Thinkpads Forum

Any thoughts on wireless N? I think it's more or less in beta now, but when it's solid what will be the impact as regards to the Thinkpads (I have a new T60)? Will it be possible to get a wireless N swapout of the wireless g? Something you could order and do yourself? Or will it be necessary to put a card into the T60 to implement wireless N (in addition to setting up a wireless N network, of course)?

Muse wrote:Any thoughts on wireless N? I think it's more or less in beta now, but when it's solid what will be the impact as regards to the Thinkpads (I have a new T60)? Will it be possible to get a wireless N swapout of the wireless g? Something you could order and do yourself? Or will it be necessary to put a card into the T60 to implement wireless N (in addition to setting up a wireless N network, of course)?

Well, I asked a similar question this morning, but no one responded to it yet.

I got 11n card installed when I bought my T60 because I had the same questions as you do. I was also concerned that 11n card might require different antenae. It may not, but if you look at some 11n routers, you may be amazed at those strange-looking antennae quite different fron those of 11g.

I bought a unit with 'n' and will be using it with a Dlink DIR-655 which seems like a really good unit and used by someone in this forum.

dfumento wrote:I bought a unit with 'n' and will be using it with a Dlink DIR-655 which seems like a really good unit and used by someone in this forum.

I am looking forward to hearing about your experience with it.

pinesol wrote:

Muse wrote:Any thoughts on wireless N? I think it's more or less in beta now, but when it's solid what will be the impact as regards to the Thinkpads (I have a new T60)? Will it be possible to get a wireless N swapout of the wireless g? Something you could order and do yourself? Or will it be necessary to put a card into the T60 to implement wireless N (in addition to setting up a wireless N network, of course)?

Well, I asked a similar question this morning, but no one responded to it yet.

I got 11n card installed when I bought my T60 because I had the same questions as you do. I was also concerned that 11n card might require different antenae. It may not, but if you look at some 11n routers, you may be amazed at those strange-looking antennae quite different fron those of 11g.

I don't see an "n" card as an option at the T60 order pages. How did you get that?

Just curious, but what are the reasons why you think you need "N"?

pinesol wrote:

dfumento wrote:I bought a unit with 'n' and will be using it with a Dlink DIR-655 which seems like a really good unit and used by someone in this forum.

I am looking forward to hearing about your experience with it.

Someone already has it:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=35536

'n' gives faster throughput and longer range which never hurts.

I know the generic advantages touted for N, what I want to know are specific examples where N has improved a wireless connection and how.

steveg47 wrote:Just curious, but what are the reasons why you think you need "N"?

I may not need it. I realize from the specs I read that it's a considerable boost in speed and range. I didn't say I need it, I just want to know how difficult it will be to upgrade to it should I want to when the time comes. I don't recall seeing anything in various threads about it when I bought my TP end of November, and wonder why...

steveg47 wrote:I know the generic advantages touted for N, what I want to know are specific examples where N has improved a wireless connection and how.

By chance.

Seriously, I had gotten a lot of info and opinions about Thinkpad from Notebook Review Forum before I actually ordered one. If I recall correctly, I aslked about the n card having noticed a statement on the Lenovo web site that it was a newly added feature item for the T series.

Some of us had to convince the salespeople that they should check with their supervisor because some other people had already got it. It cost me another $20. I suppose Lenovo will stand firmly behind and support it because I have 3-year protection and depot repair.

Did any of you with the 802.11n card notice that sometimes when the laptop comes out of standby, it doesn't find any wireless router? I have had this happened to my T60 widescreen (8744) many times. You click on "Find wireless" in AC, and no wifi router shows up until I reboot the machine.

I called Lenovo on Saturday about it and they suggested getting the latest BIOS, and now my laptop gets stuck when the screen is turned off (or blank) after idling and the only way to get the screen back is if l I put the computer into standby (Fn-F4) and bring it back out of standby...

From what I read, 802.11n runs at either 2.4 or 5 GHz. As the frequency goes up, walls and metal becomes more of a problem.