WiFi Card Brands: Satisfaction Survey

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kjarrett · #1 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 am

There seems to be conflicting evidence as to which of the two WiFi card brands, IBM or Intel, are least problematic. I searched and found many threads that indicated Intel was the way to go. Bill has a preference for the IBM card. He and I were thinking a poll would be in order. So, please offer your thoughts! Thanks!

-kj-

sysop note:
i added CISCO voting..

kjarrett · #2 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:30 am

My only experience thus far as been with IBM WiFi "b" cards in two T30s, one for my dad and one for me.

In both cases, the cards worked well, as designed.

For my T30 however, I am using a DLink PCMCIA "g" card and have the IBM card disabled in Device Manager.

Thanks, kj

xtypestereotype · #3 Post by **xtypestereotype** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:55 am

What about Cisco? I run linux and I wish my Thinkpad had a Cisco, mainly cause of driver support, though my Intel works flawlessly under Microshit

kjarrett · #4 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 6:13 am

Thanks, I thought our only choices were Intel and IBM, but now I remember seeing Cisco mentioned. Are they widely spec'd in Thinkpads? If so I will have to ask Jim to update the poll.

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 6:43 am

I threw the Intel 2100 NIC in the trash and installed the IBM 11 a/b/g card in my T41. Works a treat.

I am setting up a T42 for another person, and the Intel 2200BG card sucks as well. I still don't have it working. Time to put in a case with IBM.

The IBM (Atheros) card is the best.

... JDHurst

bevross · #6 Post by **bevross** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:12 pm

I've got the Intel 2200BG, too, in my T42. It works o.k. but not as well as the stock Atheros 802.11g Wi-Fi that came with a friend's $700/Circuit City Toshiba Satellite! With her machine I could connect effortlessly & losslessly with a low-strength neighbor's unsecured dsl whereas I couldn't: occasional connect that immediately was lost. From what I've read, the Atheros is one of the better chips.

MadeInJapan · #7 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 1:36 pm

The mini pci card in my T-30 is an Intel combo (with modem) but it is only "B" but works great. Is there a replacement for this that would allow me "G" and modem for the T30?

In the future when "B" starts disappearing from the cafe's and hotels I'd like to be able to upgrade. The current wireless access point in my house (don't use a router, but this access point works great with encrypted WAP) is "B" but it is easy to upgrade this.

MrBeta · #8 Post by **MrBeta** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 5:48 pm

What about those of us who have more than one ThinkPad and different cards in them?

I have two T42p Thinkpads, one with Intel 2200b/g card, the other with IBM a/b/g. Both work great, though the Intel card has sufferred with fewer configuration problems. The IBM card gave me headaches one night when it just wouldn't connect at all, until I installed XP SP2 - without making any other changes. It came back to life and has been working ever since. Go figure.

Both cards have excellent range and signal strength, much better than any other Linksys, Netgear, USRobotics, or Microsoft wireless PC Card I've used in other laptops.

#9 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:00 pm

my preference for the IBM (Philips) card over the INTEL was based on early reports that the IBM was just plain better..
that was during the A31p/R50p time frame..
when INTEL had only 802.11b cards..

now things have changed and a poll is in order..
and reading it it shows the IBM card to still be the winner..

this is why when i order new thinkpads for stock i choose the IBM wifi card..
a/b/g..

on to AP's..

i USED to use Linksys..
and
SMC..

now am using Netgear..

when the T42p goers into suspend and returns, the connection is lost and does not return until i reboot the Netgear AP/router..

this problem seems to be limited to the Netgear because other thinkpads with different OS's seem to have the same problem..

this happens with two different model Netgear AP's..

CISCO wifi cards were in some thinkpad models but seem to be fewer now..
still available though..

MrBeta · #10 Post by **MrBeta** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:12 pm

I have Netgear WGT624 v2 access point/router and both my Thinkpads (Intel 220bg and IBM a/b/g) re-connect every single time when coming our of hibernation or suspend mode. Not a single problem yet.

dpb · #11 Post by **dpb** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:56 pm

As first noted by csv96 in a post last week, IBM has quietly upgraded the IBM a/b/g mini-PC card to the Atheros 5004X chipset (from 5001X+). It's part 93P4262.

The card is shipping in a few of the latest T42 models, but it doesn't appear to be available as a separate order item at this time.

Marc_G · #12 Post by **Marc_G** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:30 pm

Do either the IBM or Intel cards support LEAP authentication? That's what my company site uses, and when I order my next set of TPs for my team, I need to make sure I get wireless cards compatible with our security protocols.

Currently my T30 doesn't have built-in wireless, but I'm using a Cisco aironet 350 b card.

Marc

clmbngbkng · #13 Post by **clmbngbkng** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:35 pm

The IBM a/b/g one supports it. I don't know if it works well using it I just know that I have the option for my card.

Riddil · #14 Post by **Riddil** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:41 pm

Wow, I wish I could have voted for more options.

I've used *all* of the wireless cards in some way-shape-form over the past few years, and feel strongly about a few.

- The Cisco was the best, hands-down. Amazing card. But Cisco dropped out of the wlan card business, and their cards quickly became outdated. Sad.

I don't even think any new Thinkpad models ship with Cisco cards.

- IBM cards are solid. In fact, the IBM cards are actually based on Atheros cards, and Atheros has always been top quality. And Atheros has been working side-by-side with Cisco recently, meaning they've only gotten better.

- Intel. I have nothing good to say about Intel. Centrino is a joke; it's the biggest marketting scam of all time. Head-to-head it loses against every other wlan card. Consumes more battery power, lowest broadcast strength, and terrible driver support.

Oh, and both Intel & IBM cards support LEAP. But I think you have to use Access Connections to be able to get full support. Which isn't so bad anyhow... anything more complicated than basic WEP is a nightmare to actually get working using the Windows interface. AC makes it manageable.

yakman · #15 Post by **yakman** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 3:43 pm

dpb wrote:As first noted by csv96 in a post last week, IBM has quietly upgraded the IBM a/b/g mini-PC card to the Atheros 5004X chipset (from 5001X+). It's part 93P4262.

The card is shipping in a few of the latest T42 models, but it doesn't appear to be available as a separate order item at this time.

I'm trying to configure a 2378FVU and it gives me the option of a "IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" for +$58. Is the "II" version of the card the one with the 5004X chipset?

-Eric

#16 Post by **BillMorrow** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:08 am

yakman wrote:
dpb wrote:As first noted by csv96 in a post last week, IBM has quietly upgraded the IBM a/b/g mini-PC card to the Atheros 5004X chipset (from 5001X+). It's part 93P4262.

The card is shipping in a few of the latest T42 models, but it doesn't appear to be available as a separate order item at this time.
I'm trying to configure a 2378FVU and it gives me the option of a "IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter II" for +$58. Is the "II" version of the card the one with the 5004X chipset?

-Eric

how many would you like me to order..??

http://www-306.ibm.com/common/ssi/fcgi- ... NUS104-397

Leon · #17 Post by **Leon** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 5:30 pm

does anyone know the advantages of the new version?

dpb · #18 Post by **dpb** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:20 am

Yes, it seems likely that the II is the new card. It would be nice if you could verify that it's part no. 93P4262.

MrBeta · #19 Post by **MrBeta** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:34 am

dpb wrote:Yes, it seems likely that the II is the new card.

And that would be an advantage *how* exactly?

What is it about the II card that makes it "better"? I think that was the question.

dpb · #20 Post by **dpb** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:18 am

Yakman:

The optional IBM a/b/g card for a 2378FVU is indeed IBM'sTrecently upgraded Atheros 5004 version. Go to http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.ws ... IGR-4TP37K.

Mr. Beta:

I can't swear to the differences between the old and new versions of IBM's a/b/g card, but Atheros claims the improvements in the 5004 Atheros chip (assuming IBM delivers them) compared to the 5001 chip are: support for 802.11 e, h, i & j, as well as XR. They claim AES TKKIP operates "without performance degredation." They also claim multimedia QoS improvements.
[/quote]

Leon · #21 Post by **Leon** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:23 am

If my current IBM a/b/g card goes bad, do they ship me the new one, or do they still carry the old one?

goofball · #22 Post by **goofball** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:45 am

My X40 is a 2371-6FU with the Intel 2200BG card. I've been getting all kinds of data corruption issues, even though I have followed Intel's instructions to fix it as posted on one of the earlier threads.
1. Does anyone know if or how I can get the card replaced to the new IBM card, of course at a minimum or free of charge?

2. Also, is it a better solution as far as the data corruption goes?
3. How does the IBM compare as far as signal strength is concerned?...power consumption?

Thanks....great forum, as always.

Riddil · #23 Post by **Riddil** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:45 pm

Leon wrote:If my current IBM a/b/g card goes bad, do they ship me the new one, or do they still carry the old one?

They ship you a brand new one, and give a postage-paid return box to ship back the broken card.

And goofball... for #1, no idea, the only option I think you'd have is to go back to where you bought the system and swap it for a matching model, with the one difference being the wlan card

#2, Better. Best.

#3, signal strength is maybe a wee bit better, power consumption is about the same. (Not really too sure... but I haven't really noticed any great difference).

Leon · #24 Post by **Leon** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:57 pm

no, my question is: my current system has the older revision card... it seems to be failing...... if I call for replacement, will they send me the new revision card, or are they still stocking & sending the old revision card?

lvlolvlo · #25 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 5:56 pm

xtypestereotype wrote:What about Cisco? I run linux and I wish my Thinkpad had a Cisco, mainly cause of driver support, though my Intel works flawlessly under Microshit

you can use your intel one under linux. head over to sourceforge and get a program called ndiswrapper. easy as pie setup, of course not as easy as just pluging in my orinoco pcmcia....but still at least it's flushed in and gets the job done.

Chatbox · #26 Post by **Chatbox** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 7:14 pm

I'm thinking of getting a mini-PCI wireless 802.11g card for my TP.
Would this work in my T41p (2373-GGU): http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... ture=Intel

yakman · #27 Post by **yakman** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 9:23 pm

Chatbox wrote:I'm thinking of getting a mini-PCI wireless 802.11g card for my TP.
Would this work in my T41p (2373-GGU): http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... ture=Intel

It most likely won't work without a little BIOS hacking. Look here for more details: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~mjg59/thinkpad/wireless.html
-Eric

gzaector · #28 Post by **gzaector** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 1:21 pm

I have a Cisco air-pcm352 PCMCIA card, that I wouldnt trade for the world.

WiFi Card Brands: Satisfaction Survey

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WiFi Card Brands: Satisfaction Survey

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