E1705 Lost Internet Connection

Question

Good Day All,

I could use some help here. My E1705 was fine for a while. Now I can't connect (wirelessly) to internet. I up-graded the intel drivers, checked my router several times, still nada.
"Wireless Troubleshooter" shows no errors. When I click |Connect to wireless network|
I get "Connecting"... "Unable to connect to..." The network is found and the signal has 5 Bars. I've un-installed the card and re-installed it several times. I've tried allowing Windows to connect. That doesn't work either. It tries to "repair" network but fails and tells me to contact network admin.

Any thought's?

...screamer

JC64 · Answer

Anybody know how to buy cheaper ink for my dell 924 all in one printer???? Jay

Suzbandit · Answer

Other than the wireless issue, how do you like your E1705? I just ordered one today and cannot wait to get it! The only thing that is disappointing is I cannot get the express card yet. I hope they put it on the market soon, because I need to access the internet away from home! :smileyhappy:

Suzbandit · Answer

I wish I knew where to find cheaper ink. I too have a 924 and am in graduate school, printing numerous papers and such. I go through one black ink cartridge in less than a month. They are not refillable either, I have tried, because my husband has a lexmark with refillable cartridges, so we have the ink. It stinks big time! lol

If you find a place, let me know!:smileyhappy:

Suzbandit · Answer

Have you checked your wireless router? Might be something wrong on that end :smileyhappy:

DianeBaby · Answer

Can you tell me, is this 'Expresscard' supposed to be comparable to Verizon Wireless' Broadband Wireless Aircard, that gives you internet access anywhere without having to try to find a hotspot, locate an internet cafe or library?  I can't get anywhere with Dell.  I ordered the Aircard at the same time I ordered my E1705, only to find out later that there is no PCMCIA slot anymore, and it's been replaced with an Expresscard area that's empty because they don't have it on the market anymore.  I've been trying everything to find some kind of an adapter but they don't exist yet in the stores, to bridge between the Verizon PC Card and the computer.   I get a run a runaround at Dell, have been transferred to every department, hung up on, spoken rudely to, and have had so many different stories and lies that verizon sells the adapter twice... I'm at a complete loss.  Your post is the first that I've seen in writing that even hints that it may be comparable to the broadband wireless 'anywhere anytime' internet access.  I was told that the Expresscard only 'boosts your WIFI card but you still have to have a router or signal nearby', meaning you still have to find a hotspot or internet cafe.   Thanks.. I'm so researched 'out'.. I hope you respond :)  Diane

Entropy42 · Answer

@DianeBaby wrote:

Can you tell me, is this "Expresscard" supposed to be comparable to Verizon Wireless' Broadband Wireless Aircard, that gives you internet access anywhere without having to try to find a hotspot, locate an internet cafe or library? I can't get anywhere with Dell. I ordered the Aircard at the same time I ordered my E1705, only to find out later that there is no PCMCIA slot anymore, and it's been replaced with an Expresscard area that's empty because they don't have it on the market anymore. I've been trying everything to find some kind of an adapter but they don't exist yet in the stores, to bridge between the Verizon PC Card and the computer.

I get a run a runaround at Dell, have been transferred to every department, hung up on, spoken rudely to, and have had so many different stories and lies that verizon sells the adapter twice... I'm at a complete loss. Your post is the first that I've seen in writing that even hints that it may be comparable to the broadband wireless "anywhere anytime" internet access. I was told that the Expresscard only "boosts your WIFI card but you still have to have a router or signal nearby", meaning you still have to find a hotspot or internet cafe.

Thanks.. I'm so researched "out".. I hope you respond :) Diane

ExpressCard is the replacement for the old CardBus standard, which numerous manufacturers have been adopting. Supposedly HP since 2004, IBM/Lenovo since mid-2005, and now Dell and Apple as of January 2006. Essentially, once peripheral manufacturers catch up, in any case where you would have purchased a CardBus card (such as for 3G mobile data access such as EVDO service from Verizon or Sprint or HSDPA from Cingular or T-Mobile when they roll out such service), you would now purchase an ExpressCard. There are unfortunately not many ExpressCard peripherals on the market at the moment, which is reminiscent of the state of USB peripherals when the Apple iMac was released (at the time there were almost no USB peripherals on the market). Note how quickly that lack of USB peripherals changed - now that both Dell and Apple are forcing the ExpressCard issue, I expect more EC peripherals to come on the market soon.

There are now ExpressCard solutions for both the EVDO and HSDPA standards that exist from Novatel, but are still going through service provider qualification and testing. I've heard an estimated general availability of this month or next month.

DianeBaby · Answer

So am I to understand that the Expresscard, when it IS available, will act as Broadband Wireless Internet, NOT dependent on finding hotspots, internet cafe's, etc...like the Verizon PC Card, with the ability to have internet access anywhere? Or will it be limited? Verizon's is dependent upon their calling area. I wonder what will Dell's limitations will be based on, and if they'll have a monthly access charge? Will those of us that have the card slot for the ExpressCard have to order it when it becomes available? Sorry, I've heard so many different things I have no idea. What you said about the USB ports makes total sense.. in their beginning they were scarce. But when they took off, they really flew. Dell told me they wouldn't be like Verizon, but would only "boost" the signal from a routered source, like internet cafe, etc.

I'm not familiar with what the "old CardBus standard" was so some of that didnt make sense. Thanks!! Diane

Entropy42 · Answer

@DianeBaby wrote:

So am I to understand that the Expresscard, when it IS available, will act as Broadband Wireless Internet, NOT dependent on finding hotspots, internet cafe's, etc...like the Verizon PC Card, with the ability to have internet access anywhere? Or will it be limited? Verizon's is dependent upon their calling area. I wonder what will Dell's limitations will be based on, and if they'll have a monthly access charge? Will those of us that have the card slot for the ExpressCard have to order it when it becomes available? Sorry, I've heard so many different things I have no idea. What you said about the USB ports makes total sense.. in their beginning they were scarce. But when they took off, they really flew. Dell told me they wouldn't be like Verizon, but would only "boost" the signal from a routered source, like internet cafe, etc.

I'm not familiar with what the "old CardBus standard" was so some of that didnt make sense. Thanks!! Diane

PCMCIA (which was renamed to PC Card) came in two revisions. The first was just called PCMCIA and was a slow 16-bit bus, CardBus allowed for a 32 bit data path at a higher clock rate (more bandwidth to the peripheral), and was backwards compatible with the old cards. ExpressCard has over twice the bandwidth capability of CardBus if not more, but for technical reasons there is no way it could have been made backwards compatible, just like PCI Express slots can't hold PCI cards in desktop machines.

The card Dell is potentially providing would be exactly the same as what Verizon offers. In fact you would almost surely have to take Dell's card and register it with a provider such as Verizon. (I have no idea how this was handled with Dell's PC Card mobile broadband solutions so I couldn't tell you, but it would be the exact same deal except that instead of plugging into an old PC Card slot it would plug into an ExpressCard slot.) There's a chance Dell could have a reseller partnership deal with a provider similar to what Earthlink does where you would buy service from/through Dell, but the service would actually be provided by Verizon's or Sprint's network. (Earthlink service is simply resold Verizon or Sprint service, nothing more.)

There are no WiFi cards available for ExpressCard yet (I expect this to change soon, PCI Express-capable WiFi silicon exists, with the built in wireless of the new ExpressCard laptops being a perfect example, but no one has packaged it in the ExpressCard format yet.), so currently it could not be used to "boost a WiFi" signal, and honestly never could be. Whoever from Dell told you that was an idiot. (Unfortunately, it's hard for companies to hire qualified sales reps, because those knowledgeable enough about computer hardware to give customers GOOD advice can make far more money in other jobs.)

There ARE ways to increase the strength of a WiFi signal, but none are within the realm of something an average user can do, with the exception of some wireless routers supporting high-gain antennas. (Linksys sells some, and some people build their own, such as the infamous Pringles cantenna) The ExpressCard slot wouldn't have anything to do with this though. Eventually, you might use the ExpressCard slot to upgrade to a new wireless standard better than what is supported by the built in PRO/Wireless chip. (Such as the upcoming 802.11n MIMO standard.) This wouldn't be boosting the signal from your built in WiFi adapter though, it would be completely replacing it.

DianeBaby · Answer

THAT language I understand!!! That's good to know. I was wondering why they put the Expresscard slot in there and then don't sell the card itself..but it sounds like its on its way and I'll be "ready" for it. I'm sure it will be a totally proprietary situation that you can't buy any other card. It'll be interesting to see who the carrier is and the rates.

Verizon actually found a way for me to have the Broadband Wireless connection through my new Motorola RAZR V3 cellphone when I had cancelled the Broadband PC Card. All I had to do was order the Mobile Office Kit that has the software and cable I need and they said I will have the exact same broadband coverage as the PC Card. It won't drain my phone, nor will it slow the connection because the phone is acting as the router. The NICE thing about this, is that I don't have to take a one or two year contract out, and I can cancel or add the service as I need without incurring any extra charges. It will still cost the same amount to use the service as it would with the Broadband Wireless PC Card. But if something happens to my computer in the next one or two years, I'm not stuck paying the monthly charge or having to face a $175.00 early penalty fee. It sounds like a good deal. I'll know more in a few weeks after using it if it is too good to be true or not. In any event, it'll tide me over til I find out what Dell will offer us when the Expresscar goes on the market.

Thank you again for the easy to understand information! :) Diane

Entropy42 · Answer

@DianeBaby wrote:

THAT language I understand!!! That's good to know. I was wondering why they put the Expresscard slot in there and then don't sell the card itself..but it sounds like its on its way and I'll be "ready" for it. I'm sure it will be a totally proprietary situation that you can't buy any other card. It'll be interesting to see who the carrier is and the rates.

Verizon actually found a way for me to have the Broadband Wireless connection through my new Motorola RAZR V3 cellphone when I had cancelled the Broadband PC Card. All I had to do was order the Mobile Office Kit that has the software and cable I need and they said I will have the exact same broadband coverage as the PC Card. It won't drain my phone, nor will it slow the connection because the phone is acting as the router. The NICE thing about this, is that I don't have to take a one or two year contract out, and I can cancel or add the service as I need without incurring any extra charges. It will still cost the same amount to use the service as it would with the Broadband Wireless PC Card. But if something happens to my computer in the next one or two years, I'm not stuck paying the monthly charge or having to face a $175.00 early penalty fee. It sounds like a good deal. I'll know more in a few weeks after using it if it is too good to be true or not. In any event, it'll tide me over til I find out what Dell will offer us when the Expresscar goes on the market.

Thank you again for the easy to understand information! :) Diane

Glad to help, and good to hear you found an alternative. BTW, I hinted at this but the ExpressCard slot can be used for other peripherals, and while there are no ExpressCard wireless peripherals on the market, there are others such as gigabit Ethernet adapters, SATA controllers, and Firewire adapters.

And the solution you found is definately a good one, a variant of it is what I use with my Treo 650 via Bluetooth. (Which your RAZR might also allow you to do, although Verizon likes to disable Bluetooth dialup networking on their phones.)

DianeBaby · Answer

Well all, in getting back to you as promised on the issue of no PC Slot vs No Broadband Wireless anytime-anywhere Internet coverage...   I posed the solution of Verizon offering the secondary alternative to this since I have no slot to stick their Broadband Wireless Card into with my new E1705.   They sent me the 'Mobile Office Kit'.  It comes with an installation CD and a USB cord that connects my new RAZR V3 Motorola cell phone to the E1705.   IT WORKS.  Not only does it work, IT WORKS WELL!  Connection speed is just the same as running it off of my WIFI card and Secure Router at home.  IT WORKS ANYWHERE!  My co-workers are completely jealous that I have internet on my laptop inside of our office, where personal internet is impossible due to their secure connection.  IT CONNECTS IMMEDIATELY!  No waiting, no drag time -super fast and efficient.  AND THE BONUS... IT CHARGES THE PHONE WHILE ITS CONNECTED TO THE E1705!  Isn't this wonderful.  Granted you can't get calls but it's supposed to bring up a screen telling you that there's incoming so you can disconnect.  If I need to use the phone, I simply unplug the phone and use it right away.  The internet on the computer disconnects.  I'm done on the phone, I plug it back into the USB port on the E1705, it brings up the Verizon Access Manager screen, I click 'Connect' and I'm baaaccckkkkk... that fast.    So for the minor cost of $39.99 for the kit.. the charge is the same for the Broadband Access through Verizon monthy as using their PC Card.  Again, the bonus here is I can add and remove the anytime anywhere access with no monetary penalty of $175 as with their 2-year contract with the actual PC Card.    I'm very excited to share this with everyone.  Check with your carrier and see if they have something similar.  Verizon only offered it to me after I said I had to send their card back to them.  This is a very easy solution until the ExpressCards (if ever) are on the market!   Thanks for everyone's help!! :)  Diane

bmacrr · Answer

Andy,

I've read several of your post about the Express Card. I bought a new Dell laptop and was using the Merlin S630.

Are these my only options, buy a external reader (USB Adapter for Cardbus Wireless Modem 3G Cards : U132) or use my Treo 650 & DUN?

If I use the 650, do I need to install the patch from Shadowmite?

Thanks,

Brian

Entropy42 · Answer

@bmacrr wrote:

Andy,

I've read several of your post about the Express Card. I bought a new Dell laptop and was using the Merlin S630.

Are these my only options, buy a external reader (USB Adapter for Cardbus Wireless Modem 3G Cards : U132) or use my Treo 650 & DUN?

If I use the 650, do I need to install the patch from Shadowmite?

Thanks,

Brian

I'm not sure if the Merlin was a 1xRTT (ExpressNetwork) or 1xEV-DO (BroadbandNetwork) adapter.

If your phone is a T650, you will only be able to access 1xRTT networks via Bluetooth DUN. This used to require the Shadowmite hack, I heard that supposedly the latest Verizon update removed the need for the Shadowmite hack, but I can't remember if I've got the hack installed or not right now. :) (I am using the latest 650 firmware).

I'm not sure if the Treo 700w supports BTDUN or Mobile Office Kit, same for the upcoming 700p. I may find out soon. I'm soooo tempted to pay full price for yet another Treo upgrade.

raq · Answer

hi all,

i think one of the most uninspired decisions taken by a computer manufacturer is Dell's decision to eliminate PCMCIA in favor of ExpressCard way ahead of a maturing industry of the latter. did you guys find any other use than wireless, etc., connectivity & tv-tuner for this slot? for me, there's no use i can think of that i couldn't have provided from the very beginning through hardware customization (i'm not interested in tv applications). i'm interested in using this laptop for audio applications - it is, after all, an entertainment computer - and found the day it shipped out that it has no PCMCIA slot. it's my fault, i should've read those specs in closer detail, but i just didn't imagine they would just give it up when availability of ExpressCard hardware is basically non-existent. i can only play dvd-audio at full 192kb using the audigy 2zs notebook (PCMCIA), or internal PCI cards, also from creative. the external option is audigy 2nx, but, to make my day even better, it has been discontinued.

i think by means of this decision, Dell endangers its market very much. they cultivate the idea that Dell is the cutting edge of technology, but i think what they're going to manage to cut is their market share. it's such a stupid and unconsidered decision that i cannot believe it got through all levels of decision at Dell.

can you guys think of a solution for me. do you know of adapters PCMCIA-to-ExpressCard, or PCMCIA-to-USB that could help me accommodate the audigy 2zs on this laptop?

thanks a lot,

aR.

Entropy42 · Answer

@raq wrote:

i think by means of this decision, Dell endangers its market very much. they cultivate the idea that Dell is the cutting edge of technology, but i think what they're going to manage to cut is their market share. it's such a stupid and unconsidered decision that i cannot believe it got through all levels of decision at Dell.
>

No, it doesn't limit their market at all, given that their competitors made the same move BEFORE they did. I believe HP started over a year ago, so did IBM/Lenovo, Apple announced the MacBook Pro a few weeks before the E1705/9400.

CardBus wasn't fast enough to provide maximum performance with gigabit Ethernet (available for ExpressCard), SATA (Also available for ExpressCard), and a few other upcoming technologies.

FYI the onboard audio of the E1705s is VERY high quality and digital output is available. Also, 192 kHz sampling rates at 16 bits are pure marketing propaganda invented to line Creative's pockets and no more, at most a 96 kHz sampling rate benefits you by relaxing the needs for image rejection/antialiasing filter design. The only other peripheral people have found lacking is EVDO and HSDPA aircards, but there are plenty of native USB solutions available (such as the RAZR V3 and Treo 700w/700p) that they would have found if they'd spent 5 minutes with their service provider's sales rep instead of 30 ranting here.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

E1705 Lost Internet Connection

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