Thinkpads Forum

I'm looking to get a new wireless router, to replace my old Netgear 802.11b, and I was thinking of going with the "Wireless-N" type of routers.

Does the T60p come with Wireless-N capability built-in?

Which Wireless-N router works best with the T60p?

Anyone have any T60p experience with the TrendNet TEW-631BRP wireless-N router?


Thanks

Hi,

You will have to check you specs to se if you have wireless n.

With regards to wireless N, it may not be faster than you are expecting, it dont een to make the internet faster, or downloads quicker. It will give you extra bandwidth if you have network attached storage.

Unless I had (or planned to get Network storage) I wouldnt bother, save you cash and get a good wireless G router.

Also see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=48905

Paul

EDIT: FYI I am using a belkin N1 MIMO router. Its good and easy to set up (Better than the Linksys one i tried) but performance is still the same as my old netgear one.

You need 3 antennas for N, most T60 only have 2. You can order a third but you need to open the laptop and screen chassis.

I also got a T61, it did not connect to WRT350N using 802.11n. Connexion is 802.11g, signal is very strong and range is important but no more then 54mbps.

I have a server on the LAN which I use for storing large files, the reason I need higher-speed Wireless. I know the cable modem speeds are slower than 11b. I need the speed for data access with the server on the LAN.


Thanks for the info on the 3-antennae. I didn't know I needed to add another. Any further directions on this? Part numbers? Instructions? How can I check if I have a 3rd antenna?

My wireless network driver is:
11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Manufacturer: Atheros Communications
Driver Version: 7.3.1.42

You should be able to find some threads on adding and regarding the third antenna by using the Search button at the top of the page. Some possible search terms would be: mimo, antenna, third, upgrade, & abgn. Using the radio button "Search for all terms" usually yields the best results.

A/ I'am not sure of this but you can buy the antenna for WWAN witch *sticks* to the right side of screen. But, to install it, you got to remove palm rest, keyboard, keyboard bezel and screen thus, the screen bezel. Then you can mount the antenna and fixe the cable.
Quiet hard if you are not common with laptop hardware.


B/ There is perhaps an othe third antenna parts. But when I look at the price for antenna, 802.11n mini express card and acces point, I give up !


I still buy a Lynksys WRT350N because of the Gbit and the USB storage. But now that I got a T61 with Intel 802.11n, I can't connect faster then 54mbps. So, nice that I gave up to upgrade the T60p to 802.11n...

This has been posted before, but it is worth repeating for the Intel 802.11n card to bond in wide channel either requires a rural environment where your 802.11g/n access point is the only access point, or that you have an 802.11a/n access point. If your Intel card detects any other 802.11b/g access points in the area it will not bond in wide mode! This is by design of the 2.0 draft specifications.


Edited: 9/7/2007 fixed bolding

scottkeen wrote:How can I check if I have a 3rd antenna?

My wireless network driver is:
11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
Manufacturer: Atheros Communications
Driver Version: 7.3.1.42

Man, folks sure like to go off on tangents around here. If your T60P came with the above card installed out of the factory, then you already have the 3rd antenna installed. You are good to go.

No there is not, it is a requirement of the 2.0 draft and as 'N' becomes more popular and access points are upgraded to the "N" 2.0 draft I believe the access points will also begin to enforce this. So things that work now are unlikely (IMHO) to continue to work in an urban environment. The simple truth is the 2.4 GHz range has too many devices in it, and they will effect your ability to connect.

If you want the fastest possible connection, you need 5.8 GHz, if it's simply a numbers game and real throughput doesn't matter, well then it simply doesn't matter. With a 2.4 GHz access point (a 802.11b/g/n) you are fighting with your neighbors as well as your own cordless phone, microwave oven, and the other three or four access points that are in your area, there simply is too much background noise.