Replace 3945ABG w/ Atheros ABGN, or leave it?

[mybellyisempty]

This could be put in many different forums, but I'll choose here since it's higher traffic than the others, and involves my old T60.

I'm heading back to my parents' this weekend. My dad has my old T60, which originally came with a 3945ABG card. I upgraded it to the Atheros ABGN card over a year ago, and used that laptop primarily for Vista.

I have an R60 that I bought off HarryC on these forums that came with a 3945ABG.

My dad's home network is just 802.11B, and he'll likely not upgrade that for quite some time.

My home network is 802.11N (WRT600), but the speed increase is not why I'm looking at performing a swap.

My dad will never use anything other than the Vista Business install I made for that system.

My R60, however, will run Vista, and likely Ubuntu and possibly OSX as well. The OSX demands I scrap the intel card. But, I've not had the best of luck with the Atheros BG cards in Linux (Ubuntu 8.04) out of the box. It shows it using restricted drivers, but never actually connects to any networks.

Since Vista & Ubuntu are the key operating systems I plan on using this (as I know OSX will likely have far too many limitations to it to really be useful to me), should I stick with the intel 3945ABG that's working fine, or bump myself over to the Atheros ABGN?

[ZaZ]

Have you tried ndiswrapper for the ThinkPad card? There's a Wiki here:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_in ... ss_Adapter

[Padhead]

I wouldnt upgrade it to atheros.. mine is lsower to connect and doesnt get a a better signal than the INtel card. I also had some problems installing it, since my router had the MAC of the intel card.

[sjthinkpader]

If you do make the switch from intel to Atheros a/b/g/n, make sure to update or reinstall the Access Connection after installing the Atheros WiFi driver.

You don't need to replace the router to get 11n. Just turn off the wireless function in the router and setup a new 11n router as accesss point.

[mybellyisempty]

I don't use Access Connections.


And, while I'm not sure the router comment was directed towards me, he would need to get a new router. No sense in wasting time with an access point, just get rid of the old Netgear. He'll gain network speed, wireless speed, and much better security (his router doesn't do WPA or WPA2)

And, I've already moved to the Atheros. Kind of wish I hadn't simply because Ubuntu doesn't even detect it, and unfortunately, I'm told the 4965AGN in my T61P can't be moved to the R60.

[killigrew]

Try the MadWifi drivers to get the Atheros Card to work.

[crashnburn]

Interesting Conundrum.