Well, the subject says it all... planning to upgrade my Intel 2100 mini-PCI and wondering if I should pay $30 more for the IBM a/b/g unit or not. I'm thinking that both would be better than the current.

A replated question... I currently use the Intel drivers and utilities for the mini-PCI rather than Access Connections. Des anyone have experience with utilities for the new cards? I'd prefer to stick with Intel's PROset (which I got from Dell's website) rather than have to go back to IBM's utility.

The IBM 11a/b/g card is excellent. The Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG is just shipping so I don't think anyone actually has one yet. I have one on order from IBM (to upgrade a Centrino X40). Will post results as soon as I get it.

As for Access Connections, it's really only useful if you need to switch between multiple IP addresses and other network settings. If you don't need this feature, then the Windows built-in zero configuration utility or the Intel utility work great. The Windows XP SP2 update will include an even better wireless connection utility.

bear in mind that the miniPCI card MUST be an ibm version, not a generic version..
the generic awon't be allowed by the bios..

Yeah, had my eye on the IBM version of the Intel BG.

What's the ETA now on WinXP SP2? Anyone know?

Win XP SP2 is still in closed beta currently running at RC1. It is due to ship mid summer.

Oh Mike! You're such an optimist!

I'll be surprised to see RC2 by the summer!

Regards,

James

[quote="csv96"]The IBM 11a/b/g card is excellent. The Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG is just shipping so I don't think anyone actually has one yet. I have one on order from IBM (to upgrade a Centrino X40). Will post results as soon as I get it.

Did any one receive the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG, I placed an order with IBM Canada last week and they told me that I should be receiving it toward the beginning of June. Any comments would be appreciated from any one who has already received it, I might consider the IBM a/b/g if the comments are negative since I still have time to cancel my order.

Thanks Neil

I think the IBM a/b/g card is excellent. I have only heard people praise this card - not like some intel cards, where people have problem with signals falling out and such. I also like the access connections software - it's not completely useless.. for instance my home WLAN has disabled SSID broadcast, so I can't locate it just by searching - I have to know it's there, and then I use access connections to connect to it.

Just got shipping confirmation from IBM yesterday. I have access to two X40's (one with IBM 11a/b/g and one currently with Intel 11b) so I'll be able to do side-by-side testing with a Linksys WRT54G router.

That's great, I have the same router, keep us posted !

Does anyone know how the ibm a/b/g and the intel b/g compare when it comes to battery usage?

my guess is that the difference is trivial..

you can research this on the ibm web site if you wish..
though i'm sure it will take some hunting..

give it a try, you might learn more than you ever thought was out there to learn about thinkpads..

Okay, got my Intel 2200BG card today.

So my totally unscientific and very limited experiment with two Thinkpad X40's sitting side-by-side, one with the IBM 11a/b/g (Atheros AR5001X+) adapter and one with the new Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (Calexico) adapter show...

1) No problems connecting to a Linksys WRT54G, both indicate a 54Mbps transmit rate.
2) Virtually the same reception throughout the house. Maybe slightly higher signal strength (~5%) indicated on the Wireless Connection Status utility, but we all know that's not very accurate.

Did not test WEP or actual data transfer throughput. Also did not test the maximum range. I'll post a followup if I have any problems with the card.

with the 2200bg can you identify a sid if it's not broadcasted?

You mean with netstumbler?

i mean, some intel version of access connections? i am getting intel's wifi for the first time too. i have no idea how it'll detect signals, how i can specify which signal i want, etc.

CV96 what about the LED light on the display panel, does it work with the Intel card.

LED works fine. I'm still using IBM's Access Connections. I probably won't be using the Intel software.

Just found a difference between the IBM 11a/b/g and the Intel 2200BG:

In Access Connections, you can force the IBM card to use 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11a mode. On the Intel card, there is no such option.

[quote="morrow"]bear in mind that the miniPCI card MUST be an ibm version, not a generic version..
the generic awon't be allowed by the bios..[/quote]

Excuse the ignorance... but are you saying there are generic versions of the Intel 2200bg and IBM specific versions? Or just that you can only use certain types of miniPCI cards with IBMs, the Intel 2200bg being one of those?

Steve

Yes, there is a generic Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG mini PCI adapter that most other laptop manufacturers use. It does NOT work in current Thinkpads. For Thinkpads, you have to buy the IBM Options version (which costs about twice as much).

csv96,

Since you mentioned it, does the Intel card work with netstumbler? I know the IBM card works with v1.3 because that's the rig I use.

At risk of taking this conversation off topic (and off-forum ), what is your impression of the X40? I'm really waffling between an X40 and a T42. The T42 I'm eyeing would let me play games and work with video, but I could take the X40 a lot of places that I don't take my T41 (because of size). I'm glad to hear that the T- and X- use the same MiniPCI cards. Do they use the same bluetooth-integrated modems as well?

-darren

The X40 is now just a footnote in my signature.

Maybe when I can afford it, I'll have both a T series AND an X series at the same time. For now, it's just a T42p. Money issues aside, the X40 is definitely a laptop I would want to take with me for word processing, checking email, surfing the web, watching movies, etc., Even Photoshop was quite usable.

The X40, R51, and T42 share the same communications daughter cards which are either the modem MDC2 or the bluetooth/modem BMDC2 (aka Bluetooth III, don't ask why it's named like that).

It's a shame that there's nowhere to go lay hands on a ThinkPad to check it out. I bet that if I saw/used a X40, I would fall instantly in love with it and run out to buy one. Absent that opportunity, I think I'll go with what I know and pick up the T42.

BTW: The version of netstumbler I use is 0.4 (I don't know where I got 1.3 from). csv96, I'm guessing that if you no longer have the X40 you don't have the opportunity to test the Intel BG card with netstumbler. If anyone else does, please let me know the results.

Thanks!

-darren

Nope. All gone.