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    Wireless Woes

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by filmm, Jan 6, 2011.

  1. filmm

    filmm Notebook Enthusiast

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    After owning the m11x-r1 for almost 2 months now, I can say I'm not very impressed with the wireless card built in. It is N. It does state 2x2 mimo, but what is the 2x2 representing (150, 300, 600)?

    I only ask this because I switched to my desktop and saw better data transfer rates by my Netgear n150 usb.

    Anyone have any thoughts on this or possibly links to previous threads? (Never ran across the topic yet)
     
    filmm, Jan 6, 2011
    #1
  2. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    The stock dell card sucks in general. Upgrade to the intel 6200 card and you will be very happy.
     
    ejohnson, Jan 6, 2011
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  3. MSGaldenzi

    MSGaldenzi Notebook Deity

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    Search my username for threads I started... I started one similar to this a while back.

    I suggest going with a Bear Extender (google it). For the price and simplicity, you cant get anything better than that.
     
    MSGaldenzi, Jan 6, 2011
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  4. Rjdeli

    Rjdeli Notebook Geek

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    intel 6200 prob solved 20 bucks
     
    Rjdeli, Jan 6, 2011
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  5. scytharian

    scytharian Notebook Guru

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    Has anyone got a good site where I can buy this from and a guide with pictures on how to do it?

    PS: I live in Australia so international shipping stores would be great :)
     
    scytharian, Jan 6, 2011
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  6. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    I got mine on ebay.

    unscrew rear cover
    unplug antenna
    unscrew card
    reverse order to install.

    my card came with drivers on a cd, but you can get them online.
     
    ejohnson, Jan 6, 2011
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  7. MSGaldenzi

    MSGaldenzi Notebook Deity

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    Bear extender ships internationally and can be transfered from rig to rig. USB Plug in and your good to go. Its 20 bucks more, but to me its worth it simply because I can use it on anything.
     
    MSGaldenzi, Jan 6, 2011
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  8. Rjdeli

    Rjdeli Notebook Geek

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    i did it last night without looking at anything but watching this video

    alienware teardown
    download the driver for your new intel 6200 before uninstalling your current wireless card driver.
    in device manager uninstall current driver check box remove driver from computer shutdown and take bottom panel off, remove battery lead and its just like replacing ram just be careful when plugging back in antennas to line them up right and they do take a little uneasy feeling pressure to pop back in
    oh remember to unplug battery first before you do anything
     
    Rjdeli, Jan 6, 2011
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  9. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

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    What issues are y'all having? Mine seems to work perfectly fine.
     
    Thaenatos, Jan 6, 2011
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  10. Marxus

    Marxus Notebook Guru

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    Can anyone tell me whether or not I can upgrade my wireless card after I already have my laptop. I'm been having increasing issues with my computer not wanting to stay connected to my network here, though for the record this is just as likely the fault of the network itself. Often every time I turn on my computer I have to use windows diagnostic, and recently nearly all of my downloads have been choppy (often with the computer stopping for upwards of two-three minutes with no downloading occurring).

    I'm getting the new drivers for the card (I only have the stock dell one) but if that doesn't work, and I can indeed swap wireless cards, what would be a recommended buy?
     
    Marxus, Jan 6, 2011
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  11. Scottyballs

    Scottyballs Notebook Consultant

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    Mine too I'm at a hospital right now in the waiting room and some guy next to me was bragging about his $1500 think pad but when he went to connect to the free wi-fi here it kept dropping cause of a low signal lol... meanwhile I was playing WOW like nobody's business with 4 bars and $599 M11X ;)
     
    Scottyballs, Jan 6, 2011
    #11
  12. kovboi

    kovboi Notebook Consultant

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    Mine was a bit weak out of the box but improved dramatically with some tweaking of the driver settings.

    Control panel-->Hardware and Sound-->Device Manager-->Network Adapters
     
    kovboi, Jan 6, 2011
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  13. AbsolutVokz

    AbsolutVokz Notebook Enthusiast

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    if i order that 6200 card from newegg.com do you know if they give me the installer or driver for it? if not i did a search on the intel website and it came back with 7 results of drivers for that card most of them are for IT. which one would it be?
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng

    and also newegg.com has a intel 633 model. is that any better or is it even compatible?

    is speed difference dramatic from the swap of m11xr2 1520 card to the 6200? mines stays connected perfectly stable no drops at all but speed transfer wise is it worth investing to swap to 6200?
     
    AbsolutVokz, Jan 6, 2011
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  14. Genki79

    Genki79 Notebook Enthusiast

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    This is the driver
    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...+Intel®+Centrino®+Advanced-N+6200+productseng
     
    Genki79, Jan 6, 2011
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  15. swatter

    swatter Notebook Enthusiast

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    I went into Device Manager.Selected properties for of the wireless card, advanced and selected minimum power consumption. I disabled it and I got a better signal on my wireless card. Try it and see if it helps.
     
    swatter, Jan 6, 2011
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  16. Rjdeli

    Rjdeli Notebook Geek

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    If you mean Intel Ultimate N 633 that one has 3 antennas and would require you to install and route a antenna. But yea it would be freaking awesome!! lol I chose the 6200 because i didn't feel like running a 3rd antenna. Not to mention would need a new router and i just bought a good router. but not this good Amazon.com: TRENDnet 450 Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router TEW-691GR (Piano Black): Electronics

    i happen to have a stock access to a mx11 stock with factory install. I soon will be releasing a post to compare side by side comparing benchmarks. I will compare speed tests and overnight ping tests or something, both LAN WAN tests its going to be at least till sat/sun b4 i release that thread.
     
    Rjdeli, Jan 6, 2011
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  17. Rjdeli

    Rjdeli Notebook Geek

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    Rjdeli, Jan 6, 2011
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  18. swatter

    swatter Notebook Enthusiast

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    Here is a link to dellware. a definition page for the advanced setting's on the wireless card. If anyone was interested.

    Documentation
     
    swatter, Jan 6, 2011
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  19. kfruit

    kfruit Notebook Consultant

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    Can you tell us exactly what you did?
     
    kfruit, Jan 7, 2011
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  20. Genki79

    Genki79 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Genki79, Jan 7, 2011
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  21. filmm

    filmm Notebook Enthusiast

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    x2. Also, was the intel card an option when purchasing through Dell's website? I believe I upgraded, but when I went back to the "build" page I couldn't find an option to choose a wireless card.
     
    filmm, Jan 7, 2011
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  22. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

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    Yeah Im wondering if its a cross m11x platform issue or just some. I seem to pick up wireless just as well as the intel card in my SXPS. I even get a great signal in my garage that could almost be a faraday cage. I guess when my class starts up Ill test it across campus, although I dont know the weak spots as I graduated 4 years ago and Im sure they have updated their system since then.
     
    Thaenatos, Jan 7, 2011
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  23. Rjdeli

    Rjdeli Notebook Geek

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    i think it has to do with the stock card not handling HIGH wireless areas like i live in a condo and i can pick up 16 wireless ap's from my lazyboy lol most of them being on channel 6. I could have very well reduced the antenna interference by switching to channel 11. But I opted to do both an upgrade and switch to channel 11 after doing a wireless site-survey so to speak, and Chan 11 being not used nearly as much as 6.
     
    Rjdeli, Jan 7, 2011
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  24. kovboi

    kovboi Notebook Consultant

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    If I remember correctly, here are the settings I changed (under the "Advanced" tab for the DW1520 properties). I should add that I have a D-Link DIR-655 wireless-n router. These work well for me, but obviously your mileage may vary:

    AP Compatibility Mode: Higher Performance
    Bandwidth Capability: 11a/b/g:20/40MHz
    BSS Mode: 802.11n Mode
    Disable Bands: Disable 802.11a
    Minimum Power Consumption: Disabled

    I tried enabling "afterburner" and "xpress technology" but I didn't see any improvement.
     
    kovboi, Jan 7, 2011
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  25. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Easy to install a intel N6300 pop the card in the old slot had driver from intel web site already down loaded on USB, ran 3rd ant wire from card down wire track looped under battery. Installed driver, done. works great supper fast get up to 1.5 mb on down load. :eek:
     
    alienwolf, Jan 7, 2011
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