e6540 / e-port plus replicator / terrible wifi signal

Hi,

Can you tell us what the support agents have tried so far?  I assume the basics such as driver updates, positioning the port replicator to try to maximize signal strength, etc.  

Do you see the same signal strength issue when the monitors are turned off and unplugged?  Have they had you go in and try to change the power settings on the wireless card?    Have you tried different AC adapters to power the replicator / system?    I'm thinking of things that may cause added interference when powered on, that are specific to the use of the replicator.

If you can give us a list of what you've tried I'll attempt to find some other thoughts on what it could possibly be.  

Todd

1.  Told to update the driver, chip set, and bios.  Everything was already up-to-date.

2.  Told to move set up (docking station + laptop + monitors) close to router.  Router on 1st floor.  Set up on 2nd floor.  Moved set up down to 1st floor next to router...same terrible wifi signal strength when docked, fine when not.

That's all Dell Tech Spt has done for me in 3 phones calls.

3.  I swapped AC power cords (the laptop one with the replicator one), no change.

My son is the one with this set up and he's away at med school (so he has no time to mess with this).  I am trying to help him trouble shoot this.

I am in the process of having my son:

4.  Swap out the one monitor VGA cable with a new Display Port cable (the other monitor has a Display Port cable).

5.  Test monitor combinations with closed and open laptop while docked:

a.  Turn off/unplug one of the 22" monitors, laptop docked and closed, change display settings for change in monitors config, and check signal strength.

b.  Open laptop, now have 2 monitors, change display settings, check signal strength.

c.  Leave laptop open, add 2nd 22" monitor...so now have 3 up/open monitors, laptop docked & open, (probably display settings won't support this, but should still be able to see wifi signal strength).

6.  Disable Bluetooth (this seems to have helped many people).

7.  Disable n-band of adapter (this also seems to have helped many people).

Regarding Power Settings, the only thing I notice with the wifi adapter is regarding the battery, which is not applicable as the laptop is in the docking station.

If nothing else works, I will have my son...

8.  Install a USB wireless adapter.  I suspect this will solve the problem, but I will not know why.

Hi,

Check out this article on changing power settings for the Intel cards.  It may be interference causing the slower wifi speeds, but it could also be that the cards are being set to lower power settings when the system thinks its on a battery setting.  Not sure, but it's one other avenue to check.

Todd

Other piece of data....so when docked and using Secured home network, wifi signal < 1.  When docked and using Unsecured Xfinity, wifi signal 20-25.

So, both docked, but the Unsecured gets a signal of 20-25, while the Secured home gets only < 1.

When Secured home is undocked, then also get 20-25.

When Secured home, docked, and using USB adapter, then also 20-25.

4.  Changed out VGA cable for Display Port cable --> no increase in wifi signal strength.

5.  a.  No change.

     b.  Signal strength improved from < 1 to 19 (when undocked = 25)

     c.  Same as "b", when open in docking station, about 19.

6.  Disabled bluetooth on adapters, got the "yellow triangle", got no internet connection at all then.

7.  Same as 6.

8.  Closed, in docking station with USB adapter --> got 20-25 for wifi signal.

Other piece of data....so when docked and using Secured home network, wifi signal < 1.  When docked and using Unsecured Xfinity, wifi signal 20-25.

What are the current security settings on the Xfinity router?   WEP, WPA, or WPA2?   Have you tried changing the wireless security protocols and trying one of the others?  If so, any changes?

Todd