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XPS 15 9530 - Erratic/Poor WiFi Performance
Recently received the new XPS 15 9530 with the 512GB SSD option. For the most part, the laptop is performing okay. However, every few hours, the WiFi starts to behave erratically. The signal strength bars flicker between all 5 on, to just 4, to just 3, to just 4, etc. Data throughput goes to nearly zero and most web browser pages either load extremely slowly or timeout. Rebooting the laptop appears to fix the problem for a few hours, then the WiFi starts to act up again.
I called Dell support, and the technician had me download and install the latest network card drivers for the XPS 15 9530 (9530_Network_Driver_12TM7_WN_16.5.1.6_A00.EXE). A few hours later, the erratic WiFi behavior was back, indicating that the new drivers did not solve the problem.
I have my old Dell laptop (an XPS 15 L502X) here in same room as a reference machine. During the times when the WiFi connection on the new laptop is misbehaving, and the signal strength bars are flickering, the old laptop shows a rock solid WiFi signal and has zero trouble accessing the internet at high speed. In other words, there is strong evidence that the problem lies with the new laptop (the 9530), and not with my WiFi router, etc.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem with your XPS 15 9530? Any ideas whether it can be fixed? Or should I return the laptop to Dell for a refund?
bwest7000
1 Message
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January 10th, 2014 21:00
I am having exactly the same problem with my newly purchased XPS 15 9530. I downloaded the latest WiFi drivers directly from Intel but the problem still persists.
I also verified that the problem is not with my wireless router...another new laptop is >4x faster using the wireless speed test when the two laptops are sitting right next to each other. In addition, sometimes there is halted data transfer and I have to conduct a laptop reboot to get it "working" again.
The solution, unfortunately, may require me to return the product and wait until Dell can get their engineers to fix the issue, but that may be a while because I'm reading posts from well-over a year ago regarding faulty XPS product-line WIFI issues. My last resort is to see if there is a firmware bios update that perhaps will help.
bharatsahani
3 Posts
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January 27th, 2014 06:00
I have ordered my laptop and still waiting to get it delivered, but I have Googled almost every thing available over the internet regarding this lappy.
This might be a problem with your router rather than the machine.
This machine wi-fi card supports a new connectivity protocol which might not be compatible with the router you have.
I saw a video on Youtube regarding this. you can search that.
A way to find out the issue is to take your machine to a public wifi spots and see how it behaves.
To answer a bit technically, the router supporting 5.0 Bandwidth instead of 2.5 might do the trick.
aRgeto
1 Message
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February 10th, 2014 08:00
I am having this problem too. After several tests I found that it's Intel AC7260 driver problem - I recomend to instal version 16.0.5.3 - low ping and max. download and upload speed for me. Also I've block windows update to download newest wifi drivers ...
drswells
3 Posts
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February 26th, 2014 09:00
Rob B1
12 Posts
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March 4th, 2014 18:00
Some follow-up remarks: I was able to fix my WiFi connectivity issues by reconfiguring my routers. I have 2 Netgear 6300 routers in 2 separate locations - my laptop had intermittent problems both places. I went in and changed my router setting in the 2.4GHz band from "up to 450Mbps" to "up to 217Mbps" and then rebooted the router. For whatever reason, this configuration change appears to have fixed my WiFi connectivity issues in both locations. It's such a joy to have a reliable connection. Hope this "fix" helps others as well.
icemankent
4 Posts
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September 22nd, 2014 19:00
Add me to the list of people experiencing erratic WiFi connectivity.
I have a new xps15 9530 and the WiFi drops connectivity with no real reason as to why.
My other Dell inspiron is sitting right next to it and has no wifi issues at all.
My xps is brand new (new revised motherboard, etc) - as of sept 15 2014, so if there was to be any new parts, they're probably already in this laptop.
In any event, I can be right next to my router with full bars one minute, and then the next minute it drops the connection altogether - while all other wifi devices are still connected.
There is definitely an issue here, and it seems like there is no fix. I am still within my 30 day return period so I may think about my next steps here, as Dell has had a long time to perfect this machine, it boggles the mind how it could still have this problem after such a long time.
BTW, I am running on 802.11g 2.4Ghz if that even matters.
Rob B1
12 Posts
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September 22nd, 2014 21:00
Do you know what brand router you are using? I never fully got to the bottom of my WiFi issue, but it seemed to be related somehow to the settings I used on my Netgear router. Regards. -Rob
icemankent
4 Posts
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September 23rd, 2014 06:00
Well, last night I went to the Intel site and updated my drivers to the latest version 17.1.0.19.
I will see if that helps at all.
My router is a DLink DGL-4500.
I know that many will say that there seem to be incompatabilities between the new wireless cards and older routers, but honestly it is hard to believe when (all) other devices in the house (laptops included) have NO issues with connectivity, but this brand new XPS15 can't hold a connection for long, and drops intermittently with no explanation.
So did your problem go away - and if so, what router "setting" did you tweak to make yours play nicely with your Netgear router ?
I am on the fence regarding what to do - as I like this machine, but it (only) has WiFi, so if that is not reliable, then this becomes useless. I have no idea if it is a driver issue, a hardware issue, or a mix.
Has there been anyone that had these issues - where replacing the wireless card in the laptop fixed the problem ?
Rob B1
12 Posts
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September 23rd, 2014 10:00
Oh, shoot. In the first sentence of my reply above, I meant to say "2 separate locations" (not "occasions")!
Rob B1
12 Posts
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September 23rd, 2014 10:00
The tweak I made to both of my Netgear 6300 routers (in 2 separate occasions) are detailed in my March 4th post above Basically, it involves changing the bandwidth setting for the 2.4GHz band. After changing my router configuration, I've had very good WiFi performance. Very occasionally (perhaps once or twice a month - but by no means regularly), I'll notice that my WiFi has slowed down and will observe that my signal strength (as shown by the small icon in my task bar) has slipped from 5 bars to 4. When this happens, I just toggle my laptop quickly into and out of airplane mode (using the Fn-PrtScr key - the one with the little antenna icon). This is a simple thing to do and immediately corrects any sluggishness. Aside from this very occasional phenomenon, my WiFi works fine. I no longer consider it to be an issue.
As for whether or not to keep your XPS 15, only you can decide. I will note that, aside from its initial WiFi issues, this is by far the best laptop I've ever used. It really is a beautiful design, and it kicks *** in terms of performance. I wish you the very best whatever you decide.
icemankent
4 Posts
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September 23rd, 2014 18:00
Today I went and bought a brand new asus ac rt-87u router to eliminate it as the culprit.
While it is a much better router with a stronger connection - the issue with my Dell wifi still remains.
It is fine after a reboot, but after longer periods of actual use, the speed/throughput gradually degrades to the point that it is un-usable.
I have the latest drivers from Intel, so no luck there either.
The fact that a reboot fixes it (albeit, temporarily) makes me think it is firmware related - but I have no idea.
I am wondering if Dell would replace the wifi card to try and resolve the issue - or at least in an effort to try and fix what's going on.
I would hate to return this laptop, but I will if I don't find resolution before my 30 day return period expires.
Rob B1
12 Posts
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September 24th, 2014 01:00
Two questions for you:
1. How did you configure the 2.4GHz bandwidth on your new router? What max data rate did you set?
2. Did you try my suggestion of toggling the WiFi off then back on when your connection slows down? If so, did it work to restore your WiFi Speed? I found this trick was much faster and less onerous than a full reboot.
icemankent
4 Posts
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September 25th, 2014 12:00
Hi Rob,
1. My router does not have a setting to be able to configure the maximum data rate.
2. Toggling wifi on/off, disabling / enabling the wifi card in device manager, ipconfig release/renew - all did not help.
I have purchased a new router - an Asus ac rt87u.
I tested the 2.4Ghz band and still had issues so then I tried the 5Ghz band. So far it is more reliable on the 5Ghz band. I will keep this new router and monitor the performance to determine what to do next.
By the way, one thing that I discovered is that you cannot use BT and 2.4GHz wifi on this Intel AC7260 card simultaneously - they interfere like crazy and kill your wifi.
If I use 5Ghz band for wifi, then I can actually use the BT on this laptop and the two do not interfere with each other.