IBM a/b/g - How Can I Use 108mbps or speed up my connection?

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dmcgibbo · #1 Post by **dmcgibbo** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:23 pm

I have a 108mbps SuperG router and have a 2378-DYU with the IBM a/b/g card. I tried using the SuperG Netgear card that I have which connects at 108mbps but there was network lag (if I check email or an away message or something, there would be a 5-10 second delay where everything would freeze and THEN the info would be sent and I don't know why)

Anyway, the IBM a/b/g works better but I am still connecting to my Netgear SuperG router. I read in a post that you could enable the a/b/g card to use 108mbps if your router supported it so how can I do this? I clicked on network properties and looked in the configurations of the IBM card but under G transfer rates it only had 54mbps I believe. In the taskbar it still says I'm connected at 11mbps. Even if I can't get superG I should be able to get 54 right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

(btw, I don't really want to use Access connections b/c it seems to slow my computer startup in locating the networks)

SDNick484 · #2 Post by **SDNick484** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:31 pm

First off, I don't believe you will be able to use the 108Mbps speed with the IBM card; this is because the way the different manufacturers implement speeds higher than 55Mbps varies (it's not in the A, B, or G specifications). The way most vendors implement such speeds is by banding channels together, which can affect other devices (like yough neighbors access points -- generally causes them to be blocked since the spectrum is flooded). I'd be weary about blocking your neighbors in this way, especially if you have a NetGear; I know if one of my neighbor's AP's were effecting me they'd find themselves locked out of it rather quickly. Although just because two manufacturers use the channel banding method, it doesn't mean their products can communicate. I'm curious why you need 108Mbps in the first place? I find 802.11B adequate for 90% of my purposes (including streaming audio), remeber most broadband connections are between 1-3Mbps. If more than 5 computers are using the network simultaneously, G is probably a better choice. I suggest setting the router to broadcast at 55Mbps, then hopefully the IBM card will jump up to the correct speed.

Kenn · #3 Post by **Kenn** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:41 pm

SDNick484 wrote:I'm curious why you need 108Mbps in the first place? I find 802.11B adequate for 90% of my purposes (including streaming audio), remeber most broadband connections are between 1-3Mbps. If more than 5 computers are using the network simultaneously, G is probably a better choice.

Just to chime in, the extra speed may not help with a regular broadband connection, but it can make a big difference for your home network. I had Offline Files in XP set up to sync my documents and Outlook files to my desktop anytime I connected to the network. It quickly became clear that 11mbps was just too slow (especially with ballooning .pst files) and I found myself manually connecting through the wired lan at 100Mbps to get it done.

dmcgibbo · #4 Post by **dmcgibbo** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:51 pm

Well even so, I'm connecting at 11mbps right now and I'd like to up it to the max of what the card can do which is probably 54mbps.

But how do I do this? In the wireless connection properties, I went into the a/b/g card configuration properties and clicked on advance, and it lists a bunch of things to configure...

11a transfer rates (highest is 54mbps)
11b transfer rates (highest is 11)
11g transfer rates (highest is 54)
11d mode switch
extended channel mode
power save mode
etc.

what does enabling the extended channels do (which you are supposed to keep off in the US) and if I change the settings to 54, 11, and 54 is that all i need to do or is there somewhere else I need to setup the card to get the higher speeds? I am still only getting 11mbps when I look in the taskbar at the connection. I think my router is set to do "b and g" but I'm using windows to configure the network instead of IBM access connections or the netgear network utility...

sugo · #5 Post by **sugo** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 5:59 am

To get Super G support, you need the universal Atheros driver and utility version 3.0 or higher.

Fujitsu support page for S and P series laptops has it.

dmcgibbo · #6 Post by **dmcgibbo** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:49 am

sugo wrote:To get Super G support, you need the universal Atheros driver and utility version 3.0 or higher.

Fujitsu support page for S and P series laptops has it.

I looked on Fujitsu's page and they have downloads for Wireless LAN updates, WAN Intel updates, Artheros, WLAN Atheros V3.1.1.16, etc. The last one is "Driver Upgrade Procedure (Atheros WLAN Driver version 3.1.1.16 with Atheros Utility version 3.1.1.26)". How do I know I need this since I don't have any Artheros software installed right now and I have an IBM a/b/g card not Artheros?

Also, I am still connecting at 11mbps - doesn't the IBM a/b/g handle more than that at least standard - I must not be configuring something right. I don't want to install some unsupported software to get 108mbps and it work slower than regular 11mbps b/c of an incompatibility (like what my Netgear card did). Basically, I'm happy with configuring what I have to get 54mbps if possible unless you can explain what I need to do. Sorry I'm so lost with this...

ian · #7 Post by **ian** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:07 am

I have a 54Mbps D-Link Wireless Router (DI-624+)and my T42 (IBM 11a/b/g) card is connected at 54Mbps as a matter of course...I did nothing aside from type in a name for the connection, the SSID and the WEP key and it all worked out-of-the-box.

I should perhaps mention that one of the handful of tiny changes with SP2 is the change of the wireless connection icon in the system tray...NO changes in connection etc. but noticeably quicker boot.

Humpa · #8 Post by **Humpa** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 10:54 am

dmcgibbo, the IBM a/b/g has the Atheros chipset.
Try this if you want SuperG: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=818

One thing though, for normal 54G to get the maximum throughput speeds, you need to set your router to G-only mode. If your router is in B/G compatible mode, it will not be quite as fast as if it was in G-only.

Unlike ian, my boot-up with SP2 takes a little more than 10seconds longer (no "delays" anywhere, just takes longer). I thought I had read that people were seeing faster boot-up times.

Kenn · #9 Post by **Kenn** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:42 am

I don't recall noticing anything significantly different between Sp1 and sp2 bootup times. Bootvis can keep both to around 35 seconds.

dmcgibbo · #10 Post by **dmcgibbo** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:03 pm

I tried to download bootvis but it's no longer available from microsoft and the documentation says that it is a rumor that it speeds up boot time and the utility was only for computer manufacturers when designing boot order...

EDIT: i changed my router settings to G only and i now get 108mbps w/o having to make any other changes. Thanks everyone!

kjarrett · #11 Post by **kjarrett** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:54 pm

dmcgibbo wrote:EDIT: i changed my router settings to G only and i now get 108mbps w/o having to make any other changes. Thanks everyone!

Could you elaborate on this? How did you verify - file transmission?

Thanks, kj

IBM a/b/g - How Can I Use 108mbps or speed up my connection?

IBM a/b/g - How Can I Use 108mbps or speed up my connection?

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