Windows 7 Wireless Network issues

[sezja]

A bit of a strange issue here.

I recently purchased a new laptop, and installed W7 RC7100 on it. Brought it to my friends house and my house, both of which were equipped with wireless routers running in mixed g and n modes. Internet worked fine. The touchpad on my laptop bricked after a few hours, and I RMA'd it.

Received a new laptop, installed W7 RC1 build 7232 on it. 64 bit version.
Specs:
My Router: D-Link DIR-615n
Wireless Card: Atheros AR928x
Friends Router: Some Linksys router with n capabilities.
All have newest firmware


With:
Client for MS Networks
QoS Packet scheduler
IP4
IP6
Link Layer Mapper
Link Layer Responder
ENABLED,and bonjour disabled here are my results:

Router set to g protocol only:
100% network and internet functionality
Router set to n protocol only:
70% network and internet functionality(functionality is a rough guesstimate, but basically test it by going to a varity of websites until I start getting timeout errors)
Router set to g and n mixed:
10% network and functionality - works for 10-15 seconds after connecting to network, then shows maybe 5 seconds of connectivity per minute.

With only:
Client for MS Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler
IP4
ENABLED, and Bonjour service disabled my results were:

Router set to g protocol only:
100% Functionality
Router set to n protocol only:
90% functionality(when browsing websites, seeing only about 4-6 seconds of downtime out of every 30-45 seconds)
Router set to g and n protocol:
60-75%

Note: When attempting to connect to my friends router set to g and n with above settings, friends router would not respond or allow wireless logins from my or her laptop.

So in summary: My wireless works fine with a router is set to g only in any situation. Disabling a decent amount of functions seems to moderately to substantially increase functionality while in n, or g&n modes. However, they are still unreliable.

Sorry for the relatively...unprofessional analysis and information I've given. I'd like to figure this out since...asking people to change over to g only is tiresome, and impossible in any public place.

I will do my best to provide any information needed.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you are experiencing some wireless connectivity issues with your new laptop when connected to routers set to 'n' or mixed 'g and n' modes. Here are a few suggestions to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Update Wireless Drivers:
   • Ensure you have the latest drivers installed for your Atheros AR928x wireless card. Sometimes outdated drivers can cause connectivity issues.
   []Router Configuration:
   • Check the advanced settings on your D-Link DIR-615n and your friend's Linksys router.
   • Try adjusting settings such as channel width, channel, and security settings to see if it improves the stability of the connection.
   []Compatibility Mode:
   • Some routers have compatibility modes that can help with connectivity issues when dealing with mixed protocols. Check if your router has such an option.
   []Quality of Service (QoS):
   • QoS settings can sometimes impact network performance. Experiment with different QoS configurations on both your laptop and the router.
   []Check for Interference:
   • Nearby devices like cordless phones, other wireless devices, or even physical obstructions can interfere with the wireless signal. Try moving closer to the router to see if the connection improves.
   []Power Settings:
   • Check the power settings on your laptop to ensure that the wireless adapter is not being turned off to save power. Set it to maximum performance mode.
   []Network Troubleshooter:
   • Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter to see if it can identify and fix any connectivity issues automatically.
2. Network Diagnostics:
   • Use tools like the Command Prompt to run diagnostic tests like ping and tracert to identify where the connection is breaking down.

     Additional Information Needed:​

     If you can provide more specific details like the exact error messages you receive, any event log entries related to the connectivity issues, or any specific configurations you've tried, it would help in further diagnosing the problem. Feel free to try out these suggestions and let me know if you need further assistance or if you have any additional information to share about the issue!