like a conflict between the way Windows wants to handle the wireless and the way IBM Access Connections wants to handle it. But, like I said, I had been running it the same way I am now and it had worked perfectly

edit - Little update...things seem to be back to normal today. I didn't really change anything, but it seems to be working all right now. Odd.

 

[Namael]

Im using the ibm a/b wireless card and have had no problems what so ever. Im using a linksys WRT54G wireless router. Never had a disconnect yet and while playing Everquest never once got disconnected or experienced packet loss through my entire house. (btw, Everquest is a completely online game, so if you lose connection even for 3 - 4 secs you will get disconnected.). Hope that helps somewhat :/

 

[Resh]

Namael,

I'm using the IBM a/b card with a WAP54G, but I've had mixed results.

Everything is great until I try to use the IBM Access Connection software. If I do that, wirless goes to hell in a hand-basket. Reboot it and everything is fine -- I can switch from wired to wireless at will.

Anyone one else have this problem?

N

 

[Namael]

What do you mean by goes to hell? I tried the access ibm software and the ibm upgrade connector and both work fine. Internet it still working so it seems ok. Can you be more specific of exactly what you are trying to do so I can test as well =). thanks

 

[Resh]

Namael,

Sorry, should have actually described what was happening.

When I first got the machine, prior to updating the IBM card's drivers and the Access connections software, I could get wireless to work fine. When switching from wired to wireless, I would disable the wireless adapotor in Control Panel and enable the wired. BTW, had them using different static IPs.

I then tried to use Access Connections (still pre-update) and it would not be able to hold the connection -- dropping every few seconds. It didn't matter if I created a dedicated wireless profile or a "use the best available" profile.

Seeing that updates were available, I followed the directions (uninstall Access connections, remove the Windows Update patch, disable MS Wireless Service config Service) and updated the drivers and Access Connections.

After having done that, a "choose the best" profile worked exactly twice. After that, it reverted to its old behavious.

Thanks for any suggestions?

 

[Namael]

Hmmm, make sure you turn off the "Let windows configure my wireless networks" . It's located in the properties of the etnernet card under the wireless tab. I turned that off, then went to the access connections, went find WLAN, then let it connect. Once it was connected I went to modify my wlan connections and put in the 4, 10 digit codes and put it to key 1 since that is what I was broadcasting at. I also disabled the wired ethernet card as well as the modem since im not using those. Mine seems to be solid. Not sure if you've tried that but if you haven't tried that, make sure you do. Also, I deleted any of the configurations windows had under the wireless tab.

 

[Kangaroo802]

i have some problems with my t40 with the INTEL Pro wireless card 802.11b

I can connect to every router except when i tried to connect to a linksys 802.11b one. It says that i have a connection and that it is operation; however, when i try to do anything i dont really have a connection. Any suggestions?

 

[eriqesque]

Using the IBM a/b card and Linksys WRT54G no problelms whatsoever using or not using the access connections program.
I am currently not using the software cause its simply faster without it.

 

[darrenlau2003]

For users with the Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 card, here is a tip if you are having issues with connecting or maintaining connection with certain wireless APs.

Right click on the wireless LAN connections to get to the card's properties, then go to CONFIGURE.
Under the ADVANCED tab, make sure the following settings are set:-
- Extended Channel Mode: Use Default Value checkbox is NOT selected
- Extended Channel Mode: Drop down box is set to ENABLE

This is particularly important outside the USA (the setting is primarily there for users in the US, which have fewer channels), and makes a difference in #1 the signal strength and #2 the ability to make and maintain a connection.