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    xps15 L502x - Intel 6230 issues?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Nirurin, Jun 30, 2011.

  1. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, hey guys, new here etc etc
    I just bought a new dell xps15, with a few upgrades bells and whistles ( like teh lovely 1080 screen), but the part im having a problem with is the upgraded (and most expensive choice) network card - the 6230.

    For starters, I did find this thread about the issue, which sounds like my problem. but noone seemed to come to any solution for it...
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...oblem-w-advanced-n-6230-wireless-adapter.html

    If I set my router to 5ghz, 300mbps, then everything seems to work just as it should. Nice steady rate of download on my newsleecher graph.
    However, this means noone else in the house can access the net wirelessly, and neither can my iphone.

    If I set the router to 2.4ghz, 300mbps/150mbps, the I get very choppy connection. The graph will vary from the full 50meg speed, down to almost 0, then back up and down and up and down etc etc etc

    I have managed to get it to work on 2.4ghz.... if I set the router to 54mbps. However, this seems to mean my newsleecher caps out at about 20meg download speed. The graph does remain pretty stable though.

    All of these tests were done using WPA2-PSK (AES) security.

    I have been on intel site, and seem to have the newest drivers already.
    My router is a Virgin Media Hub

    So yeah.... any ideas would be great!
     
  2. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Anyone had any success with this?
     
  3. Sk8mfm

    Sk8mfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm having same issues
     
  4. joegreen1967

    joegreen1967 Notebook Evangelist

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    I havent had that issue thank god,but I heard Dell was giving people adapters to compensate for poor wireless performance.I can't remember I think it was on dells support forum about a month ago.I would check into that, it's not ideal but it'll fix your slow erratic speeds,and techs gave them of course at no charge.
     
  5. chinnygamer

    chinnygamer Notebook Enthusiast

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    I had this issue also, spent like an 1 1/2 hour with a dell technician and found that in windows power setting there is a tab in the advanced setting for the power plan in "wireless adapter settings" change the option to maximum performance on battery and on "ac", that should fix it!

    Good luck :D
     
  6. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nope, its not the power saving. All of mine are already set to maximum.
     
  7. mckenfry

    mckenfry Notebook Guru

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    I have a problem too. Please update if you have the solution. Thank you so much.
     
  8. otacon

    otacon Notebook Evangelist

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    You all running the latest driver 14.1.1.0?

    Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers for Windows 7 64-Bit

    Not sure this applies but it says in the release notes:

    Linksys* Access Point Association Timeout

    After the association flow completes, the adapter stays awake (as in CAM mode) for 10 seconds, and then acts according to the PowerIndex (PI) regkey. PI should not be change during this period. The association timeout is 10 seconds. Using the Linksys access point, association occurs every 60 seconds, resulting in deauthentication and disconnection from the Linksys access point.
     
  9. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    Disable power management in card's advanced properties tab and see if that helps.
    I have got no issues whatsoever with my 6230.
    Also check that aerial cables are attached properly to the card (gotta unscrew the bottom panel).
     
  10. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    actualy... I seem to be on 14.0.1.2
    Except windows and intel both say that is the newest driver for my system when i try to update it.

    edit: intel site says:
    "This version of the driver and software does not support your adapter. Please use the 13.5 version of the driver and software instead."

    ..except in the list below it it does list the N6230...which is my adaptor.

    weird.
     
  11. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok, new update...
    The updated drivers made no difference.
    I opened up the bottom of my laptop, and there are 5 wires... 2 go to the wwan card, 2 go to the wireless adaptor (pink and black?). There is one that is attached to nothing.

    However, I have found a way to fix my connection.

    If I go into the 6230 adaptor settings on the device manager, and set 802.11N mode to "Disabled"... then suddenly my download speeds become full speed and stable.
    If I re-enable the N mode, then the speeds drop massivly and become unstable.

    So... any thoughts?
     
  12. Sk8mfm

    Sk8mfm Notebook Enthusiast

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    My download speed jumped and my wifi connected fast on reboot. I guess it worked!
     
  13. Nirurin

    Nirurin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah, except that its not really a "fix" if it involves disabling the N. It should work with the N enabled just as well.
     
  14. ghott

    ghott Notebook Guru

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    Is this a brand specific problem or does this affect all Intel 6230 cards?
     
  15. Falco152

    Falco152 Notebook Demon

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    No idea. So far it is working on mine but I'm using a newer AP hardware though.
     
  16. machanic

    machanic Notebook Enthusiast

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    Could someone try it on another laptop and see if it has the same issues?

    I need to replace the crappy Broadcom in my Toshiba A665 :) but the Bluetooth is on the wireless card so do want Bluetooth if I can.
     
  17. SAiLO

    SAiLO Notebook Evangelist

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    My intel 6230 wifi card works perfectly fine on wireless N.
     
  18. lastnikita

    lastnikita Notebook Deity

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    Just to add that I have same problems on my acer 4830tg.
    WiFi works fine on external power.
    It barely works on battery, with power saving modes enabled.
    It's a bit better set on maximum performance, but still has issues.

    I guess those intel cards are very flawed and did not go through the same quality tests than the rest of intel hardware :-/

    Time to contact Intel for an exchange with another model.
     
  19. Risco

    Risco Notebook Deity

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    New drivers are out on Dell Website.

    Fook me, they fixed the power save issue. Running on medium power savings no longer causes any issues when resuming from sleep!
     
  20. lastnikita

    lastnikita Notebook Deity

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