Intel 4965AGN Can't Hold a Connection

Question

Hi, I have a Dell e1705 with an Intel 4965AGN internal wireless N card which can't seem to hold its connection. I have a Linksys Router and have tried different settings on the Wireless Network Mode from Mixed, have a unique SSID, and have tried the Radio Band set to  Auto, Std 20 Mhz and Wide 40 Mhz Channels, all with the same result...lost connection.  I have DSL and the other computers don't seem to have this problem.   Question?  Is there any settings on the Device Driver for this card that I'm missing? When its hooked in, I'm getting speeds of 130Mps.  But eventually it loses the connection.   Here are some of the options on the N card device managers...not sure what it all means. Does anybody know anything about this?   802.11n Channel Width 802.11 Mode Ad Hoc Channel 802.11.b/g Ad Hoc Default Wireless Mode Ad Hoc Pwr Mgmt Ad Hoc QoS Mode Mixed Mode Protection Roaming Aggressiveness Throughput Enhancement Mgmt Pwr Wireless Mode   Appreciate any input.   Thanks

best-try · Answer

Hi,

If Intel Pro/Wireless 4965 has connnection issues, a workaround is to disable the 802.11n mode under advanced properties.

802.11n Channel Width: Default is Auto (20 or 40 MHz depending on wireless access point (AP) or router to which the adapter connects. User may alternatively change to 20 MHz Only. Note: Only available with Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN.

802.11n Mode: Default is Enabled. Choosing Disabled allows for only 802.11b/g data rates, which are much slower. This might be disabled if the user knows there are no 802.11n APs or routers in close proximity. Note: Only available with Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN.

Ad Hoc Channel 802.11 b/g: Default channel is 11. One may configure channels 1-11 in countries regulating to those frequencies. Other geographical areas may allow for 1-13 or 1-14. Choices vary by the adapter SKU.

Ad Hoc Default Wireless Mode: Default value is 802.11b/g. 802.11a may also be selected. Ad Hoc networks (peer-peer) are temporary wireless networks created by users to directly connect to one another without using an AP or router.

Ad Hoc Power Management: Default value is Disabled. Users may also choose Maximum Power Savings when operating solely on battery power. Noisy Environment may be utilized if the user is in a 'noisy' radio frequency environment that requires the adapter to be continuously awake. This setting should only be used if connected to a power outlet.

Ad Hoc QoS Mode: Default is WMM Disabled; user may enable if the AP or router is capable and computer applications implement such functionality. WMM* (Wi-Fi Multimedia) was created as a method, based on the IEEE* 802.11e* standard for Quality of Service, for prioritizing various traffic types to enhance overall quality: voice, video, audio and data.

Mixed Mode Protection: Default value is CTS-to-self Enabled. The alternative is CTS/RTS Enabled. Use to avoid data collisions in a mixed 802.11b/802.11g environment. CTS-to-Self can be used to gain more throughput in an environment where clients are in close proximity and can hear each other. RTS/CTS should be used in an area where clients may not hear each other.

Roaming Aggressiveness: Default value is Medium: Balanced setting between not roaming and performance. You may also choose Lowest, Medium-Low, Medium-High and Highest. This setting allows you to define how aggressively your wireless client roams to improve connection to an AP or router. Lowest: Your wireless client will not roam to other APs or routers. Only significant link quality degradation causes it to roam to another AP.

Throughput Enhancement: Default value is Disabled. Enable to enhance the transmit throughput by enabling packet bursting. This is most likely unnecessary in a relatively quiet home or small-office setting.

Transmit Power: Default is Highest. Decrease the transmit power to reduce the radio coverage area. You may also choose Lowest, Medium-Low, Medium or Medium-High.

Wireless Mode: Default value is 802.11a/b/g for the Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. The default and other values depend upon the adapter on your system. Select which band to use for connection to a wireless network. The wireless modes (modulation type) determine the discovered APs or routers within range of your network adapter.

I got the above information from Intel Website under Product Information for Intel 4965 card.

Rgds

Chris

best-try · Answer

Hi,   I believe a driver update from Dell/Intel and a firmware upgrade from Linksys (if they are aware of this) should fix the problem. As per IEEE (group that approves all wireless standards), 802.11n is still in the testing stage and it should be approved by April 2008. :smileyvery-happy:   Rgds Chris

dar60014 · Answer

best, thanks for the quick reply. It worked and brought the internet connection back.  Now let's see if it stays connected at the g std.  Too bad though that we can't take advantage of the N speed but 54 Mbps connected is better than 130Mbps disconnected.   Now I'm wondering if anything could be done at the router end to help it stay connected with N enabled.  The router is a Linksys WRT150N.   Thanks again for your help.

flyte24 · Answer

Hi.

I have the same card and router as you. With my Inspiron 6400 + Vista Premium,
I have had no problems and constant connectivity. The only thing I had to do
was set my router to use the right authentication protocols - EAP. I figured
the proper setting by looking at

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/resources/doc_library/tech_brief/316286.pdf

and I remembered that I saw a setting on my router's admin page.

The only issue, albiet a small one, is that my router is set to be -only- N, but
Vista reports the connection (in the networks dialog) as 802.11g when you hover
the mouse over the network entry. Although it says "g", the bandwidth it reports
is 130Mbs. So I guess it -is- N, but I don't know why it says G.

dar60014 · Answer

flite 24, I don't know what the problem is here. The Linksys pci 802.11g card hooks in and stays connected. The Intel can't hold a connection. What do you mean EAP (employee Assistance Plan :)   All kidding, I have been on the Linksys forums too, to no avail.    And the wife says she lost the connection last night after I disabled the N as suggested here, and enabling the g std.  So what does that mean?  I'm fine tuning the Router per some suggestions and saw some new drivers for the Intel card that I will download this evening.   So, we'll see what happens.   Thx for the input.

flyte24 · Answer

What is your signal strength?

As for the EAP - it was a setting I saw in the router admin web page - Wireless
Security tab (I think.. I am currently at work and I don't remember the exact
place I saw it). I am assuming that the security settings are fine if you have
-some- connectivity. Until I set that setting I didn't have any connectivity.

dar60014 · Answer

welp, i downloaded the latest intel drivers and software. set the 4965 to the n std.  when i checked an hour later, it lost the connection. not sure what to do now. probably change a few settings on the router.

flyte24 · Answer

In Vista: Set the Encryption Type on your wireless network to AES / Security type to WPA2-Personal. In Router: Wireless/Wireless Secutiry tab: Secutiry mode = PSK2 Personal / Encryption type = AES

dar60014 · Answer

Hey Fly, Yep, that's what I got set up...from the beginning. WPA2- Personal; AES.   Now, one thing I did do late last evening was change the power monitor so that the hard drive never turns off, and made sure everything is turned on to max power, no sleeping, no hibernating, no power saving, and see what happens.   Next will be a call to Dell Tech, since the pc is under warranty.  Maybe a new wireless card?  I don't know.  Worse case, or maybe best case would be to buy a Linksys n std card and set that for the wireless.  My guess is problem would be solved.  But it'll cost me an addional $100 to go that route, unless anybody has any other ideas.   Thx in advance.

hnsandeep · Answer

Hi

Try the following steps in the order given which might resolve the issue.If not please update on the same.

1) Reinstall wireless card drivers ( http://tinyurl.com/274n6o)

2) Do a power cycle( switch off the sys,router everything completely for more than 3 minutes.start the router first after 3 min and then the laptop.

3) If still nogo, click on Start,Run,type in" services.msc " and click on Ok

scroll to an option called wlan auto config and check if the Status is started and the startup type is automatic.Coz sometimes this will stop automatically after sometime.In such a case manually stop it and restart the service.You can find Stop,start and restart options if u right click on that service.

4) Please also note that there is an urgent update for updating your bios in support website for your system ( http://tinyurl.com/3xst8u). please update it for better performance of your system.updating bios may also help resolve ur wireless issue

The above steps will probably resolve this issue if you change it to N. If still nogo,update so that we can get it resolved

5) Note that B and G standards work in 2.4 ghz range and N standard works in 5 ghz. So when you are using N make sure there are no devices such as cordless phone in Range which will cause this intermittent.

6) You can also check in Safe mode with Networking If any of the above steps doesnt resolve the issue to eliminate software od antivirus problem.

Cheers

Sandy

Message Edited by hnsandeep on 05-22-2007 08:25 AM

Message Edited by hnsandeep on 05-22-2007 09:12 AM

dar60014 · Answer

thanks for the info. i updated and flashed the bios, but it still will lose the connection...even on the g std.  we have 2 other xp pro machines with wireless, and neither ever loses the connection.   the vista is a piece of junk (wife's words).

hnsandeep · Answer

1) Goto device manager and double click on the wireless card under network adapters.

Under power management U will have an option which says wireless make sure it is set to maximum.

2) click start,run type in cmd click Ok. type in ipconfig and get the default gateway.put it in internet explorer address bar.This will open the router page. Find channel settings here and change the channel to 7 or 11. Change the current channel.If,nogo.try next step.

3) Encryption key has to be 10 digit alphanumeric ideally letters from "a" to "f" and numbers from "1" to "9" if it is a 64 bit key. If its a 128 bit key then it has to be 13 digit alphanumeric.Change this and try.

Cheers

Sandy

Message Edited by hnsandeep on 05-24-2007 07:16 AM

dar60014 · Answer

Yeah I guess its resolved.  What seems to work is changing the Linksys N router from mixed to g only, and then setting the 4965 card to g std only too.  Its 54Mbps rather than the 130 setting, but at least it stays connected. Thx for your help.

hnsandeep · Answer

Hi       wanted to know if the issue was resolved.Please update and if it is not resolved,lemme find a resolution for this.    Cheers:smileyvery-happy:    Sandy

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Intel 4965AGN Can't Hold a Connection

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