Thinkpads Forum

I have two X61Ss and was comparing wifi. One has the 4965ag card (agn with n disabled - HW version 1.5), the other has full agn (HW version 1.0). The ag version is much more sensitive - finds more wireless networks and shows more bars. As far as I can tell, all settings are the same, including driver version and power management settings.

Is this normal? Any way to boost the sensitivity of the agn?

EDIT: corrected subject line

How did you disable the 'n'?

richarddd wrote:Any way to boost the sensitivity of the agn?

Have you had a look at the Advanced Settings available in the Device drive (viewable in Windows Device Manager)?

You might want to see what the 4965 AGN is like if you restrict it to just AGB modes (or whatever non-802.11n choices the driver settings allow to you). Also check the antenna connection inside the X61 with the 4965 AGN, to make sure they are all properly connected.

Cheers,

Bill B.

chait wrote:How did you disable the 'n'?

It shipped that way and is listed as such on Lenovo's parts lookup page

bill bolton wrote:Have you had a look at the Advanced Settings available in the Device drive (viewable in Windows Device Manager)?

Yes, and the settings all seem the same, although one machine shows it as 4965AG.

bill bolton wrote:You might want to see what the 4965 AGN is like if you restrict it to just AGB modes (or whatever non-802.11n choices the driver settings allow to you). Also check the antenna connection inside the X61 with the 4965 AGN, to make sure they are all properly connect.

I can turn off N in Advanced Settings, but that does not change anything.

I'll take a look inside. Do I just look at the connections to the card, or do I have to look inside to LCD housing?

By the way, using a few online speed tests, connection speed is the same on both.

bill bolton wrote:You might want to see what the 4965 AGN is like if you restrict it to just AGB modes (or whatever non-802.11n choices the driver settings allow to you). Also check the antenna connection inside the X61 with the 4965 AGN, to make sure they are all properly connected.

All three connectors are properly connected to the card.

My other issue is that although Windows reports signal strength as "Excellent" the speed bounces around from 24Mbps to 54Mpbs, usually either 48 or 54. Other notebooks (another x61s and an x31) show a constant 54 on the same router when they are right next to my x61s, so it's not the router.

Why would the speed bounce around?

Have you checked the selected Power Manager profile settings for WiFi performance on both systems, to make sure they are the same?

Cheers,

Bill B.

I have the exact same issue here. 24-48mbs on my agn intel. Not stable at all. Been playing with settings and so far nothing seems to improve it.
One of the major deals for me is wireless....... willing to try any idea's or suggestions.