X60S Wireless annoyance

[tim S]

Not much of an problem but I was wondering if anyone here has or had the same issue.
On both my X60S laptops the wireless seems to loose connection just once. Right clicking
the icon and restoring brings it right back. The next day after a reboot it sometimes happens
again. I'd say the odds are 1 in 3 on both laptops. It's very odd.
Both laptops are in the house close to the router, so it's not the signal. I don't use Access
Connections and Windows is handling the wireless. My T42 and X41 are configured the same
and don't have this issue.

Tim S

[EOMtp]

The machines probably have Intel 3945ABG WLAN cards. Other Intel WLAN cards -- older and newer -- are just fine, but the 3945s are a "problem", and those are the only Intel WLAN cards that the X60/s will accept with the standard BIOS. Replace with ThinkPad 11a/b/g (Atheros chipset) cards, which the standard BIOS also accepts, and the problems you describe will disappear.

Alternatively, you may replace with any WLAN card, e.g., Intel 5300, if you are willing to use a modified BIOS.

[dr_st]

I have the 3945ABG on both my T60 and can't say I've experienced more problems with them than with any other Intel card... Have seen more problematic 2200BG and 4965AGN cards...

[EOMtp]

I have the 3945ABG ... can't say ... any problems with them ...

You are amongst the lucky ones. It's the 3945ABG interaction with certain chipsets in certain routers -- some users experience no issues and others are less happy.

Although he did not tell us, I bet tim S has 3945ABG cards ... and if that is the case, the only way he will make the problems disappear is by replacing them with non-3945ABG cards ... or, considerably less effective, by replacing the wireless router or access point with one with a different chipset.

[tilneford]

I do not have the problem you describe and I have a 3945ABG connecting to an el cheapo Linksys router. Maybe I'm lucky, but I also fiddle with the default settings of many things, including the Intel wireless driver, version 13.0.0.107. On the Advanced tab of the drivers properties, I've changed some of the settings away from the default, mainly for power savings. One change was to set the "wireless mode" to only b & g, since I have no need for a.

[dr_st]

Sorry, I should have said "didn't have more problems with them than with any other Intel card". I cannot say it has been entirely trouble-free. I have had my strange issues of random disconnects when working through VPN (seemed to be a software/driver issue, as it's gone now). But they have been working with next to no problems in various environments, including two different homes, work and all sorts of free hotspots.

What you say about interactions with certain chipsets in certain routers is interesting. Do you know which ones are particularly problematic?

[tim S]

EOMtp is correct, both laptops have 3945 a/b/g wireless cards, I went to the router to find the model number and when I moved it they instantly went off line! The router is a Linksys WRT54GS, so maybe it's one of the routers that this card doesn't like! I reattached the main input cable and so far all is good.

Tim S

[underclocker]

FYI, I had a similar problem with all (about 7 at the time) of my various machines. They would connect then drop the connection on a regular basis, repair would reconnect them, but the drop would occur again, and again, etc. This was with a X60s, several T60's, two R60's and a Z61t.

The interesting thing is that the problem didn't start until I "upgraded" my router. I had been using a D-Link DI-524 router for several years without any issues at all. I upgraded to a TrendNet TEW-672GR with wifi N and gigabit ports. The problem began that day. I wrestled with it for about a week, trying many settings, reboots and even reducing it to just G mode. The drops kept occurring. It also took a lot longer to connect than my D-Link router. With the D-Link, the wifi connection was made as soon as the machine booted or hibernation was resumed. With the TrendNet, it took about 20-30 seconds every time - a very long time to wait.

Just before sending it back for a Linksys model, I figured I'd check the settings one more time. The only setting that I hadn't touched was the wifi channel. It was on the default of 6 (like my D-Link was for years). I changed it to channel 10 and it rebooted. Problem solved! I haven't had one drop in six weeks on any machine and the connections occur in seconds, often as fast as the D-Link.

I have no idea why channel 6 caused so many drops and slow hookups - perhaps interference with other things in the house or nearby - but another channel definitely fixed it.

Now I love the TrendNet TEW-672GR, with my N-equipped T61 it shows connection speeds at 144Mb/s. Nice!

I hope this will work for others!

[dorronto]

I agree with underclocker. I have a x60s and a z61t with the Intel 3945 card and a D-Link DI-524 and I hook up at once. Once in a while I get "kicked off" and cannot connect so I just disconnect the router and I'm back in business. This happens to all my computers at one time or another......Not Intel 3945 related........

Ron

[tilneford]

Underclocker's comment about changing the channel is good. I have also changed off of the default channel 6 to channel 2. The router is a Linksys WRT54GC travel router.

[tim S]

This is what's so great about a forum filled with people who know and equally importantly, care
about Thinkpads.
I'd never have thought about the router perhaps being at the root of my problem so thanks to
one all for pointing me in that direction.

Tim S