Problems w/ 1470 WLAN card

Question

I have a Dell Inspiron 600M with a Dell 1470 Dual-band WLAN mini-PC card. I've used it without any problems since November 2005. I connect to my cable modem via a Linksys Wireless-G router (WTR54G Ver.6), which has also worked perfectly since I bought it in August. I have started having connectivity problems with my wireless connection. (My desktop has a wired connection to the router, which is problem-free, and my Inspiron can also get a wired connection to the router without any problems.) My laptop will connect without any problems with an Excellent Signal and speed of about 54 Mbps or 36 Mbps. Then, the speed will drop to 1 Mbps, and I will disconnect. When I click on the connection icon and ask to see available networks, nothing is detected, even though I know that there are multiple networks available in my building. Sometimes, repairing the connection will work, sometimes not. After the problem developed, I downloaded and installed the new driver, but that did not solve the problem. Any have any suggestions? Thanks.

MRF4700 · Answer

Try downloading and installing the latest firmware for your router and see if that rectifies the problem.   http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1166859837401&packedargs=sku%3DWRT54G&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=3740137401B01&displaypage=download#versiondetail

Socket_dc · Answer

Thank you for the suggestion; I should have said that I had the latest drivers and firmware for both the router and the card. I read in a back issue of Smart Computing that uninstalling and re-installing the card might help. Could someone give some help for doing that? Any directions on the site? Thanks.

MRF4700 · Answer

This may help:   http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins600m/en/om/T8109bk2LRs.pdf

Socket_dc · Answer

OK, I've done everything I can think of. Drivers and firmware for router and WLAN card are all up to date, and I checked the card itself, but I'm still having the same problem -- speed degrades to 11 or below, then disconnects, even though Signal shows as "Excellent." I've tried using the card's own configuation utility as well as the MS utility, and various security settings, and I have the same problem. I also changed the channel from 6 to 1 and then 11, and no solution.

I have no problems with the laptop with a wired connection, so I'm thinking the card itself is failing, since it worked flawlessly for the last 18 or so months. A new 1470 card is about $90, while I can buy a refurbished one for about $30.

In lieu of the refurbished 1470 card, can someone make a recommendation for a good wireless card? I have a Dell Inspiron 600M running XP (SP2). I currently have 512 MB of RAM, but I'm going to add more to speed up performance. Thank you.

Message Edited by Socket_dc on 04-09-2007 11:52 AM

Message Edited by Socket_dc on 04-09-2007 11:53 AM

Message Edited by Socket_dc on 04-09-2007 11:53 AM

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Problems w/ 1470 WLAN card

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