X41T wireless problem with multiple access points

[burtonman]

I have an X41T and, for the most part, love it. I've noticed that if it is in an environment with multiple access points serving the same SSID (no interference issues and other computers working fine), it rarely connects successfully.

In a single access point environment, everything works perfectly. All other laptops, Thinkpad or otherwise, work fine in the multi-access point environment. I hae noticed that I can temporarily get the tablet to connect if I restart the dhcp server behind the access point, but that's not a reasonable solution.

The problem isn't tied to our dhcp setup (we've tried it across multiple dhcp setups with the same results). Also all other laptops work just fine.

Has anyone seen problems like this with the x41 tablet?

[K0LO]

I'm in a similar environment at work. Each access point carries three different networks (and all three are duplicated on 802.11a and 802.11g) and there are a dozen access points in the building, all with the same SSID. Usually I am in range of at least 3 or 4 access points at once.

That said, I'm not experiencing the problem you describe. Are you using Access Connections? I'm not. If you are, perhaps try Windows Wireless networking to see if the problem is caused by Access Connections or by something else. If I recall, Access Connections lets you specify a preferred access point MAC address in wireless profiles, so make sure that setting is what you intended.

I have a somewhat related problem with DHCP that only occurs with a Linksys Wireless Presentation adapter that I use. This particular adapter will not serve a DHCP address if I have an existing lease, but that's the Linksys firmware, not the X41T that's at fault. To work around this I made a Quick Launch shortcut that runs a batch file that releases the lease.

Code: Select all

ipconfig /release

I click on it before attempting to connect and all's well. Perhaps you could also try the same command as an experiment. Maybe follow it with

Code: Select all

ipconfig /renew

It's something you could do on the tablet without messing with your network until you find the source of the problem.

[burtonman]

I took one of the three access points, and ONLY changed the ssid so that it is the same config, same network, same channel, everything except now there's a single AP in the environment.

X41T works like a champ.

I wonder if this is a bug in the firmware, problem with a driver or a hardware problem?

[K0LO]

That's interesting info and a nice clue. Next step -- are you using Access Connections or Windows Wireless Zero to manage your X41T wireless adapter? If the symptom goes away with one or the other access methods, then that tells you where the problem is.

If it persists with either access method, then I'd suspect the wireless card driver. Which wireless card do you have and which driver version?

Just for comparison's sake, I'm using Windows Wireless Zero to manage the wireless adapter, the adapter is an Intel PRO/Wireless 2915abg Mini PCI Adapter and the driver version is 9.0.4.8.