Dell 1704 wireless card

Anyone else with issues?

Hi CHOMRICH,

Updating the latest 'wireless' driver should fix the issue. The following link will help you downloading the latest 'Wireless' driver:

http://dell.to/RkFk2H

If the issue is not fixed, please reply to this post with the system model and the exact nature of the issue. This will help us to provide a faster resolution.

I hope this helps.

Please let me know in case of any queries.

Thanks and regards
Harish R
#iworkfordell

Hi Harish,

I have a new 5720 with a 1704 card, built 9/17/12. It came preloaded with WLAN_6.20.55.51 driver and bios A09, both newer than what is available on the website. The card will start at excellent signal strength, 150mps speed, but quickly degrade to fair or poor, with speeds of 27 to 108 mps. Internet as measured by Speedtest is always slow, compared to my other laptops. If I disable WMM, internet speeds double, even at the 54 mps speed, but again quickly degrades, so I turned it back on. I have Bluetooth turned off, which helps. After much experimentation with advanced settings, I get the best results from, bandwith 20/40, bt-amp disabled, and minimum power consumption disabled, everything else default, Power management is unchecked in device manager, and maximum power is selected in power options. For reference, I use a Cisco E-1200 router which works flawlessly with my other laptops. Something is certainly wrong, but I can't figure it out. Help is appreciated.

Still awaiting the Dell response.

Anyone?

Thanks Rick,

Have tried all the above except the antenna tweak. Either option reconnects at 150 mps excellent signal, then degrades to fair or poor within 30 seconds. One interesting point is I have never been dropped, regardless of signal strength.

I have wpa2 personal security, and a Cisco e1200 router. this has gotten 300mps on other wireless cards.

CHOMRICH,

I just tried to look for the documentation for this adapter but could not locate it. I found the documentation for the other similar adapter that came out at the same time and it could be with the type of security you're using, maybe.

What is the make and model of your router? What type of security? What channel?

Rick

CHOMRICH,

Things to try...

Try changing from WPA2-AES to WPA2-PSK(TKIP) Security(Personal)

Try channel 11

Try turning off the firewall in the wireless router.

Some adapters do not like WPS and may need to be turned off.

Rick

I have same issue with the 1704 on a 3360.  We have 2 other 3360's that use the 1703 wifi adapter, so presume the 1704 must a recent upgrade. Like you, will wait for updated driver to see if resolves issue.

Tried all the above with no further improvement. Sure wish I knew optimal settings for all the advanced settings, but I can't find this 1704 manual either. Looks like I wait for a new driver, or talk to Dell about a swap for an Intel card. Appreciate your advice Rick, The silence of Dell tech support troubles me, like they have no answer either.

I have the 1704 wireless card on my Inspiron 15R 5520. It works fine when I am beside the router. When I go more than 10metres from the router it continually drops out. It's not a distance problem as my 5year old Dell 1501 works flawlessly in the same location! I have tried everything suggested by the Dell community but to no avail. Please Dell sort this problem out.

I have a very similar problem with my Inspiron 15R 5520,  it works fine when I am beside the router. When I go more than 5 metres from the router it continually drops out.

I don't wist to have to sit beside the router for the lifetime of this laptop

When I purchased my laptop 2 weeks ago, I asked the about the dell wireless card and they said there was no difference between this and the intel card. Obviously there is!

I tried all the steps listed by RockSt☆r-Rick K in his first comment and there is no obvious improvement!

What difference should changing the Antenna Diversity from Auto to Aux make?

Am I entitled to a swap for an Intel card?

thanks.

Gabe

We use a few these laptops for work, and tried different routers etc, with no luck.

I noticed on our most recent orders for these laptops Dell have switched back to the 1703 wifi card on the build list.

From the lack of updates of software drivers from Broadcom, we can only assume the 1704 has a design issue.