Intel 2200BG Wireless Problems

[jdhurst]

I have a T41 XP Pro SP2 ThinkPad with the IBM 11 a/b/g wireless card, latest driver and latest Access Connections (3.30). Works great.

I am setting up a T42 XP Pro SP2 ThinkPas with Intel 2200BG wireless card, latest driver and latest Access Connections (3.30). Does not work at all.

If I click on the Radio Strength icon and select Status Window, I get a summary of the wireless connection status.

I see the following data - T41 (working) first / T42 (not working) second:

Operating state: Associated with Access Point / Radio ON, not associated
Signal strength: 82% / 0%
Signal quality: Excellent / Poor
Transmit Rate: 11 Mbps / 54 Mbps
Associated Mac: 00:00:..... / Blank
Current Channel: 6 / 11 <----- ******

Current Location Profile: Profile Name / same
Network name (SSID): My particular SSID / Blank
Network Type: Access Point (Infrastructure) / same
Security Encryption: WPA-PSK / TKIP / same
Description: IBM 11 a/b/g / Intel 2200BG
MAC Address: 00:05.... / 00:0E....
Driver Version: 3.1.102.23 / 8.1.025

I cannot change the channel in Access Connections and that seems to be at the heart of problem.

If I exit Access Connections, go to the properties of the Wireless NIC, and allow Windows to manage the connection, it show a connection immediately at full signal strength. So I know the NIC and the antennae are physically working.

I *know* I don't have to use Access Connections. But it works a treat on my computer, is wonderfully designed and provides the automation I want.

So if you have any ideas for me, I would be appreciative. I may well have overlooked something trivial, but I can't see it for looking.

Thanks, ... JDHurst

[SCURaja]

i was going to post the exact problem.....it was happening for me..t42 user..after i upgraded to sp2

visit the ibm website..you pretty much need to upgrade most of ibm's software to support sp2.. i finally did it..takes about an hour..total..and now..my box is happy..

vishal

[jdhurst]

I did upgrade all the IBM Applications. I uninstalled Access Connections (Preload); updated all the other drivers and apps; updated the Wireless Card; and then installed Access Connections 3.30. No cigar.

I have done two things:
1. I opened a case with IBM and they have sent it up one or two levels and will return to me Monday. We'll see.

2. I set the card properties to "b" only instead of "b" and "g" auto select. That fixed the rate but not the Channel. The Intel card is set for Channel 11 and my Netopia router operates on Channel 6. IBM thinks (like I do and noted in my first post) that this is the issue. Problem is, so far as I can see or they can see, there is no setting.

Centrino = Hype and nothing more.

.... JDHurst

[jdhurst]

It was the network card. I took the machine back to the vendor. They could not make it connect to their wireless access point, so they replaced the Intel 2200BG NIC under warranty, and it now works.

Interesting that if I set my Netopia to not broadcast the SSID, I cannot connect with the Intel card. If I set it to open, the Intel card works fine. The IBM card in my own laptop works in any configuration. The customer is happy, though.

I still think Centrino = Hype. ... JDHurst

[bevross]

....
If I exit Access Connections, go to the properties of the Wireless NIC, and allow Windows to manage the connection, it show a connection immediately at full signal strength.

I've had the same problem with the 2200BG but I never asked for/tried a new card. My solution was to dump Access Connections. If it works under Windows why is the problem the hardware versus the software?

[jdhurst]

Despite the fact that Windows showed a good signal with Access Connections unloaded, I still could not get a working connection. The vendor could get a signal as well (I was there with them), but could not make a connection. That is why they decided to replace the card, and the replacement card works. ... JDHurst