Thinkpads Forum

The X60s has a Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG.
The T41 has Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100.

The X60s shows about 2-3 networks around, only 1 with strong signal!
The T41 shows 16 networks around, most with strong signal!

Are the cards that much different? Or is it something else? Is there a way to increase sensitivity?

This is really weird. I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't doing stuff with the T41.

I do not know your case, My X40 comes with IBM 11a/b/g WI FI Wireless, it is really good.

Maybe because the T41 has bigger display than X60 and consequently bigger internal antenna?

yao wrote:Maybe because the T41 has bigger display than X60 and consequently bigger internal antenna?

Greetings,

Bigger display has got nothing to do with the antenna.

Jeremy

Is the antenna not the wire around the display?

Greetings,

no, lah.. The antenna is at the 2 sides of the TP. You can see it at the top and right side of the display cover. The top one is the place where you release the catch for the thinkpad when you open it.

Jeremy

Jeremy Tan wrote:Greetings,

no, lah.. The antenna is at the 2 sides of the TP. You can see it at the top and right side of the display cover. The top one is the place where you release the catch for the thinkpad when you open it.

Jeremy

I still do not see your point here, if you say that it is at the top and right side of the display - than, is not the display of T41 bigger then that of x60 and so the antenna longer as a result of this fact?

yao wrote:I still do not see your point here, if you say that it is at the top and right side of the display - than, is not the display of T41 bigger then that of x60 and so the antenna longer as a result of this fact?

Greetings,

No lah...What i mean by the word top is: Top panel where you release the catch to open your TP and if you look carefully, there is a small rectangular pattern (i don't know how to describe it) and at the right side there is another rectangular pattern.

Jeremy

I think what Jeremy is refering to is the antenna itself, not the wires connecting the antenna. I've see the antenna on my X22, which I added myself. The antenna is just a small rectangle board with circuits on it. The circuit board is probably the same size for both.

The difference in length of wires is only a couple of inches. It doesn't make sense that it would make that much of a difference in reception quality.

I see, I just thought the whole wire around the display is capturing the signal like in some external antennas.

I'm not sure I can weigh in on whether there is a difference between the "wires" and the "antenna", but I'd like to point out that the wavelength of 2.4ghz is around 12.5 cm. You'd get best reception with a wire of that length or half that length. Longer doesn't mean better.

hmm, I have both x60s and T42 in front of me at home, both are showing signal strengh excellent, homing to the same access point . But.. somehow using the x60s is a LOT slower than T42 to load the same web page.. does anyone has the same problem ?

My friend have x41 and he once complains to me the slow internet also, but muted after I show him the internet speed on my T42.

I've got an X60 with an Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG.
I've got an X40 with an Atheros WiFi card.
The X40 detects many more access points than the Intel card.
So I have bought an Atheros card for the X60, but haven't intalled it yet. I'll let you know next week if the card makes a difference.

MIB wrote:hmm, I have both x60s and T42 in front of me at home, both are showing signal strengh excellent, homing to the same access point . But.. somehow using the x60s is a LOT slower than T42 to load the same web page.. does anyone has the same problem ?

I have three 60 series ThinkPads (see below) and I use wireless daily, every day. I also travel weekly and use a wide variety of wireless services.

They all connect at the same speed, show the same signal strength, detect the same number of networks, and load pages at the exact same rate.

Ok but if they do all have the same Intel card, this is to be expected, no ?

thibouille27 wrote:Ok but if they do all have the same Intel card, this is to be expected, no ?

I have both the Intel & Atheros cards and the speed is identical.

OK, then it is interesting to know.

aceo07 wrote:I think what Jeremy is refering to is the antenna itself, not the wires connecting the antenna.

Greetings,
Thank you, aceo07. I don't know how to describe that antenna thingy and at least you know what i am referring to. Thanks.

Jeremy

archer6 wrote:

thibouille27 wrote:Ok but if they do all have the same Intel card, this is to be expected, no ?

I have both the Intel & Atheros cards and the speed is identical.

That's not the issue, the issue is the apparent ability of the Atheros card to detect and connect to weak signal access points that the Intel card is unable to detect.

I have an Atheros card in my X60. It is better than any other card I had in my notebooks (T40-T41-T42-T43-X40). It has a fantastic sensitivity!

redburgundy wrote:

archer6 wrote: I have both the Intel & Atheros cards and the speed is identical.

MIB wrote:hmm, I have both x60s and T42 in front of me at home, both are showing signal strengh excellent, homing to the same access point . But.. somehow using the x60s is a LOT slower than T42 to load the same web page.. does anyone has the same problem ?

That's not the issue, the issue is the apparent ability of the Atheros card to detect and connect to weak signal access points that the Intel card is unable to detect.

I was addressing the issue that MIB (above) was asking about, the speed of loading web pages.
To address your comment about the Atheros card, since I have both, my experience is again identical. In my office building there are 4 wireless networks (very large 4 story building) and both brands of cards have the same ability to detect various networks. I have yet to find a wifi network (even when traveling) that the Intel card is unable to detect. There is a mix of X60 & X60s models in the company (11 models in all) and they are all excellent and finding & connecting to the wireless networks.

Based on the responses I've seen, it looks like most people see no difference in sensitivity. That leads me to believe that there may be something wrong with the OP's Atheros setup. Perhaps the antenna plug is not seated correctly, or there is some other problem with the antenna or wifi card?

trentblase wrote:Based on the responses I've seen, it looks like most people see no difference in sensitivity. That leads me to believe that there may be something wrong with the OP's Atheros setup. Perhaps the antenna plug is not seated correctly, or there is some other problem with the antenna or wifi card?

You bring up a very good point here and I agree. It could be as simple as a connection, or antenna functionality.

Hi,

I think it depends also on access point and its chipset. It also depends on the distance between the access point and the laptop.

For example, D-link and some netgear wireless routers have atheros chipset, where as Buffalo Technology router have a different chipset. An atheros card may perform better with the former routers.

The connection speed may also differ between two access points with the same specifications (b/g) and from the same company. Eg: D-link DI-524 & DI-624+.

What do you think?

Tomshardware has a comparison on the routers, if someone is interested.

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/03/3 ... page2.html

Where does one buy the Atheros card?

tsammyc wrote:Where does one buy the Atheros card?

Do a Google search for 40Y7026

I'm getting better wireless performance on my 3945 after installing the latest drivers that were just released:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62875

redburgundy - did you switch to the atheros card -- I'm now at the same point with frustration on the 3945abg...

Was it significantly better?

When I was using Intel cards on my x60, T60p and T41P, sometimes disconnected suddenly.
So I replaced all Intel card with IBM a/b/g (Atheros) for my X60,T60P and T41P.
Then ,got always quick connection, stable, high sensitivity, but a bit hot.

I upgraded from Intel to Atheros on my X41 and detect more networks at higher strength. I now put an Atheros in every laptop I have with MPCI slot (even my non-ThinkPads).