X100e WiFi radio/antenna weak? [ Edited ]

[gaetano]

Hi,

the part document can help you. And this is all about the x100e parts.

Bye.

[northbank]

Thanks again Gaetano for more useful links.

That part link for the antenna shows 2 WLAN antennas, on "MAIN" one "AUX".

I'm guessing those 2 are for 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz separately.  Anyone know for sure?

[gaetano]

I don't thing so.

One antenna (main and aux) is for wwan (3g) card and one (main and aux) for wlan (802.11a/b/g/n) card. The trird antenna (wimax) seems to be missed.

Bye

[Smoketitan]

I can't seem to connect to my wndr3700 dual band @ 5 GHz - only 2.4, so I'm thinking the Realtek card doesn't do 5 GHz. Would be nice to find that documented somewhere though.

[gaetano]

Hi.

5Ghz frequency is designed to 802.11a and 802.11n standard. Others (802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n) use the 2.4 Ghz frequency.

If you have a Thinkpad Wifi adapater b/g/n (Realtek) you can only use the 2.4 Ghz.

Usefull link is there and to know what standard your wifi card support search on Lenovo site for technical document.

Bye

[northbank]

Oh sh*t!

Gaetano I'm just starting to realize what you've been saying... the Realtek B/G/N adapter only a 2.4Ghz!  No 5Ghz at all?!

I bought the X100e largely to do a new building survey where we're putting in Cisco 1142n WAP's, which are simultaneous dual-frequency (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz).

Now it's just dawned on me that the X100e will not be able to test the 5Ghz signal coverage.

This is very bad for me because (a) I need to start this survey right away, and (b) the 14-day store return policy for my X100e ends tomorrow.

p.s. I don't suppose there are any reasonably prices external (USB?) 802.11a/n antennas.

[goretsky Community Moderator]

Hello,

Cisco (through their Linksys division) offers a dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) USB network adapter, model WUSB600N.  Although they have buried the technical information on their web site, it appears the device will work just fine with an X100e.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[gaetano]

Hi northbank,

there is another solution (that I think for me too): upgrading the wifi adapter.

Look at this. In any case (usb or mini-pci) you will have a battery duration reduction.

Bye

[northbank]

Thanks guys.

Yeah I saw the Linksys USB adapter.  Probably the antenna is kind of short but it's an option.

And I had been wondering about the idea of replacing the Realtek b/g/n with something like the Intel a/b/g/n you ref'd.  Battery life for X100e is already pretty poor so maybe you could turn off the 5Ghz radio when not needing it?  Not sure how do-able/easy that would be.

Gaetano, I'll let you be the pioneer on this one.    Please report back if you do it.

p.s. I've decided to keep the X100e and live without the 5Ghz cabability at least for now.  Hope I don't regret that.

[adrianusdaniel]

Hi,

I'm having the same problem with my x100e.

But the wifi connections only flips on and off when i boot with ubuntu.

With windows 7, the only problem is just the weak signal.

Do you guys know where i can get the latest wifi driver for ubuntu ?