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    SZ4X premium - low WiFi signal strength

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by ARC, Apr 18, 2007.

  1. ARC

    ARC Notebook Guru

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    Only 3 out of 5 bars signal strength - low compared to previous MacBook Pro which always had 5 out of 5 and Asus W2 also 5 / 5 Could it be the plastic / carbon case of the SZ4X ?
     
    ARC, Apr 18, 2007
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  2. vaioman

    vaioman Notebook Guru

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    me too.
    my previous laps (toshiba) always 5/5.
    my sz is only 3/5 and the router is just below my laptop.
     
    vaioman, Apr 18, 2007
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  3. f_alejandro

    f_alejandro Notebook Consultant

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    When I'm about to connect to my home wi-fi, it indicates 5-bar strength at approximately 5 meters away. After connection, it says 3 being rated as good. But don't worry, everything is fine. Speed is not affected even if you are at maximum distance from the router. :)
     
    f_alejandro, Apr 19, 2007
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  4. sp00n

    sp00n Notebook Deity

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    I believe the Macbook Pro uses the same Atheros wireless chipset as the Macbook does. It is an excellent wireless card. Compared to the Intel wireless card included in the Centrino package, the atheros card gets much better range than the intel card.
     
    sp00n, Apr 19, 2007
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  5. f_alejandro

    f_alejandro Notebook Consultant

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    Atheros with Acer sucks though...
     
    f_alejandro, Apr 19, 2007
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  6. Private-Cowboy

    Private-Cowboy Notebook Consultant

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    The reason is a buggy Intel WiFi driver, not the chipset. I also got 3 bars for quite some time but after I updated the driver to the newest 11.1.0.86 I get full signal strenght no problem. I'd try the updated WiFi drivers, get them from the Intel site.
     
    Private-Cowboy, Apr 19, 2007
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  7. Alan Kaf

    Alan Kaf Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you upgrade to the latest drivers, there is an issue with a Sony bug in the Sony Wireless Device Switch -- it won't work, at least on the SZ3xx family.

    --Alan
     
    Alan Kaf, Apr 19, 2007
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  8. bananadude

    bananadude Notebook Enthusiast

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    On my new SZ3VWP/X my wireless signal strength is excellent, and I'm about 5-6 meters away from the router.
     
    bananadude, Apr 19, 2007
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  9. vaioman

    vaioman Notebook Guru

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    i'll appreciate if you can give us the link....
     
    vaioman, Apr 20, 2007
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  10. ABOVEALLELSE

    ABOVEALLELSE Newbie

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    If the Sony wireless driver is not upping your signal try the latest direct driver from Intel.
     
    ABOVEALLELSE, Apr 20, 2007
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  11. ABOVEALLELSE

    ABOVEALLELSE Newbie

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    download the driver directly from Intel.
     
    ABOVEALLELSE, Apr 20, 2007
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  12. biumoc

    biumoc Notebook Consultant

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    Do you use the Intel ProSet to manage Wifi?
     
    biumoc, Apr 20, 2007
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  13. elizabex

    elizabex Notebook Evangelist

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    For whatever it's worth, I typically get 3 bars on my SZ360 running Vista when sitting a few meters away from my router. When I used XP, the computer would always register 5 bars.

    I haven't looked at what my actual bandwidth is ----- but suspect that the signal strength is actually probably pretty similar, in spite of the lack of bars. What do those things mean, anyway? :p
     
    elizabex, Apr 20, 2007
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  14. f_alejandro

    f_alejandro Notebook Consultant

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    True. there is no speed difference with 3 bars and 5 bars. The only problem of the intel driver is the display meter calculation. Anyway, just upgraded to version 11 of the driver. Works pretty fine. Now it displays 5-bar and the speed is exactly the same. :)
     
    f_alejandro, Apr 21, 2007
    #14