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    L502x Wireless Upgrade?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by nomygod, Aug 20, 2012.

  1. nomygod

    nomygod Notebook Geek

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    Hello. While I am quite satisfied with my XPS 15, I'm not a fan of its wireless card (Intel Centrino 1030). It's slow, is faster with N-mode disabled (???) which removes some range, and lately has been kinda pitiful. For instance, I'm at University, and my wired connection is around 150 Mb/s since it is one of the newer buildings. Wireless speed right now is 7 Mb/s. Back home I could get 20 if I was literally next to the router. I have not checked other people's laptops (will do tomorrow) but my gut tells me that this is abnormal. These results are the same between Windows 7 64 bit and Ubuntu 12.04 (also with N-mode disabled via iwconfig).

    Could someone provide a list of optimal adapter settings or suggest a good alternative wireless card? I'm getting pretty fed up.

    Sorry if this has been posted before, I find the search function of this site is a bit unreliable.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    nomygod, Aug 20, 2012
    #1
  2. yeuemmaimai

    yeuemmaimai Notebook Consultant

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    what version of software are you using? On my vostro 3450 it was version 1.0.XX and I went to Intel's site and upgraded it to the versions listed below. On my Vostro, I get full connect speed when I am on the same floor as the router (150Mbps) and 130 when I am on the second floor.

    current version is 2.2 for BT and 14.3.1 for Wireless N

    http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sea...-N+1030&ProdId=3314&LineId=1784&FamilyId=1783
     
    yeuemmaimai, Aug 20, 2012
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  3. nomygod

    nomygod Notebook Geek

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    I updated and found a slight improvement (8 Mb/s). By enabling N-mode in Ubuntu I am able to get 25 Mb/s - not great but improving. Any other suggestions? Thanks for the first one.
     
    nomygod, Aug 21, 2012
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  4. NeoMesal

    NeoMesal Notebook Consultant

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    In windows advanced power settings, put wireless adapter settings to maximum performance if not already and see if that helps.

    Also check that the adapter properties for the 1030 in device manager is on level 5 transmit power.
     
    NeoMesal, Aug 21, 2012
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  5. nomygod

    nomygod Notebook Geek

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    The adapter was already on those settings. I read on the Intel site that I should lower roaming aggressiveness, so I put that to one. With N disabled I get 15 up and down (an improvement) and with it enabled I get 7 up and down. Thanks for the help so far, any other ideas?
     
    nomygod, Aug 22, 2012
    #5
  6. NeoMesal

    NeoMesal Notebook Consultant

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    NeoMesal, Aug 22, 2012
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