Incompatibility with dual band a/b card and pre-N?

[kidziti]

I have been through two different pre-N routers (replacing my old Linksys B wireless router). In all cases it seems that the card sees the router (at 100% signal strength) but Access Connections will not connect. I've been through the router config utilities for both the Linksys SRX and the Belkin pre-N several times, upgraded both router firmware and IBM card drivers and AC itself - the whole 9 yards and then some. I've jumped for hours through hoops the techies have set up for me, and have even had the card in my IBM replaced twice - yet no one on IBM's or Belkin's or Linksys' tech support teams can figure this out. The WiFi card works fine with the B router (which begs the obvious question - but it has known streaming issues with sound and video and no fix or firmware update in sight). I must upgrade, so...

My question is two-part:

1) IS there a compatibility issue between the IBM Atheros-driven a/b dual band WiFi card and MIMO-based (pre-N) routers?

2) If the answer to #1 above is yes, then would the IBM a/b/g internal card be any better? Or should I go with the Intel 2200BG? I'd like to avoid external cards if possible.

[DIGITALgimpus]

Well... there's an implied incompatibility at this point, because it's pre-N gear. "pre" is essentially the same as "beta".

For one, there's no advantage over 802.11g access points, since that's what your card is capable of. You get only the lowest speed on the network (if you have an 802.11b user on the network, your lowered to 802.11b speeds, regardless of your own btw).

I'd try setting the access point to operate in 802.11b/g only if you can... and work from there.