Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card faster using G

I have two laptops (7 month old Inspiron 1520 and 5 month old Inspiron 1525 - both Vista Home Premium and up to date with Windows Update) with the Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card.

I purchased a Linksys WRT160N router. I have a 6 year old dell desktop direct connected to it and the laptops connect wireless with WPA2 Personal and AES

Here is the problem I am having with the wireless.

When connected with my old WRT54G router or the new one set to "G only" the network status shows about 36-48 Mbps. When I go to CNET Bandwidth Meter ( http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html) it shows about 600 Kbps.

Now, when I set the new router to Mixed (g & n) or N Only the network status shows about ~75 Mbps. However, when I go to CNET Bandwidth Meter ( http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html) it only shows about 200 Kbps. Copying a file from my desktop seems faster, but browsing the internet and downloading files is noticably slower.

I found that if I change to WPA with TKIP, the speeds picked up. But I want to use the WPA2/AES.

I have also tried the same with a Netgear Dual Band WNDR3300 with the same results.

So 2 laptops with 2 different routers have had the same issue.

It doesn't make sense to me that browsing with wireless N is slower...

Is there anything I can do to get the Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card to run faster with WPA2 Personal and AES and wireless N?

Is this working better for others?

 

I'll look more into it here in a bit and see what I can find. I know you could just disable the encryption (which looks like you have some luck in speed changes by changing it) all together and just predefine your router table to include the MAC addresses of just the computers you want to have access to your router. Then no other people could access your router unless you add them in the list. Assuming this is being used at your home? I doubt anyone is sitting around there with the equipment or know-how to try to pull the wireless information as it goes between your laptop and your router. Like I said though, let me check a few things and I'll get back to you.

 

Thanks G473R.
I appreciate your help.

I noticed that you have a Dell 1505 Wireless N.
Are you using an N router and having any luck?

Dave

 

Sorry my net has been down for a bit where I am at. I do plan on using it next month when I move into my new apartment and start testing this N technology out, but until then, I have only used my laptop (only a month old) once wirelessly. Which the network I was on was extremely slow. I will check out the settings for it and see what I can find. Could be a simple setting somewhere that is causing you all your problems here.

 

Just re-read your first email and was thinking. The speed of your network increased with the N setting from your G setup. It's just the speed of your internet that slowed down. Are you running Vista, if so with SP1 or not? If I was there this would be easier for me, I'm a hands on guy, suck as long distance support, where I work I just get a call and go straight to the workstation to fix things. Anyways, we'll get it working right, I just gotta do some homework here and get caught up on things (7 months outta the states...lots of things happen lol). Oh and some slightly older info (but still good) about networking and things, just incase you had any questions about some things.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=30162

 

I'm using Vista Home Premium SP1 with all the updates from Windows Update.

Dave

 

I also have the Dell draft N wireless mini card. Running XP Pro with SP3, I have no problem with a Belkin N1 router.

http://reviews.cnet.com/7009-7254_7-0.html?CType=2278&ac=203&ISPID=404610&ISPNAME=&&kbps=21473.7

 

I burned another 3 hours and did some more tests last night.

Here is my wireless card in my Inspiron 1520:
- Dell Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card
- Driver Provider: Broadcom
- Driver Date: 10/12/2007
- Driver Version: 4.170.25.17

Note: I moved the laptop closer to the router (~15').

Inspiron 1520 - N Only w/No Security
- Speed: 78 Mbps
- CNET Bandwidth Meter: ~250 Kbps


Inspiron 1520 - N Only w/AES Security
- Speed: 117 Mbps
- CNET Bandwidth Meter: ~250


Inspiron 1520 - G Only w/AES Security
- Speed: 54 Mbps
- CNET Bandwidth Meter: ~590 Kbps


Dimension 4300 Desktop - Direct Connect
- CNET Bandwidth Meter: ~660 Kbps


The Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility shows the router as b,g,n with a speed of 270.

If I go to the dell1505 card configuration and set "Disable Bands" to "Disable 802.11g/b", then the card cannot find the network at all. As though N isn't working for the 1505 card.

I tried this on my son's XPS M1530 which has the same 1505 card and driver version and my wife's Inpiron 1525 which has the same card but older driver and pretty much got the same results.

 

Hi, was this issue ever resolved? I currently have the exact same problem.

 

I had all the same problems. I asked to Dell to change out the Dell card for an Intel and all my problems went away. I have very high speeds on all 3 computers in my house. Only my laptop has the N card and it gets N speeds. The other 2 get maximum speeds using g protocol.
Tony

 

Hi antidense. No, I haven't found a solution.

However after reading tonyguy2000's response I just emailed dell and hope they help me out.

Good luck to you.

Dave

 

I approached Dell in a nice way and they volunteered to swap out my card completely free. All I had to do was send them back the Dell branded card in the postage paid box they sent me. Good Luck!

 

Thanks tonyguy2000, unfortunately I'm not having any luck with Dell yet.

They say:
"Dave, the wireless card of the computer is working fine. The speed of the internet is controlled by the service provider."

I'll have to keep emailing them back until I get someone willing to help.
I get someone different each time.

Dave

 

I purchased a DLink DIR655 and it works for me.
I don't know whats different between it and the Netgear Dual Band WNDR3300 and LinkSys WRT160N that didn't work for me.

I'm just glad it works.
It's showing speeds of up to 130 Mbps (depending on where I am in the house) and is browsing the Internet fast.

Dave