Absolutely hate my 2200BG, What's the best wireless card I can get?

Checkout the GROUP BUY on Atheros WiFi Cards!! thread and read the first post. Many people have replaced their 2200 and 2915 cards for the Atheros AR5006XS cards and have been very happy with them. I purchased 2 through this group buy and dotn have any of the old problems.

Change to channel 1 or 11 this should help.

Download the latest Intel PRO/Set install package from Intel.com.

Completely uninstall your Intel PRO/Set wireless driver package. Shut down, uninstall the wireless card (not hard). Boot up, and let the computer realize the card is gone. Shut down, reinstall the card. (People say those 2 steps are useless, but I always prefer to make sure the registry doesn't get a chance to hold extra crap)

When you boot back up with the card reinstalled, hit Cancel. Then open the Intel PRO/Set installer. Do a custom install and select ONLY the first item in the list (the actual driver by itself). Tell the other items NOT to install. Finish out the install process and reboot.

Voila, your card can now act like a regular functioning WiFi card. The problem you are having is that the Intel PRO/Set package has an application that takes control of selecting which network to join. It will constantly switch networks for the best signal and other useless features. They designed it like that for business people. It finds the strongest unencrypted signal and switches automatically. And it won't stick with that signal either.

Windows does a fine job of managing Wireless Connections, and Intel shouldn't make that whole package the default install.

JaxChris.. While that will hopefully work for him it has not worked for a number fo people. I've been working with wireless networks for years and had the same drops and decrease in signal strength with my intel 2915. Didn't matter what channel I was on, how close I was to the wireless router or how I installed the drivers... it still repeatedly disconnected or dropped to 1Mbps on me all the time.

You are correct in physically removing the hardware, booting up and then shutting down to reinstall it. Removing the driver and reinstalling an updated version doesn't always work properly without removing the hardware first. Glad to see others who do that also.

Reaper, you may want to inspect the antenna in your LCD cover then... the Intel chipset is designed to give the antenna less power. If there is any signs of a break in the antenna wire, then you may just be compensating for the poor antenna by forcing more power into it with the Atheros/Gigabyte card.

Just a thought.

upgrade the antenna on your router

WOW thats scary. I was planning on getting a M170 with the 2915 bcuz of the a/b/g as opposed to 2200 b/g I currently have. Ive never had issues with it but then again I never used a router. I only use my wireless card when Im away from home and need internet access via a hotspot. The reason why I choose the 2915 a/b/g wireless card is if Im in a A hotspot and need to connect to it. Do you guys think this is a good idea? I need to kno b4 purchasing my XPS M170 next month. THANX!

P.S.- Is this problem only when connecting to your routers? From the looks of things in these forums that seems to be it. What about connecting to other wifi networks or hotspots? Are you guys experiencing the same issues?

I dont use my wireless connection that often but i was downloading a large file over wireless today at around 150KB/s or so and didn't have any problem with dropped connection.

I regularly connect to three different wireless networks, two using linksys routers, and one using a dlink router. I virtually never have problems dropping connections or range problems. I think the 2200BG card is Wonderful!!

I too have the (a/b/g) card what ever the number was from intel.Have to say im very pleased so far with it.I can almost always find a hot spot whenever i travel.And at home 95-100% single all the time.

I have used my 9300 laptop with the 2200BG in some hotel rooms and I use it almost all day every day at my home with a linksys router. I pick up at least 4 routers around me all the time. I also have never recieved a dropped connection or range problems. It works perfect for me.

I have never understood all the 2200 bashing myself. It may not be god's all, but it works decently for me.

I use mine all over and it works very well. In my office, two other people have HP business class notebooks and I can get a 54Mb connection with good signal at our offices in places that they can't even see the router at all.

Of course, I have upgraded with the latest intel drivers.

DJB

Is it possible to upgrade the antenna inside the i9300?

I know most people here offer helpful suggestions and all but there IS MOST DEFINATELY a problem with at least a number of these cards.

dboniuk.. I'm not bashing the cards. There IS a problem with at least some of them.

I have managed highend wired and wireless networks. I've personally setup and installed wireless networks on rooftops and towers to cover 2 business parks and surrounding areas for 1 of the ISPs I worked at. Equipment included mostly Cisco on our end and a combination of Cisco, Linksys and D-Link for the end users. Once installed it was my responsibility to support all the wireless clients we had in both parks. YES I know how to properly support, troubleshot and correct wireless connectivity issues.

With that said Yes I have checked the antennas in both my 700m (2200) and 9300 (2915) and they are fine. I even replaced it in the 9300 just to be sure. Yes I have reinstalled the drivers. I even did a clean install of the OS followed by the installation of the driver only. I have removed the cards and tested them in another laptop. I've reseated them. I've tested them physically right beside the wireless routers being 2 feet away from it. I've removed all security and run an open wireless network.

After doing everything one can to test and troubleshoot the problems the problems remained. The 2 most common were connectivity drops to 1 Mbps as well as complete loss of conenctivity. I'd be right beside a buddy both using laptops and mine would simply drop the connection completely while he was still working along without any problems. I've had this problem with at least 7 or 8 different wireless routers with my 9300 and 3 routers that I can think of with the 700m. Obviously replacing the antennas on the routers is useless since other laptops work fine.

After everything I've done and all the testing I can honestly say that there is a definate problem with at least some of these cards! Simply replacing them with the Atheros card resolved ALL problems and I haven't had any issues since! Did I want to spend another 55.00 bucks doing this? Hell no! I had no choice in the matter.

Again.. I'm happy that so many people dont have issues! Thats a good thing and means you dont have to go out and spend the extra cash to replace them.

Side note.. Yes you can take this as a rant of you'd like. I'm just tired of people saying we are "bashing the cards" or "it works fine with me.. you must be doing something wrong". I realize some people are offering useful advise and thanks but just know that there IS a problem with at least some of these cards. I've had 2 (1 of each) that simply would not work regardless of what I did.

I would say if it does not work get a replacement as mine like may others has wroked great for the 65 months that I have owned it. I almost never hook up to a net work cable, I'm always on wireless, I play a lot of online games and I have never drop a connection. I have my router mounted in the attic of my house and it works all over the house including out in the garage.
So if you are having problems I would ask dell for a replacement card.

Brandon

Just caned my 2200 went for this guy. it so rocks. no drops at all with my d-link 108 router.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec....iteria=BA22202

My Gigabyte Wireless adapter just showed up last night (bought from mwave like VONFREYER). It was the first night I've had in a long while where my connection didn't drop and/or have drastic slowdowns.

I know it's too early to call it a success, but I'm cautiously optimistic.