XPS 15 L521X WiFi Test Results

It seems that this topic is being engaged by Bill in the owners lounge. I am having trouble - due to poor WiFi connection - browsing all pages of the threads. Is this everyone's impression?

 

The last two updates have been posted in the owner's lounge, but I have been referencing his WiFI updates over here.

Here is the latest updates:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ps-15-l521x-owners-lounge-32.html#post8768335

http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...ps-15-l521x-owners-lounge-32.html#post8768389

 

Thanks - here is to hoping a fix comes through soon no matter which thread....

 

I did some testing (speedtest) using a USB Nano WiFi (TP-Link)

Internal WiFi disabled. Through 1 floor, ~ 20ft from router.

USB port closest to back of computer (5 runs): 8.3, 7.1, 7.6, 11.2, 9.6 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

removed adapter and put in USB closest to front of computer (5 runs): 20.6, 11.7, 18.2, 15.2, 10.9 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

Moved to the back USB port again: 6.8, 8.5, 7.0, 5.5, 5.9 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

moved to front USB again: 19.0, 9.7, 15.4, 17.3, 15.0 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

When the adapter is in the back port, it sits flush with the case; in the front port it sits out about 2mm from the case.

Disabled USB WiFi & enabled internal: 7.6, 5.7, 4.6, 5.4, 5.7 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

Disable internal again, re-enable USB, put in back port sticking out as far as possible from case (3mm): 3.5, 2.7, 2.7, 11.6, 10.6, 6.7 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

Rotate notebook 45 degrees, should be best line-of-sight.

Adapter at back stuck out 3mm from case: 5.8, 6.1, 6.7, 2.5, 3.8 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

Moved to front USB port: 11.2, 12.5, 13.9, 12.6, 13.1 Mbps download / 0.9 Mbps upload

Pings were 29-33ms for every test.

 

so basically a on site tech came to replace my wireless card with the Dell 1901 card but the drivers didn't work on my laptop so they put back the original wireless card. I don't know if it was the onsite tech who didn't know what he was doing or dell tech support. They tried for 90min gave up and I was told that when they figure out the driver issue I will get a call. It didn't help that the onsite tech had to read a online manual to know how to open my laptop O_O...he also reconfigured my router talk about invasive and didn't really follow procedure of installing the drivers first and then putting the card in...

 

Sorry hear that...sounds like amateur hour for dell.

 

I been having wifi problems and screen grid line issues. This onsite tech failed to install the Dell 1901 card earlier this week. Today I got a call from a resolutions expert and was put through to hardware support. Basically I am being sent a new system and they want my old system so they can research it. I was told that the usb 3.0 drivers are interfering with the wifi and that the other issue maybe something to do with the firmware (I think its the motherboard firmware)...They assured me the new replacement system will work because the motherboard will be different ( I am assuming a different brand?)...lets hope that they actually figured out what the real issue is...what do you guy thinks? Also, I think it is cheaper to send a new system out then to constantly repair them.

 

Unfortunately your experience is typical of "on-site" warranty technician visits in certain areas.

In my area Dell sub-contracts "Word Wide Tech" services (WWT) and they in-turn hire remote field service technicians across a large area.

Last I knew (which was earlier this year when I required service on one of my warrantied systems) they have only 3 laptop technicians that cover my area.

One of them they scheduled to my home 3 times two work on two completely different laptops, and both times he left the systems in worse condition than when he arrived. He fumbled and bumbled the laptop like it was a football and he had to call Dell for help, and each time while he was on hold he sat here dissing Dell and complaining about Dell - telling me how terrible they were, and how poorly compensated for his job he was, etc...

This is exactly why I absolutely refused to let them send a tech out to work on a brand new expensive laptop - it's like playing Russian Roullette with your system / money.

More on topic - after Dell sent me an exchange / replacement L521X and the new replacement unit had the same WiFi problem as the original, they finally let me return both for a refund (but the whole process was like pulling teeth). After speaking with someone close to engineers at Dell on the phone and learning that any real fix was a ways off, and being desperate to get a properly functional laptop so I can start getting some work done, I just ordered/received an 15R SE 7520 and surprise - it arrived with a Touchpad problem that Dell cannot fix, and I'm now awaiting an exchange on this system as well.

That's four defective systems shipped to me from Dell within 90 days. I was told that a manager would be calling me back to possible try to make up for some of the hell I've been put through while they've been hanging onto my money for months, but that was a week ago and all I've received was another inept tech support caller who didn't even understand the very well documented case notes.

I hope the other L521X owners reading this thread are getting proper service quickly, without the B.S. that I was given, and I hope anyone potential L521X buyers reading this thread read it carefully and take heed / make sure you don't receive a bogus system or get manipulated if you do.

 

If I were you, I would return the notebook and shop elsewhere. Why the struggle? Why the suffering? What is so uniquely special about this thing?

 

Trust me, at this point I would love to.

The only reason I haven't purchased a different brand yet is because of recent financial hardship. My "Dell Preferred" account allows me to finance a system and I really need a new laptop with strong speed and FHD 1080p for my work (I have to see exactly what clients will see on their 1080p screens when I'm done with the job).

I've ordered each of the only 3 models with 1080p res and Core i7 and at least 8gb RAM that Dell currently offers - the 15z , the L521X (which I received two of), and lastly the 15R SE 7520 out of desperration. All 4 systems have arrived with a defect or problem that Dell could not fix. Im now waiting on my 5th system, the exchange/replacement for the 15R SE.

I hope this one actually works right because unfortunately I'm kind of stuck with Dell until things get better fnancially, and I have an urgent need for the specs that only thos 3 particular systems oferred.

I hope that is good enough reason for you

 

Let me know how that works out for you because I have a feeling I will be going down that road soon too. I'm currently on the "tech support call-out" stage. It's hard to resist asking for another XPS though in the blind hope it magically works...

 

Best wishes to you.

I just want to add that Dell is not the only manufacturer that sells Windows notebooks with 15.6" 1920x1080 screen, Core i7 quad-core and 8-32GB RAM. And one can find good prices without being a "preferred customer."

 

I think he was referring to the Dell house credit-line, not some special status. I don't think he can use that credit line at a different vendor.

 

I know.

This statement was about getting good prices and was not specific to Dell.

 

I just talk to Dell support regarding WiFi issue. I let him connect to the laptop to do whatever he knew to make it worked, but FAILD.
He asked me what I want to do? I said what it is necessary to make it work.
He said that is going ahead to replace the, LCD, wireless card and optical drive (does some unsolicited noise).
I spoke with the manager and agreed to change my router first and if is not any improvement to go ahead to change the mentioned parts. (I have Cisco EPC 2425 /2009) , with D-Link DIR-657 Wireless N HD Media Router., recommended by him. They are willing to replace the unit or full refund, but I want to keep it.
Could a router be the cause? Than why other laptops are working fine with this router? Even my nokia N95 8gb connected I have good range. Could these wireless card, 6235 be designed for some high end routers to perform to its highest strength?
It seems they are not aware of the WiFi issues, and said are affected only 3-5 users from 100. I told them to red the review of users from Dell site….
Anyone tried with new router and got better results?

 

The L521X might work better with some other routers, but that doesn't make your router the cause. Even if a different router does improve it, your laptop will still have a problem working elsewhere so it's not really a fix.

The problem is almost certainly related to the placement or shielding of the antenna.

They know that only 3-5% of people are affected by a problem that they don't know about?

As I've said before, we are really watching Dell Engineering work this out. It's likely nothing will be communicated to support until they know exactly what the problem is, and how to fix it. That's how it works.

Bill has said that there will be a fix ... but it could take a while. We also have to remember that a "fix" doesn't necessarily mean making the L521X work as well as every other Wifi device under all conditions. It could result in it being improved but still not particularly good. It could result in something like an external antenna or free USB WiFi adaptor. I'm certainly not taking an acceptable fix for granted at this stage, despite Bill's good intentions.

 

Folks, let me make this perfectly clear: Everyone is affected by this problem. For those who are getting 20Mbps up and down at home and/or at their office, they may have found a perfect storm of distances, routers, line-of-sight, whatever, but they can and will see a difference in speeds whenever they move/travel/try it elsewhere. The only way this is affecting a small number of people is if there was a batch of faulty wifi cards installed, or people are receiving L521x's that were somehow mystically designed differently from the rest. If it was the cards, that would have been caught and fixed by now in the new systems being shipped out, and brand new owners are reporting the problem to this day. And you know as well as I there is only one design and placement of the antenna in all builds of the L521x. Heck, that's why Dell abolished their customization, to simply the entire process and cut down on variations. Bill has not relayed any solution because the problem is physical. It's hardware. It's the aluminum shielding the signal and it can't be completely resolved without issuing all current owners a new display panel with a plastic coating a la the L421x with the WWAN lid. That is a major snafu and a huge decision to have to make on their part, and you can be sure they are investigating the least path of resistance, i.e, they would rather issue a BIOS patch that may alleviate some of the problem, but it will never fix it entirely to everyone's satisfaction. I own an XPS 15 -- for now -- and let me tell you an external adapter to fix the matter is absolutely unacceptable. Anyone who accepts that as a solution is no less than a man who represents himself in a court of law. You know what I mean.

Why Dell didn't just bust open a MBP and see the antenna wires poised behind the plastic Apple insignia is beyond me. But that's what's dumbing down the signal in the XPS -- its physical design and layout. Having said that, rest assured, everyone is affected by it in one way or another. Those who claim they aren't either don't know what they're missing, don't care, or are simply satisfied with their mediocre results.

 

Although I totally agree 100%, maybe you should try a more diplomatic way of saying it...

That will get on the nerve of many people here, and it'll start a war again about trying to banish you!

Don't forget that many people who posted didn't bother to look back to other threads or previous pages, so they don't have all the information that some of us do!

 

I'm not trying to offend anyone who purchased the 15. I am one of you. I am trying to call out the apologists who desperately want this laptop, or want to keep it, and are acting like that housewife who knows she should leave the failed marriage but tries to make it work for the sake of the kids. Dell screwed this up big-time. They may fix it, but they should be compensating people in the meantime, or removing the product from their website, or at least letting their phone-techs in on the matter, none of which they will do because it would be a fiasco on par with the iPhone 4. Dell is treading on class-action with regards to this, and you know as well as I that Bill's infrequent posts since this whole situation exploded is a tell-tale sign of the seriousness of its nature.

 

I definitely agree with you in regards to 100% affected and the seriousness of this issue.

 

yeah... I totally understand and agree... you're just too passionate about it I guess

After after 3½ month, I just gave up... I went ahead and bough a Latitude E6530 which has much more features, and better ones, but lacks somewhat on GPU and size... However I won't be needing it so much...

Dell's rep gave a really really good price for it, through "Canada's sale assistance" thread. I would have loved the thinner XPS, but for all the aditional pro features I get for that price, I'm sure the Latitude will be a better choice in the long run for my line of work.

 

So true. A week ago I was that housewife hanging on Bill's every word and re-assuring myself that the wifi issue was bearable, a fix would probably be found soon and all the other powerful specs of the laptop far outweighed the wifi issue so returning it would be hassle and not worth it because all my programs are on it now etc.

Realistically, for the price everybody paid for this it should work perfectly, no exceptions! Dell messed up big time and people shouldn't be doing them a $2000 favour by not sending it back and working around the wifi issue or waiting for a fix. Ignore any empty promises and Dell marketing and send it back now before they try claim you're past your return period!

Any good replacement suggestions?

 

I came across with this post taken from Dell laptop forum:

"I have discoved a solution to the wireless problem, at least for me.
I was getting disconnected every couple of minutes at home. My home wireless router is a,b,g. The wireless card in the xps L521 has "n" as well.
Single click your wireless conection, Click network and sharing center, Click your wireless network connection, click properties, click configure, advanced tab, 802.11n 2.4 channel width set to 20, 802.11n 5.4 channel width set to 20, 802.11n mode set to disable.
I have no more disconnects and my wireless is as fast as it should be with my service.
Hope this helps people as well as Dell to discover the root cause of the wireless "n" issue"

I checked the settings, all were the same except the "N", it was activated/enabled. I disabled it (I have G router), and I see a bit of improvement. I will check it tomorrow, now the traffic is heavy, close and 7-8M away from router i have the same speed,max 2Mbps, usually is 20Mbps, even the laptop with N-6300, the same speed.

 

This is what Dell Tech support suggested to me, and it doubled the speed of connection so worth trying. However I was still getting twice the improved speed using a £4 nano wifi dongle- so it's still not a solution.

Brandon.

 

I decided to replace the Wi-Fi card with better one? I have a few N-6300 and N-6200....
I removed the back cover and replaced the 6235 with N-6300. I was lucky having the right screwdriver, must be done easily otherwise the two clips at the back of it could be broken. It is better to remove the battery first, I tried removing all screws but It was still holding something, It has a small button, I press it and nothing happened, I left it the way it is and went ahead. I do not want to read the manual before I do a job, I read it after i finish it....this is me
I definitely do far better job than Dell Tech contractors.
Yes, there is a difference, besides catching 6 more networks, compared with 3 with 6235, tested 7-8 M away from G router, i could get max 5Mbps.
I put side by side with Studio 1537 that has N-6300 too, I had double speed (it is connected to three antennas, L521x has just two)
I was thinking to get one more antenna fro eBay, short one, there is some space to put it, I might get better signal!
I can say, it is better than 6235.....but no Bluetooth

Still something holding it back do not get full speed, definitely.

Did not require any driver to install. I turned it on , was trying to find the driver, I got an error and after a few seconds the "Bill Gates OS" found it and installed successfully, the latest one.

---------------------------------------------------

I put it back the 6235 and the results are worse and struggling while testing the speed, dropping the signal lines, going up and down.
By the way, regarding the button near the battery, is the speaker , did not read the book, just figured out

 

And that's why I asked earlier in this thread if people disabled the n part because I saw a ton of trouble with N at my work to the point we disabled N on all our waps and no more issues. We had slow speeds, weak signals and drops with signals. This was with all devices too. Wifi n is not ready for business and unreliable.


Sent from my New iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

Christ, they have still not fixed this issue and have been very quiet about it too! I have updated my review on Youtube to not recommending this laptop until the issues are resolved. I think it is really bad of Dell to continue taking money now that it has been deemed a hardware fault somewhere along the line.

 

Here's how that worked out so far - http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...se-7520-dell-touchpad-software-defective.html - all is decent except for that issue.

 

I have discoved a solution to the wireless problem, at least for me.
I was getting disconnected every couple of minutes at home. My home wireless router is a,b,g. The wireless card in the xps L521 has "n" as well.
Single click your wireless conection, Click network and sharing center, Click your wireless network connection, click properties, click configure, advanced tab, 802.11n 2.4 channel width set to 20, 802.11n 5.4 channel width set to 20, 802.11n mode set to disable.
I have no more disconnects and my wireless is as fast as it should be with my service.
Hope this helps people as well as Dell to discover the root cause of the wireless "n" issue"

I was the one who posted this on the DELL website. I still had some dsconnects with this, although less.
I have found the solution that has been working absolutely perfectly now for 36 hours with NO disconnects.
Get RID OF MCAFFEE INTERNET SECURITY. I unistalled via control panel, rebooted, ran the Mcaffee removal tool, rebooted, and installed Comcast Norton Internet Security (Comcast customer) and HAVE NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED SINCE. The Laptop is also faster when loading ANY PROGRAM.
MCAFFEE IS JUNK. Giving many people including DELL Headaches!

 

Thanks for your feedback.

Limiting the channel widths to 20MHz and disabling N is a non-starter for most, but it makes sense to me why this would give you a more stable connection. If you've got relatively slow internet, then this is probably the best interim option if your results can be duplicated by others.

And yes, most anti-virus programs are pure crap. I'd wager that most guys on here have installed their OS fresh and don't even have McAfee to start with. I stopped using McAfee when I was about 15 and realized it was garbage. That was about nine years ago.

 

Interesting comments, thank you. I would not discount a software companies ability to improve. I not only dumped McaFee many years ago I also dumped Norton back then too. However, Norton has improved dramatically over the past several years, it's now quite light on resources, installs quick and works like a charm. Interesting that Intel bought McaFee in 2010 and now their own software is messing up their Intel wireless card! By the way, 15 years old was over 4 decades ago for me. I started in 'puters in the 70's with punch cards, lol!

 

Yeah, I use Norton now, but I know most people ignorantly scorn it, so I didn't want to catch any crap.

Norton 2010+ has been pretty legit.

I started with Win 3.1. No punch cards for me.

 

Hi, just posting my experience: I just received my XPS15 yesterday & I also experienced the WiFi issue. Even though I've been reading other people's horror stories, I couldn't believe how bad it is until I experienced it. Right on top of the router, it gets slower connection speed than my 3-yr-old Dell Latitude; 5 steps away, it drops to half speed; 10 steps away, it keeps disconnecting. Dell tried upgrading the drivers to no avail. I tried the "disabling n" tip above to no avail. Dell is supposed to call me back today to continue trying to resolve it by playing w/ the different power settings for the card but I think that I will just ask for a free USB WiFi dongle as a temporary fix. If a permanent fix is not ready before my return period, I will probably just send this otherwise excellent laptop back.

I forgot to add to my above post that on a positive note, if I plug in an ethernet cable instead of WiFi, I get much better speed than my Dell Latitude on a similar hardwire connection. Not sure why...

 

Mcafee strikes again! Last Friday they issued a security update that created havoc with internet connections. While I know this is not the root of Dells problems as the wifi issue has been going on for a while now, it's best to dump McaFee for another option. I have had good results with Norton.

McAfee Antivirus Update Causes Problems for Home and Enterprise Customers | PCWorld Business Center

 

I've been running into Wi-Fi issues with the unit Dell sent me to replace the one I had originally (had a bad screen and mis-aligned trackpad).

The first one's Wi-Fi performance wasn't fantastic but this one seems much worse. This is what I'm seeing. Quad Core, 640M model and I'll be comparing it against my mother's Thinkpad Edge e420 which has a cheap Realtek wireless card with one antenna.

Unless I have missed my guess an Intel 6235 should perform better than this. Can you guys confirm?

	XPS 15	Thinkpad e420
5ft Write	24.5	75.5
5ft Read	31.5	50.4
15ft 1 Wall Write	45.7	74.9
15ft 1 Wall Read	32.5	43.0
30ft 1 Floor Write	35.0	49.0
30ft 1 Floor Read	19.3	31.7

Lan Speedtest 1.1.7, wired is 770.6 Write and 600.7 Read. All numbers are in Mbps. Intel driver is version 15.2.0

The router is a D-Link DIR-625 (Revision C1) which only supports 2.4Ghz 802.11n and all tests were on battery in maximum performance mode.

 

Quix: That is a nice instance-summation of the WiFi problem the machine has, it's not just you.

The 6235 *should* perform much better, in theory, but there haven't been may comparative analysis of that device with others. The only one I can find "accidentally" compares it to other client devices is actually a router test ...

AnandTech - Amped Wireless R20000G, SR20000G, and UA2000: Routers, Repeaters, and Adapters (Oh My!)

... as the test is not focused on comparing the 6235 to other similar devices it's hard to get any info out of it that is useful. I guess the short version is that it's a tradeoff...sometimes better, sometimes worse, in their testing.

Their notes on test conditions should be taken to heart by anyone doing their own wifi performance testing on the xps 15

AnandTech - Amped Wireless R20000G, SR20000G, and UA2000: Routers, Repeaters, and Adapters (Oh My!)

 

I was using the XPS late last night at the 15ft 1 wall location and had a lot of WiFi issues. Ran the same test again and got 12Mbps write and 9Mbps read, this annoyed me so much that I picked up the ThinkPad and tested that again too, with essentially the same results as the first time. As a result it seems like the performance is really inconsistent. I wish I wasn't over the 21 days at this point because this notebook is a huge headache.

 

Hi, I did a test yesterday with the L521x and an IBM Thinkpad. Using Inssider the test does not only show that the XPS with an RSSI of 79 had an unusable connection even for browsing the web, but also that the Thinkpad found significant more WiFi networks.

Test was performed outside on a bench my company's parking area. Location of the laptops during the test was exactly the same. The nearest AP (...secunet being the company network) was 16m away behind a window.




This shows the disastrous performance of the L521x.

 

Here is my update from the owners lounge incase you guys dont read it: Okay So here is my update..I got another replacement last Thursday...I tested both XPS 15s and there are the same initially I got excited on the first speedtest the new XPS 15 was really fast (50mps) but once I retested the speed and it turns out both laptops have wifi issues. Also both screens are the same they both have gird lines, it is actually worse on the new laptop...I guess I am going to cancel my onsite tech appointment today there is no point switching the hardrives...Now I guess I have no choice but to use a USB dongle...Can we call in for one or do we have contact Lorna. Also, they transferred my warranty to the new laptop so I dont know what service tag to use now lol... Seriously I need to start invoicing Dell for my time (if you understand the reference I commend you ).

 

Usually, beta-testers get pay, vacation time, sick time and other benefits.

 

In what universe? I need to move...

 

As the wise ones say, it's all in your mind.

Oh, and the testers don't have to spend $2000 up front to get their jobs.

 

Funnily enough though, when you'll receive your next machine you won't care about keyboard flex, build quality or a bad trackpad. Hell, you might even come to appreciate a crappy screen. As long as the damn thing's wifi works like a prostitute during happy hour.
Incredibly. Damn. Fast.

 

Hi Lorna,

How do I PM you? I cannot find the button!

Thanks,

Rishi

 

lol that is funny

 

Lorna, I am having much the same problem as mittal800 here. I cannot figure out how to PM. I am annoyed to no end.

 

You need to have 5 posts before you can PM, it's a forum rule.

Please don't junk up discussion threads with crap posts though, I believe there is a dedicated testing thread/forum elsewhere.

 

Most thanks!

 

And after the 5th post you have to wait 24h to have PM activated

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

Really? That's annoying...