Hi all,

I'm running ubuntu 8.04 on a Thinkpad X61 (Atheros AR 5212 wifi card), and I've noticed that the signal strength in Ubuntu is 20-30% lower than it is in XP (same laptop, same location). It's not just an error in the signal strength calculation; there are places where I can connect to the a network in XP but not in Ubuntu.

I'm wondering if I should change drivers? Or is there a way to control the card's power output? Also, how can I figure out what driver I'm using?

*EDIT* Forgot to mention, I was having issues with network-manager cycling my connection, so I switched to using wicd to manage networks (And that fixed the dropped connection problems, but not the signal strength problem).

Any help much appreciated!

There is a utility in most distros called "hardware information" that will probe all your hardware and produce a file that will tell you not only what hardware you have on your system but also what drivers you have for each particular piece of hardware.

On the command line, it is sometimes called: #hwinfo
Try "man hwinfo" at the command line (shell).

Some drivers might allow you to adjust settings. You would need to find the documentation for the driver, once you find out what driver you are using. You can also search the web to find out what driver Linux users have been using for your wifi card to see if that is the same one that you are using or not.

I also am having the same problem with my Atheros 5212 card in Ubuntu 8.04. It is the factory card installed in my ThinkPad X61, and I have the same exact problem; indeed using two laptops side by side, my much older x40 (Intel 2100 card) surfs the net using the same wireless much faster and the connection doesn't drop. It's not just a matter of signal strength detection.

As far as I know, there are many suggestions that using or re-setting madwifi drivers will solve this problem, but I've never been able to make sense of these 'tutorials.' I am curious to see an answer to this problem that explains why we are able to connect, but unable to use the full capability of the wireless card...

I don't have any answers for you myself, but I think you and I are in exactly the same situation; I try reading up on it, so I'll be sure to post here if I have any success.

I am having the identical problem with the Thinkpad x61. Have been running vista 64, and last night, decided to switch to Ubuntu 8.10. Wireless connection works as long as I'm in the same room as the wireless router. I go to the living room, and nothing. All my other machines running Windows products can connect to the signal. This is the only limitation I see with Ubuntu, and it's probably not Ubuntu at all. A solution would be great so we can all move on with our lives.

Thanks,
AK

I have a T60 dual-booting (wubi) XP and Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid) and the wireless sucks for both.

My gf and I have a Dell Inspiron E1505 (XP), an old Sony Viao, a Macbook, and another old Dell. The worst of the lot for wireless strength by far is the T60.

That said... the T60 KILLS on almost all other fronts (speed, etc) with the only exception being the Mac, of course.

I heard that the linux-based firmware for routers can tweak the signal strength somewhat. I wonder if anything like this exists for laptops.