T42 Wireless Problem

Message

dlgandle · #1 Post by **dlgandle** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:13 am

I have a one-month old T42 (2379DXU) with the Intel Wireless card. My wireless router, which I've had for more than a year, is a D-Link DI-711. During the first few days after I began using the T42, I got a good wireless connection, but over the past few weeks, the connection has become more and more intermittent, until now it only hooks up for a minute or two after I boot the computer up, then becomes intermittent. The wireless connection indicator light above the keyboard begins flashing, especially when I attempt to make connection to a website, and the connection does not go through or will not hold.

I phoned IBM about this, and they had me update the drivers for the intel card and for the Access IBM connections...no change. Meanwhile the connection indicator screen says that there is a strong wireless connection at 100% strength (even while the indicator light above the keyboard is flashing). The IBM tech rep finally suggested that the problem could be that the router is encrypting the signal. I told him that I thought this was unlikely, since I do get ocassional periods of service, but he suggested that I check with D-Link anyway. So...I went to the D-Link support page and discovered that my router was discontinued in 2001, and that support service for it was discontinued in 2003, so I guess I'm out of luck with that.

Question: does anyone have any thoughts on whether the problem might be with the card or with the router, or something else. Given the age of the router, I suppose that I should replace it anyway. From what I could see on their website, D-Link is no longer offering any updates for it. But I don't want to spend the money to replace it and then find that I still have the same problem.

Best Regards,

David

e_motek · #2 Post by **e_motek** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:54 am

Make sure the DSL/Cable line is not plugged into surge suppressor.
Suppressors interpret light voltage on the line as a spike; therefore, attempt to spress it.

I had this problem and after I unplugged it didn't have any.

Works like a charm.

gfinney · #3 Post by **gfinney** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:23 am

I have a very similar problem. My 2373KXU is about 3 months old, and my Linksys wireless router about 1 year old. Up until last week all was fine, but now I lose my connection several times per day. Access Connections shows an Excellent association with the access point, AND I am able to access other computers on my home network just fine, but I cannot get internet or email. Reboot resets and I'm fine for a few more hours.

IBM tech told me the same as you, but so far nothing has helped. I don't think it is your router, since in my case, my laptop is the only one with the problem. Can you connect to the router from another computer? Double check the driver version on the wireless card (Update Connector installed the wrong version on mine).

Let me know if you get it fixed, coz this is frustrating.

Graham

mattfromomaha · #4 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:09 am

Do you guys have Windows Service Pack 2 installed. Microsoft has some new wireless connectivity software that supposedly an improvement over past MS products (but is worthless compared to the power of Access Connections!). I noticed problems like this when upgrading where AC can see the Access Point and associate it but has problems pulling an IP Address. Once I disabled the new Wireless Zero Config service and rebooted it was better.

jlev · #5 Post by **jlev** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:59 am

I have exactly the same problem with my T42 (2373-CWG). and 2-wire router which disconnects every 5 minutes or so. I am being told that the problem is somhow connected to SP2. Could that be?
jlev

sktn77a · #6 Post by **sktn77a** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:54 pm

Check for firmware updates on the routers - this is a known problem with some D-link routers. Also go into wireless network setup/properties and disable 802.1x authentication.

gfinney · #7 Post by **gfinney** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:02 pm

mattfromomaha wrote:Do you guys have Windows Service Pack 2 installed. Microsoft has some new wireless connectivity software that supposedly an improvement over past MS products (but is worthless compared to the power of Access Connections!). I noticed problems like this when upgrading where AC can see the Access Point and associate it but has problems pulling an IP Address. Once I disabled the new Wireless Zero Config service and rebooted it was better.

I do have XP SP2 installed, but I have turned off "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings". I seem to lose the IP address whenever in standby, or the PC is idle for a short period of time. IBM has given up, and suggests it is a software problem!!

Graham

bevross · #8 Post by **bevross** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:15 pm

dlgandle wrote:I have a one-month old T42 (2379DXU) with the Intel Wireless card. My wireless router, which I've had for more than a year, is a D-Link DI-711. During the first few days after I began using the T42, I got a good wireless connection, but over the past few weeks, the connection has become more and more intermittent ...

I struggled a lot with getting a stable wireless connection with Access Connections for awhile and found the best solution is don't use it! The tech person at IBM even recommended removing it (through Add/Remove programs). Windows wireless connectivity. with XP/SP2. is much better -- no hassles. IBM has some notes on their website re: steps to take before updating to SP2 (update drivers & bios, etc.). I have now concluded that IBM's A.C. is not worth much (though granted the interface looks nicer). I'd be curious to hear if anyone uses it regularly without any glitches. And, if you do, please state what wifi card/ router/AP you have. I've the Intel 2200BG with a Linksys WAP54g access point & a T42, too.

ciocc · #9 Post by **ciocc** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:36 pm

[quote="bevross"][quote="dlgandle"]I struggled a lot with getting a stable wireless connection with Access Connections for awhile and found the best solution is don't use it!

I had the same issue with my T42. After installing SP2, the Access Connection just could not hold on to an IP address. Like bevross, I just uninstalled it and used the wireless connection from M$. Since the swtich, I have not experienced any problems at all.

Some credits to M$ this time.

dlgandle · #10 Post by **dlgandle** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:56 am

Thanks, everyone, for their input on this. I do not have SP2 installed, and have pretty much decided not to install it, although I may reconsider after my experiences with the wireless connection.

I followed the suggestions on this thread and disconnected AC, allowing Windows to manage the connection...unfortunately there was no change. Meanwhile, my wife can obtain wireless service from the same router with her Apple, with no particular problems, so, like GFinney, I assume that the router is not the source of my problem.

I guess my next step is to install SP2...I'll let you know how it turns out.

Regards,

David

M4A · #11 Post by **M4A** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:29 am

bevross wrote:I'd be curious to hear if anyone uses it regularly without any glitches. And, if you do, please state what wifi card/ router/AP you have. I've the Intel 2200BG with a Linksys WAP54g access point & a T42, too.

XP SP2, t20, dwl-g650 pc card (dlink), di-624 AP. Zero problems.

Throughput is 3 MB/sec (170 true MB in 57 seconds). Done using "Super-G", short preamble, NO turbo (turbo is just compression, and this was a .wav file -- much slower using "turbo" on these sort of files).

3 MB/sec is pretty good. Using the built-in (cabled) ethernet I get about 8+ MB/sec. No dropped connections.

Power use is very low using "Normal" power settings for the g650 radio (options: max power save, normal, continuous access mode [CAM]); I left xmit at 100%. Not doing ANYTHING but looking at a web page, power use is about 8 W (ie, only a little above typical minimum). Downloading had a moderate increase, to about 10 W, but that was internet DL, not a LAN file xfer. In CAM mode, typically 12 W total power use. Dragging a 1000x600 window around: 25 W.

Works well, no drops, XP SP2, WZC, WPA-TKIP, but not a built-in radio (t20 didn't have).

(I'm editing this to add the "WPA...", but the board complained that I can't add "another" (sic) post so soon.) Oh, right, not using AC at all (zozorry).

FTR: Straight G gets me 2.1 MB/sec, Super-G w/LONG preamble gets me 2.5 MB/sec, Super-G w/SHORT preamble gets me the 3 MB/sec. Fortunately, all my WPA-capable radios (four total) work with the short preamble of the 624; on my (old) 900AP+ (802.11b/+), one radio wouldn't work with a short preamble (so that meant the AP HAD to have long preamble set, always). Quite a boost -- 2.5 -> 3.0 MB/sec.

skanky · #12 Post by **skanky** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:43 am

XP SP2 and access connections 3.30 are running fine on my machine.

t40 2373-rg9 upgraded to 512mb, a/b/g ibm wireless card and hitachi 7200rpm drive connecting to a netgear dg834g wireless router using WPA.

only beef i have with it is that using access connections, i cant hide the SSID and connect to the router, but if i unhide it, it connects not a problem.

rocky01 · #13 Post by **rocky01** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:32 pm

this is not a solution as much as a resolution --

after losing ip connectivity after switching from no-security to 128-bit WEP with password, i couldn't get onto the internet . no problem, i cheerfully trotted out to this thinkpads.com forum and others for help. after reading various threads, with various suggestions for apparent indentical and merely similar issues, i proceeded to methodically hunt down all possible gremlins:

removing router and dsl modem from pots connection as well as unplugging desktop pc and thinkpad, reset router by holding down reset 30+ seconds, switched from a to b to g bandwidths - resetting to default settings each time, updated access connections, confirmed latest bios and embedded controller (they were fine), looked in vain for new router firmware (too new), uninstalled (tried winxp wireless without luck)a nd reinstalled with latest access connections, uninstalled and reinstalled wifi's pci card drivers, updated to sp2, turned off sp2 firewall, blew out all dialup network connections, removed xpppoe, installed raspppoe, took time out for cathartic primal scream, went on to reset tcp\ip [http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... US;Q299357&], updated intel pro network adapter, flushed ie cache, flushed C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temp and c:\windows\temp, rest all msc services to default, setup router with cd, then after no luck again though http://192.168.1.1, pinged isp (none detected) and finally considered plastic explosives. with some grim resignation i resolved to turn this connection up on its ear by first a multiple download of all thinkpad updates and then a recovery of original thinkpad configuration through access ibm's hidden partition (reformat). after obtaining all winxp updates and reloading additonal software and applying all known ibm updates, access connections works. i choose to use dsl router though desktop and only use thinkpad wifi through local cafe (return router to store right before 30 days is up). i just noticed ibm updated bios for resolving issues with some routers, like mine.

good grief.

epilogue - one "may" need to blast: (stop that whining).

bevross · #14 Post by **bevross** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:56 pm

rocky01 wrote:... after obtaining all winxp updates and reloading additonal software and applying all known ibm updates, access connections works. i choose to ... only use thinkpad wifi through local cafe

I'm impressed by the determination displayed in the writeup of your saga! But, if it's working, why wifi only at the cafe? These days, a laptop without wireless is like ... some dumb analogy (a bicycle without wheels?). Seems like next step would be, like some other forum member did -- ask for a new wifi card from IBM.

rocky01 · #15 Post by **rocky01** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:33 pm

no wifi for me on the laptop at home for now, i'll just use high speed for desktop and relegate regular dialup modem for thinkpad surfing. the a/b/g card was always recognized; i suspect it was a software problem that was perhaps ameliorated by new bios. roaming around on deck outside can wait until warm weather for now. by then perhaps more firmware(s) and new "n" bandwidth may usher in foolproof wireless connectivity.

i just worn out right now and cranky.

dlgandle · #16 Post by **dlgandle** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:21 am

I think I have fixed my wireless connectivity problem, at least for now. I did not install Sp2...instead, I went back to the D-Link site and found that they did have a download of firmware for the DI-711 still available on the site, even though the support has been discontinued. I downloaded this, then rebooted the router and my computer. I then went through windows to set up the wireless connection...I first connected to my oriiginal connection, but this did not work. I then connected to a newly offered "default" connection (I think it is new -- I hope I'm not connecting to one of my neighbors).

This worked and provided full connectivity...The previous named connection is still on the wireless menu as an alternative connection...

Regards,

David