topic Re: Intermittent wireless connection in PCs & Accessories

Intermittent wireless connection

duncanda — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 09:37:09 GMT

Hi

I'd appreciate any advice. I have a new VGN-A195HP which detects and connects to a Belkin F5D6050 wireless network adapter. Both laptop and PC use XP. The problem is that the Vaio keeps dropping the connection, despite the signal being "Excellent". It drops for a few seconds then reconnects. It might go for 10 minutes before it drops or 2 minutes. Very frustrating. A 4 year old XP laptop, with a £15 wireless card never drops the connection. I have the latest Sony wireless driver. I operate it with Safenet VPN client, which I need to use. The 4 year old laptop doesn't use VPN. What's the problem?

Many thanks

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

kee-lo_ — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 13:14:24 GMT

Check the settings in your firewall.
Test it without a firewall but for a few mins.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 19:14:37 GMT

I have a similar problem, also using a Belkin hub, although it seems the problem is at Sonys end. On a USR hub the problem remains the same.

The problem I have is that downloads seem to drop, but uploads carry on working regardless. If I didnt file share I would just think that both had dropped so have a look see if you are the same.

I've heard people say that the wireless cards are the achilles heel of Sony laptops, does anyone know why my download function would freeze up but uploads would be fine? It's starting to give me grey hair.

Just as a quick thought ducanda, check your hub doesn't have a low lease renewal time, I can't remember exactly where in the settings it is sorry, it will be measured in milliseconds. For most people it should be set to zero or 31 thousand or so (the Belkin max)

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

NigelR — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 08:56:20 GMT

Hello
I could have written Duncanda's post myself with only a few changes to the hardware.
I'm writing this on a VGN-a195EP which is connected wirelessly to a Netgear DG834G. The connection keeps on dropping but in this strange way; a balloon tip appears from the network icon in the task bar telling me that one or more network connections are available if I click on the balloon tip to see what these connections are, a network connetion box appears giving me the choice of connecting to only one connection, guess what ? it's my only existing network connection, and to add insult to injury if I don't click on that connection it drops it.(hope that made scense)
I too have the latest drivers for the laptop and firmware for the Netgear and I have tried disabling the firewall, it still happens. Any help will be great.
Ps. Why will this laptop not recognise my Belkin usb mouse? I have 2 other xp pro machines that do no problem.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

JoeB. — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 09:29:50 GMT

hi folks,

i have a though to ya's problem... there is a check option in your network card config that is somewhat called like... "allow windows to suspend device to save power" or something like it... have you checked this... could this be part of the problem????

Joe

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 12:03:59 GMT

Good idea, but no luck. Mine is set to Constantly Awake, and is using 100% power.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

NigelR — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 13:09:49 GMT

I'm not reaching for the champagne yet but with Joe B's last posting in mind I checked power management setup in device manager the ethernet card has the sort of setting I think he was refering to. But I checked the Intel wireless 2200bg network connection. I changed the 'Infrastructure band selection' from 802.11g+80211b to 802.11g only, and for the last 2 hours I've be connected uninterupted @ 54 mbps!!!!!!!!(direct-ish line of site)
No I don't know if this will work for all but it seems at the moment, to have given me a stable fast wire less connection.
There is a power management option within the 2200bg but its configuration is beyond my knowledge so I left it set at auto.

VGN-A195EP+Netgear DG834G XP Pro

Good Luck
PPS Why won't my Belkin USB mouse work on this laptop? :smileycry::smileygrin:

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Sun, 01 Aug 2004 14:31:14 GMT

Hooray great job Joe. My card unfortunately doesn't have that setting Give more details about the mouse in a new thread, see what people come up with.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

duncanda — Mon, 02 Aug 2004 09:50:56 GMT

Hi

Many thanks for all your advice. Unfortunately none of it seems to work. I did check the settings for the wireless card; "11b/11g mixed environment protection" - set to CTS to self enabled, "IBSS Transmit Power" - set to Max, "Infrastructure Band Selection" - set to 802.11b only (my adapters are 802.11b), "Power Management" - set to Power Mode CAM (Max). Are these correct? I also didn't have XP firewall enabled. Any other suggestions? Think I'll fire off an email to Sony support as well.

Cheers

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Tue, 03 Aug 2004 19:19:34 GMT

Good luck ducanda. Let them know their e-support registration doesn't work.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 10:53:19 GMT

Just with what I said about hearing the wireless card was Vaio's weak spot, I did a little experiment. I put a Compaq, a Toshiba and my Vaio next to each other and looked and the Windows signal strength meter. Guess which one was weaker than the rest

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

duncanda — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 15:56:34 GMT

I've not had any response from Sony support.

I tried an experiment and put a £15 unknown brand PCMCIA 802.11g card in the Vaio, made a new connection and hey presto, works just fine. No drop outs.

I used a hotspot in London the other day, with the onboard wireless card, and no drop-outs. Also with the onboard card, I can't access the internet with a particular make and version of an access point. the Vaio detects it, but get through it!!! All very strange.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

TygerTyger — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 16:03:49 GMT

Well it's not that strange, it's just a fookin sheet card as the Liverpudlians would say. Well perhaps not that bad lol. What card did you get? I didn't know you could replace them I think I will probably do the same, see if it fixes my problem.
What model vaio do you have?

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

duncanda — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 17:29:34 GMT

Hi

I have a Vaio VGN-A195HP.

Just pop into your friendly PC World and get a PCMCIA card. I bought mine at a small local "cheapo IT stuff" shop which had an 802.11g brand called Peak, www.peakhardware.com, for £15, made in Taiwan. PC World will no doubt charge more for different brands.

I just followed the card instructions. Once instructions are carried out, to use the PCMCIA card instead of the onboard wireless, my Vaio has a slide switch on the front. I just switched it off. Then look at your network connections. I think mine automatically created a 2nd wireless network connection. Just right-click the new connection and enable" it. that should be it.

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

robxter — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:32:37 GMT

Hi,
no problem with my A115B Vaio and my zyxel 650hw ( 802.11b ) adsl wireless router ... full download and upload without intermittent connections. All the settings were in default state .

Bye ! ( maybe some problem with wifi mini-pci board ? )

PS: no problem with wireless connections but one big problem with the lcd lamp !! the notebook is in a french repair centre !!...i'm waiting for it !

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

Jonathan_FR — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 21:39:41 GMT

Hi Vaio addicts,

Me own a PCG-GRX616SP (a real 5000¿ monster, I love it)
And a Sony WLAN card

Same issue for me, connection dropping after 10-15 min

Googled a bit and found out that 802.11b is a real peace of crap compared to the g version
But I have no choice, my card and my adsl hub won't do g version

So I came up with this: 802.11b is far to unstable if you use IEEE 802.1X authentication
So just deactivate it

To do that go to your wireless connection properties, select your current wireless network, click properties
Then go to the Authentication tab, and uncheck Activate IEEE 802.1X authentication for this network
Valid everything, wait a few sec and continue your business...

everything now fine for me
hope it helps

Intermittent wireless connection

joes1999999 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:20:40 GMT

i have the same problem.... does anyone have an answer ?

vaio vgnfe41e vista home premium

thanks

Re: Intermittent wireless connection

Irondiva — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:15:30 GMT

Same for me. Just bought a new laptop SVS1312K3E. Same issue with intermittent wireless.

Have my old one standing on the left of me VAIO VPCSB4L1E and my previous one on the right (which my boyfried uses now) VPCEB4Z1E. None of them have this issue. Only my new one...

However, being serious, when I bought all of them I fighted a lot with the perfomance and glitches and I found one perfect solution - DELETE ALL VAIO SOFTWARE...

It seems I am going to do the same here and see how it goes afterwards.