New T61 + Dead Slow wireless

[JonathanGennick]

I am stumped, and seek help. I've received a brand new T61 from my company. I'm experiencing some just dreadfully awful wireless performance. For example, it routinely takes 45 seconds or longer just to bring up the list of posts in this T6x series forum. Google's search page can take just as long to come up.

Five other laptops in the household all work fine on wireless. But something about the T61 results in, well, in dial-up speeds.

What can I do? I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to even troubleshoot the problem.

Performance seems fine when I make a wired connection. But when I connect to my 802.11b access point, then I might as well not be connected at all. That sure is frustrating.

Edit: The machine is running Vista Business. Not sure that matters, but thought I'd mention it.

[truk]

Are you using encryption or mac filtering? Make sure that your laptop is connecting to your router, not the neighbors. Also, can you get a signal strengh reading?

[JonathanGennick]

No encryption. No MAC filtering. Signal strength is four to five bars -- sometimes four; sometimes five.

The laptop is definitely associated with my access point, not my neighbors. There's no doubt on that point.

[SHoTTa35]

maybe it's time to upgrade that B router. Granted it works great and you don't need anything more than internet and your ISP only gives you a 8Mbps connection so wifi at 12Mbps is more than fine enough but you probably should still upgrade.

Old B chipsets might not be compatible with the newer chips as much. They probably don't even test those anymore for compatibility.

Vista is probably part of the problem too... or more specifically IPV6. You should google how to turn that off. Your system is probably sending IPV6 requests to a router that doesn't understand them (obviously) so it has to drop them but it still takes up bandwidth to do that. Turning off IPV6 (XP SP2 has support for it too so it could happen there also if enabled) might fix it but then again it might not.

[bomix_chan]

I get the same problem, I think may be the metal frame inside the lcd make the problems (maybe ? ), in my home, a t23, 760xd with nokia d211, compaq with buffalo pcmcia and fujisu A get no problems, my router is a asus wl500g before, now change to a belkin N, but my t61p still cannot get a hopup to the router. But I discovered if I make t61p close (10 feet) to the router, it connected, then I can run around, the location I work is around 30 feet apart from router, with 2 concret walls, but get 97% signal, don't know the reason. You can try try

[SHoTTa35]

actually, the T61 removed the metal in the lid to help with wifi reception. The T60 still has the magnesium frame there. The t61 has the rollcage in the LCD but it's behind the LCD and the antenna's are after that so no obstruction between them and the outside world other than the casing which is carbonfiber composite.

Your signal problems are wierd tho boxim_chan. Only connects when it's close but not far out... i read your thread but that one stumped me. I'm not sure, i guess check the wifi antenna's to make sure they are on properly.

[JonathanGennick]

maybe it's time to upgrade that B router. Granted it works great ...

Yes, the thought has occurred to me that it might be easier to just buy a new access point than to try and solve the root problem.

As for IPV6, I've already had a go at disabling that. It's easy enough to disable on the wireless interface. Didn't make a difference though.

[newt43]

This business about the roll cage + plastic lid being better for wireless reception just strikes me as wrong. My magnesium T43 had better wireless reception than my T61 does. I think this bit about improving wireless performance is just some hype Lenovo has concocted to cover for the fact that they're moving to cheaper construction techniques. I hope I'm wrong, but that's what it looks like.

[pae77]

Just an observation which probably isn't applicable to the OP's problem but sadly I have come to think the Intel ABGN wireless adapter on my recently acquired T61p is definitely somewhat inferior to the Atheros/IBM ABG Thinkpad wireless adapter that came with my T42p, at least in terms of G reception. My T42p always had a rock solid 100% signal strength connection to the router in my home, but my connection with the T61p to the same router, although generally pretty good at 97% or so, does drop out occasionally, which almost never happened with the T42p.

[bomix_chan]

Not just yr t42, but my t23 too....

Just an observation which probably isn't applicable to the OP's problem but sadly I have come to think the Intel ABGN wireless adapter on my recently acquired T61p is definitely somewhat inferior to the Atheros/IBM ABG Thinkpad wireless adapter that came with my T42p, at least in terms of G reception. My T42p always had a rock solid 100% signal strength connection to the router in my home, but my connection with the T61p to the same router, although generally pretty good at 97% or so, does drop out occasionally, which almost never happened with the T42p.

[mitasol]

I have a Drayrek V2700G, the ducks nuts when it comes to wireless routers. My T61p sometimes just can't find it. I shut down and restart, lo and behold , there it is.

[pae77]

Btw, there is a new Intel wireless adapter driver on Lenovo's support site and although it is dated 1/28/08, I just noticed it appear the other day. Perhaps it will improve things for those of us with Intel wireless adapters.

[sjthinkpader]

There are four or five major wireless radio chipset companies that supply to router companies. The best link is usually with the same chipset on both ends. These chipset companies are Atheros, Marvell, Broadcom and Ralink. One of the prioneers in MIMO radio chipset Airgo had been bought by Qualcomm so they don't have the latest 11n Draft2.0 products out in the market. But the first Belkin pre-N router used their chipset and it is wonderful.

intel makes NIC chipsets but nothing for the router end or not very popular.

I think using same chipset company on the wireless AP end and NIC end will give the best results. Unfortunately you can't see who makes the particular chipset in a router unless you are willing to open it. I always check chipset types in my wireless AP.

Assuming you have an Atheros NIC card, the best link result will be with a router/AP with an Atheros radio chip.

[bill bolton]

What can I do?

Open the ThinkVantage Power Manager and click on the System Settings button.

Then pick the Advanced Settings 1 option on the drop down menu.

Observe what the settings are for the Wireless adapter settings Power saving mode:

If the setting is not Maximum Performance for the AC Settings column, that is very likely the cause of your problem.

Read the Power Manager help file for infromation on changing settings.

You should also check in the current profile in Access Connections.... click on the Wireless Settings tab, then click on the Settings button under the 4. Advanced configurations heading.

Make sure the Power save mode: entry there is also indicating Maximum Performance.

Cheers,

Bill

[JonathanGennick]

Bill. Wow. Thanks man. Your first suggestion did the trick. I'd seen the power setting in Access Connections, but hadn't realized there was also a setting in the Power Manager to worry about.

So what's the story here? I'm always interested in longer battery life. What's the likely reason why the power-saving setting doesn't work with my access point. If I buy a new access point, am I likely going to be able to switch back to the power-saving mode?

Do I lose much by specifying "Maximum Performance" as you suggest?

BTW, there's quite a bit to tinker with in Power Manager. My older, X30 isn't nearly so tweakable.