Dell Vostro 1700: Can't get to connect wirelessly at draft N with internal Intel card. Any ideas?

I got a Vostro 1700 last week, and ordered it with the Intel 4965 draft N pro-wireless card, but I'm having a few problems with the card.

Not only does it keep dropping connection, but it'll only connect at 11g speeds (54mbps). My router is a Netgear WNR854T, and my other laptop (with XP) with a PCMCIA draft N card connects to it easily at 11n, but I just can't get the Intel one to. I've been through the settings, enabled draft n in the options, but it just won't go. I've tried the router with it set to just N and also mixed g/n but it doesn't make any difference. My friend can also connect his Apple to the router at N, so it appears to be the card itself, unless there's another setting in Vista I'm missing.

Any ideas?

 

Try installing the latest drivers from Intel

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2753&lang=eng

I have had my own troubles with this wireless card.. but it has been pretty good about connecting at N speeds.

 

Cheers Stevey. I'd tried the latest ones from the Dell site, but they were dated late 07 so these ones are newer.

I also noticed in the text file:

"Known Issues
Operating in 802.11n Mode
Intel recommends using security with your wireless network. The Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN adapter can only achieve transfer rates greater than 54 Mbps on 802.11n connections when using AES security, or no security. You should only use no security when setting up or troubleshooting the network.

To enable AES for Personal Security, select WPA-Personal (AES-CCMP) or WPA2-Personal (AES-CCMP) in the Security Settings pulldown menu. To enable AES for Enterprise Security, select AES-CCMP in the Data Encryption pulldown menu.

Wi-Fi* Protected Setup*
Wi-Fi* Protected Setup* is supported only on the 3945ABG Network Connection, the Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN, and Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG_. "

I'll give it a go. I've actually got a Dell engineer coming out tomorrow to replace the card as they couldn't get it working either over the phone or remote connection, but I was trying to find out myself first as I doubt it's actually faulty!

 

yeah... and it only gets 270Mbps in the 5ghz band.

 

It did work. I've had to change encryption to AES and it works now. Still doesn't get much more than 120mbps (my other laptop connects at nearly 260 most of the time from the same distance from the router), so not entirely satified, but at least it's better.

 

my atheros card does 300 in 5ghz

 

Maybe thats the difference between telling the truth about actual throughput VS theoretical limits