[Mediocre wireless reception with new Dell xps15]

Anyone have this experience with brand new xps15 machine? I have really mediocre wireless reception and unless I am in the room with the router, the signal receiver just goes in and out and in and out?

I had Dell come and replace the wireless card but the problem persists.

thinking is might be the receiver, which I believe is in the screen, but also thinking its just plain bad design?

thoughts?

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First thing that I would is to put a meaningful subject. notsosmart isn't a good one.

The Dell Tech would have never left till they proved to me that they fixed the problem. He could of better trouble shoot then what it sounds like he did.

How far away is the router? Does it have to go thru walls or a floor? Do you have any other equipment that you can test from the same location that the Laptop is in. Phone, IPad, IPod etc.?

 

If it's new and it's not working, return it.

 

Ummm, that's his username, not subject.

I would try the Dell on another network - local coffee shop or neighbor's network and see if range is a problem there too. If your notebook works fine elsewhere, then you need to look at relocating your WAP (wireless access point, perhaps integrated into your router) to a more advantageous location.

If the Dell does not connect and have good range on other networks, then follow SpywareDr's advice.

 

Ah! Thanks for clarifying. Sorry MrBill.

 

This is quite interesting, possibly though not the same as mine.
How many bars do you have in your signal strength indicator, reason I am asking that is, I have a old Dell Inspirion 1440 Laptop that picks up my cheap wireless router in a adjoining room with 5 bars after I installed a more powerful antenna (high gain) yet my acer laptop and a XP desktop do exactly what you are having problems with, constantly connecting, disconnecting every 2 seconds or so.
Nothing to do with signal strength, also my Logitech Media player has no issues with the wireless, functions flawlessly.
Until I can find a solution to this I just use them hard wired, a pain I know.
I have even used a DLink USB Dongle, made no difference.

 

This may be an interference problem more so than signal strength. While a stronger signal may overcome any interference, you cannot typically boost the signal strength of the WAP's transmitter, or increase the sensitivity of the WAP's receiver.

In crowded neighborhoods, there could be dozens, or even 100s of wireless networks all competing for the same frequencies. You can try different "channels" or decrease the distance between the WAP and the connected device. Reducing the number of walls, ceilings, floors between the two can help too - especially if the walls are laden with wires and metal pipes - if moving is even possible.

But if your wireless network is too crowded, or you have big cell towers, microwaves, or a faulty electronics device spewing out too much RFI/EMI in close proximity, there may be nothing you can do, but go Ethernet.

If you use your wireless device in the same room as (in direct "line-of-sight" to) your WAP, does wireless access still drop out?

 

In my case yes, 2 meters away from the wireless router and it still goes in and out constantly, that is why I don't believe it has anything to do with signal strength.

 

2 meters with no walls, floors or ceilings clearly should work.

Then I go back to my first suggested in my first post here and try the Dell on another network.

Do other wireless devices have problems?

 

Wikipedia: Wi-Fi > Interference

Wikipedia: Electromagnetic interference at 2.4 GHz

 

To clarify, the Dell works fine on the wireless network and so does my Logitech Mediaplayer also wireless that lives in a adjoining room and has 92% signal strength. it is the acer laptop and a desktop. Single story dwelling and I can take the Dell anywhere in the House and the wireless works great, the lowest signal strength anywhere in the House is 78%.
Today I installed the latest wireless LAN drivers from acer and it made no difference.
I can turn any other device off, which at most is 2 other devices apart from the acer and that makes no difference either.
None of the devices SpywareDr lists are present. Also I live semi rural outer suburb no apartment houses within miles nor any factories, no other access points, just one router.

My apologies to notsosmart, for basically hijacking his post, it was not intended that way, sorry mate.
hawk22

 

Same problem in a different location on anyone else's wireless?

 

I haven't taken it anywhere else as yet, might try at the weekend.

 

You may need to buy a different adapter for your notebook.

 

That was going to be my next suggestion. Those USB ones seem to work better than the ones built into the Notebook/Netbook.

 

That is what I was told too, I have two DLink and some other brand both do exactly the same. Each one individually installed with their own software.

 

Problem solved, deleted all Wireless related Software that was resident on the Laptop and clean installed the necessary Software and all is working great.
Could have done that in the first place, if I had known that there could be conflicting software.

There is though an interesting point that makes no sense to me, and that is, I could connect to my Neighbors Network without problems with 70%. signal strength and no disconnection, but as soon as I connected to my network continuous in out.
hawk22

 

Does your neighbor's network use the same protocols (802.11g, 11n, 11ac, etc.) and also, there may be something interfering with your WAP's reception like nearby electronics, wires and metal pipes in walls, and antenna orientation and position can play major roles too.

That was before you reinstalled everything, right? You have good strength now?

 

Hi Bill, That was part of the intrigue I always had excellent strength never below 85% my neighbors would be from mid sixties to 70 % strength.
Unsecured mind you.
Yes, as soon as I re-installed the drivers for my USB dongle, it picked up my network, click connect and Bingo, hasn't stopped since.

Point I should make Bill is my neighbor is on channel 6 and my router is set to Automatic and if the re-install was not going to work I would have changed channels as well. TP-LINK actually mentioned in the instructions it is better not to be on Automatic. Recommendation is channel 2 - 6 - or 11.
That is something I will remember for next time if something should play up.
hawk22