Wireless keeps dropping out on new laptop. Please help!

[iTorrent]

Ok, so I got a new laptop 3 days ago after my old laptop of 4-5 years finally decided to die. Now, with this laptop, ever since I've had it I keep having problems with the wireless losing connection to the internet.

On my previous laptop this never used to happen and it was Windows vista. This laptop is Windows 7. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the network adapter, searched online for a new driver (used device manager to do this because I can't seem to find any drivers just using Google) and there was no newer driver available. I've checked the power options to make sure that it doesn't get disabled or w/e due to power saving. I've un-ticked the box in the power management tab in my network adapter's properties so that it doesn't get turned off to save power. I've also uninstalled Norton to see if that was causing the issue. None of these have done anything.

The network adapter I have is an Atheros AR9485WB-EG. The drop outs usually happen when I speedtest, do Windows Updates or any kind of updating for that matter and when I try and torrent. If I move my laptop from where it currently is and put it in another room, the internet is fine. So I'm thinking it's the wireless card in my laptop. And as I said above, I never used to have any of these problems with my 4-5 year old Windows Vista laptop.

Anyone help would be appreciated, thanks

 

[2xg]

Welcome to Seven Forums,

Are you using a wireless manager software to connect?

Can you post a Xirrus snap shot from your computer? Install Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector Tool, double click on the icon from your desktop and tap print screen on your keyboard, send it to your Paint save it as .bmp file and attach the file on your next pos.
Wi-Fi Inspector | Xirrus

Also, did you search the latest Atheros driver here?
ATHEROS drivers for Microsoft Windows (Atheros?????)

 

[iTorrent]

Yes I did search for a driver at that Czech site but had no luck. I've just recently found a more recent driver for my network adapter and it's now installed. I'll let you know how it goes. And regarding the question about am I using a wireless manager software to connect, I'm not sure lol :S. How do I tell? I know that the samsung control centre on my laptop has a wireless manager to connect but I don't use it, I just go to the connection icon on my taskbar and connect there.

Here's the snapshot;



If you want to know if the dns is the same as the gateway or anything along those lines, I can confirm that they are.

 

[iTorrent]

Edit: Still losing connection

 

[harleyE30]

I have the same wireless card and it is so frustrating! I can be sitting right next to the router and it will only have four out of 5 bars signal, whereas my brother's somewhat inferior laptop will have full signal.
When I move further away from the router, things get worse. It will constantly disconnect and sometimes will tell me there are no wireless connections available, when my brother's laptop is right next to it, working fine! He has a Broadcom wireless card and it seems much better than this Atheros card i've got in this new Samsung laptop.

 

[2xg]

The Xirrus print screen doesn't look bad, I don't see any interference. It wouldn't hurt to change the Channel to 1 or 11. I would also try changing your Security from WPA to WPA2, it might help.

You may also try changing the Wireless Mode from the Router. By default it's on Mixed, try changing it to an N or G.

How far is your laptop from the wireless router?

 

[harleyE30]

What should the DbM (signal) measure when i'm sitting right next to the router? Mine reads -57.
I'm on 4 out of 5 bars on the signal icon. Is Atheros a good manufacture of wireless cards? I'm taking my laptop back when I get the chance to try to get this infuriating issue sorted.

 

[2xg]

Look for any type of intereference like small appliances, cordless phones, stereo speakers. According from below your laptop works fine in another room, meaning no disconnection? Is this still true?

If I move my laptop from where it currently is and put it in another room, the internet is fine.

 

[iTorrent]

Sorry for the late reply guys, I've been busy. My laptop is about 15m away from my router. And how do I go about changing the wireless mode on my router?

And yes, in another room (which is about 5m from the router) it works fine.

 

[2xg]

Sorry for the late reply guys, I've been busy. My laptop is about 15m away from my router. And how do I go about changing the wireless mode on my router?

And yes, in another room (which is about 5m from the router) it works fine.

That seems to be a signal issue then. Changing the wireless mode may not help then.
Please see my post here on how to remedy your issue:
http://www.sevenforums.com/network-...tops-wifi-internet-my-iphone.html#post1706875

 

[iTorrent]

But what's got me is that my old laptop used to work fine and had no connectivity issues at all. Could it be a problem with the wireless adapter in my laptop and should I send it back to the manufacturer to maybe get it replaced/looked at? Because it's still under warranty. And when my laptop does disconnect, it's not a problem with the router because all other devices connected to the internet whether it be via wireless or wired, still work fine.

 

[harleyE30]

This is exactly the same problem as mine. It is a new Samsung laptop?

 

[Qdos]

Have you checked the Tx/Rx power & sleep settings in the WiFi adapter in the Samsung?

WiFi adapter in device manager, right click, properties, advanced... drop down list...

 

[2xg]

But what's got me is that my old laptop used to work fine and had no connectivity issues at all. Could it be a problem with the wireless adapter in my laptop and should I send it back to the manufacturer to maybe get it replaced/looked at? Because it's still under warranty. And when my laptop does disconnect, it's not a problem with the router because all other devices connected to the internet whether it be via wireless or wired, still work fine.

iTorrent - I think that your description here is very clear. It works well when you are this close to the router but not when move further away.
"And yes, in another room (which is about 5m from the router) it works fine."

Is the Wi-Fi adapter integrated to the Motherboard? If it is, usually they are not that reliable. I'd consider getting an adapter with High Gain antenna.

 

[iTorrent]

This is exactly the same problem as mine. It is a new Samsung laptop?

Yes, it's a brand new Samsung laptop. 5 days old.

Have you checked the Tx/Rx power & sleep settings in the WiFi adapter in the Samsung?

WiFi adapter in device manager, right click, properties, advanced... drop down list...

Yes I have and I've made sure all the settings are correct so that it doesn't turn off the wireless adapter.

But what's got me is that my old laptop used to work fine and had no connectivity issues at all. Could it be a problem with the wireless adapter in my laptop and should I send it back to the manufacturer to maybe get it replaced/looked at? Because it's still under warranty. And when my laptop does disconnect, it's not a problem with the router because all other devices connected to the internet whether it be via wireless or wired, still work fine.

iTorrent - I think that your description here is very clear. It works well when you are this close to the router but not when move further away.
"And yes, in another room (which is about 5m from the router) it works fine."

Is the Wi-Fi adapter integrated to the Motherboard? If it is, usually they are not that reliable. I'd consider getting an adapter with High Gain antenna.

Yes it's intergrated to the Motherboard. And I called Samsung tech support and described my problem and told them what I've done to troubleshoot it and they've said it's most likely a software/hardware problem and to take it back to the store I bought it from. I'm taking it back and they're either going to exchange my current laptop for the same model or get a different laptop for the same price I paid for this one.

 

[2xg]

I hope that replacing your laptop resolves the issue.

Please keep us posted.

 

[jazzbrownie]

Any chance you ever got this problem resolved? My girlfriend has a relatively new Samsung laptop as well which keeps dropping the connection... most of the time resetting the router causes it to work again, but I find this strange since none of our other wireless devices encounter this problem.

 

[2xg]

Hello...you may create your own and we'll be glad to assist you with your concern.

Any chance you ever got this problem resolved? My girlfriend has a relatively new Samsung laptop as well which keeps dropping the connection... most of the time resetting the router causes it to work again, but I find this strange since none of our other wireless devices encounter this problem.

 

[jazzbrownie]

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I'll keep working on it myself for a while to figure out the problem. It's a stupid guy, pride thing, I think.

 

[2xg]

Alright, if you have decided to give up, you know where to Post.

Thanks for the quick reply. I think I'll keep working on it myself for a while to figure out the problem. It's a stupid guy, pride thing, I think.