Better Wireless Connection Manager?

I am fed up with the stupid Wireless Connection Manager or whatever it is called that came standard with Vista Home Premium on my HP2500t.

If I set it to connect automatically, usually it will take a while to find my home network and connect, sometimes it doesn't connect at all, and my home network is not even listed in the available wifi networks.

Note: All the settings are correctly set up, the router has strong signal and in close range to the laptop, only catch is that it is not broadcasting SSID. My work laptop (a Dell with windows XP Pro and Dell's proprietary connection manager) always connects almost instantaneously in the same environment.

If I set it to connect manually, I can always see my homework listed, but it is such a hassle to do it every time, and even the manual labor doesn't always guarantee success, sometimes you need to try several times before it finally connects.

How do you guys feel about the Wireless Connection Manager in Vista? Is there any good alternatives?

 

Do you know what brand of wireless card you have installed? Depending on the card, there may be software that is usable (check for updated drivers). Especially if the card uses an Intel PRO Wireless card, you can download the latest PROset drivers from Intel and use the Intel connection manager.

 

I checked, it is an Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. Have you used the Intel connection manager? how do you like it?

 

Once upon a time I thought that Intel's software was counter-intuitive and clunky, but I'm rather fond of their latest versions.

You can download the Vista 64 version from:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13006/eng/11.5.0.0_v64.exe

The Vista 32 version is available at:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13004/eng/11.5.0.0_v32.exe

 

thanks for that download,
ive been looking for that