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    Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG driver affecting signal strength

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by mjpartyboy, Oct 30, 2006.

  1. mjpartyboy

    mjpartyboy Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello all!

    I've got a Dell Inspiron 6400 with an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG network card, which has been working perfectly since I got it, and I uninstalled the PRO/Wireless software and let Windows manage my wireless network without any problems.

    Last night I was checking out Dell's downloads for my notebook and saw a critical driver update for this Intel card, but after reading about it and then updating the driver I couldn't get better than a Very Good signal and every time I rebooted I had to connect to my network manually, so I rolled back the driver and now it connects automatically again, but I'm no longer getting an Excellent signal and "only" Very Good. I can't remember the driver versions right now and don't have access to check them right now.

    Does anybody have any ideas or know what the problem could be?

    :confused:
     
  2. bearattack

    bearattack Newbie

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  3. mjpartyboy

    mjpartyboy Notebook Evangelist

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  4. mjpartyboy

    mjpartyboy Notebook Evangelist

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    My connection strength seems to have sorted itself out, but I see they've released another driver to fix a problem with the previous one I downloaded.

    Since upgrading my router's firmware I'm getting a lot of drop-outs and the laptop doesn't always conneting to the wireless network on startup, so I have to click repair.

    For the first time today I've noticed my 6400's Wi-Fi light flashing intermittently and it's flashing now while I'm downloading the new driver. The signal strength is "excellent."
     
  5. mjpartyboy

    mjpartyboy Notebook Evangelist

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  6. mjpartyboy

    mjpartyboy Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm not getting any drop-outs and the connection is good when it's connected, but despite the new driver, checking my router and turning the power up on the wireless card I'm still getting connection problems when I boot up my notebook. Twice today I've had to select repair to get it to connect after booting it up and this never use to happen.