Inspiron E1505 with 1390 WLAN Mini-Card internet connection problems

Question

I recieved my Inspiron E1505 on the 20th of this month. So far i have spent about 4 hours on the phone with tech support, only to end up with the same problem again within minutes. I use a linksys router/g that does have a desktop successfully connected to the internet non stop. My network indicator says i am always connected to the internet, but whether or not i can access the internet is hit or miss. Sometimes the pages load and sometimes they dont. I have to restart my PC and press the refresh button on my windows over and over again. Limewire will never fully connect. Always says enabling. I use McAfee, which a tech configured. I'm not sure what else you might need to know to help me out.

C:\Users\Brenda>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Bluetooth Network Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::606c:d050:be7e:129f%10
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.101
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
   IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4136:e390:cf8:3bb:3f57:fe9a
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::cf8:3bb:3f57:fe9a%8
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 10:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.invalid
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.1.101%14
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

C:\Users\Brenda>

Message Edited by rox_anna on 02-22-2007 07:42 PM

volcano11 · Answer

rox_anna,   TVs and Stereos don't interfere with the wireless signal, but 2.4 Ghz cordless phones do.  Do you have such devices in the vicintiy?  If so, go into your router's configuration from a computer connected by a wired connection to the router and change the channel that the wireless uses to one of the extreme channels (1 or 11),  This should minimize the interference.    Steve

Orion84 · Answer

If it works sometimes and not others, it could mean theres something interfering with the signal.

When the signal is hit or miss, is the computer moving at the time? Do you move around when it is doing this.

Is the wireless router/modem itself in an area with alot of metal or near anything that may interfere with the signal, like TVs, stereos, that sort of thing.

Also when the connection drops, where are you in relation to the router/modem? If there is anything mentioned above in the last question in the way, it may interfere.

Also note, other wireless devices like cell phones or wireless phones may also mess up the signal.

Also what wireless channel is your router/modem operating on? If it is on channel 6, change it to either 1 or 11 and see if helps. Sometimes if other wireless signals are interfering, changing the channel to one of these may help.

I might not be able to stay up to help you with this further, but if you can answer these I'm sure the next person can help you further.

rox_anna · Answer

how do i change the router?   i am usually sitting on the couch about 5 ft from the router. i dont move much. there is a tv in here and a cordless phone and my cell phone too.

volcano11 · Answer

Without knowing which make and model router you have, it is difficult to provide details - time to get out the manual that came with the router.  Basically you log onto the routers configuration page from a computer that is connected to the router by a wired ethrnet connection, then find the option to change the channel used by the wireless part of the router.  You should change it to channel 1 or 11 to minimize interference.   Steve

E17thBuckeye · Answer

I just received a E1505 with Vista and have the same wireless problems.  After 6 hours of chatting with Dell Tech Support they said they have to develop a Driver so Vista and the 1390 wireless can be compatible.  Does this make sense?  I have been checking the drivers on the Dell website for the past few days, but it is still not out there.  Help!

Gina Q · Answer

Please check this link.

Gina Q · Answer

Yes, it is currently native to Vista. I suppose like everything there might be an update later. I will typically try and once I'm informed of any updates to drivers then I post them here.

Message Edited by DELL-Gina on 03-01-2007 02:19 PM

E17thBuckeye · Answer

What does it mean that the 1390 Driver is 'native' to the Operating System?  I was told by Dell Support that a driver was needed and in development.

E17thBuckeye · Answer

I just bought my E1505 in the middle of February.  Basically Dell sold me a laptop where the wireless card can't work with the Operating System.  It sounds like I have to replace the wireless card (at my own expense) so that it will work with Vista then.  What choices do I have?

Gina Q · Answer

Can you please explain what's going on exactly? You'v never really told us your problem. We know you have a 1390 wireless card do you also have an E1505? What type of a wireless router do you use? Have you updated the router firmware? Do you get any kind of signal? If you do what is the ipaddress? Do you get online at all even for a moment? Do you loose connectivity? Does it see your network? Is you network SSID hidden? If hidden you need to create a profile and check off the boxes that say:  Start this connection Manually and  Connect even if the network is not broadcasting. Any additional detail about your problem could help.

E17thBuckeye · Answer

I bought the E1505 in mid-February with Vista.  Prior to this I had a wireless network (Netgear router MR812 I think) and had an old Dell Latitude that used the wireless connection.  When I got the E1505 it read that I had a strong wireless signal, but could never connect to it.  I then spent a 6 hour chat session with Dell Support.  Dell Support took control of both of my laptops (old and new) and went in and verified all my settings with the laptop and routers.  Everything was correct.  The SSID is not hidden.  After 6 hours of chatting, they determined that a driver is needed for the 1390 card and Vista.  They told me in is in development, but had no timetable for its completion.  They said there is nothing I can do in the meantime, because the driver is needed for the wireless card.  Basically I am not sure what to do at this point.  I check the Dell drivers everyday like Dell Support suggested, and it is not out there.  Should I replace my wireless card?  Doesn't make sense that I should do that at my own expense.  I asked Dell Support if I should replace my router and they said I would have the same problem.  If I connect a ethernet cable from my E1505 to the wireless router, I can get on the Internet....I just can't go wireless.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Inspiron E1505 with 1390 WLAN Mini-Card internet connection problems

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