Thinkpads Forum

Has anyone stopped using Access Connections? I've been trying to use it to switch between two wireless networks in my house and it has been HORRIBLE!!! Everytime I try to switch to a different network it will not disconnect with the current network to switch and will just keeps saying "Applying Profile". I have to use the windows connection manager to disconnect and connect to the other wireless network. Does anyone else have this problem?

1) So do I HAVE to use Access Connections?
2) Is there a way to disable it completely and just use Vista's wireless manager? Has anyone done this?
3) Does Access Connections have any power saving features that I should keep using it?

Please let me know. Thanks a lot.

You don't need AC. It does let you change power settings, but it isn't necessary for connecting.

I found this Access a pain in the butt and it conflcted with my Intel Vista maagement, so I deleted the Thinkvantage Access. Terrible IMO

Uninstalled access connections and now all of my wwan and wireless woes are over. CNTRL f5 still works. Access connections=Connection problems.

bigwormie wrote:Uninstalled access connections and now all of my wwan and wireless woes are over. CNTRL f5 still works. Access connections=Connection problems.

I agree... on my X60t, AC was able to connect to my CompUSA wireless router for a few days, but then refused to connect (it stalled at "authentication"). Windows was able to connect fine by itself, so I just got rid of AC.

All you people who cannot use Access Connections should reflect on the fact that it works perfectly for many of us. So if you don't wish to use it, don't use it and leave it at that. ... JDH

jdhurst wrote:All you people who cannot use Access Connections should reflect on the fact that it works perfectly for many of us. So if you don't wish to use it, don't use it and leave it at that. ... JDH

Well, this thread isn't it, but ideally we would help people to understand that AC isn't without problems, and that if one has connection problems, he/she keep in mind that also AC could be the cause, vs. pain-stakingly going through and debugging/troubleshooting wireless equipment, encryption settings, etc...

I still use AC on my A31p without problems to connect to the exact same access point that AC on my X60t refuses to connect to. I blamed the router, then the wifi card on the X60t. Ridiculously, the exact same location profile (i.e. the settings AC uses to connect), exported from my A31p, imported into AC on my X60t, doesn't work... its not a hardware issue because using Windows on my X60t I can connect to the access point just fine...

fongj wrote:<snip>
Well, this thread isn't it, but ideally we would help people to understand that AC isn't without problems, and that if one has connection problems, he/she keep in mind that also AC could be the cause, vs. pain-stakingly going through and debugging/troubleshooting wireless equipment, encryption settings, etc...
<snip>

Done. Check in the General TP section. ... JDH

How do I uninstall access connections in Vista?

Most times, the uninstaller lives in Control Panel -> Add/Remove programs. ... JDH

I too thought that AC was causing trouble when "authentication" step came up. However, trying other hardware twists, it wouldn't authenticate because of too weak signal.

I like AC very much mainly due to all other options that it includes, automatic run of certain programs, different VPN connections, printers etc etc. IMO it has certain advantages of Win built in connection manager. I will continue using it i guess...

jdhurst wrote:All you people who cannot use Access Connections should reflect on the fact that it works perfectly for many of us. So if you don't wish to use it, don't use it and leave it at that. ... JDH

jdh...do you use built in wwan and wifi thru access connections? This appears to be one of the major shortfalls that the program suffers. It gets confussed when switching between the two and will not get back to normall until you have rebooted a couple of times, turned off wireless radios, etc.

jdhurst wrote:All you people who cannot use Access Connections should reflect on the fact that it works perfectly for many of us. So if you don't wish to use it, don't use it and leave it at that. ... JDH

Yup, it works perfectly on my x61t.

bigwormie wrote:<snip>
jdh...do you use built in wwan and wifi thru access connections? This appears to be one of the major shortfalls that the program suffers. It gets confussed when switching between the two and will not get back to normall until you have rebooted a couple of times, turned off wireless radios, etc.

Yes, I use WiFi through Access Connections. As well I use Wired via Access Connections. I do not and can NOT use my Sony Ericsson cellular modem through Access Connections. That does not work - I tried, and buggered up Access Connections at the same time.

Otherwise, I can switch normally without rebooting. Check my post in the TP General section about Access Connections. It deals with switch settings that need to be adjusted (different than default).
... JDH

My issue with AC is that it won't detect my home network which is set to not broadcast SSID. Vista connects just fine but AC can't find the network and won't connect.

I'd rather not broadcast my SSID for all the neighbors to see despite whatever encryption is in vogue at the time.

I have my SSID set not to broadcast and have no problems. I also have a SSID with a special character that screws up some sniffers (no, I won't say what it is). I also have MAC filtering on. None of that bothers Access Connections. I can take a client laptop, set up the MAC in the router, set up the SSID and WPA/PSK key in the client's Access Connections and connection is immediate. Not even my own machine. ... JDH

I used my Sierra Wireless 860 AirCard, my Intel 2200BG WiFi, and my Intel Pro 1000 ethernet connection all though Access Connections (version 4.21) with no problem. I also had the Sierra Wireless 3G Watcher program installed. I used the Sierra Wireless 3G Watcher drivers for the Access Connections 860 Aircard profile.

I am now using Access Connections 4.41. I have not tried setting up my 860 AirCard with it. I am quite sure it would work, but really it does not add much functionality for me. Even though Access Connections can see if the 860 Aircard is active or not, it does not provide the real time connection information that 3G Watcher provides.

Can anyone tell me how to set up a profile that allows me to use DHCP for the WIFI, and static IP for the wired? I'm using both networks at once, and would also like to be able to access computers on bother networks. The wired network is a direct connection to another computer that is not on the router. I also noticed the X60 T doesn't need a crossover cable to do this. It's about time.

If I uninstall AC is there an atheros driver that can be used for XP? I have searched and found nothing.

AC works but upon boot it takes 2-3 minutes for it to AC to find my connection. Just doesn't seem worth the hassle.

Access Connections is separate from the driver. Uninstalling Access Connections will still leave the driver in place so if you choose to do that, you can use Windows' wireless management without having to install anything else.

I realize that I can just uninstall AC, but prefer to use the Atheros driver and not use windows wireless . I believe there is an ATheros driver (client) out there. Just as I am using the intel driver and client for my T-42.

An Atheros wireless client (as opposed to the driver)? It may exist, but I don't know anything about it. The driver (which talks to the card but does not manage wireless connections) will be the same in any case.

I found an Atheros client a while back and couldn't get it to work at all. It may have been a Vista issue. I'm not sure.

There's an Atheros client that works for XP...I can't speak for Vista, though.

http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9916

There's a link to 4.2.2.14 towards the middle/bottom of the thread that worked better for me than the more recent 5.0x version I found.

I found an Atheros client a while back and couldn't get it to work at all. It may have been a Vista issue. I'm not sure.

I've had an Atheros mini-PCI card in my Vista T42 for several weeks, thanks to the recommendations in this forum. There was absolutely nothing to do other than stick it in - Vista found the correct drivers without incident. It cured some issues I had had with the original Intel card.

Your Atheros is yellow-triangling?

Art