IBM High Rate Wireless LAN MiniPCI Combo Card features?

[susanqcat]

Hello,
Great forums here! As a newbie to this forum, I have some really basic questions:

I have swapped hard drives from my old T23 2647 (which had the 56k modem card), into another T23 2647 (which has the IBM High Rate wireless LAN MiniPCI combo card).

I did this because my backlight or inverter was bad on the "older" T23. I also swapped DVD-ROM drives, took out RAM etc.

So, the "new" T23 works well, runs on WIN2000.

I've downloaded the latest driver for the card, and upgraded Access Connection from version "1" something, to version 5.05. Took it to the library where there is free wifi, and it ran very well.

Question-what is the "combo" in combo card? Besides wireless 802.11b, what is the other connection type?

Is it a modem, or some other type of wireless function?
I tried setting up a dial-up connection, however could not do it. So, not sure whether this is possible.

Also, when in Access Connections, on the "FIND WIFI" function, I see the names of the wireless networks in my area, but the screen does not show details concerning signal strength or encryption. The user guide shows this information in the screen shots, yet it does not show in real time when I'm scanning networks. Any thoughts?

I had also installed a Linksys wireless card in the PCMIA (right word) slot and when working, this program shows all the detail concerning networks that I don't see when connected via access connections.

Thanks for reading!

[vanaya]

The combo refers to Wireless and wired ethernet. As far as the AC, maybe someone else can chime in. I don't have a T2x system with w2k to help out. I use WZC (wireless zero configuration) to help out with available wireless' in the area, and this service is not automatic in w2k. I don't remember how will it worked in w2k.

Welcome to the forum!

[RealBlackStuff]

Welcome to our forums.
From a first look at the T23s in your signature, I'd say you got Donor and Recipient reversed.
The NU4 has factory-installed wireless, the JU3 does not.

The Actiontec combo card in the NU4 is a 802.11b wifi card, to which you attach the 2 small antenna wires, combined with a 56K modem, which has a small slit at the top, in which you insert the flat modem cable.
The wifi part will only receive data in the slower B-band (up to 11Mbps).
Correct drivers can be found here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41929

Opinions on Access Connection differ, most people (including me) don't bother with it because of its flaky behavior, and let Windows manage connections.
To check the surroundings for wifi sources, I use Netstumbler from http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

The Linksys card you mention, you probably had installed in the old JU3. It was the Linksys software that showed you the signal strength etc. (No need for a PCMCIA card in the new NU4.)

If you want the (faster) G-band, you can swap out your wifi card for a 802.11b/g card, however, by doing so you will lose your modem.
I am not aware of a combo 802.11b/g - modem card.
HTH

[susanqcat]

thanks, that's kind of what I thought. That answers that question.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why access connections does not show full detail on available wireless networks? Screen does not show encryption or signal strength...very puzzling.

Thank you!

[sjthinkpader]

The combo card is too old to have WPA-PSK TKIP and AES encryption. Just lose the modem and change to IBM High Rate b/g, a/b/g or intel 2200bg, 2915abg. To use the latest AC, you do need a few more things installed:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=76656

[susanqcat]

thanks for the information, I'll check this out.