Vostro 5470 - does it still have WIFI issues?

Hi there, I just bought one of these, it seems that there is still some weird problem with the wifi card in this model. 

I am also interested in knowing if the issue has been resolved by Dell, or anyone else, or if I have to call Dell and ask for a return or exchange!

Anyone?

I've done my research and found this thread.

Basically it's faulty network card - Intel 7260. Problem is known for about a year, but neither Intel or laptop manufacturers aknowledge it. Solution is simple - changing network card for other model or using external USB WIFI dongle (which sounds very silly to me).

You should call Dell and ask for network card replacement. 

Please write in here what Dell's support will tell you.

Seems like changing the card in a laptop is rather problematic, becuase of the form factor. I will call dell about this, today and ask what can they do about it, as I definitely dont want to carry on with this problem.

And will start a thread about replacing this card, see if the collective experience can give us more information. 

miniPCIe network cards fits this model. People usually use Intel 6235anhmw or Intel 3160 mini

Please let me know what was their answer.

Yesterday I've ordered Vostro 5470 (made in July), I'm curious if Dell is changing cards for different model, if needed.

Today I've received 5470, made in September 2014. It still have wifi problem, no matter what drivers I use.

While being ~10 meters from router transfer drops dramatically:

Old Sony Vaio download speed: 20 Mbps

Vostro 5470 DL speed: 4-5 Mbps

I upgraded the driver of the carda directly from Intel, and then made a speed test together with my studio 1537, they both gave me the same speeds 10MBPS (download), 4MBps (upload) seems that has to do with my inet service.

Still, I was cheking the Inspirons and they all have exactly the same intel wifi card, Intel N 7260. The Latitudes have different cards.

Some Latitudes, for instance E7440, also have Intel 7260.

In my case (and many others) driver version is not important. No matter which one I use - tried also unofficial - wifi works very slow. Today, 5 meters from router, I had 0,5 Mbps, while on my second laptop speed was 30 Mbps.

On Monday I'm calling Dell's support, hope that they know this problem and are willing to change the card for different model.

Did you call Dell already?

Today their technician visited me. Told him all I know about the problem, but it didn't change anything - he swapped plastic back cover (!) for different one and blame it all on my router and internet provider.

Tried to explain him that situation repeats itself in couple of places that I've been, also that other electronics work properly in my house, but still - didn't change anything. 

I'll call Dell's support once again, but all I can say for know that I'm very dissapointed with its quality.

On the second visit technician:

1. Wanted to change back cover again. 

2. Changed wifi card for another Intel 7260 - this one didn't worked AT ALL. After 40 minutes of google research and changing drivers, he put my old 7260.

Conclusion from Dell's staff and their technician was: "This problem is unresolvable". 

I've gave them solution - changing card to Intel 6235anhmw - but again, they didn't listen.

Will call Dell for 3rd time, but I'm losing my patience.

On the 3rd visit Dell's specialist changed case, back cover, keyboard and couple of cables and connectors. He also put Intel 6235anhmw on my request. Unfortunately it didn't resolve problem, wifi still works at ~1Mbps speed.

Tried also couple of others network cards - from Atheros, AzureWave and Intel, but also didn't work properly.

Seems to me that Vostro 5470 have some kind of design/construction flaw.

It certainly seems so, I have published a review of the Vostro on Dell´s website, they banned it.

There is no option to upgrade the service contract, and the price seems to point the vostro is already discontinued.

So far it seems that with the latest driver from intel is working "fine", it doesnt drop the connection but speed do not reach the max.

I just don't get how manufacturer can offer flawed laptops for almost 1,5 year and don't do anything to fix that. They don't even acknowledge the problem. Even on this forum there are plenty of posts regarding wifi issues.