Thinkpads Forum

I installed a new router (Dlink dual band DIR-562L). I set it up to broadcast with different SSID for 2.4 and 5Ghz bands.

It works on my Blackberry Playbook tablet. But the 5Ghz band does not show up on my T520. The Intel Centrino adapter should be able to handle both bands. Running Win 7 Pro.

Any ideas as to why the T520 doesn't see the 5Ghz band?

What exact wifi card does your T520 have?

Make sure you have enabled 5GHz in your adapter options.

RealBlackStuff wrote:What exact wifi card does your T520 have?

Centrino(R) Advanced(R) N-6205 is what Device Manager reports

Make sure you have enabled 5GHz in your adapter options.

I couldn't find an option to do that. Perhaps the adapter doesn't have dual band capability?

The router didn't provide any additional range (what I was looking for), so I am taking it back. So, if my laptop doesn't have dual band capability, then my old DIR-615 router should suffice - for now.

But I would like to know if my laptop is just single band. It seems that it "should" be dual band.

Came across this Intel thread. Seems as though it may be possible to get 5Ghz to work. But I will have to get a new router to find out!

Did you look in the Advanced tab under properties for 'Prefered Band'?

Mine has the two options, but I have a question about one option over the other.

I have mine set up as No Preference. Does this mean it will select whichever band it is receiving a signal from?

And, if I select one or the other, it is a "preferred" selection. Does that mean it will communicate with either band but search for the preferred band first, or only the preferred band?

I have a bunch of ThinkPads with the 6205 and they all spend most of their time on 5GHz. Assuming you set the option under Advanced tab under properties for 'Preferred Band" to "No Preference" and "Channel Width" for each of 2.4 and 5GHz to "Auto", you should "see" both of your SSID's, one for 2.4 and one for 5GHz when you select the network to connect to. If you don't, maybe you do not have the router set up properly for 5GHz.

I also have a Blackberry Playbook and it and all of my 6205's connect fine on 5GHz, with each of three different routers I have used.

However, keep in mind that 5GHz may very well not give you greater range than 2.4GHz. At shorter ranges, however it should give you greater throughput vs. 2.4GHz. I sometimes have to switch over to my 2.4GHz signal when far away from my router.

if your laptop is far away from the router, the 5ghz might be out of range, cause it is weaker in closed spaces (homes/offices/etc..)

try to use an ubuntu or linux mint usb boot drive, to boot and see what networks do you get.