e1505 wireles connection problems

Question

I purchased this computer in June and have nothing but problems since and I am getting very discouraged. I spent way way too much money on this thing to not be able to stay connected to the network/internet. I hope someone has some suggestions for me that will acutally work. I have tried everything and cant stay connected. I dont even know if I will be able to post this message. The problem is getting so much worse now and I dont have a clue what has changed.  I was connected with my old Dell with no problems ever and no one elses computers in the house are having these problems just this E1505....which leads me to believe its an issue with this thing! I am not happy and at this point and regretting the purchase...   I have the E1505, XP Media Edtion, Intel Pro Wireless 3945ABG, and Linksys Broadband Router (model BEFW11S4 ver 4) , connected to Charter Broadband... ( I hope thats everything needed) ok here is what is happening I keep getting messages saying that there is limited or no connectivity, then it will reconnect and a window saying the network is connected comes back on shortly. The signal strength goes from excellent to very low back and forth then it has no connectivity. This has went from 1 -2 times and hour to 1-2 times a MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I went threw a period where I had little or no problems and thought what ever the problem was had fixed itself.. now I am back to the way it was before but getting WORSE. I have to repair the connection atleast every 3rd time I get a message saying I have lost connection. And most of the time I cnat get it back... I have to go reset my router and that doesnt always work. Restarting, resetting router, and every combination of things inbetween. I have switched to letting windows manage my connection and that isnt a bit better.. I have been trying to download from Linksys and cant get it done becuaes I cant stay connected. I have also tried downloading the dell utility as well and cnat get it either becuase I cant stay connected... Since starting this post I have counted the number of times I have lost and reconnect to the network,  41 times and several of those I had to do a repair ... 41 times - dear goodness what is going on and can anyone please help me. Who knows if I can even get back on here - I have been attempting this for hours.. make it 43.. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

volcano11 · Answer

See if the following Intel document leads you to a solution to your problem:

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/cs-006205.htm

Also download and install the latest drivers for your wireless card from the Intel web site. Previous versions were buggy.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

You should be able to connect through a wired ethernet connection or another computer where you can download the file, save it to removable media, then copy it to the problem computer.   Steve

kathyjohnston · Answer

This isnt happening on battery power..so I am not sure if this is a solution.. I cant find some of the things they are speaking of on my version either... so dont know..... . and I cant stay connected long enough to download anything... I have been trying since my post to download the update for the driver...... please help?!?!?!?!

kicko · Answer

have you tried other connections?? maybe a neighbors or go to a starbucks and see if it works well there? if it does then its no the pc but rather your router. also why not just connect thru ethernet so you can download the drivers you might need? Message Edited by kicko on 09-14-200602:31 PM

kathyjohnston · Answer

I am wondering if it is indeed a problem that I am using a linksys router.. I have been told the problem is with that router, but since my other dell laptop and my dell desktop do not have the same problem I am unsure. I have read that the intelpro wireless card in the E1505 is not compatable with the linksys router... I do not have acess to the other computers in the household - they are password protected by the other members of the family - and will not be home till late tonight. I was hoping to have this solved before then, since this has been going on for 2 days... ugh... am I wasting my time trying all these other solutions becuase its going to be a compatiablitliy problem.. and if that is the case why did it get better for several weeks and then go absolutely nuts yesterday. BTW I have ran repeated virus scans and done system restores and no change... I followed the suggestions on the intel website, no change... thanks everyone for the help so far... but keep the suggestions coming.

kathyjohnston · Answer

I have downloaded the driver off the dell site for the wireless adapter, threw a wired connection to my router. It worked like a charm threw the router that way. I surfed for a bit and had no problems hooked up threw the ethernet wired connection to my router. I am now attempting threw the wireless card again and will see how long I stay connected... I can tell that my speeds are back up now and I think that is a good sign but I do not know at this time if it has taken care of the problem entirely... I will keep everyone posted - and if anyone thinks of anything else please post it for me :) thanks Message Edited by kathyjohnston on 09-14-200604:17 PM

unjdm · Answer

You've gotten some good information on your connection problem. Let me restate some and elaborate a bit.

I suspect your wireless connectivity is via an Intel card and you'll be happy to know there IS a solution. The problem has to do with an "undocumented feature" of the wireless called PSP (Power Save Polling) that works primarily when your laptop is running on the battery. This permits your wireless device to shut off devices that it's connecting to in order to save power. The references on the Intel site (below) show you how to minimize the impact of the Power Management settings. To correct the problem permanently, however, you'll need to do the following:

You'll need to upgrade the firmware of your router to the latest available.

You'll also need to upgrade your Intel wireless driver to the latest available (from either Dell or Intel).

Then you'll need to make the following changes to the Wireless Router Settings:

Under the Advanced Wireless Settings:

Change the VEACON interval from 100 to 50

Change the fragmentation threshold from 2346 to 2306

Change the RTS threshold from 2347 to 2304.

Updating the router firmware and wireless device driver will fix the problem by about 80%. The three additional changes should make the problem "go away."

http://support.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/cs-006205.htm

kathyjohnston · Answer

I will try these fixes asap, but just to let everyone know this problem is not happening on battery power only... I use the battery power seldomly and most often I am hooked to the power adapter... I updated the driver for the intel card and it didnt seem to make much of a difference although it may have calmed it down a bit. instead of several times a minute its has slowed to several times in 5 minutes... so ..... I will do that last suggested steps and post if there was a difference, I have already done what the intel sight said about adjusting the power management..... so I am not sure this will help but I am game... If I can figure it out that is.. KJ

kicko · Answer

did u try and go to some place like Starbucks and see if you lose connection there? It would verify if its your router/connection or the pc.

kathyjohnston · Answer

no starbucks around here, or internet cafes that I know of...

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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