T61 XP Pro & Apple Time Capsule

[derchris]

Hello,

I use to have an Time Capsule with "N draft" WiFi - my MacBook Pro works fine with the new Draft "N" Wifi speed and WPA2. But the Lenovo Thinkpad with the current "ThinkVantage Access Connections" will not connect to the "N Network" or if the TimeCapsule is set to "WPA2" only. If I set Time Capsule to "WPA/WPA2" and b,g,n-draft the Thinkpad connects - but only at 54mbit/s "g-Standard"

All drivers are current & up to date - just checked with the updater.

Cheers

Chris

[derchris]

Any idea how to get 802.11n to work with Apples Time Capsule - the Time Capsule works fine with the MacBook Pro 802.11n wifi.

[icantux]

Keep using the Lenovo drivers (otherwise the Fn-F5 combo will not switch the wifi card on/off), but just download and install Intel's wifi manager instead of using Lenovo's Access Manager (you'd best uninstall Access Manager before installing Intel's wifi manager) - see if that helps.

I'm assuming you have the Intel 4965 a/b/g/n card in your T61.

[derchris]

Uninstalling Lenovos Access Controll and using Windows Wifi Manager seems working as well - thank you!

Is their any benefit using Intels Wifi Manager?

[icantux]

Bitte sehr!

Well, there are more options for wifi tweaking, for one, another is that it's better suited for interoperability with intel wifi cards...

Let me explain. Access Manager (Lenovo) is intended to be a cure-all for all your connectivity needs, not just wifi. In your case, it seems that you made use of Access Manager primarily for managing your wifi card, which it did, but in the most basic terms - so AM was not being used to its full potential. Logic would dictate that you needed a more streamlined solution - Intel's wifi manager (specialty is wifi connectivity and interfacing with Intel wifi cards). As with Access Manager, you can still create profiles for different wireless access points using the Intel Wifi Manager.

I've got an Atheros-based card in my machine and so I use the Atheros Client Utility for my wifi needs. Much better suited than Access Manager.

Not saying that Access Manager is bad... it does perform well in a multi-network environment (and I mean multi-network, not just occasional wifi) but it needs lots of tweaking and seems overkill for the casual user.

Why take a dump truck to the corner store to buy a jug of milk when you can take a bike (or walk)?