Dell 1390 Wlan Mini-Card disconnects

I have the E1505 with the T2500 2ghz core duo chip, 2gb ram, and the 1390 wlan mini card.

Frequently, my wifi randomly disconnects. It ususally doesn't appear to go out. I'll just get disconnected from AIM, and a website won't load, although the little wifi icon in the system tray (the Windows one, not the dell one) will appear to be connected. I click "repair", and it fixes itself, just to repeat the same problem a while later, most of the time.

Some times, it just disconnects altogether, and i'll have to restart my computer for the wifi to reconnect.

I use the Windows wifi manager, not the dell supplied software, b/c i've had the same problme with the dell software. In the control panel Dell software wifi manager thing, i clicked "enable the radio" but i still have the problem.

I updated my driver the other day to the latest version (on dell's site), but i still have the problem.

Any suggestions?

 

I'm going to move this to networking/wireless because you'll probably get more help.

Is there another laptop that is connected to the router? If you have another laptop to test your router with, we could narrow the problem down to being your laptop or your router.

 

No, it's not a router problem, because I have this problem with any router I use. For example, I'm at a hotel and it does the same thing as it does on the wireless network at my house that I am the only user of.

I spoke with Dell tech support last night, and they suggested that I change the AP compatibility mode setting under the advanced tab in device manager to "broader compatibility", the power save mode option to "disabled", and the minimum power consumption option to "disabled".

I'm not positive if this fixed the issue (since there was no set interval that i was losing a connection. To see if it worked, I just have to use it for a few days and see if i get the problem again or not).

Dell said that they would replace my card with a 1490 or a 1500 or something if i kept having the problem. So far, i used the computer for maybe an hour last night without the problem recurring, and 10 minutes this morning so far without any issues. I'll keep you all updated.

 

yes, there are many many settings in the wifi card properties that most users don't know about and they just sit at the default settings.

if you know it's the wifi card (and not the router) and you have the latest drivers, that's the next step. if it doesn't fix it, then take up dell's offer on a new card.

 

These cards have issues going between the B band and G band. I had an issue where i was in a room of other people all connected to the WiFI ok and rock solid, but I was not. This was my adapter. I had to go into the settings and set it to B as the prefered band. Also put transmit rate on highest possible. network connection > right click wifi adapter > properties > click configure next to the connect using window > advanced tab.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi, I have the same exact problem as you, I disconnect every 10 mins. can you tell me exactly how you fixed it?

 

Under advanced settings for your wireless card you will find features that turn off or lower the power. These are to preserve battery life. Just need to disable them and the problem goes away.

 

I'm sorry but can you tell me exactly how i can get to the folder your telling me to go to (iv'e been trying to look for it for a while now), sorry.

 

Run devmgmt.msc, you'll see "Device Manager"

Go to "Network Adapters"

You should see "Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN mini card"

Right click on it, then "Properties"

Now you can see the "Advanced" Tab

 

I just purchased a Dell Inspiron E1705 and having trouble connecting to my wireless connection. I have Verizon DSL and have Westell 327 router. I have checked all of my settings and can see the connection but everytime I try to connect it gives an error that essentially says to move closer to my router or check my settings. I have called Verizon and Dell and neither have been able to help. Is there something else I can look at on adapter settings?

 

I just purchased a Dell 1720. I seem to be having the same problem. I get connection when I plug it in, and nothing when I use battery. I've done the changes to the settings as above (Minimum Power Comsumption= Disabled)

Still doesn't work

Any new ideas would be great

 

i just have to wait 5 minutes for it to connect when i turn on, and its the same with my other computer

 

Hey all, I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 and i have the same annoying problem.. i stay online for a few min then get disconnected .. i have a Dell 1300 WLAN Mini-Card. I tried lowering the power of the card but it seems like it didnt make a difference.

Hope somebody could help in this problem, if not i will check with Dell.

Thanx alot,
karimnouh

 

Make sure you have the latest drivers from dell. Update if needed.

Need to go through all of your energy settings again, control panel and advanced port. They have a tendency to hide things all over the place.

You want max power, do not allow it to sleep or hibernate.

 

I have this same Mini-Card, and a Westell 327W router. Every other machine in my house connects to it fine and if I plug in the ethernet cable, it also works. (That is how I am posting right now) I have made the modifications mentioned above. I also can check my router settings and it tells me that my mac address has been "authenticated" but it is not in use. Any help would be wonderful.

Also, don't know if this matters, but I am the only one with Windows Vista, but the wireless card works with other wireless routers.

 

Some routers have problems with vista. Make sure you have the latest drivers installed in the router. In Vista turn off IP6, most networks don't support it.

 

Thanks blue68f100. I realize that drivers and all must be up to date, but what I didn't realize is that Westell has moved it's drivers around. For anyone who has a Westell 327W at least, it does not like to work with new operating systems. I didn't have anything to do with the wireless card. Anyone else having the same problem (Probably if you have vista or Mac Leopard) you'll need to go to your ISP's website (NOT WESTELL) for a firmware update.

 

I had the same problem connecting my Dell 1390 WLAN Mini card to a Verizon DSL Westell router. I was able to fix the problem by updating the firmware on the Westell router. Hope this helps!

 

I also have the E1705 with the 1390 WLAN card, and have the exact problems as described. I have updated the drivers and changed the settings as prescribed with no avail. Is there a way to change the internal wireless card with another internal card? I would much prefer not to get a card which will occupy any of my slots as I have plans for my expresscard slot and hate USB devices.

Just to reiterate, here is a list of symptoms:

Card will sometimes refuse to connect, sometimes requiring multiple reboots.

Adding wireless encryption makes the problems much worse, sometimes removing encryption fixes the problem (Using WPA 2 AES).

Other computers on the same network (wired and wireless) aren't affected.

Vista complains of weak signal, when it is expressed as "excellent" in any utility (Dell's and Vista itself)

Moving the computer closer to the router seems to have little or no affect.

Occasionally it will connect stating that the connection has 'limited connectivity'.

Sometimes, it will not be able to receive a DHCP signal and configure as an address 169* (generally, it assigns beginning at 192.168.0.100)

When the above problem exists, using a static IP address resolves the problem though performance is still sub-par.

I have disabled IPv6. This was done soon after getting the computer. IPv6 did not seem to have any affect on the problems at all.

During gaming, sometimes I will lose connection (999 ping, no data transferring at all) intermittently. This only seems to happen when the card is acting up, and will fix with reboots.

Sometimes, doing a transfer of files from another computer on the lan will go as slow as 50KB/s and never goes above 1MB/s regardless of method, how good the card is doing, etc.

I'd really like to fix it, but if not is there a name for the slot used by dell to install this card? Will I be able to get a replacement? I only have technical support on the account, so I doubt I can get dell to replace. Thanks if perhaps I get an answer!

 

I'm the OP for this thread. The way I solved the problem was replacing the 1390 wlan with a new 1390 from dell. Since i did it in the warranty period, they replaced it for free, but I imagine you are probably out of the warranty.

The best solution it sounds like, for you, is to get a replacement internal card from dell. That way your express card and usb ports are free.

 

Thanks agreenbhm. I was hoping that wasn't it, but I guess that's how it goes.

 

Let me amend my previous statement by suggesting that you check eBay for a compatible card before resorting to dell. That way maybe you won't have to break the bank just to get wifi

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=32&fsoo=2&fgtp=

Check that link. It's an eBay search for dell 1390. Looks like you can probably get a new 1390 for less than $20 there.

 

Wow, nice price. Thanks for the heads up. I am pretty tight on money right now so I will continue working with it before making a decision to buy a new one. I'll let you know if I can get anything out of it. Thanks.

 

I decided to come back and report that I decided to go back to good old Windows XP. Once I installed windows XP, this problem went away completely (well, so far so good atleast).

I don't know if that means it really was a driver issue, a windows vista compatability problem, or maybe there really is hardware issues that don't show up in xp for some reason :S. Whatever the problem though, it seems to have been fixed by going to XP. I will try and remember to report back if it comes up again.