Wireless (5100) Dropping Connections?

Hey, i was wondering if anyone else had this issue. My SXPS 16 has an intel 5100, and whenever I do any heavy downloading it invariably drops the connection after anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes. I called Dell up over it, and they claimed that it could not be a hardware issue or it would be dropping the connections more frequently, and I would see the problem worsen.

I know it isn't the network, as my old Inspiron 6400 could handle heavy network use and never had these issues. Yet, my shiny new Studio XPS 16 seems to have difficulty with it.

Anyone else notice anything like this, or have an idea of a fix? I've already tried updating the drivers, which did not fix it.

 

Ya, I've been basically having the same issues. I just recently purchased a Belkin Wireless N router but also around the same time period upgraded to the Windows 7 RTM so I really don't know what the issues is. I have been torrenting all day and it's just been a nightmare, I can't stay on aim for longer than maybe 5 or 10 minutes at a time. Even sometimes when I'm NOT downloading it will still drop the connection a few times a day.

 

i have the same problem too does anyone have a solution?

 

Me too. I have the 5100 and also suffer from dropped connections. But it's hard to pinpoint where the problem is. My issues might be the 5100 or they might be my router. I've got an older netgear wireless G router (WGT624), and a router reboot always solves the problem. I find myself rebooting almost daily. I'll probably pick up an N router in the near future to see if that solves my connection problems.

 

i dont think it is the router because everything else in the house is still connected

 

have the same issue...for some reason it was bad when I first got the machine then seemed to get better and in the last two weeks has come back. I don't think it is my router since two other wireless devices are still ok and either a reboot or disabling/enabling the wifi will fix it without touching the router. Since this problem has come and gone I am wondering if it is something in the software controlling it and an update that was done but I could be totally off base.

I too have contacted Dell but I suspect they will tell me it isn't teh machine.

 

I have this issue on my new Studio XPS 16 as well.

All my other devices on the network are fine - just the Studio XPS 16.

I wonder if updating my driver will fix it - The latest 5100 *DELL* driver seems to be dated 21st April :

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R202467&SystemID=STUDIOXPS16&servicetag=&os=WLH&osl=en&deviceid=15759&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=2&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=5&fileid=281727

Where as the latest *INTEL* drivers for this card are dated 25th June :

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17749&lang=eng

Anyone fancy installing these ?

EDIT: - Also just discovered a possible 2nd solution to this problem from Intels site:

"Power Save Polling (PSP) causes connection issues with some access points"
http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-006205.htm

Anyone care to try this solution also ? (i am not near my XPS 16 at the moment)

 

well i know its not the save power thing because mine is on high performance all the time, and i also tried the update it doesnt really help

 

Usually this happens under load (downloading, streaming, etc.) but occasionally i'll just be checking my mail and it will drop.
I called Dell once, they claimed it could not be the machine, but said i could demand a replacement if i wanted. I may try that, if no fix, but if others are having the issue too, then a replacement won't fix it..so what do we do?

 

i have no problem with my 5100, even under heavy loads (torrents)

 

Within the first few days of having my computer I was having problems with the internet connection not working at night. The computer would say the connection was extremely weak or nonexistant, and repairing the connection or restarting the computer wouldn't help. The fact that it only happened at night and restarting didn't help point to a problem with the router, but here's the catch - the internet on my old Toshiba laptop worked perfectly while my new one couldn't even detect a wireless network, even though the two computers are sitting right next to each other. Eventually the problem sort of resolved itself and it hasn't come back; even with large torrents the connection works well... I still don't know if it was a problem with the computer or the router.

 

Just for reference could everyone whos having problems post thier type of wireless connection. I have the following:

NetGear Wireless NDGND3300 (dual band)
using Wireless N band
WEP security

 

I'm using the laptop primarily on a FiOS home connection, with their G Actiontech router, WEP.

 

Go into your wireless card properties(from device manager) and try this Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power. And also try the following.

Update the firmware in your wireless router. Manufacturer's website, make & Model needed.
Broadcast SSID(You may want to change this to make it easier to connect)
Use WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security(WPA Personal). Most wireless devices work best with this type of security.
Mixed b and g mode(n if available)(Use this mode only if using a print server and/or USB wireless adaptrer(s))
Use channels 1, 6 or 11. Most devices work better on these channels.
Keep the setting at DHCP.
Do NOT use Mac Address Filtering
Save and exit. Power everything off for 30 seconds. Power everything back on, wait 30 seconds, now try to connect.


Source of this info below

http://en.community.dell.com/wikis/...ess/recommended-wireless-router-settings.aspx

 

imho better to use WPA2-AES as this has the most advanced security level (TKIP can be easily hacked)

 

would you mind posting your config ?

There seems to be alot of people using WEP here with this issue - Unfortunatly I have to use WEP to support an old HP 2710 wireless printer

 

My router is on all of those settings, except its a FiOS actiontech that doesn't support anything higher than WEP (ripoff, i know). I'm considering picking up a separate N router to plug into it, but I don't know if the router is the problem or the laptop is. It's a "waste" of $100 if the router isn't the issue.

 

Hmm - I changed my router to use WPA security rather than WEP and tried to connect to my wireless N network and I still had the same issue. I then tried to connect to the wireless G network and it still seems ok.

I think that either the WEP feature or the wireless N feature is very dodgy on the 5100.

Has anyone here tried to get a different network card under warraty ?

 

Just spoke to dell about this and they would replace my 5100 for another 5100 under warranty but i dont think that will fix the issue. They did offer to sell me a 5300 for about £50 but i dont want to pay to fix this issue.

has anyone replaced their 5100 with a 5300 ? If so which one did you use ?

Does this one seem correct ??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DELL-N230K-HALF-MINI-CARD-NETWORK-CARD-5300-WIRELESS_W0QQitemZ250500573022QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_LaptopAccess_RL?hash=item3a52ff675e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I managed to find a list of what 5100 and 5300 cards exist:
http://communities.intel.com/message/48654

help !?

EDIT: Hmmmm - Just discovered this comment on Intels site:
What are the recommended settings for Draft-N connectivity
http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-030709.htm
quote:

gulp !

I also found this:

Data rate will not exceed 54 Mbps when WEP or TKIP encryption is configured
http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/4965agn/sb/cs-025643.htm

This thred also mentions sombody only managing to get the 5300 working on N when they use WPA2-AES:
http://communities.intel.com/message/61323#61323

I also found this tool which is good at working out which card you use:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?Agr=Y&DwnldID=8061&ProductID=1784

This thred:
5100 not running in N mode.
http://communities.intel.com/message/12379#12379
also mentions:

 

I wondered if anyone here that has a Dell Studio XPS 16 that has an Intel 5100 network card has even taken the back of theirs off ?

I was wondering how many ariels do Dell fit when they fit the 5100 card ?

I have hard that the 5300 uses 3 ariels so an upgrade to this card would either involve not connecting the 3rd cable (not sure what the impact of this would be!?) or manually trying to fit a 3rd ariel cable somewhere (not sure where or whats involved).

 

Just a follow-up on my situation. I was having problems with frequent dropped connections with my 1640 (intel 5100 wireless with netgear 624 G router). Changing the channel on my router did wonders for my stability. I went from having to reboot the router several times a day, to no drops in over week. I played with almost every setting possible on my router, and this was the ticket for me. Hope this is helpful to others.