VAIO Z-Series Wireless Connection Drops

I own a Z series Z540. After multiple Vista reinstalls and driver reinstalls, the wireless connection always drops. It would maintain connection for about 5 minutes, then it drops again. The wireless light stays on though.

I tried going on XP and ssee how that works out. Same problem, except that it drops when I MOVE it. And when it drops, the wireless light turns off, and when I move it back into a certain position again, the wireless light goes back on, and the wireless is back.

However, when I am on vista, the connection just drops for no reason, even without touching it, every 5 minutes. The light does stay on, though.

Anyone else having this problem?

I am about to return this.. I've only had it for about a month

 

What wireless card do you have?

 

According to the Device Manager

Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN

 

yeah.. i googled the problem, tried a fix, but didn't work

reinstalled drivers

 

First of all, make sure you don't have SmartWI running. It's a steaming pile of technology which doesn't handle multiple connections gracefully.

Judging by what happens, it looks to me like whenever there's a potential network change, including connecting an ethernet cable, or a BlueTooth device sending its "I'm here!", or an access point rotating its key, SmartWI responds by dropping all connections, and then reconnects.

To truly disable SmartWI, you have to run msconfig and disable it there (or uninstall it, but then you won't be able to use the WLAN card if you ever decide to).

 

SmartWi is not installed, i did a clean install and never installed the smartwi utility, i'm using the default windows wireless config

 

anyone any ideas?

 

This fixed it for me
http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-006205.htm#i

Use Network Control Panel Applet (NCPA) to Set CAM

Put the wireless adapter into Continuously Aware Mode using the following steps.

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Network Connections.
3. Right-click the wireless connection and click Properties.
4. Click Configure.
5. Click the Advanced tab.
6. Select the Power Management setting, uncheck Default / Auto and move the slider to Highest / Maximum Performance. Note: If the slider is already at Highest / Maximum Performance, move the slider to another setting and then back to Highest / Maximum Performance.

 

I have similar problem with my VGA Z series. The only solutions to this is
go Control Panel and select Uninstall Programs menu and select Intel (R) PROset Wireless WiFi Software then use Repair. It work very good. It solve your problem, it should be helpful yours.

I think nothing do with card, something do with software. I has happen when very low power on Sony laptop and it auto shut down with out notice me. And from that I notice that Wireless WiFi is losing by itself, don't know why.

 

Is there any update for the smart network utility? I´ve the same problems but i don`t wan´t do uninstall the tool...

 

I don't have a Vaio Z series but my TT series has the same Intel 5100 card. Have had a heck of time with this drop connections with this card. Sometimes it would hold the signal for 2 minutes, or it could be an hour. Completely unpredictable. I've tried all the standard suggestions but none helped. I ended up replacing my router with a D-Link DIR-655.

The TT notebook works flawlessly on public WiFi networks (libraries, Starbucks, and other coffee shops). I suspect the reason it works with these networks without drops is because none of the public networks I use have encryption.

So if you having trouble at home, try running your WiFi network without encryption first t see if it helps. I'm not advocating running your network without encryption. My TT seems to prefer running N mode with encryption set to WPA2. That's what I'm running now and it seems to have helped tremendously. I'm also running the latest Intel 5100 driver which is available on the Intel website.

The driver I'm unning is 12.4.0.21.

Lastly, I have my Wireless setting under Power Options set to Maximum Performance for both Battery and Plugged In.

Good luck.

 

Same problem here, no drops but every other day have to unplug wireless router etc.
Just one question. After double clicking "network and sharing", where is the "wireless connection" to right click?