D600 network connection drops intermittently

I don't know if this will help, but try changing the SSID and bumping up the channel # to 11.  This helped a great deal with my linksys router, but unfortunately, it still drops the connection once a day, requiring a reset on the router.

 

 

I am having a similar issue, We have just boaugh about 15 D Series Laptops, and we have having issues with some of them, the problem is that the are all intermitantly loosing connection on our Vlans, however, all of our IMB and Dell C series have no problems at all. I have updates the BIOS, downloaded and installed the updated drivers from Brodcom, Tested network setting, adjusted the setting to make sure that the intergrated NIC card is looking for a connection first, we have tested out cisco routers and it is not showing any problems, I have an isolated Vlan in my tech room that does not run and IPX protocals and the laptops have no problems at all here, but the second these D series his the main network, connection problems all over the place.

This is a new building running CAT6, cisco routers and supports over 500 machines. so do we have an answer with this connection issue with the D series brodcom cards?

 

-SyN_Khyron

Message Edited by SyN_Khyron on 11-21-2003 10:28 AM

Message Edited by SyN_Khyron on 11-21-2003 10:29 AM

Ok folks!!! I finally figured out how to fix this problem. I two also have the great (sarcasm) Linksys Wireless router and have had the same issues with the TM 1300 dropping in and out. This is actually firmware issue with the card trying to authenticate using EAP even though authenticate is disabled, it still trys though. Here is how to fix it.

 

1.) Go to the wireless properties of the wireless card.

2.) Select the preferred network that has the problem, and go to the properties.

3.) Select the "Authentication" tab

4.) By default, the option "Enable 802.1x authentication" is disabled. Enable this option.

5.) Next, unselect the option "Authenticate as computer when computer info is available".

6.) Then, re-disable the "Enable 802.1x authentication" option to gray everything out.

 

 

 

If any of you are also using a Cisco 1200 series AP, then you are also probably having a problem getting connected to it also. This is even a better problem.

All you have to do, is go into the configure option for the TM 1300 card and change the preamble or (PLCP Header) to "Long" instead of auto.

 

The problem is that by default, most wireless APs use short by default. The TM 1300 appearantly has trouble deciding which preamble to use "short" or "long". Since you cannot change the setting to "Short", you can change it to "long" and then the Cisco AP should detect that your card is not short compliant and then send the preambles automatically long.

 

 

 

Let me know if these work for you!

pault66 - I believe the original poster was talking about the WIRED card (the SSID/channel would apply to a WIRELESS card).

Jacutis,

Where did you get this information?  This is one thing I haven't tried yet (I have tried them all ;) )

I'm still having the connection dropping issue after changing the router and I'm having a Dell rep come over today to "change" the 1300.  This is the ony way to get a Dell rep to come to the house BTW, have something "changed".  I have tried just about everything posted on this board and whatever I have been told by the wireless tech support. (which is pretty hard to find any tech support for wireless, there's no wireless support on weekends and 3 out of 3 tech reps that I spoke with said they didn't know too much about wireless even though they were the wireless contact ?)

Has anyone tried this with success? Man, I'd really love to find out that this is the solution, unfortunately I won't have access to the laptop for a week.

Cheers

 

Finally fixed this problem.  The instructions from Broadcom on how to use their card with a RIS server were corrupting the network drivers.  I've since done a clean WinXP OS install using the Dell CD and the problems have disappeared.

I'll tell you what solved it for me was to have a Dell rep "replace" the miniPCI card on my D600.  I'm not sure if it was a faulty card, or installed improperly, or something else because all that was done (so I'm told) was that he took out the old and put in the new...

I had tried many many other possibilities and got very frustrated and asked for someone from Dell to come and get this working.  They said they wouldn't just send someone to configure my Wireless setup, that it had to be a faulty hardware replacement.  So I said my miniPCI is faulty come and replace it.  So they did and, of course they would need to configure it and test it soooo this was basically what I asked for anyway :)

 

 

Hello, we just purchased 75 of the D600 Dell Latitude laptops and are having the same problem with them intermittently dropping from the network using the Broadcom 570 network adaptor.  Can you or anyone tell me what was the solution to this problem?  Thanks

Basically the solution was to completely remove the network driver (delete any .inf files from the installation as well) and then reinstall the drivers.  Our laptop build loaded the drivers from a RIS server using the instructions from Broadcom http://www.broadcom.com/drivers/faq_drivers.php#80 but these installations kept dropping the connections at random.

I'm having the exact same problem with the three d600's that I manage. I have the latest drivers and reinstalled them too, but all to no avail. Dell even sent out a technician to replace the docking stations and most of the laptops' internals (less CPU, RAM, HD, etc.) The most frustrating part is that you can't test any given "solution" without waiting to see if the connection fails again, and that can take up to a day or two. I'm not sure what else to try. It seems apparent that there's a problem with the Broadcom driver or possibly a problem with the design of the NIC hardware. It must be specific to an incompatibility with certain hubs/routers or other software (our software, however, is very "garden variety" -- MS Office, Visual FoxPro...) given that it's only a large minority of them that fail. It's disappointing that Dell doesn't have the ability (or desire?) to determine exactly what is causing these problems.