M4400 - Dell Wireless 1510, DHCP problems & WMM solution

I recently purchased an M4400 with the Broadcom based Dell Wireless 1510 adaptor. At home and internet cafes it connected to the wireless routers like a charm.

At work, it connected to the wifi network, but resolutely failed to pick up an IP address.

As I have Windows Server 2008 installed, I assumed it might relate to the Vista issue with the DHCP broadcast flag i.e. changing DhcpConnEnableBcastFlagToggle / DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag registry settings.

I spent a fruitless few days tinkering, watching wireshark traces, reinstalling drivers, even installed windows 7 and then XP.

Whatever I did. the network connected, the DHCP Discover packet got sent, but nothing coming back.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I discovered the cause (after being on the verge of throwing in the towel), so thought I'd post here in case anyone else has the same problem.

In the advanced tab of the Dell Wireless 1510 Wirelesss Mini Card Properties is a setting WMM . By default this is set to "Auto". I changed this to "Disabled" and wham - the card connected and an IP address was instantly issued.

Not sure if it's an incompatibility between this Wireless Multi-Media setting and our work WAPs, or an issue with my card, but changing it solved my problem. So posting in case someone else has the same problem, and this will save them as much frustation as I had.

HTH - Rufus