Two wireless adapters in one laptop ???

[malamilia]

I have an IBM Thinkpad with a built-in Intel Wireless Pro Mini PCI
adapter with a max speed of 11MB. I would like to try a Linksys
wireless G adapter to see if I get better signals. I have a
Speedstream 6520 WirelessG modem/router. The linksys adapter
sometimes sees the router but cannot connect. Most of the time it
does not see the router. I disabled the Intel built-in but it does
not help. If I switch to the Intel and remove the Linsys, I get a
connection.
Is there any special way to try this out ? How can I get the Wireless
G adapter to work ?

Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

I have an IBM Thinkpad with a built-in Intel Wireless Pro Mini PCI
adapter with a max speed of 11MB. I would like to try a Linksys
wireless G adapter to see if I get better signals. I have a
Speedstream 6520 WirelessG modem/router. The linksys adapter
sometimes sees the router but cannot connect. Most of the time it
does not see the router. I disabled the Intel built-in but it does
not help. If I switch to the Intel and remove the Linsys, I get a
connection.
Is there any special way to try this out ? How can I get the Wireless
G adapter to work ?

Thanks.

This is not really a Windows XP networking problem. You need wireless experts.
The Wireless forum at DSLR Forums has experts who can help you with this issue.
Please join DSLR Forums (it's free), and ask for help. You'll probably have
several good answers within hours of your posting there.
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan>
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan

 

[malamilia]

Thanks, will do.

This is not really a Windows XP networking problem. You need wireless experts.
The Wireless forum at DSLR Forums has experts who can help you with this issue.
Please join DSLR Forums (it's free), and ask for help. You'll probably have
several good answers within hours of your posting there.
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan>
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have an IBM Thinkpad with a built-in Intel Wireless Pro Mini PCI
adapter with a max speed of 11MB. I would like to try a Linksys
wireless G adapter to see if I get better signals. I have a
Speedstream 6520 WirelessG modem/router. The linksys adapter
sometimes sees the router but cannot connect. Most of the time it
does not see the router. I disabled the Intel built-in but it does
not help. If I switch to the Intel and remove the Linsys, I get a
connection.
Is there any special way to try this out ? How can I get the Wireless
G adapter to work ?

Thanks.

Yes, you can use two wireless adapters in one laptop. Your Linksys
Wireless G adapter is completely independent of the built-in Intel
adapter, and it should make no difference whether the Intel adapter is
enabled or disabled. However, it's a good idea to disable the Intel
adapter if it's not in use.

Something must be wrong with the setup of the Linksys adapter. If
you'll post another message with full details of the setup and the
problem, I'm sure that someone can help. I think it's OK to post a
wireless network question in this Windows XP networking news group.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Jack]

Hmm...

I thought there is something thing called,

microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless, or may be it just too late at
night.

In any case, as Steve posted bellow you can install a second card (even if
you leave the current card as is).

Something is wrong with your Linksys Card installation, might be that you
"Ghosted" it at the first attempt.

http://www.ezlan.net/faq#ghost

Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[malamilia]

Here is an update:

The Linksys unit never did work right. All day Friday and Saturday,
it would not even see the router which is only a few inches away. I
returned the unit the the store yesterday. I may try another type of
Linksys but if the problem is driver related I would like to try a
different make.

My local Best buy and Staples carry D-Link and Netgear USB Wireless
adapters - all within the same price range. Any preference to either
one ??

Thanks.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Here is an update:

The Linksys unit never did work right. All day Friday and Saturday,
it would not even see the router which is only a few inches away. I
returned the unit the the store yesterday. I may try another type of
Linksys but if the problem is driver related I would like to try a
different make.

My local Best buy and Staples carry D-Link and Netgear USB Wireless
adapters - all within the same price range. Any preference to either
one ??

Thanks.

I've had so many problems with Linksys network adapters, wired and
wireless, on so many versions of Windows, that I won't buy anything
from Linksys. If one of my consulting clients asks me to install a
Linksys adapter, I say that I'll do it, but I won't guarantee that it
will work.

I've had very good results with Netgear and D-Link, with a slight
preference for Netgear.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[malamilia]

I just purchased the Netgear WG111v2 54Mbps Wireless USB Adapter -
installed the drivers and fired it up. It picked up the router, but
cannot negotiate a connection. I disabled it and enabled the Intel
Pro mini adapter built=in with lap top - no connection problem. I am
restoring windows to last week in the hope that any traces of linksys
is gone and will re-install the Netgear.

I'm I doing anything wrong ?

 

[malamilia]

This is strange ! - I have installed the Netgear adapter - WG111V2 -
It connects for a second and then turns off. It keeps cycling on and
off. I used the Windows Connection to disable the Intel Pro. Why is
this on/off cycling going on ?? How can I rectify this ??
Thanks.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I've had so many problems with Linksys network adapters, wired and
wireless, on so many versions of Windows, that I won't buy anything
from Linksys. If one of my consulting clients asks me to install a
Linksys adapter, I say that I'll do it, but I won't guarantee that it
will work.

I've had very good results with Netgear and D-Link, with a slight
preference for Netgear.

I just purchased the Netgear WG111v2 54Mbps Wireless USB Adapter -
installed the drivers and fired it up. It picked up the router, but
cannot negotiate a connection. I disabled it and enabled the Intel
Pro mini adapter built=in with lap top - no connection problem. I am
restoring windows to last week in the hope that any traces of linksys
is gone and will re-install the Netgear.

I'm I doing anything wrong ?[/QUOTE]

Without more details, it's hard to say what's wrong.

Make sure that the encryption settings are identical on the router and
the network adapter. If MAC address filtering is enabled on the
router, add the network adapter's MAC address to the allowed list.
Make sure that the router and the network adapter agree on whether
they allow 802.11b, 802.11g, or both.

What did you do to try to connect to the wireless router, and what
happened when you did it? If there was an error message, what did it
say? The more details you give, the more likely it is that someone
can help.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[malamilia]

Thanks Steve. I had posted another message ea;ier on. The unit
connects now, but cycles on/off . I even unistall the Intel Pro
adapter. No change. The unit connects on Channel 11 then scans again
to ch 1 and disconnects. I am not touching anything.

Please help.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks Steve. I had posted another message ea;ier on. The unit
connects now, but cycles on/off . I even unistall the Intel Pro
adapter. No change. The unit connects on Channel 11 then scans again
to ch 1 and disconnects. I am not touching anything.

Please help.

How is the router (AP) and Client setup?
# Are you broadcasting the SSID (AP)?
# What entries are in your Preferred list (Client)?
# Did you DISABLE "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" (Client)?
# Did you do a NetStumbler scan of your neighborhood?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/disabling-ssid.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/disabling-ssid.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/11/make-your-wireless-computer-connect.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/11/make-your-wireless-computer-connect.html

Did you completely disable all traces of the non used Client Manager (Intel /
Linksys / Netgear)?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/stabilise-your-wifi-use-only-one-wifi.html

 

[malamilia]

The problem was my security settings. The Netgear adapter is working
fine now. Thanks for all your suggestions. It has been agood
learning experience. I agree with Steve though, the Netgear unit is
far better and user friendly than the DLink and Linksys.

If I had the security setting right the first time, the Netgear unit
would have fired up right away the first time. Both the Linksys and
the D-Link units could not even detect my Router most of the time.

Thanks again guys.

 

[malamilia]

The problem was my security settings. The Netgear adapter is working
fine now. Thanks for all your suggestions. It has been agood
learning experience. I agree with Steve though, the Netgear unit is
far better and user friendly than the DLink and Linksys.

If I had the security setting right the first time, the Netgear unit
would have fired up right away the first time. Both the Linksys and
the D-Link units could not even detect my Router most of the time.

Thanks again guys.

 

[Chuck]

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:41:21 -0500, (e-mail address removed) wrote:

Thanks for your feedback. The CKI is always going to be a problem. Glad you
corrected yours.