Unsteady wireless connection--IBM's not helping much

[mdarnton]

I'm having problems maintaining a wireless connection with my Intel 2100 wireless B card in my T41. It connects and disconnects constantly, especially when I'm asking it to do something--the more I ask, the less it works. It's OK just sitting there, but when I try to load a page, especially something with photos it chokes and stutters, and downloading files is completely hopeless--it seems to refuse to reconnect at all, once it breaks connection, or cycles connected/unconnected very slowly. This is a recent problem--for over a year it worked just fine.

I've tried completely reloading all the drivers, and then XP from scratch, updating bios and everything from both IBM and MS, and last week the computer went back to IBM, where they said the wireless card was defective and replaced it. I didn't send my hard drive with the computer, and the tech told me on the phone that it was working fine with his drive, but I suspect he wasn't putting much of a demand on it, since it's especially obvious with only big downloads.

Currently I'm running on a fresh install of XP2, minus updates, thinking the problem might be there somewhere. However, the problem is still there. I've eliminated Access Connections, and though XP connects MUCH more quickly to my routers, the problem is still there.

I've got access to three different routers that worked fine before, in three different locations, which should eliminate local interference conditions. they all (don't) work the same. Right now I'm connected with an Orinoco gold card, which works just fine in all respects.

I can run this back by IBM, but I'd like to have something clever to suggest, since they seem OK to deal with, but not spectacularly creative. Since they already replaced the card (and I know it--the MAC address is different), and I still have exactly the same problem, that's not it, I don't think.

Anyone know anything that might help????

Thanks in advance.

[rpd05]

Try disabling the power save settings on the wifi card itself.
I forget exactly what it is called, but I think it is under the device properties for the wifi card. It is something like "always on" or "maximum performance"

[mdarnton]

Thanks for the suggestion, but nope, doesn't do it.

Incidentally, I'm also having another problem that IBM can't recreate--strange USB connection stuff. Most of my USB things refuse to connect at 2.0--do 1.1, low speed, with a little notice that if I just hooked to a faster port I'd get a faster connection. Two or three times they're 1.1, then once 2.0, then during the connection things will flicker, the autoplay will restart, and I'll be back at 1.1. They can't recreate that problem, either. Again, I have three 2.0 devices, and they all do the same thing, so it's not the devices.

I don't know how I can' convince them of either one. I suspect there's some common denominator between the two problems.

[jdhurst]

The Intel 2100 card is junk. I threw mine in the garbage can and got the IBM Atheros-based card and it works great. The Intel 2200 can be made to work, but I still prefer IBM. ... JD Hurst

[mdarnton]

It's all become theoretical--I just talked with a tech guy, and they're going to replace the motherboard....

Thanks.