advice for older IBM Thinkpad

I have a 2003 IBM Thinkpad that came with an internal IBM wireless
card. I am having Optimum Online installed and will need a wireless
router. My PC sometimes automatically connects to Linksys that is
coming into my house from somewhere else, so I know the wireless card
works. My question is -- what wireless router should I buy for this
older computer that will be in a medium-sized split level house? If
the router is on the bottom level, I need the signal to go up at least
two small flights of stairs. Do I need to upgrade the wireless card
or buy a new one that goes into the USB port? The laptop is my work
computer, so I can't fool around too much with the insides (I don't
own it -- the company does).
Any wireless advice would be appreciated. I am a newbie at this.
Bev

Bev wrote:
> I have a 2003 IBM Thinkpad that came with an internal IBM wireless
> card. I am having Optimum Online installed and will need a wireless
> router. My PC sometimes automatically connects to Linksys that is
> coming into my house from somewhere else, so I know the wireless card
> works. My question is -- what wireless router should I buy for this
> older computer that will be in a medium-sized split level house? If
> the router is on the bottom level, I need the signal to go up at least
> two small flights of stairs. Do I need to upgrade the wireless card
> or buy a new one that goes into the USB port? The laptop is my work
> computer, so I can't fool around too much with the insides (I don't
> own it -- the company does).
> Any wireless advice would be appreciated. I am a newbie at this.
> Bev
>

I would not get an integrated wireless router. I'd get a wired router
and a separate wireless access point.

My suggestion for a router is to have a look at a 3Com OfficeConnect
DSL/Cable router. I've used these in businesses and never had a hiccup
or problem.

For a wireless access point, we use a Cisco 1121g (available on eBay
cheap, relatively speaking).

The 3Com router is very robust, easy to set up and is very stable. The
Cisco A/P is strong, easy to set up, has lots of security options and is
very stable and reliable. Our 1121g blankets our house with a very
strong signal that reaches a long way outside our house (see "lots of
security options").

The limiting factor on wireless may be the strength of the radio inside
your laptop. If the laptop radio isn't strong enough, its signal won't
reach the access point in sufficient strength to provide a quality
connection.

The use of separate components allows for future upgrades without having
to reconfigure your entire system. The quality of the components means
you probably won't start having failures a few months after you get the
system installed.

Something else to keep in mind.... If you're only using the wireless
connection to access the internet, then there may be little reason to
have a connection of significantly greater speed since the maximum speed
of data transfer will be determined by the internet connection speed (if
you've got even 6mbs internet speed, why require a 54mbs connection?).

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:51:35 -0800, Bev <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>I have a 2003 IBM Thinkpad that came with an internal IBM wireless
>card. I am having Optimum Online installed and will need a wireless
>router. My PC sometimes automatically connects to Linksys that is
>coming into my house from somewhere else, so I know the wireless card
>works. My question is -- what wireless router should I buy for this
>older computer that will be in a medium-sized split level house?

I recommend the Buffalo high-power wireless router.

>If
>the router is on the bottom level, I need the signal to go up at least
>two small flights of stairs.

That will be hard for any wireless router. You may need a directional
antenna to make it work, or it may not work at all depending on what the
house is made out of.

>Do I need to upgrade the wireless card
>or buy a new one that goes into the USB port? The laptop is my work
>computer, so I can't fool around too much with the insides (I don't
>own it -- the company does).
>Any wireless advice would be appreciated. I am a newbie at this.

Consider also powerline networking.

See wiki below for lots more information.

[cross-posted to comp.sys.laptops.thinkpad]

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:39:17 GMT, John Navas
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:51:35 -0800, Bev <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
><(E-Mail Removed) .com>:
>
>>I have a 2003 IBM Thinkpad that came with an internal IBM wireless
>>card. I am having Optimum Online installed and will need a wireless
>>router. My PC sometimes automatically connects to Linksys that is
>>coming into my house from somewhere else, so I know the wireless card
>>works. My question is -- what wireless router should I buy for this
>>older computer that will be in a medium-sized split level house?
>
>I recommend the Buffalo high-power wireless router.

I'd second that advice - I run a Buffalo HP wireless modem/router for
the kids' laptops....gets a good signal through a couple of very thick
flint walls. The inbuilt AOSS security utility is a real boon too.

Not the best router configuration pages I've seen, but still workable
with a bit of manual-diving.

Regards,



--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
Email: anyoldname(*AT*)gmx(*dot*)co(*dot*)uk

I'm a bit confused by this advice. I'm able to pick up a wireless
connection through a Linksys wireless router that's coming through the
walls of my house from somewhere across the street. Shouldn't I
assume that a Linksys would make it up two flights of stairs? Or does
that work differently? Thanks for all the help.
Bev

On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:02:08 -0000, Bev <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm a bit confused by this advice. I'm able to pick up a wireless
>connection through a Linksys wireless router that's coming through the
>walls of my house from somewhere across the street. Shouldn't I
>assume that a Linksys would make it up two flights of stairs? Or does
>that work differently? Thanks for all the help.
>Bev

It should do...but although I also pick up next door's cheapo BT
wireles router, it doesn't mean it would give me a stable connection.

Regards,


--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
Email: anyoldname(*AT*)gmx(*dot*)co(*dot*)uk

Bev wrote:
> I'm a bit confused by this advice. I'm able to pick up a wireless
> connection through a Linksys wireless router that's coming through the
> walls of my house from somewhere across the street. Shouldn't I
> assume that a Linksys would make it up two flights of stairs? Or does
> that work differently? Thanks for all the help.
> Bev
>


The stock Linksys antennae have fairly good reach but put out a
donut-shaped signal. Most omni-directional antennae put out the same
pattern. We get signals from about a dozen or so access points. The
issue with Linksys and most other home networking toys is reliability.
You're better off getting a used Cisco 1121g. Its VERY reliable, fairly
easy to set-up and has an integrated antenna that reaches all corners of
our home (three-story). Also reaches comfortably around the
neighborhood so the very robust security features of the A/P come in handy.

Thanks for everyone's help. Unfortunately, I just found out that my
computer's wireless card is not "G" or "N", but "AB". Now I don't
know what to do. If I buy a USB wireless G card, will that work with
a G router?

Bev <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Thanks for everyone's help. Unfortunately, I just found out that my
> computer's wireless card is not "G" or "N", but "AB". Now I don't
> know what to do. If I buy a USB wireless G card, will that work with
> a G router?

The built in card should still work. Most "g" switches also do "b", unless
they have been configured to only allow g. For home use, the "b" should be
fine for internet access, as "b" is still faster than most internet
download links, although cable might exceed it.

Most public hotspots would be b and g.

If you have an old Thinkpad, your USB might be USB 1.1 only, which would
limit the speed of a new "g" USB wireless connection to speeds near "b",
anyway. If you plug in a flash drive, does it complain about "this device
could work faster ..." Most current flash drives are USB 2, and WinXP will
pop up a speed warning when you plug them into a 1.1 port.

--
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

Bev wrote:
> Thanks for everyone's help. Unfortunately, I just found out that my
> computer's wireless card is not "G" or "N", but "AB". Now I don't
> know what to do. If I buy a USB wireless G card, will that work with
> a G router?
>

A "b" card should be able to connect to a "b/g" router / access point -
the radio frequencies are the same. The "a" will only connect to an "a"
router / access point since the radio frequencies are different.