2200BG + Netgear router or Linksys WAP = Forget It.

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tripper · #1 Post by **tripper** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 9:41 pm

I have had these two combinations. Total disaster. First was Netgear modem/router which kept losing connection. My friend had a Netgear wifi card and that worked a treat for him. I had T42 inbuilt 2200BG. Another place we had a Linksys WAP54G I think it was and that just kept dropping out as well on the 2200BG. I have used it with other routers without fail, but these two routers are a disaster.

Lostoutlaw · #2 Post by **Lostoutlaw** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 9:44 pm

have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the 2200bg driver to resolve the issue?

tripper · #3 Post by **tripper** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 9:48 pm

Yes yes yes yes yes .. these two routers/access points are evil. I wanna chuck my 2200BG in the bin and get the IBM one.

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:04 pm

I configured a ThinkPad with IBM wireless (no regrets here) and a LinkSys WAP54G router. Connection was fine, but email with Sympatico (Canada) would not work. Eventually the router was returned on an RMA and we got a Netopia router. Newer LinkSys products are picky, so be careful before you turf the 2200bg lest you be surprised that something still doesn't work. ... JD Hurst

tripper · #5 Post by **tripper** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:14 pm

Can you suggest a better card? T42. I never really warmed to having an A card (definitely do not need it), so something without A is preferable. If this is not an option, can you turn A off on its own on cards? I don't want the high MHz beaming their way around my home, that's all. Silly as it sounds.

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:42 pm

I use and recommend the IBM card. But, having thrown my own Intel 2100 card in the garbage can, I have used the 2200 and can always make it work. It is the routers that are beginning to be problematic. I now always recommend the Netopia 3387 enterprise router - the mild extra expense is more than offset by lack of issues. ... JD Hurst

tripper · #7 Post by **tripper** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:50 pm

Yeah I agree its the routers, but they are often harder to replace than the card for various reasons. Is there a particular IBM one I should look for, I notice there is e.g. a version II or something, for example. Need BG.

orl2222 · #8 Post by **orl2222** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:52 pm

This may sound crazy, but I've used a 54 for wireless, and believe me its not your card! At that time, (and still am) the 54 would not let my apple power book, or dell to connect. I finally broke down, bought a apple airport base station, hooked to my cable modem, and worked like a charm. I currently have no problems hooking my power book, a dell or my T43 useing wep or wpa. The nice thing about the airport, apple has a couple of nice programs for windows macines, a airport admin utility, and also with bonjour, you got zero config printng for windows as well. Just a suggestion, but these are easier to hookup and manage, you don't even have to go to your web browser to change settings.

tripper · #9 Post by **tripper** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:50 am

The nicest router I've ever used was a Draytek, although I've never used a Draytek wireless one. I am very keen to throw the Linksys in the bin and try a Draytek.

It's weird about the routers vs the card. On the one hand, yes, the routers are completely at fault. But on the other hand, you hear so much about how good IBM cards are .. you think .. hang on a minute, the card is contributing here as well, in fact really, it should be the card that should be the most robust, since it needs to accomodate all sorts of routers. Like when you visit your friend's place etc.

So what I need is the "super" card, that works on crappy routers as well. And I believe that card to be the IBM from what I've read. And therefore my 2200BG shall be binned. To put it on ebay would be just annoying the next guy and will head me towards negative feedback terrority.

smugiri · #10 Post by **smugiri** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:24 pm

Don't bin it: give it away to some one on this forum instead. There are lots of people looking for a card. Make them pay the postage and packaging or something ...

DIGITALgimpus · #11 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:47 pm

I've been using a 2915abg with a Netgear box for a while with absolutely no issues. I know people using them with Linksys as well.

I think most people forget that 802.11x compatible and certified are two different things. Certified is much higher quality. IMHO I'd only buy certified compliant gear. Compatible gear is 99.5% of the time garbage in quality. Certified means it actually meets standards.

To many people forget this when they buy their $15 access point. Compatible != Certified.

This is why standards exist. When everyone follows them, there are no problems. When companies start with the "compatible" marketing... trouble starts.

christopher_wolf · #12 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:08 pm

I have been using a Linksys router as well as a Motrola one; I have had no problems thus far. Although I have seen different routers behave strangely; I have gotten dropped connections with both my T43 and a Dell. Some routers handle things slightly differently and sometimes, as I have seen, change the IP address all of a sudden then lockup for a minute or so. I guess there is indeed a difference between 802.11x certified and 802.11 compliant. Certified may use verified wireless format protocols that the wireless card can expect and respond to. 802.11 compliant may just mean that "Sure, I can handle 802.11x" but they use their own software and internal protocols that a given wireless card doesn't recognize. Good Point.

#13 Post by **bill bolton** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:42 pm

tripper wrote:I have had these two combinations. Total disaster.

I have a Linksys WRT54G running with several Intel 2200BGs (generic and IBM versions) as well as a variety of other wireless devices and I get rock solid connections all the time.

I'm also using Intel 2200BGs out in the field with a wide variety of access points and they have proven to be the most reliable of all the 802.11 wireless devices for my field use.

Cheersl,

Bill

DIGITALgimpus · #14 Post by **DIGITALgimpus** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:23 am

Non Certified wifi shouldn't be sold... it's typically pretty low quality.

Certified on the other hand, is suprisingly good.

Why? Because when two devices speak the same language... data can flow!

Silly concept, but actually proves true.

kc · #15 Post by kc » Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:59 pm

I posted earlier this week on 2200bg + Linksys 54G problem with no response. Since this thread has successful users, I hope you don't mind if I raise my issue again.

I have a t42/2200bg and a 54G and Linksys 11 AP on the same wireless network. TheT42 loses connection and fails to reconnect when moved from one AP coverage area to another. Curent workaround: Bring up Thinkpad Advantage 4.0 dialogue, search for WLAN, select WLAN (which it always finds) and connect. All drivers and firmware are the latest version.

Advice?

Thanks.

stangri · #16 Post by **stangri** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:10 pm

tripper wrote:Can you suggest a better card? T42. I never really warmed to having an A card (definitely do not need it), so something without A is preferable. If this is not an option, can you turn A off on its own on cards? I don't want the high MHz beaming their way around my home, that's all. Silly as it sounds.

In both Intel 2915ABG and IBM a/b/g card there're ways to disable 802.11a in windows driver. For Intel I *think* (been a few months since I replaced it with an IBM card) you can select the card to operate only on b/g; for IBM card in Advanced settings from the Wireless Mode Selection select just 2.4Ghz only instead of Auto.

#17 Post by **bill bolton** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:04 pm

kc wrote:Advice?

Do you have the access points on the same frequency? If so, you might want to try putting them on different frequencies.

Cheers,

Bill

#18 Post by **Kyocera** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:42 pm

I have set up many WRT54G's for customers and they seem to be (relatively speaking) fairly solid. At home I have a WRT55AG and it has been very reliable too. Honestly you just can't expect a wireless connection to be anywhere near as reliable as a wired, some disconnects are going to happen. Interference is a possibility, if you start having problems and suspect the router, reset it, ping the router with a switch -t and watch the TTL's for serious time lapses over a significant period of time to establish a pattern that could be in relation to some other piece of equipment in the house, office or room. Firmware updates are important and often thought of as a last resort which they are not.

kc · #19 Post by kc » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:59 am

Thanks for the suggestions on my 54G/11 issues.

Inexplicably, everything is suddenly working properly. I don't think I changed anything, but who knows (we had a power failure the other night --- forced router reboot?). So, I'll leave good enough alone.

BTW, WAP11 and 54G are on different channels (6 and 11)

Thanks again.

turbolium · #20 Post by **turbolium** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:37 pm

for the history
curently using SMC7004vwbr wireless router
and 2200BG card and i constantly lose connection
while with SMC wireless card used in other laptop
it happend only once or twice a week

Aroc · #21 Post by **Aroc** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:29 pm

Although I rather have a different combination that my Dell LAtitude D400, Intel 2200BG, and Linksys wireless router/cable modem. the connection does work well. PEBCAK.

My preference would be for an Thinkpad with Atheros IBM wireless card, and Buffalo wireless router.

#22 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:08 pm

I have a T42 with the Intel 2200BG adapter. I also have a SMC wireless router/AP, model SMC2804WBRP-G. I maintain a good solid connection. I can even go into Standby, then resume later, and my connection is reestablished within just a very few seconds. I have the latest 2200BG driver from IBM's site and the latest version of Access Connections. I also set my TCP/IP settings manually (IP address, etc.) on my T42.

My daughter has my old 600E with a SMC PCMCIA 'BG' card. Her TCP/IP settings are also set manually, but she seems to have some trouble with her connection at times. She uses SMC's wireless manager and drivers on W2K.

You can try to set the power management settings as spelled out in the following thread.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=18932

2200BG + Netgear router or Linksys WAP = Forget It.

2200BG + Netgear router or Linksys WAP = Forget It.

Re: 2200BG + Netgear router or Linksys WAP = Forget It.

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