That was short lived... give me an RMA

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parsetdx · #1 Post by **parsetdx** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:37 pm

My final test on my T42 which did it for me....

Built-In 2200BG with/without IBM config software, with/without WEP - no matter what I tried the best I could get was about 3 KB/sec. Gee, I thought I bought Centrino, not a 28.8 US Robotics modem.

Plugged in a standard Linksys 802.11b PCMCIA card. Picked it up to about 200 KB/sec.

So my question is... WTF!?!?! Is it a simple incompatibility between the 2200 and my router? I upgraded my router firmware and updated the 2200 driver - that's the best I could do and it still sucked.

What do I do? Do I send back the T42? It just pisses me off I spend all this money for a nice portable laptop and the built-in networking sucks. Any guidance would be helpful. I'm afraid if I return the IBM and go buy a Dell or something, I'll get hit with the same freakin problem because the root cause is really the 2200! Can I get a different mini-PCI card that might actually work? Please help! I need this thing in one month for grad school!

#2 Post by **K. Eng** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:16 pm

I have never really trusted Intel wireless... especially after all the hicoughs with the original 2100B (not to mention it actually uses more power than competing solutions from Atheros).

The 2200BG is a relatively new product and I suspect the problem is in the drivers.

First things first - don't panic, and don't buy a Dell. As you've already stated, the problem is in the 2200BG, a part also used in Dell machines. The keyboards on the Dell 600 series are horrible and you would really regret buying one.

If you are really unhappy, call IBM and ask if you can exchange it for a model with the 802.11a/b/g card. I have the a/b/g part and it has not given me a lick of trouble with any of the numerous wireless networks I have encountered. It's based on the Atheros AR5001X+ chipset - a well tested design.

You could also order an a/b/g card and install it yourself if you want. It's easy to install the part but if you aren't comfortable opening up your machine I think a return/exchange is the best idea.

I hope this is helpful.

RaysMD · #3 Post by **RaysMD** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:19 pm

I am sure it's not the computer. It's the drivers. Believe me. You need to get rid of access connections and since you only have the Intel BG card use the intel zero configuration software to manage your wireless networks.

The problem probably stems of both utilities trying to manage your WiFi. Same thing happened to me with the IBM a/b/g. Access Connections and the intel zero config don't play nice.

parsetdx · #4 Post by **parsetdx** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:42 pm

I was thinking along the same lines. If the problem is really in the 2200BG then another manufacturer will have the same problem. I am going to try to go the route of IBM sending me the a/b/g card - hopefully at minimal cost because all in all, I really do like the T42 laptop design and I'd prefer to keep it.

And now a rant..... I don't trust any software that looks like the Connections crap - I don't like things which try to be too idiot-proof because in my experience they never succeed and only accomplish creating a huge hassle for more advanced users. Like it's so difficult to click into the network connection settings and set my wireless network up through there? I need to have some special GUI piece of crap to manage it for me? Give me a break. The first thing I did when I ran into this was uninstall that piece of junk.

What baffles me is when I called IBM Tech Support (4 times) everybody acted like this was something new. Surely I'm not the first person to encounter these issues. Well anyway, I hope I can get it resolved soon and stop worrying about it. Thanks for your comments and help. I'll let you know how it goes.

mushrew · #5 Post by **mushrew** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:25 am

A Dell isn't guaranteed to be much better. I have a friend with one of the new inspirions and the internal card drops the signal after about 20 feet away from a router. It barely picks up the signal (if at all) within the 20 feet.

#6 Post by **K. Eng** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:46 am

Access Connections is actually very useful if you are like me and switch between 2 or 3 different wireless networks during the day. I like having all my profiles easily accessable in once place.

Hostility towards Access Connections seems a bit unwarranted when the problem is most likely the 2200BG card.

parsetdx wrote:And now a rant..... I don't trust any software that looks like the Connections crap - I don't like things which try to be too idiot-proof because in my experience they never succeed and only accomplish creating a huge hassle for more advanced users. Like it's so difficult to click into the network connection settings and set my wireless network up through there? I need to have some special GUI piece of crap to manage it for me? Give me a break. The first thing I did when I ran into this was uninstall that piece of junk.

gosha16 · #7 Post by **gosha16** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:53 am

i agree with K. Eng and i have to say the access connections is a piece of software that ive been wishing for for a very long time. i have to switch between 2 differant wireless configs and 2 differant wired configs and being able to do so with the click of a button instead of typing in all ip's, subnets, dns servers etc everytime has made my computing life a lot easier. i LOVE the ibm connections software. one of my favorite features of the thinkpad.

Skywing · #8 Post by **Skywing** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:51 am

thats odd, i can get 180+kbps on my intel card in my 3VU off my router, and thats going through 2 walls as well, something definatly isnt correct

taphil · #9 Post by **taphil** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:33 pm

I, and others, have had the same problem with new T4X's. I don't remember what exactly I did to solve the problem, but some suggestions:

- delete the driver in the Device Manager and re-install
- use Windows wirelss config to manage the wireless - try not using IBM or Intel's programs
- change the channel on your access point

cooljw · #10 Post by **cooljw** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:55 pm

I use the FVU with 2200BG card, WEP-128bit enabled on my D-Link router. I use IBM Access Connections to manage my wireless connections. My wireless connection has proven as reliable and fast as when using an ethernet cable.

I also wiped then clean installed everything after I got the unit. Don't know if this made a difference with the drivers.

sktn77a · #11 Post by **sktn77a** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:01 pm

Check to make sure you don't have the Windows XP WPA update installed - this can cause problems. What kind of router are you using? Have you updated the router firmware (or looked on the manufacturer's site for problems/updates?)

The hardware is probably fine. You just have to be patient and beta test IBM/Microsoft/Intel's products.

That's the circle of life (I think)?!

darrenf · #12 Post by **darrenf** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:27 am

My situation mirrors cooljw's almost exactly. My T41 had the IBM a/b/g and my new T42 (FVU) has the Intel b/g. I use Access Connections and my Windows install was a clean one (on the T41 which I swapped into the T42). I've had no problems at all with the Intel card and in fact I find the Intel gets a much better signal than my IBM card did. I use it with WPA and WEP 40-bit and 128-bit.

I'm also getting better battery life than in my T41 but I'm not ready to give the wireless card credit for that.

For the record, netstumbler v0.4 works with both cards.

-darren

That was short lived... give me an RMA

That was short lived... give me an RMA

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