T23 WiFi problems

[chemtutor]

Hi everyone. I'm new here. I have a T23 that keeps "dropping" its connection to my home wireless network. I have an airport extreme base station (we're bleeding mac users, but I needed a PC for a non-mac application.)

Here's some history: I first bought the T23 used for $200 from someone off Craigslist. He admitted he didn't have the restore CD's, but that was fine, because at the time I needed an inexpensive PC yesterday. Well, the T23 ended up being a rock solid machine, and I ended up using it more than my mac tower, and it ALWAYS connected to my home network.

One year after I bought it, it caught a virus. It was a HARD reminder why I'm primarily a mac user. The antivirus couldn't get rid of it, so I purchased a copy of XP pro, erased the HD and reinstalled XP. I updated all of the drivers and firmware to where they were pre virus. But now the T23 keeps dropping the wifi. It connects just fine, but the transmit speed is only 1Mpbs (it was 11 pre virus). It drops in the middle of downloads and conferences.

I double checked on lenovo's website for the correct driver for the mini PCI card and the firmware, and I have the latest versions for both. Any ideas? Very interested in hearing from mac users who have had the same problem.

Thanks in advance.

[sjthinkpader]

Check and see if your neighbor is using the same channel. Most WiFi Access Points are shipped with default channel 6.

If you are both using channel 6, you will have connection problems until you or your neighbor change channel. Best will be spacing of 2 channels away. If your neighbor just bought the new 802.11n AP and have it set to 40Mhz channel width, you will be best off using channel 1 or 11.

[RealBlackStuff]

What is the exact TYPE number of your T23?
On the bottom on the IBM label it says: TYPE 2647-4NU or similar.
Which MiniPCI card are you using?
Sounds like the old wifi/modem combo card (802.11b).
Perhaps your router is now transmitting on the G-band?

[chemtutor]

It wasn't the channel. It was my powerbook g4. When I have that turned on my thinkpad won't connect well. When I have it turned off, the T23 connects no problem. I took it for granted that because my husband's intel macbook caused no connection problems in the past, a g4 powerbook wouldn't either. Then I read that the powerbooks have much stronger airport extreme cards than the intel macs.

[sjthinkpader]

Is the G4 placement directly between the T23 and the Access Point?

The optimal placement is of the three units, T23, G4 and Access Point should be in a triangular shape.

The worst case is in a linear shape unless the Access Point is in the middle.