new nw slow wireless

I just got a new VGN-NW230 and the wireless seems very slow and has had problems connecting at times. The laptop has an Atheros AR9285 (it's N and the specs say it's 150 Mbps capable) and my router is a Netgear WNDR3700. I've updated the drivers on the Atheros and the router firmware is up-to-date. The card only reports connecting at 65 Mbps. I have another laptop with an Intel 5100 card and it connects anywhere between 150-300 Mbps. For a "real world" test, I compared the speeds on speedtest.net. The Atheros (Sony) is getting at most 1.5 Mbps down, while the laptop with the Intel 5100 gets 17 Mbps down. My work laptop has a G card and it is just as fast (if not faster) than the Atheros card in the Sony.

I also check out the speed in the web only mode (boots into Linux?) and the speed is the same there, so I don't think it's a problem with a setting in Windows. But I'm not a networking expert, does anyone have any idea on what to check to try to improve the speed?

 

There are a few updates - one is available on the Sony site - I think it's 8.0.0.238.

It helped me a little (YMMV). I was pretty disgusted with the card, to be honest.

I upgraded to an Intel 5300 that is *sweet*! Very fast and great range. Worth the 50 bucks.

 

I also have the Intel 5300 and Sony is as usual 1 driver update behind. I go to the Intel site to upgrade my wireless. Have you checked the Atheros site for the proper driver to see if it helps.

 

I've tried a few driver updates - the one from Sony and a more recent update I found on another site (8.0.0.279). Neither helped with performance, unfortunately.

I'm happy with the Intel 5100 in my other laptop - so I imagine the 5300 must be nice.

Was the upgrade difficult? The 5300 has 3 antennas right? Was the Sony already wired for that? Do you have an NW also?

 

I have a NW225. I put it a T9300, extra Ram (8GB now) and the 5300.

Just remove all of the screws and pop off the base and you are in. I haven't sought out the extra antenna yet - maybe I don't know what I'm missing but I've gone from 65mbs to 300mbs and I can easily watch HD over the network now so I'm not complaining. I'll probably get an extra antenna wire eventually when I get restless but it works great with two.

 

Do you drive a Honda Civic with a Ferrari engine?

 

LOL.

I've got about $1,050 in a system that suits my needs really well. No dedicated graphics but I'm not a gamer and the Intel Graphics plays HD movies just fine over a wireless network.

BTW, I drive an old Bio-burning Benz with a nice, new Sony Audio System.