Need help with slow connection rate (5 mbps) on new Sony laptop with Intel 5100

I need help solving a problem with low connection speeds on a new Sony laptop (signal strength says excellent but connection speeds are slow and erratic) on this new laptop. I think this could be a story of I should have left "working, well-enough" alone. Here's a summary of what has happened:

1. Got new Sony laptop, has the Intel® Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN network connection (802.11a/b/g/n) built-in to it. Runs Vista 64 bit. Had not had much chance to play around with it in the house to see how it connects and didn't really take notice of connectin speeds. The other day I put it at my desk where we usually use the laptop and thought, I should try to get this to connect at N speeds since it has N capability and I have a N router (albeit an older one). Before making any changes, I'm pretty sure it was at 54 mbps but didn't observe it long enough to see if it flutuated at this particular location. I recognize that it would better to have a better understanding of what this new one did with connection rates but don't have that history unfortunately. There are two walls (plaster with wood framing) between router and desk - total of maybe 10 to 12 feet between router and laptop.

2. I have a Belkin F5D8231-4 N wireless router (manufactured in Spring 2006 and it is hardware Verison 1). The firmware on it was the original firmware - never upgraded firmware until this week.

3. To get to N speeds, I thought I needed to upgrade the firmware and did that. It seems like that's when the problems occured. There are two firmware's listed for hardware version 1. Tried both. By using the beta version, I got more problems with connecting to internet and when rolled back to 2007 firmware version, that connectivty problem went away but connection speeds stayed low. I'm suspicious that the newer firmware may have reduced the wireless signal level output from what it was under the original firmware version.

4. I have tried all different permutations of security and even ran without any security to see if that had any effect. None. Still low connection speeds. Tried resetting to factory defaults and starting over. No improvement.

5. Tried using different channels and no effect. I will admit that making changes to the wireless settings on the Vista laptop are bit confusing. You have drill down to the advanced properties for the Intel 5100AGN and then the options don't make a lot of sense but I think I was doing it right.

6. Picked up a new Belkin wireless router (F5D8235-4 - got great deal at Fry's $89) to use as a test to make sure it's not my older router. It worked a little better but still very poor connection rates for the Sony laptop. When only Sony was connected to network did get connection rates in mid 100's once but it quickly degraded to something like 18 and then 5 mbps. Can't keep it steady.

6. Observations:

a. I put my old Dell laptop (uses Intel 2200 b/g card and runs XP) on the desk right next to new Sony laptop and noticed that Dell laptop with XP maintained 54 mbps for the most part. Very little movement of connection speed. Dropped to 48 once and then later dropped to 24 (could be because I did not realize that laptop was not plugged in and batter was getting low). I do expect some movement given various factors can affect the signal. At same time, the new laptop connection speed was jumping around and mostly around 5 or 9 mbps area.

b. If I take the new Sony laptop with Vista to the room where the wireless router is located, the connection speed gradually increases quite a bit if I let it sit next to it. If I take it out of there to a different room totally, the connection speed drops down again to that horrible 5 or so mbps. This makes me think either the new firmware or new router (both Belkin) have lower tranmitting power or there is something interferring with the signal or something is odd with the Sony laptop (given the Dell works). I still need to try to take laptop away from room but still within line of sight (no walls in between) to see what happens to signal.

7. Couple thoughts:

a. Maybe Sony laptop and Belkin do not mix well. Should I try a different brand...maybe Linksys - something like the WRT160N?

b. The fact that the Dell has a good connection speed right next to the Sony makes me think it's something with the Sony's ability to receive signals. Could I have unwittenly messed up some setting on the Sony laptop's wireless card that keeps being carried over to when I set up a new network and is causing the low connection rate? Should I try to do a system restore to a point before this all started....assuming that even stores and would roll back changes to a wirelesss card/network setting.

Again, as said earlier, I should have been happy with 54 mbps and left it all alone but now need to find a solution to this.

Thanks

 

have you tried installing the drivers directly from the intel website? maybe that could solve some issue. i recently got me a sony vaio aswell, and am using arch on it with the 5100 wireless card and have 0 drops so far and full connection speed aswell. also remember that the n is not fully standards yet, so its still buggy. try the newer intel driver

downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=3062&OSFullName=All+Operating+Systems&lang=eng&strOSs=All&submit=Go!

 

One of your problems (maybe not the primary one) is bound to be your router - Belkins are notorious for being unreliable.

 

Thanks. I tried a Linksys router also and it had no effect - no better or worse. Stayed the same.

 

Thanks. Tried the newer intel driver off intel's website and no real effect overall. (Minor effect if any at all).

I did end up returning that laptop and getting the same model, and that has had the most postive effect. Now, seems to sit around 58 to 72 mbps but sometimes drop down to 9 mbps range.

 

I have tyen same problem Vaio TT VGN-190 with only 5mbps. I have a Vaio TZ 190 and connection is 130mbps however the overal performsce in the TT is better for surfing. I think this is a Intel 5100 problem, I am unable to install drivers from intel, after download the drivers a window show uo "this drivers are not for this computer model"
Please any advice.......

 

I am having the same problem with my VAIO FW373JB which has the Intel 5100. I think it must be the 64-bit drivers. I am using a much older Linksys router that is broadcasting G only so I don't believe this is a router problem. If I disconnect from the network and reconnect, it works well for a while but then begins to degrade again.

Has anyone found a fix yet?