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    Intel 6230 Wireless N with Bluetooth

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by listerfiend, Mar 3, 2011.

  1. listerfiend

    listerfiend Notebook Enthusiast

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    Had an Intel 6200 Wireless N wifi card installed in my L501X initially. I wanted bluetooth so I installed a Intel 6230 Wireless N with Bluetooth wifi card. The 6200 was very fast on both 2.4 and 5.2 GHZ networks with my WNDR3700. The 6230 is very slow on the 2.4 GHZ (comparable to a modem if it is even working). On 5.2 GHZ it is a little faster, but nothing like the 6200. I am thinking being that it is new the driver might be having issues. I have followed the recommended settings on Intel's site, but no love. Any ideas or is anyone else having this issue? I see those that are getting the L502X that this is a new option.

    http://www.intel.com/products/wireless/adapters/6230/index.htm
     
    listerfiend, Mar 3, 2011
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  2. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    I too saw the full 300mbps with my Intel 6200 card and Cisco e4200 router. I will let you know how the 6230 performs when my L502x arrives. I just checked dell's website and they don't have the drivers up yet for the L502x, they should have them up in the next week, so I would keep looking and try the driver for the L502x when it becomes available.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 4, 2011
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  3. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    Just got Intel 6230 Advanced N card to fit in my XPS15. Hope it works with no problems.
     
    SAiLO, Mar 7, 2011
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  4. listerfiend

    listerfiend Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was able to resolve this issue by updating the firmware on my WNDR3700 from 1.0.4.68 to 1.0.7.98. No more dropping and speed has improved.
     
    listerfiend, Mar 7, 2011
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  5. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    How did you manage to get the bluetooth working on L501x?

    I can connect to the bluetooth devices but have not been able to send/receive files or use the bluetooth headset with skype.

    Also when installing the Intel ProSet Software for bluetooth it gives me an error message saying it cannot close all requested apps.

    Would someone happen to have an idea?

    Thanks
     
    SAiLO, Mar 19, 2011
    #5
  6. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    Hey NoSlow, I am interested in what kind of speeds you are getting. I have the same router as you.
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 19, 2011
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  7. listerfiend

    listerfiend Notebook Enthusiast

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    Did you download this bluetooth driver?

    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=3315&DwnldID=19890&lang=eng&iid=dc_rss
     
    listerfiend, Mar 19, 2011
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  8. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, that's the driver I downloaded.
    Today I managed to use bluetooth headset with skype and it kept breaking up and crackling almost impossible to hear anything.
     
    SAiLO, Mar 21, 2011
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  9. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    I have the 6230 on my new xps 15 and it is only connected to my router at 144 Mbps. This is my first wireless N device so I have nothing to check it against. But i have my router set to up to 300 Mbps.
    my router is a Netgear WNR3500L
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  10. fcw0

    fcw0 Notebook Geek

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    Maybe your actual internet connection to the router is slow?
     
    fcw0, Mar 21, 2011
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  11. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    my connection to the internet should have nothing to do with wireless connection speed.
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  12. fcw0

    fcw0 Notebook Geek

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    If you only have 120 mb/s going to the router then the router can only give you 120 mb/s max so yes it has everything to do with your connection speed.
     
    fcw0, Mar 21, 2011
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  13. LoganK

    LoganK Notebook Enthusiast

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    No, chemman14 is right. He could completely unplug his router from his Internet connection and it won't make a bit of difference to his wireless connection speed.
     
    LoganK, Mar 21, 2011
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  14. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not measuring my download speed form the internet. I have attached a picture of what I am talking about.
     

    Attached Files:

    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  15. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    After looking at Wiki, it looks like you are running in the 20MHz channel width only. This will only give you a max of 72.2Mbps per channel. So if your running two channels with the 6230, then you have 144.4Mbps or 144Mbps. See if you can configure your router to run on the 40MHz channel width only. This should enable the full 300Mbps.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 21, 2011
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  16. thatdaveguy

    thatdaveguy Notebook Evangelist

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    You are incorrect. Chenman is right.
     
    thatdaveguy, Mar 21, 2011
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  17. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    yeah I was looking through the options on my router and couldn't find anything for that. I am going to flash it to DD-WRT and see where I can get
    edit:
    I fired up inSSIDer and can see (from what I understand) that my router is broadcasting in 40MHz mode. I have attached a screenshot of my channel view. inSSIDer also showed that my max rate was 300
     

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    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  18. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    I was checking this out too. On my 2ghz channel I only have the option for either auto(20mhz or 40mhz) or 20mhz only. When I check inSSIDer it tells me that my 2ghz channel is only giving a max of 144 so I am assumming that for whatever reason my router is only putting out the 20mhz band for my 2ghz channel. I wonder if this is why I am getting such abysmal connections from my 2ghz channel??
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 21, 2011
    #18
  19. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    I might be wrong but I don't think that the db (signal strength) has anything to do with if you are in 20mhz or 40mhz band.
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 21, 2011
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  20. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    I was hoping you would see this. Because we have the same router and laptop, and possibly phone, there shouldn't be a difference in speeds or quality of wireless connection. Have you tried what I suggested earlier to test the 2.4GHz channel?:

    Put your 5GHz band on a different ssid, then delete your laptop's current connection to the router and make a new connection using only the ssid of the 5GHz band. This should (I think) keep you from using the 2.4GHz band and see if the connection is any different; not speeds, but dropping out, etc..

    If your connection improves, you have some interference on the 2.4GHz band caused by other devices in your house or networks from your neighbors.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 21, 2011
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  21. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    But inSSIDer also shows my max rate as 300
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  22. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    If you haven't already, verify the 6230 is enabled for 40MHz as well, not just the router.
     
    falcon64, Mar 21, 2011
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  23. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    chemman14, I don't see how your graph is showing that wide of a frequency even though it looks like a 40MHz spread. Here are mine: (My two ssid's are not shown because I don't broadcast the ssid's. One is 2.4GHz and the other is 5GHz.)
     

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    NoSlow5oh, Mar 21, 2011
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  24. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    I was trying to find this option. where is it?
    edit:found it! it was set to 20 MHz, changed it to auto. Now its connected at 300 Mbps!
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  25. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    Great, glad you got it sorted!
     
    falcon64, Mar 21, 2011
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  26. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    thanks! why doesn't it come in auto by default??
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  27. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    40MHz uses two channels, so it hogs resources and increases chances for interference on the 2.4GHz band. Some routers refer to this as "neighbor friendly" mode. From the WiFi Alliance glossary:

    "In the 2.4 GHz frequency band, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n products are configured to operate using 20 MHz channels by default, and must employ coexistence mechanisms to help ensure that the device defaults to 20 MHz operation when sharing the frequency with other Wi-Fi networks. In the 5 GHz frequency band, interference is not an issue, so coexistence mechanisms are not required. See also 20/40 MHz channel coexistence."
     
    falcon64, Mar 21, 2011
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  28. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    Mine did. I don't know why yours didn't.

    Edit: Now I see, I don't use the 2.4GHz band on my laptop. I only use 5GHz.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 21, 2011
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  29. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, My router doesn't support 5GHz but it was free so I cant complain!
     
    chemman14, Mar 21, 2011
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  30. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone else having problems with bluetooth?
     
    SAiLO, Mar 22, 2011
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  31. URPradhan

    URPradhan Notebook Deity

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    Does Dell gives an option to upgrade it to 6300 ???
     
    URPradhan, Mar 22, 2011
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  32. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    Not yet, otherwise I would have it. I'd love to get a 6330 if they made it.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 22, 2011
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  33. LoganK

    LoganK Notebook Enthusiast

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    The two Bluetooth devices I've used worked flawlessly. The 6230 is actually much better in terms of connect time than the old system. I have not done any range tests beyond 3 meters.
     
    LoganK, Mar 22, 2011
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  34. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    I am struggling to use headsets with skype and the sound quality is really poor. can't browse folders via bluetooth on mobile phones either.
     
    SAiLO, Mar 22, 2011
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  35. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    I've set the 2.4ghz channel to auto instead of 20 only through the device manager but with inSSIDer I am still only showing a 144 max rate on the 2ghz channel....help please. I guess it has to be something doing with my router.
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 22, 2011
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  36. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    What router do you have?
     
    falcon64, Mar 22, 2011
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  37. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    Linksys E4200

    Is channel bonding only available if you are using a DOCSIS 3.0 modem??
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 22, 2011
    #37
  38. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    If you look at my screen shots, I am running only 144Mbps on the 2.4GHz band also, even though I'm getting 300Mbps on the 5GHz band. Both are set to auto, and I noticed you can't force 40MHz on the 2.4GHz band, for reasons explained above.

    Chemman14, can you explain how you changed the 6230 to 40Mhz for the 2.4GHz band?
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 22, 2011
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  39. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    Modem has nothing to do with it. Only devices that matter are your 6230 and E4200.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 22, 2011
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  40. chemman14

    chemman14 Notebook Consultant

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    control panel -> network & sharing center -> change adapter properties -> right click on the adapter and click properties -> then configure -> advanced -> width for band 2.4 to auto
     
    chemman14, Mar 22, 2011
    #40
  41. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    Channel bonding does not involve your modem, only the wireless router and the WLAN card. Make sure you have set the Channel Width option for your 2.4GHz side to AUTO, same as your WLAN card. If you have AUTO set in both places and you don't get better connections, it's possible that there is some interference impacting your connection or maybe router placement isn't optimal. There's lots of variables... :(
     
    falcon64, Mar 22, 2011
    #41
  42. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    hmmmm....my 5ghz band shows a max of 450.
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 22, 2011
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  43. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    I've got the wireless card and the router both set to auto for the 2ghz channel but when I go to the wireless status page in my router config screen is shows the 2.4ghz channel as being connected only with 20mhz. The 5ghz channel shows it is on the 40mhz range...hmmmmm. Maybe the firmware with this router hasn't been ironed all the way out yet because it is so new?
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 22, 2011
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  44. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, but you'd need a WLAN card with three antenna's to get that speed. Something like the 6300.
     
    falcon64, Mar 22, 2011
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  45. falcon64

    falcon64 Notebook Consultant

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    A definite possibility. You might check the support forums over at Linksys, if your suspicion is correct, it's likely there are already others posting about it.
     
    falcon64, Mar 22, 2011
    #45
  46. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    Have you updated the firmware to 1.0.01? I haven't yet, but the release notes state:

    Last Release Date: March 7, 2011
    Firmware version: 1.0.01 (build 10)

    - Fixed 2.4GHz wireless unstable issue
    - Disabled IPv6-to-IPv4 Tunneling feature to improve Interoperability
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 22, 2011
    #46
  47. FPetersonIII

    FPetersonIII Notebook Geek

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    yea that was the first thing I did when I got it. Doesn't seem to have fixed the 2.4ghz issue though. I have read on linksys forums that reflashing the firmware and then resetting and reconfiguring fixes a lot of problems. i will perhaps try that later. Right now the 5ghz is working good so I might not worry about until I actually need to connect something to the 2ghz.
     
    FPetersonIII, Mar 22, 2011
    #47
  48. NoSlow5oh

    NoSlow5oh Notebook Evangelist

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    Maybe I got lucky with my E4200. I have 2 iphones, a ps3, xbox 360, 2 laptops, 2 wireless tv's, and a wireless printer all connected on the 2.4GHz band with no problems. My XPS laptop get's the 5GHz band all to itself.
     
    NoSlow5oh, Mar 22, 2011
    #48
  49. Scott_RC-TEK

    Scott_RC-TEK Notebook Deity

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    I suggest reading the 802.11 G/N specs. Technically, the 2.4GHz band is supposed to be limited to 54Mbps with the narrower channel bandwidth. Anything above that is not within the intended specs of the wireless standard and may result in erratic performance – even if some manufacturers are trying to squeeze 125~134Mbps out of 2.4GHz. The 5GHz band is intended for speeds up to 300+Mb/s with the wider channel bandwidth. This may explain why people are experiencing slower link speeds on the 2.4GHz band when compared to the 5GHz band; irrespective of using two or three antennas.

    Additionally, WPE and WPA-PSK [TKIP] encryption was never intended for anything above 54Mbps and may give you even more issues if higher speeds are set.

    This is the suggested encryption for each band:
    2.4GHz security @ 54Mbps: WPA-PSK [TKIP] and/or WPA2-PSK [AES]
    2.4GHZ security @ above 54Mbps: WPA2-PSK [AES] or better
    5GHz security @ 300Mbps: WPA2-PSK [AES] or better

    I am using the Intel 6200 on this system and have set my WNDR3700 to 54Mbps on the 2.4GHz(a/g/n) band with WPA-PSK [TKIP] encryption and 300Mbps on the 5GHz(a/n) band with WPA2-PSK [AES] encryption. Each band has its own SSID so I can choose and all channels are set to auto. Everything is working excellent under this configuration. Remember, we sometimes forget that regardless of the link speed displayed, the actual throughput can vary depending on the router/card settings. With the correct settings, I see true 54Mbps and 300Mbps speeds to the wireless router and best “in-band” performance when connected to the internet.

    Scott-
     
    Scott_RC-TEK, Mar 22, 2011
    #49
  50. Rick 64D

    Rick 64D Notebook Consultant

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    Could we install a 6300? They're only $35, but it uses three antennas. Does the L502 even have three, like the Alienware laptops?
     
    Rick 64D, Mar 22, 2011
    #50
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