Problems with Wireless on XPS 1530 & Dell 1505 Wireless Card

Hi, new Forum user, frustrated with Vista Wireless crap.
Got wireless set up with a new Linksys WRT150N router. Security matches on both ends WPA2-Personal. When it connects, it's awesome, 300KB transfer rate, lightning fast. (router's about 30 feet away)
Vista, or the card keeps dropping the connection though, and typically it takes restarting twice to get it back. Something typically hangs in the background, and the System Tray icon doesn't react. The useless Vista diagnostic says nothing more than the obvious "cannot connect".
Disabling and the re-enabling in the Device Manger, then trying to connect the Wireless Profile again sometimes work but not always. Drivers are up to date.
It never seems to connect automatically on startup or coming out of hibernate, though the Wireless profile is checked to do so.
My XPS M1210 laptop running XP works just fine.
Does anyone know if there are alternate apps pre-installed to control the Wireless profiles and connectivity? Or can I get these online?

 

does this happen when under battery power? there is an option in vista in power configuratin options for the wireless card performance. make sure it is set to maximum performance settings while using the battery... if it is set lower, the computer can connect well under AC, and get dicey because of an underpowered wireless card while using batteries. a shot in the dark.

 

Try downloading the Dell Wireless Utility. Actually, it might already be on your computer.

 

Thanks. I tried the power settings, and also found the utility already installed. I also completely uninstalled the device and grabbed the newest drivers from the Dell site to reinstall. I've finally concluded that the Dell 1505 card just has a crappy range (or my card is faulty and has a crappy range). The router is one floor up, at the top of an open stairway and I'm at the bottom, with no walls inbetween, but also no direct line of site. As I walk up the stairs carrying the laptop it finds the signal.

Would not recommend this card at all. I'll retract that if they send me new one and it works, but so far it's crap.

By the way, I've had the machine for a week. Vista has hung while restarting, blue screened or frozen up pretty much every time I've used it and toyed with the wireless... What a disappointment. Shame on you Microsoft. You deserve to be eaten by Google.

 

What card is it?

 

Hi

I have exactly the same problem with my XPS 1530, connecting to my wireless (which my old laptop never had any problems with)

same issues, have to restart most of the time to get a connection and the wireless tray icon does not respond at all.

did you have any luck with fixing the issue?

thanks
Toby

 

Almost sounds like a thermal problem. The 11n are ALL Draft, Firmware is buggy, so it will be hard to determine if it the card or the router. Contact Dell, they may send you a replacement card to test.

 

I've got the same issue with my xps1530. The wireless will only connect to the router but 'local' only and not internet. I have to disconnect, reconnect, diagnose, reinstall. Any of these options will work, it's random but very annouying! Have you managed to sort out a fix for it?

Also when I close the lid & reopen it my pointer goes haywire!

 

many of these issues are unrelated to either the card or Vista but stem from the pre-installed anti-virus software in the 1530: try de-activiating Trend and see if that fixes it, uninstall it and replace it with AVG or something less intrusive.

 

I am having similar issues with my Dell XPS 1530. Vista Premium Home.

Mine is slightly different though. It seems that sometimes the wireless card will just stop working. I'll lose connectivity, then it won't see any wireless networks at all, when there are usually 5+ in my neighbourhood. My router is the DrayTek Vigor 2600g. Wireless card is Intel 4965AGN. I performed a driver update just a few minutes ago to version 11.5.0.32 Intel provided.

I just tried copying a 700mb file from my desktop to my laptop and it fails after a couple of minutes saying problem accessing the media. I can copy smaller files though.

I'm wondering if I didn't make a mistake updating the driver since I'd assume that Dell would have the best working build on the machine to start with.

Anyone else with these problems? Since I just bought the laptop should I return it / ask for a replacement wireless card? I'm reluctant to return the machine because I think I've got a decent screen and knowing my luck the replacement would have the grainy screen.

 

i have exactly the same problem described as Mank100, but mine is slight different, although i havent tested the to copy files from lan,i have two wireles emiters, so here it is my problem, i run a ping into my router ip addres all its ok no loss 1-2ms if i open a game (wich i play online like lineage2) when i login i get timeouts, if i alt +tab from the game on an internet explorer window pings get back to normal and signals go from low to excelent... if i alt tab on the game again i can play for like 2-3 minutes than again package loss and signal goes from excelent to low... i tested this in vista ultimate 32 and in windows xp sp3... bouth same problem. i have latest drivers on vista from dell.com... any one has any sugestions ? ps power management from the card its turned off

 

Is your ISP throttling your bandwidth because of the game?

 

I'm having a similar problem with my XPS 1330 and Dell 1505 card. I started with a Belkin N router. Have an excellent connection. However, if I turn off my laptop and then restart, I only have a limited connection. In order to get a connection again, I'd have to turn off laptap, restart router, and then reboot laptop. I got rid of the Belkin and am going to try a Linksys tonight, but any ideas on why this would happen are welcome.

 

Belkin is a very very very bad router.

 

Yeah, I get that now My co-worker has one and likes it, so I figured I'd give it a try. My signal was great and it was super fast when it worked....I'm really hoping I can get the Linksys I got to work on it's own, otherwise I'll be in trouble.....

 

Linksys is alright, you should not have problems, Netgear also has fine routers.

 

I am returning an xps 1330m because the wireless card is just not picking up signals in the main part of my house. I changed the channel on my router just in case my digital phones(vtech dect) were the problem. I called my Broadband service provider and Dell and no one could solve the problem so I opted to return it. I know it's the wireless card because I have an old Dell 700M that picks up strong signals everywhere in the house from the same router. They are going to charge me a restocking fee even though they cannot fix the problem(plus I think the audio is not working). I have now officially joined the "Dell sucks" club.