T60p: 802.11b vs 802.11g; Access Connections vs WinXP cfg

[scottsm777]

I am having fits with my wireless connection, and I'm hoping you can help!

Configuration:
Thinkpad T60p with 802.11a/b/g adapter (Atheros)
WinXP
Thinkpad Access Connections v4.21
Home network using 2Wire 802.11b/g router

[b]Problem 1:[/b] Access Connections will not manage the wireless
Even if I go into the "Wireless Networks" tab on the properties for the adapter and uncheck the box that says "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings", I cannot get Access Connections to manage the wireless adapter. No matter what I do, when I go to the Access Connections GUI, I cannot add or edit any location profiles.

[b]Problem 2:[/b] My adapter will not use 802.11g
If I set my router to accept 802.11b and 802.11g, I can connect -- at 11Mbps. If I set my router to accept only 802.11g, I cannot connect at all. And I can't see anything in the windows-based properties that will let me switch the adapter to connect with 802.11g or "best available" instead of 802.11b.


My built-in network adapter shows up in Device Manager as "11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter", the Driver Provider is Atheros Communications, Inc, the Driver Date is 4/18/2006, and the driver version is 4.1.102.147. Neither ThinkVantage System Update nor ThinkVantage Software Installer don't find any updates for the wireless adapter, so I believe this is the latest one.

Finally, I stopped and disabled the Wireless Zero Configuration service, and Access Connections still wouldn't let me edit or create configurations. (Actually, I played with all kinds of different combinations of stopping/disabling Wireless Zero Configuration, Ac Profile Manager Service, and Access Connections Main Service -- and nothing worked.)


Any ideas on how to get my adapter to connect in 802.11g? And how to get Access Connections to work?

[Scratch]

For the Access Connections issue are you logged in as Administrator or as a user with sufficient privilege to make the change(s)? If you are running as Admin and it still refuses to work, you might want to remove / reinstall AC with the XP wireless management disabled.

Are you in an area with many other wireless networks? Apartment/condo complex or dense suburbia? Try your card on an un or less used channel. The default is 6 and most people don't vary it.

Do you have sufficient signal strength/connectivity to support G?

When the card is set to B & G support it will attempt to make the fastest connection that the router offers. If B is precluded on the router (set for G only) it could be another setpoint i.e Power Management (Transmit power) on the card preventing the higher speed link.

That being said I've only dealt with 2 Wire configs a couple of times and they were different from the LinkSys, DLink and Airport setups I'd done in the past. It might be worth your while to contact 2 Wire to obtain the latest FW and setup info.

[scottsm777]

Yes, I'm logged in as administrator. Signal strength or signal collisions should not be an issue, since my other computer connects with 802.11g (also much of the time, my network is the only one that shows up). Also, transmit power on the card is set to 100%.

I don't think the issue is with the router -- I think it's with the card on my laptop, or with Access Connections itself.

I just opened Access Connections and next to the "Status: Operational" line was a "details" link. I clicked that and the Diagnostic Tools dialog opened up.

In there, under "Wireless Settings" was "Wireless mode", and it was set to 802.11b.

Access Connections won't let me change the Location Profiles, and I can't find any way to change the mode in Windows from b to g.

[GomJabbar]

I'll point you to a thread where recently cmdrtallon came here with the same problem. Hopefully the link I provided in the other thread will be the solution for you both. cmdrtallon hasn't reported back yet.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=35636

[pinesol]

Yes, I'm logged in as administrator. Signal strength or signal collisions should not be an issue, since my other computer connects with 802.11g (also much of the time, my network is the only one that shows up). Also, transmit power on the card is set to 100%.

I don't think the issue is with the router -- I think it's with the card on my laptop, or with Access Connections itself.

I just opened Access Connections and next to the "Status: Operational" line was a "details" link. I clicked that and the Diagnostic Tools dialog opened up.

In there, under "Wireless Settings" was "Wireless mode", and it was set to 802.11b.

Access Connections won't let me change the Location Profiles, and I can't find any way to change the mode in Windows from b to g.

I don't know why you don't have the option to choose from auto, a, b, and g. I also use Thinkpad AC. By the way, I uninstalled AC and updated it with AC 4.21. Since then, web browsing has been superb and fast.

Open AC --> Manage ---> Edit --->Wireless settings
http://www.yoons.org/test/AC_wireless.jpg

Mod edit: Images are only allowed when there is a warning in the subject line. Even with the warning they are limited to 50k.

[Scratch]

Does AccConn refuse access to an alternate user account created with admin rights?

[scottsm777]

I'll point you to a thread where recently cmdrtallon came here with the same problem. Hopefully the link I provided in the other thread will be the solution for you both. cmdrtallon hasn't reported back yet.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=35636

That (very detailed!) post is for the Intel wireless adapter, and some of the instructions are quite specific for it. Is there a similar set of instructions for the Atheros adapter?

[pinesol]

[quote="scottsm777
That (very detailed!) post is for the Intel wireless adapter, and some of the instructions are quite specific for it. Is there a similar set of instructions for the Atheros adapter?[/quote]

I do not know what they are talking about.

I was able to enter all items in the configuration menu with no difficulty right out of box. I'v nerver used and never needed to use WinXP wirless configuration program.

One thing I noticed though is that uninstalling AC which came installed and upgrading it to AC 4.21 did improve web browsing. By the way, I don't know which AC version my T60 came with.

[GomJabbar]

That (very detailed!) post is for the Intel wireless adapter, and some of the instructions are quite specific for it. Is there a similar set of instructions for the Atheros adapter?

You are absolutely right! I did not see that you had the Atheros adapter. I have not searched to see what is available for Atheros. Most of the people that report problems like yours have the Intel adapter. Sorry for the confusion.

[BadAndy]

Sorry if I missed it but why are you using Access Connections instead of the built in XP wireless config?

[pinesol]

My questions is: why do you use WinXP wireless conf instead of Thinkvantage AC? I have absolutely no problem with AC, which is used not only for configuration of the wireless LAN card but also for latter troubleshoot including locating wireless networks.

I thought IBM/Lenovo would stand firmly behind their hardware(Atheros) and software (AC). I have 3-year protection and warranty with Lenovo, so I will insist that Lenovo honor it.

[BadAndy]

I use the XP config because it's part of the OS, so I don't have to waste any resources on unnecessary software that doesn't do anything for me that the built in software can't do.

[Scratch]

People who frequently change locations that require various networking options that change with their location find that AC is often a better option than the included OS tool. It allows for varying Static/DHCP, named or unnamed DNS servers, wireless security settings, firewall control, program launching, VPN connect, default printer specification, etc. all through a single, easily managed, one-click profile. It is also nice to have saved profiles for wireless connections with hidden ssid's and long complex WPA/WPA2 passphrases to attach with a simple click, no searching or pprhase typing if one so wishes.

Occasionally people run into config problems with it. I have, but they are usually easily resolved.

As regards perfomance...I run a T60p with 2GHz proc, 2 Gb RAM, 7200RPM HDD & FGL v5200. I use the machine as an alternative workstation for travel and regularly run ProE, Catia, UG, CADfix, & Moldflow on it; often 2 -3 simultaneously open or an analysis in the background. I have heard the "why use AC if XP can do it" question before and have therefor run my system both ways and seen no perceivable difference in performance.

Have others actually seen a degradation of performance when using AC that is not present when it is removed or is this a "less resources used is always better" point of view.

I remove a lot of what I consider bloat from my systems, but utilities that make my travel use reliable and easy usually don't make the bloat list.

Obviously we can only comment with accuracy on our own individual experience. Yours is obviously different than mine.

[pinesol]

People who frequently change locations that require various networking options that change with their location find that AC is often a better option than the included OS tool. It allows for varying Static/DHCP, named or unnamed DNS servers, wireless security settings, firewall control, program launching, VPN connect, default printer specification, etc. all through a single, easily managed, one-click profile. It is also nice to have saved profiles for wireless connections with hidden ssid's and long complex WPA/WPA2 passphrases to attach with a simple click, no searching or pprhase typing if one so wishes.

Occasionally people run into config problems with it. I have, but they are usually easily resolved.

As regards perfomance...I run a T60p with 2GHz proc, 2 Gb RAM, 7200RPM HDD & FGL v5200. I use the machine as an alternative workstation for travel and regularly run ProE, Catia, UG, CADfix, & Moldflow on it; often 2 -3 simultaneously open or an analysis in the background. I have heard the "why use AC if XP can do it" question before and have therefor run my system both ways and seen no perceivable difference in performance.

Have others actually seen a degradation of performance when using AC that is not present when it is removed or is this a "less resources used is always better" point of view.

I remove a lot of what I consider bloat from my systems, but utilities that make my travel use reliable and easy usually don't make the bloat list.

Obviously we can only comment with accuracy on our own individual experience. Yours is obviously different than mine.

I would like to congratuate you on your concise and clear statement with regards to the use or non-use of AC.

[DavidR]

I had the same problem with my new T60p (received Dec 22 06). I wound up doing a destructive Restore. That also fixed some other issues as well. I much prefer the AC utility, to manage moving between locations where hidden SSID's exist and having a different default printer is a real blessing.

Where does one get the latest version of the AC software? Mine says 4.22. Is it OK to just go Help/Find Updates?

[scottsm777]

Sorry if I missed it but why are you using Access Connections instead of the built in XP wireless config?

I need to use Access Connections because my company uses an authentication protocol (LEAP) that (I heard) is supported by AC but not by XP wireless config. On the rare occasions when I visit one of our offices, it's VERY helpful to be able to use the wireless network!

(Note: I'm using AC 4.21)

To all -- my continued thanks for your feedback on this question. I have been absolutely buried these past several days with work and personal commitments and have not yet been able to try any of the suggestions. Assuming I am successful in getting this all to work, I plan to post to this thread with what I did.

Thanks,
--Scott