Patchy Wireless Connections on T42

[barras]

Hey all,

I am experiencing rather wierd problems with my 802.11b wireless connection on my IBM Thinkpad T42.

The connection drops intermittently, dropping all my connections, despite IBM's Access Connections telling me reception is 30% to 40%. In that situation, I am unable to ping either the gateway or any external servers. I cannot seem to reconnect either, reconnection just results in the Access Connection "re-establishing" the connection on-screen, but it still fails to ping or resolve any external servers. Only a reboot manages to actually re-establish the connection.

The current network is being run off my Netgear FM114P router, it is an 802.11b connection using Open Authentication and Static 128 bit WEP keys. The IBM is running the Intel 2200 BG chipset, configured using IBM Access Connections and reception generally hovers around 30% to 40% most days.

Any ideas what's causing this?

Thanks in advance for all your responses

[maister]

I have the same issue..
I'm using the Netgear WGT624

The only way to restore the connection is to disable/enable the wireless radio using IBM Access Connections.

[ryan]

try upgrading the router's firmware. that may fix _some_ of the problem.

but many people think that the major problem is with the 'windows zero configuration' service. microsoft says it's not. hopefully winxp sp2 will fix this when it comes out later this year, but i kind of doubt it...

[mtj]

XP SP2 runs fine on my new T42P (HTU) and makes wireless work well on my Intel B-only card when Windows is controlling wireless connections.

Unfortunately, even with Windows wireless-control out of the way and the NetZero service stopped, the IBM Access Connections software is no better than before for me-- which in my case means working for a while then failing (at home, linksys, B, 64-bit WEP) and not working at all (at work, Linksys, B/G, 128-bit WEP).

Just one data point. Not meant as a slam on Access Connections or the Intel B-only mini-PCI card.

[RaysMD]

I'll have to agree with mtj, I hate access connections. After I removed it, my WiFi has never failed.

[Joker]

I have the same problem, but I can only fix it, when I shut down the thinkpad, or enter suspend mode. A simple reboot or disabling wireless doesn't fix it. after reboot a reconnect is ok.

do think if I use win xp wireless configuration, then the connection doesn't fail ?

bg,
Joker

[Joker]

The neverending wireless story seems to be solved !!

After the try to use not the IBM AcessConnections Software,
and many other hints that I have tried with no success,
I called the IBM hardware support this week, and they sent me
a spare wireless card to replace mine.

After the replacement I never lost the wlan connection again!

The replacement card has the production date 05-2004,
and the original one 03-2004, maybe this charge has a problem.

So if you still have connection lost problems with your wireless
network, give it a try and call for a replacement.

bg,
Joker.