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    Known Defective Wireless Card?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Carbo, Aug 24, 2011.

  1. Carbo

    Carbo Notebook Consultant

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    I received my L502X about three weeks ago. Worked fine for a few days and then the trouble started with my wireless connection. At best I have intermittent access to the internet. Usually, though, I have none. . .like right now. :mad:
    The usual suspects have been looked at, the usual attempts at fixing the issue have been applied. None have resolved the issue. I was on Chat with Dell last night. The rep was polite, but clueless. He basically told me to uninstall and reinstall the network drivers. Been there, done that, it isn't the issue. He even suggested I flash the BIOS! :eek:
    Here is my configuration if it helps:

    XPS 15, L502X
    i7-2630QM
    6GB RAM
    15.6 FHD B+RGLED TL
    GT 525M 1GB Graphics Card
    750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
    Backlit keyboard
    Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
    Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6230 & Bluetooth 3.0
    90 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

    The problem, as far as I can tell, is the Intel wireless card. Doing some research I found this thread: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 won't... Seems this specific card has been problematic, especially when matched with the Netgear WNDR3700 router, which is the model I have. :cool:
    Trying to figure out my options here.
    Replace the buggy card with another? If so, which card is recommended?
    Call Dell and about everything? But what will that do?
    At this point my laptop is a desktop. I can wire it into the router and it runs fast and furious. But cut the umbilical cord and it's a paperweight.

    Rant over. Thanks for listening.
     
    Carbo, Aug 24, 2011
    #1
  2. Risco

    Risco Notebook Deity

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    I have the same card and same router, works fine here. You need to set power management to maximum performance in power options for windows in the wifi section. If you don't then on battery the connection will just die.
     
    Risco, Aug 24, 2011
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  3. Carbo

    Carbo Notebook Consultant

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    I'll be damned. That seems to have fixed it! At least for now. I'll run it through a day's work and see if it is finally cured. Thank you!
    Have to wonder, though, who's the genius that decided a wireless card on a laptop should shut down when it is running on battery power?? :confused:
     
    Carbo, Aug 24, 2011
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  4. Risco

    Risco Notebook Deity

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    It is not shutting down, just using less power. Trouble is, there are major compatiblity problems with this machine and particular card regards that part.

    Oh and if it helped, you can always rep me. :D
     
    Risco, Aug 24, 2011
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  5. Carbo

    Carbo Notebook Consultant

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    Consider yourself repped. ;)
     
    Carbo, Aug 24, 2011
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