11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter ~Problems~!

[Morlock]

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I bought my Thinkpad T41 2373-9FU in late March. Everything was fine and sorta is fine today. However, during earlier months I usually picked up on wireless signals in my neighborhood and my neighbors internet which we share. However, my signals were always poor and so I decided to upgrade my old drivers. After upgrading to the latest drivers, I now recieve 0 signals in my area.
I called tech support, who were very supportive and stayed on the line with me a long time. They told me I probably installed the drivers wrong. Anyway, after about a week of tweaking the drivers and progams such as access connections I still do not pick up any signals. I am wondering if anyone had a similar problem or any tips to provide me. The one thing that bothers me is, in the access connection place, it says Adapter Speed 1 Mbps, which is surely wrong. Additionally, it says Radio ON, Not Associated. Something is wrong here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another note, I will be attending college this fall. With the onset of this min problem I am beginning to wonder whether or not to upgrade to the next day 9x5 warranty. I currently have the mail in one. It will cost me 119$ for 3 years 299 for 4 years. Would it be advisable that I upgrade the warranty?

Thanks

M

[RaysMD]

I had this problem too. It's a driver conflict. The only way that I fixed it was by not using IBM's access connections. I ended up using the Atheros Client by Fujitsu.

I don't know what to tell you, except try to remove everything including the access connections and then re-install.

[krosenstein]

Where does one get the Atheros Client Utility

Ken Rosenstein
T41-2373-9FU

[BccKiller]

Can you try to use XP Wireless Connection program instead of IBM Access Connection? I do not use Access Connection from IBM because I do not have to have to use static IP address in order to get online - both at work and home. Access Connection will be helpful if you have to access network or internet at multiple locations and you will need to use static IP address in order to have access. If you just receive the IP from your router to get online, you can use XP Wirless Access Builded in - go to your wireless properties and 'Wireless Networks' tab. On that screen you will see the check box for 'Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings'. (if you are using IBM Access Connection, you will have this box UNCHECKED). Give it a try!! You may have better luck with XP Wireless program.

For next day warranty, it is your choice. My current TP is A21P (i am waiting for new one at the end of year before i get another one ). I have been using this more than 4 years now. During 3 years warranty, I had to send my system back to IBM for repaired a few times. Here is what happended. I had to wait for IBM to send me a box and shipping label to ship my notebook back to IBM. IBM sent that one the same day or the next business day (depends on when you calls), so I had to wait at least a day for the box. The shipping back to IBM was overnight so they got it the next day. Based on my exp., IBM fixed my notebook pretty fast - took only 1 or 2 days for them to fix it. Then they ship it back to me the next day. I can tell you that it took me about 4 or 5 business days to ship my notebook to IBM and get it back. I think you may be able to cut off the repairing time but the shipping time will be the same. Unless IBM is willing to ship you other TP as a replacement for the bad one, I don't really see it will happen. On top of that, IBM made a very reliable notebook, i don't think you will have many problems with it, you may be just fine with your current warranty.

[G-Man]

Where does one get the Atheros Client Utility

Ken Rosenstein
T41-2373-9FU

http://www.fujitsupc.com/downloads/N501 ... .22_XP.EXE

There also a version for HP/Compaq laptops, but I don't know if it's going to work: http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files ... 20844.html

Regards,
G-Man

[Morlock]

I agree 100% with you that it probably is a driver conflict...

On the warranty issue, I still can't decide. I mean I know that IBM is a great product, thats why I bought it, but just in case...we'll see...i'll probably wake up one day and do it.


M

[jephhy]

On another note, I will be attending college this fall. With the onset of this min problem I am beginning to wonder whether or not to upgrade to the next day 9x5 warranty. I currently have the mail in one. It will cost me 119$ for 3 years 299 for 4 years. Would it be advisable that I upgrade the warranty?

Thanks

M

Just think about how much it would suck to not have your laptop for a minimum of three days (day one: IBM ships empty box to you and you send it out the same day; day two: IBM gets your laptop, fixes it and sends it out; day three: you get it back). At that point you'll be kicking yourself for not upgrading earlier. It's happened to me before...Thinkpads are reliable but laptops do go through a lot, especially at school.

In the end, it all depends on your aversion to risk and how much you are willing to pay to minimize that risk.

Jeff

[Biggie2]

So is their any way to get Access Connections to work?

[jsmit86]

I had some similar issues with my T42 out of the box. My transfer rate would downshift to 1mbps, even though I had good signal strength.

The following things helped me:

> I changed the channel on my router to CH8. I think was getting interference from a neighbor, or a phone.
>I updated my access connections to the new version 3.21.
>I also disabled the XP Wireless Zero Config. utility.


Since then, Access Connections has been stable, and works great.

I have the Intel 2200BG card. You may want to try uninstalling the card and reinstall making sure that your driver is up to date.

You may want to try these steps prior to a service trip.

[Biggie2]

Okay...

Ive tried Access connections (v. 3.21) with the newest IBM a/b/g drivers. I get an excellent signal strength at 1 mbps. The program is able to find my Netgear network but cannot connect to it... Dont know what else to do with it...

I tried using the Windows utility. Again it lets me know that there are available networks in the area, and in fact it is my Netgear... Yet still does nothing when i try to connect.

Tried the Atheros utility, it again finds the network, but tells me their is "no link" under signal strength.

My network already has two desktops and one notebook hooked up with zero problems.

At times, although only using the windows utility, i will find my Thinkpad in the netgear network admin. yet this seems to mean nothing because i still have no connection on the thinkpad side of things. This is so annoying! im clueless. Any suggestions?

If i have a signal strength then that should mean my wireless card is working properly right? So i dont need to send the unit back for a new wireless card.

[jsmit86]

Here are a few other things to try:

>Reset your wireless router by un-plugging it for about 30 seconds. I have had a few times where this solved my problems.

>Check your adapter settings, ie. DHCP or Static IP.

> Can you ping your gateway?

> Can you connect with a wired connection? If not this may point to an adapter configuration issue.

> Temporarily disable any encription AND MAC address filter settings.

> Try another wireless card or USB adapter. If it works, it would point to a problem with your internal card. If not, it is more likely a router/firewall/config issue.