T30 in need of SUPERG settings

[Galactus DOW]

Hello everyone, this is a great forum, I have used to find much information but have never posted. This is my first post so be gentle with ,me

So here it is- My basic goal is just to get Super G support.

I have a T30 (2366-8au),
Bios Rev 2.10 Embedded Controller 1.07
2GHz, 2 GB mem, 160GB HD, SXGA screen, (and I love it).
OS is Windows 2000 Professional

Router-
D-Link DI-624 which does support Super G as well.

I set out to get some wifi cards and found the 91P7416 to be the best choice overall. These cards supposedly have the Atheros AR5004G chipset and so should easily be able to handle Super G support. I have been unable to get them to do so despite all my efforts though. I am hoping someone here can help me.

In order to try and minimize all the questions, I would like to add that I have the following-

I purchased the cards from here (a great seller by the way)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0305996264

I got the drivers here-
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-52527

I did also find this (below), which they said would do the job, but didn't work for me. In my registry I had an abolt 191 statement which I did try changing to 1 but it had no effect.

1) Open the registry with RegEdit.
2) Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\currentcontrolset\control\class.
3) Do a find Atheros
4) Add a new string value "dsableTurboG" and set its value to 0.
5) Add a new string value "abolt" and set its value to 1.
6) Close the registry and reboot the laptop.

Also note there are a few sellers on eBay saying it will work but "needs a modification" I have emailed them but received no reply. Here is a sample of their add-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... AQ:GB:1123

Note the add says- "Atheros AR5004G chipset, Support 802.11B/G 54Mbps, and Super G 108Mbps*, Brand new & Sealed in anti-static bag, *108Mbps mode enabled after software adjustment applied, email us:)

So, maybe someone here can help me!
I really hope so!

[lifrancis]

From what I understand, you get "super G" 108 Mbps only if you use a proper matching router. Otherwise the thing behaves like a normal 802.11B/G card.

[Galactus DOW]

Yes, I am using a D Link DI-624 which fully supports Super G

[rkawakami]

My understanding from reading some articles a few years ago is that "Super G" is outside the normal wireless standards. Each company could have their own version which may not be compatible with other implementations. Sort of like the "draft-N" of today's time. Everything being equal, you probably stand the best chance of making it work by using equipment from the same company on both ends of the wireless connection; the access point/router and your laptop's wireless card. Using the same chipset on both ends may help, as is the case here since "Super G" is supposed to be an Atheros trademark, but if the drivers (and firmware) are not in tune with each other, then it may not be possible to establish this high speed link. Also be aware that use of Super G can interfere with other wireless systems in your area simply because it's running on multiple channels at the same time. By the same token, if somebody else around you is already running Super G, then you both may suffer connection problems.

Given all of that, I'm curious as to what your basic "need" is for having a 108Mbps (ideal; but real-world throughput is going to be less than that) data connection? Unless you're lucky enough to have FIOS, then the bottleneck in downloading bandwidth is going to be your broadband connection. Data from your router to the laptop may flow over a 50Mbps Super G link but if you only have a 10Mbps cable connection, then you're not really seeing any benefits. Certainly computer-to-computer transfers will be faster within your network but that's all.

ref: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1437368,00.asp

[sjthinkpader]

Listen to what the man said:

... 108 Mbps only if you use a proper matching router...

In your case, with a DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router, that would be a D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G card to get 108Mbps.

[sjthinkpader]

My understanding from reading some articles a few years ago is that "Super G" is outside the normal wireless standards. Each company could have their own version which may not be compatible with other implementations. Sort of like the "draft-N" of today's time...

"Pre-N" is in much better shape than "Super-G". At least things are brought before IEEE and being discussed. I am using an Atheros 11n card and a router with Ralink chipset. No problem at all. I was apprehensive in the beginning and only used Ralink cards too.

Given all of that, I'm curious as to what your basic "need" is for having a 108Mbps (ideal; but real-world throughput is going to be less than that) data connection? Unless you're lucky enough to have FIOS, then the bottleneck in downloading bandwidth is going to be your broadband connection. Data from your router to the laptop may flow over a 50Mbps Super G link but if you only have a 10Mbps cable connection, then you're not really seeing any benefits. Certainly computer-to-computer transfers will be faster within your network but that's all.

ref: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1437368,00.asp

Since many businesses are still using T1 lines, should they just use 10Mb ethernet? That would be plenty of bandwidth for their WAN link. But many businesses are using Gigabit ethernet. There are plenty of LOCAL network bandwidth demand to use faster ports.

We asked HP whether color laser printer would benefit from GE cards and they said no. We changed the network scanner interface card to GE anyway just because it is running close to 100Mb rate. Backup to NAS is now much faster over GE. So LAN traffic can benefit from faster network even WAN is much slower. We kept the IP phones on 100Mb switch simply because their bandwidth is fixed.

I went out and bought an eight port GE switch for my home network as soon it fell below $50. I now have GE NAS even the WAN side is only 3Mb. 11n made pulling up large photos files much faster for the computer on the TV.

[Galactus DOW]

Given all of that, I'm curious as to what your basic "need" is for having a 108Mbps (ideal; but real-world throughput is going to be less than that) data connection? Unless you're lucky enough to have FIOS, then the bottleneck in downloading bandwidth is going to be your broadband connection. Data from your router to the laptop may flow over a 50Mbps Super G link but if you only have a 10Mbps cable connection, then you're not really seeing any benefits. Certainly computer-to-computer transfers will be faster within your network but that's all.
ref: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1437368,00.asp

There are 4 T30's we would like to outfit this way, and yes the basic need is system to system transfers at the office. As well, FIOS is coming

... 108 Mbps only if you use a proper matching router...
In your case, with a DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router, that would be a D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G card to get 108Mbps.

The IBM card and the D-Link router all use the Atheros Chipset, and therefore thsi should not be an issue.

The major issue is there isn't even a place to activate the Super G for the card even though it is supported.

I could use the D Link cards that take up a pcmcia slot and stick out the side of the notebook, I have onbe and it works great. But everyone wants these because they install internally, look better, etc.

[sjthinkpader]

...
The IBM card and the D-Link router all use the Atheros Chipset, and therefore thsi should not be an issue.
...

You can't get the hardware setup without some kind of utility. Super-G functionality is not in the Access Connection or Microsoft Zero utility. So you have to try the D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G card utility and see if it will setup a generic Atheros card. I haven't looked for a recent generic Atheros utility and the old version 330156 that worked relatively well for sure doesn't support Super-G.

The Ralink 11n miniPCI cards I have were not recognized by AC or MS Zero either. So I had to use a generic Ralink util to set up those cards. Fortunately the Atheros version 11n miniPCI card behaved well enough for the Thinkpad 11abgn driver to work and MS Zero util could set it up. T43 not accept any 11n miniPCI cards is also the main reason I am still using a T42p at home.

[sjthinkpader]

... Also be aware that use of Super G can interfere with other wireless systems in your area simply because it's running on multiple channels at the same time. By the same token, if somebody else around you is already running Super G, then you both may suffer connection problems.
...

11n has the same problem especially when 40Mhz bandwidth option is turned on. In this case only three channels can be used, channel 6, low channel and high channel. In the 2.4Ghz band, channel spacing is only 5.5Mhz. That is why some router companies don't offer 40Mhz option due to this "good neighbor" issue.

[nikki605]

I'm lucky enough to have FiOS... but only the 10/2Mbps internet plan. I was too cheap to spring for the 20/5Mbps option in 2007. Maybe when my 2-year agreement runs out in September. That will also get me a few more HD channels by upgrading.

Sorry for the slightly off-topic post. Now back to your regularly scheduled topic

[Galactus DOW]

Well to anyone that experiences the same issue you will be happy to know that all you need do is run the Atheros 4.1.2.71 driver and you will get 108 mps. If using XP just install the driver, and let XP do the rest it works just fine. If using 2000 you'll need the driver and the connectivity utility. Works like a charm, all's well that ends well.