Cannot utilize N / slow / disconnects (Intel 6200, Intel WiFi Link 4965AGN, Linksys WRT150N)

Sorry for the odd title... I was trying to grab every buzz word I could for searches because I've seen a lot of these type of threads floating around the internet.

**PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST BEFORE COMMENTING!!!**

I've gone through a gauntlet of trials among 3 different computers and multiple networks, so I'm guessing I've already tried the majority of what would be recommended out of the box.

Previous research:
- (6200 N) Wireless not as efficient as it should be... - SlickDeals.net Forums
- (4965AGN) Problem w/laptop internet connection - SlickDeals.net Forums


** Symptoms ******************************

Affected cards:
Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN in Vista (in a Dell 1720 Inspiron [old lappy])
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 in Windows 7 64x (in a Dell 1747 Studio [new lappy])

On ANY NETWORK, when N is enabled, these cards operate cripplingly slow (0.5-0.7 Mb/s down on speedtest.net). This causes extremely slow streaming (youtube, mp3s, poor bitrate when streaming movies to peripherals like xbox or ps3), and can cause disconnects/timeouts in games (League of Legends would always disconnect from pvp.net, persistent games would timeout and drop me).

Unfortunately I have not cataloged the routers of all the networks I've been on, but I have played around a lot with my Linksys WRT150N.

*****************************************

** Temporary Solution ************************

Disable N

I don't like this as a solution, but it's the only thing that I've seen work. If the router is in Mixed mode (N is enabled) and the lappy in question is in 802.11n mode, it will be crippled. If EITHER the router is in G, or 802.11n mode is disabled, it will operate great at G speeds (10 - 13 Mb/s on speedtest.net). If the router is turned to N, the lappy will simply not connect.

ALL OTHER TWEAKS have had marginal success/failure. Nothing else effects the speed difference like taking N out of the equation.

Other notes:

Router:
- PSK2 Personal/AES security
- Beacon Interval to 75
- Thresholds @ 2304

NIC:
- Power management - Do not allow device to turn off
- 2.4ghz - Auto
- 5.2ghz - Auto
- Ad Hoc Channel - 1
- Ad Hoc QoS - WMM Disabled
- Fat Channel Intolerant - Disabled
- Mixed Mode Protection - CTS-to-self
- Roaming Aggressiveness - medium
- Transmit Power - Highest
- Wireless mode - a/b/g

*****************************************

** Options Tried ****************************

Testing
- speedtest.net
- Set up iperf on a working machine as server, client on the 6200 N machine to monitor network.
- Checked packet delivery times in HttpFox
- Monitored connections to games/media (League of Legends, Alien Swarm, Borderlands, facebook game load times, youtube downloads)
- Monitored Link Speed - 54Mbps in G, 1-270 changing at an extremely volatile rate in N

Settings:
NIC:
- 802.11n mode disabled (NIC) - WORKS
- Messing w/any of the other NIC settings - Minimal/no difference unless Router is in G
- netsh int tcp set global autoconfig=disabled
- Updated to 13.​3.​0.​24 64-​Bit

Router:
- In G - WORKS
- In Mixed B/G - WORKS
- N - DOES NOT CONNECT
- Mixed, 40mhz wide, different channels - Fails/slow unless 802.11n is disabled.
- Mixed, 20mhz, different channels - Fails/slow unless 802.11n is disabled.
- Mixed, auto/auto - Fails/slow unless 802.11n is disabled.
- Mixed, Disabled wireless security - Fails/slow unless 802.11n is disabled.
- Checked DHCP Client tables to make SURE only the one testing device was connected to the network (eliminate a/b/g crosstalk problems).
- Updated firmware to 1.01.9 1. Updated to Draft 802.11n version 2.0.

Physical:
- Moved closer to router
- Moved router antennae around

I'm sure there are other things I've tried, but I can't remember them off the top of my head ATM.


**** 11/09/2011 UPDATE ************************

- Router is now Netgear WNDR3400
- Drivers are now 13.5
- NOW RUNNING ON N SPEEDS!!
- Noticed much higher link speed, but still have the lag bubble.

 

some routers claim they can run wireless N , but with such a lot of reliability issues due to weak hardware .

 

Flash the firmware to DD-WRT, i am confident that will solve your problems.

 

I will try to flash my dd-wrt on my router, but at least w/my old lappy it happened on any network....

 

Has any progress been made on this? I have a Sony VPCZ1 series laptop with the Intel 6200 AGN wifi card and cannot maintain a stable connection on my home router (Asus RT-N12 running DD-WRT). I've never had this problem with any other wireless adapter and it's really starting to me off.

I'm on the latest Intel drivers and have tried everything. The problem gets slightly less frequent if I disable the Bluetooth radio but I find that unacceptable. I'm pretty damn close to ripping this 6200 card out and finding something else that can take its place.

 

If switching off BT helps it hints towards 2.4GHz band (that BT uses too) being overcrowded.
BT switches channels automatically so you can't do anything about it but you can try to change your wireless channel on the router.
Use inSSIDer to scan for networks. Also keep in mind that some sources of 2.4GHz emissions won't be shown by inSSIDer (BT, cordless phones, baby monitors etc.) so it may be wise to also check those Wi-Fi channel that are not empty- there may be a Wi-Fi network on a given channel but it may be free from other kind of 2.4GHz traffic.

 

Did this issue ever get resolved? I just found out the Envy 17 2000 shares the same issue. At least with the router I have.

The last version for the 6200 seems to be 14.0.2.2 as I am writing this.

I do experience the same low speeds.

P.S

I have started using another access point. It helped. Its only g but I dont mind )

 

Im wondering if this was fixed as well as i have the Acer 3820TG and im experiencing the same problem. I might switch back to my default wireless card

 

Using an Intel 6200 AGN with the second latest driver no such issue.

 

I use the drivers 13.5 and i don't have such issues

 

Thanks.. I'll try this as soon as I can. I STILL have the problem.. but have been using this fix in the interim:

- Go to adapter settings
- Right click on wireless interface -> Disable
- Wait for interface to report that it is disabled
- Right click on wireless interface -> Enable

This is a somewhat speedy fix (probably a downtime of about 5-10 sec), until win7 gets bugged and the "enable" option is permanently fixed to "disable" after disabling it (meaning you CAN'T re-enable it). When that happens I have to Diagnose problems and the troubleshooter turns it back on. This, however, takes 15-20 sec and can cause programs which require a constant connection to boot me out.

EDIT: Any chance you have a link to those drivers?

 

I just bought an asus u56E-rbl7 and I'm using a netgear wrn1000 router. I had the same issue when running in either n or b,g,n mixed mode. I switched the router to b,g mixed mode and now I'm fine. It seams odd that I can't use n mode on a router that adverises it.

 

Updates:

- Got a new router.. Handles dual band simultaneous. After installing it, noticed the EXACT same performance. Literally the exact same footprint of the ping bubble (size and duration).

- Enabled wireless N for the first time... it works now!! However... still almost the exact same bubble. Only difference is that it's not as extreme as before.

- Downloaded 13.5 drivers. Finally my local link speed gets 100+.. sometimes 200+!!! ..... but the same lag bubble!!! (Just goes away quicker).

- Ran SSinsider. NO ONE was on my N channel. There were, however, a lot of a/b/g channels going on. I *was* able to identify a unique channel to run abg on, so hopefully my gf will have a nice little bump in her speed. Also.. I'm guessing you already know this, but running SSinsider ate up bandwidth like a fat chick at a cake factory..

Here's the result. Having never used this program, I could always use your advice/suggestions on what you see