Network card, Bigfoot Networks Killer? Wireless-N 1103 (3x3) low range? What to upgrade to?

I have a Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 (3x3) and the range on it is terrible, with intermediate disconnects. In the same locaton where 5 year old computers have full connectivity, im at half bars.

What is a good alternative to this network card for my sager np9170 ? Ive contact xotic pc to see i theyll send me a new one but my hopes are not high.

Any suggestions to try to rememdy some of this? (latest drivers are installed for it)

 

Bear in mind that not all antennae on laptops are made equal, it is a combination of antenna design and wireless card that determines range. The Killer card is actually the excellent Atheros AR9380 card with custom firmware+drivers. From experience, this card's greatest strength is unobstructed throughput, range wasn't so spectacular. If you want good obstructed performance (which also goes hand in hand with range) then I recommend the Intel 6300 which costs about $30-$40. You won't have the massive transfer speeds that the AR9380 can muster at close range but the connection is smoother and more consistent due to the superb range.

 

The Killer's range is not as good as the 6300 but it is definitely better than even state-of-the-art five years ago. So if you aren't getting great range, one thing is that the card might be bad. The other is that something else is causing trouble in which case, switching to the Intel won't help.

 

5 year old laptops were probally using the 2.4-G band. Are you talking about your 5G-N band range? My 2.4G kills my 802.11 a/n 5.0 GHz in range from my three year old WNDR3700. Try your 2.4G band?

 

Thanks for the reply, So if my laptop is going to be a distance from the router than Ill need to switch cards becuase the constant drops are unnacceptable (I acutally came across many reviews that said the same thing about the distance). i hope I can find some DIY to install the 6300.


maverick your post is opposite of everyone elses...

Hydra they were all using 2.4ghz, i know 5ghz has shorter range especialy when more obstructions(walls) are present.

 

Killer cards are unbeatable when you have decent range because their performance is so good (highly tweaked firmware). The problem is that even the Intel 6300 won't help if the intrinsic issue is your Router or interference from other routers.

 

This is why dual band operation can be helpful. People and their neighbors have a profusion of cellular devices and routers themselves. Tri band routers aren't a bad purchase either, although the 60 GHz connection seems more ideal for data transmission in close proximity.

Keep in mind also, that as good as the Killer cards are, there are some driver flaws; particularly in Windows 8.

 

I used to have issues with Killer 1103 using the latest drivers, mostly random disconnects, at first i though was the hotel (where i open my GT70), but it also happen at work and home with good dedicated connection and stable routers... so i went with an older driver and what do you know, perfect connection not a single issue.

 

I haven't had any issues, but I disable the application manager as It doesn't seem to manage my bandwidth all that effectively anyway. Just a thought

 

Aaaand how! Big boost in performance for my 2007 based laptop.

 

As far as I can tell, Killer cards have always been hit or miss. If it works, it works great. But it doesn't always work. Something like 30%+ of the cards don't seem to work according to what people say on forums. The 6300 is stable and almost all cards should work perfectly, so it might be your card itself is bad and needs replacing. But try the older drivers first and see, as the guy suggested. Random disconnects are often complained about when the card itself is the issue.

Hope this helps and hope you get it sorted out soon!

 

Lets make something clear: all variables are kept the same
the distance, the location in the room etc. This card blows balls everytime im here, can any one link me the intel one i could easily replace that comes with everything ill need to do the switch? I post a month later becuase im back at my other house where the laptop becomes useless lol

Xotic pc did not return any of my emails 4-5 of them and it just past my warranty date, what a great company


Would I need to buy the bracket or antena if I bought this http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Ultimat...TF8&qid=1367973758&sr=8-1&keywords=intel+6300 ?

 

I believe someone was selling 6300 for $23 in the marketplace, you don't need anything other than the card.

Though problem with wife card is rare. You can try check if the antennas are attach well, or even try swap around if you have other half height card from other computer.

 

Thaanks for the heads up, the lack of specific search featur is making it hard to find the thread youre talking about

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...-intel-6300-wireless-lan-card-qty-10-a-3.html

 

Found it here if other want http://forum.notebookreview.com/com...fs-intel-6300-wireless-lan-card-qty-10-a.html


Haha thanks dude

 

Absolutely disconnect and reconnect the antennas on the card. That has fixed many connection problems I've had with laptops in the past.

 

I'm getting fed up with my 1103 that keeps disconnecting me every 20min or so.
I have tried all drivers that are out there, and even different routers, but nothing helps. Killergaming also got so fed up they shut down their forums to avoid the complaining..... talk about great customer service.

Now I'm just waiting for the Intel 7300 that is supposedly being released this summer, and I will throw my 1103 out the window and run it over with my car.

 

Installed the n6300 and already a huge improvement!
Also java started working, can you beleive that ? killer network manager was actually blocking java all those long hours trying to figure out that issue lmao

I was also wondering if the antena on a laptop can be bad? Are there different model antenas maybe its not all in the card? The antena seems to run up into the screen but Im not sure any one know?