X61s - Intel Wireless N 4965agn Antenna Question

[Harryc]

Take a look at the below pic, which I found on a random Google search, and pay attention to the wireless card installed, and the number of antennas hooked to it;

http://pocitace.tomasek.cz/x61s/P1140129.JPG

This is FRU# 42T0867, it is an Intel 4965agn card installed in an X61s. Why are there only (2) antennas hooked to it? I have an ulterior motive to this question. I have a similar (factory installed) adapter in my X61s, but it is FRU 42T0865. It is also an Intel 4965agn adapter, and it also has (2) antenna wires hooked to it. Everything I have read about wireless N says that it requires (3) antennas. So, is this a new trick?

Edit: Well, I did a bit more research on the 4965agn card, and it supports 2 or 3 antenna systems. Systems with a 3rd antenna have better range. So it appears that Lenovo cheaped out on the antennas on newer systems with the 4965agn card. If your machine has such a card without the extra 'MIMO' feature, then it most likely has (2) antennas.

[Alexiskass]

Take a look at the below pic, which I found on a random Google search, and pay attention to the wireless card installed, and the number of antennas hooked to it;

http://pocitace.tomasek.cz/x61s/P1140129.JPG

This is FRU# 42T0867, it is an Intel 4965agn card installed in an X61s. Why are there only (2) antennas hooked to it? I have an ulterior motive to this question. I have a similar (factory installed) adapter in my X61s, but it is FRU 42T0865. It is also an Intel 4965agn adapter, and it also has (2) antenna wires hooked to it. Everything I have read about wireless N says that it requires (3) antennas. So, is this a new trick?

Edit: Well, I did a bit more research on the 4965agn card, and it supports 2 or 3 antenna systems. Systems with a 3rd antenna have better range. So it appears that Lenovo cheaped out on the antennas on newer systems with the 4965agn card. If your machine has such a card without the extra 'MIMO' feature, then it most likely has (2) antennas.

with my x60t and 4965agn with only 2 antennas i still get perfect reception and 130Mbps. i think this is the max speed for this adapter.

[flypenfly]

I currently have a 3965, is the 4965 a big improvement? I've heard mixed reports.

[Harryc]

It would be an improvement if you had a wireless N router.

[flypenfly]

Yup I do, a Dlink 615.. I often do very large file transfers and video file sharing off of the X61s.

I tried a USB N card from Linksys and it was a horrible disaster with bandwidth being cut by more than half over the internal G card.

[bananaman]

130Mbps is the max speed if you are running a 2.4GHz network. With a 5GHz network you can go up to 300Mbps (e.g. Apple Airport - I'm at 300Mbps on one right now).

I believe this is because the 4965AGN does not support 40MHz channel width at 2.4GHz.

with my x60t and 4965agn with only 2 antennas i still get perfect reception and 130Mbps. i think this is the max speed for this adapter.

[OngL]

Anyone can verify my situation here?

I bought from eBay a 4965 FRU: 42T0865, unfortunately the card was dead. After a painful long wait, I got a new replacement with newer FRU: 42T0867 (MM2). It is not able to detect my Wireless-N in 5.0 Ghz. It only detect 2.4 Ghz.

I confirms this on Thinkpad Access Connection properties, there is only one option for transmit power which is on 2.4 Ghz. My Airport express can be set to mixed mode or dedicated N 2.4ghz or 5.0 ghz. I tried the first one and it works ,the later not detected at all.

Anyone can confirm if FRU: 42T0867 can only work in 2.4Ghz? or what needs to be done to enable 5.0 Ghz. The AP supports it and had been used with iMac and Macbook Pro for many months.

[closersource]

Well it looks like once again the IBM/Atheros wireless card is superior to the Intel card in feature support. What is bizarre is the Intel card has always been considered an upgrade - probably for using the Centrino name.

Anyway the 4965AGN with N enabled should support both 2.4G and the 5.0G spectrum.

[bill bolton]

Anyone can verify my situation here?

What you are describing is not normal for a 4965AGN.

You may have ended up with a 4965AG (N-disabled) card with a part number 42T0867 sticker on it, especially with an eBay purchase.

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

Cheers,

Bill B.