Dell Wireless 1390 and Westell router problem

I just bought a new dell laptop with the Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-Card, but it will not connect to my Westell Wirespeed router/dsl modem. I also have a wrt54g which it connects fine to. I have several other laptops of various brands that connect fine to both access points. Dell's utility just disregards when i try to connect to the Westell and Microsoft's utility gives me an error that the access point is out of range, although it has full signal and right across the room. Can someone please help me out?

 

First try upgrading the drives for the card.

 

Or if Vista this may help you. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233/en-us

 

i downloaded the newest drivers for it from dell's support site, although the date being displayed in device manager is 10/16/2006, but dell's site says 5/16/2007. Either way it still doesn't connect to my westell router.

 

thanks, but its windows xp home

 

Try using CCleaner to uinstall the old drivers, new installs over old drivers sometimes cause probs.

 

i just tried that, and changed around a few advanced options i found fixed problems, but it still isnt connecting. Windows' zero config keeps telling me its out of range.

 

just wondering if anyone else has any ideas about my issue....?

 

You can not run dell's and MS utilitys at the same time. One needs to be disabled.

Check to see if your personal FW is not blocking the connection.

 

i meant when i disable dell's utility microsoft's gives me that error. i tried using each separately with the other disabled. and i dont think its blocking it...i use sygate personal firewall pro, if you know anything i should check in there. It connects fine to at least three other routers, just not my westell.

 

Make sure your local lan subnet is allowed in sygate. Should be a FW rule.

 

nope...i tried turning off sygate and it still doesnt work

 

Swordphsh,

My sister is having a similar problem with her 1390 wireless card from dell. It will not connect to certain routers one of them being a US Robotics router.

If you run the dell wifi tool and use the LOG function you will notice the dell 1390 card will attempt to connect, disables encryption then you'll see it disconnecting, then reconnects... But it never establishes a connection and assigns an IP. It doesn't matter what you do i.e. disable wep, or change configs it still is problematic.

From what I have found on the net and forums it seems the 1390 card has some issues. Some people have claimed to replace their cards with a new 1390's and had success while others have had to upgrade to something different i.e. 1490 wifi mini card or an external unit.

I have just ordered a new 1490 wifi mini pci card to install on my sister's machine and will let you know if I see any success. I ordered the mini wifi card through dell's accessory section online for $50 canadian.