IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter WIFI REVIEW

The new IBM 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter provides secure wireless connectivity1 with maximum flexibility and performance for wireless-upgradeable ThinkPad notebooks. This Mini PCI adapter is based on three wireless LAN (WLAN) standards: IEEE 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b. It offers data rates up to 54 Mbps2 in both the 2.4 GHz3 and 5 GHz bands. Features include:

Data transfer rates of:
6 Mbps to 54 Mbps for 802.11a
1 Mbps to 54 Mbps for 802.11g
1 Mbps to 11 Mbps for 802.11b
802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b seamless roaming and manual selection mode
Mini PCI Type IIIb For technical support:

Call the HelpCenter® 800-IBM-SERV (426-7378)
or
Request technical information via the Personal Computing Division Web site:
http://www.ibm.com/pc/support

Overview
IBM continues to enhance its wireless LAN (WLAN) Mini PCI adapter offerings. The 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter is now introduced as a wireless upgrade on select wireless-upgradeable ThinkPad® models.

Whether working from the office or on the road, this option enables connectivity to existing 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g networks4. It improves mobility and provides the performance necessary for high-bandwidth applications such as:

Multimedia delivery
IP telephony
Large file transfers
In addition to offering high performance, this Wi-Fi adapter card ships complete with an easy-to-use connection configuration utility. You can specify encryption and enhanced roaming settings, plus infrastructure, ad hoc, and transmit modes.

Compatibility with the 802.11b and 802.11g protocols allows you to leverage the large install base of 802.11b technology. You may also benefit from higher data rates up to 54 Mbps when connecting to an 802.11g or 802.11a-based access point.

Key prerequisites
Refer to the Hardware requirements section.

Product number

31P9701


Actual device range and data transfer speed depend upon many factors and are often less than the maximum possible.

3 With 11g-based Access Point.

4 Public network access limited; subscription may be required. Access fees may apply.
Additional information
The tri-mode capability of this adapter enables you to easily transmit on 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g WLAN networks. The key attributes of the 802.11a protocol include:

Transmission speeds of up to 54 Mbps
Greater system capacity supports more users with eight non-overlapping channels
Operates in the less-crowded 5 GHz frequency band

Flexibility
The new 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Adapter is an ideal choice if you are on the move in the office, or in a campus environment. The adapter will automatically search for the best connection as you roam through different WLAN networks, helping to maintain connectivity throughout your wireless network. The adapter can be used at work, home, or public hot-spots without hardware configuration changes.

The adapter helps improve costs of ownership by supporting all three WLAN protocols. Costs are lowered by reducing the need to support multiple environments or reconfigure client devices as users move between them. In addition, existing WLAN investments are protected as the adapter supports low- and high-speed WLAN network devices. 4 OUT OF 5 STARS