Intel Centrino Wireless-N 135 card / NetGear DGN2200 router issue

[redxxvi]

Hello, I recently bought a Clevo 15.6" Vortex III.
I am very happy with the laptop (great service from PCS) and have been using it with a network cable for internet, but in the past few days have finally tried out the Intel Centrino Wireless-N 135 WiFi card.
I cannot get it to connect to my router (NetGear DGN2200). It does see WiFi networks (my own and neighbours), so I assume not a case of unconnected aerial, though I have not opened my laptop case to check.

I have tried resetting my router to factory specs and uninstalling the WiFi card, then installing the following Intel drivers:
Wireless_15.6.1_Ds64.exe (driver only)
Wireless_15.6.1_s64.exe (driver and IntelPROset wireless diagnostic software).
Original driver from PCS did not appear to work (Sorry, I omitted to record the version).

The IntelPROset diagnostic software fails at Association Test - Failed: Not Associated.
Authentication, Signal and Ping tests also fail.

I have set up a manual profile for my SSID, but on trying to connect I get "Windows was unable to connect to MYROUTER", and "Check your wireless network settings".

My Intel Centrino Wireless-N 135 Properties, default values shown below. I have tried altering some, so far to no avail:

802.11n Channel Width for band 2.4 - 20 MHz Only
802.11n Mode - Enabled
Ad Hoc Channel 802.11b/g - 11
Ad Hoc QoS Mode - WMM Disabled
Bluetooth(R) AMP - Enabled
Fat Channel Intolerant - Disabled
Mixed Mode Protection - CTS-to-self Enabled
Roaming Aggressiveness - 3. Medium
Transmit Power - 5. Highest
Wireless Mode - 3. 802.11b/g

I have searched the internet for similar issues but am at a loss on how to proceed.
My two mobile phones connect via WiFi to the same router without issue (LG e-400 and Sony Xperia Miro).

I set up an Access Control List in the router using MAC addresses, the phones work fine but the Laptop (Intel n-135) does not. I have tried without the ACL, same result.

Am I missing a setting, or could my WiFi card be faulty?
Many thanks for any advice.

 

[ubuysa]

Welcome redxxvi!

I have the same card in my Optimus IV. Mine worked mostly ok though, my problem was it would drop connections. PCS have replaced the card.

The failed association test just means you're not connected to a hotspot, that's why the signal and ping tests fail.

Are you able to connect to any other hotspot, other than your own router? Try taking the laptop to a coffee shop, station or library where there is wifi.

Some things you can try are (do these in this order and see whether you can connect each time):

1. Tell the Intel Pro/Set software to allow Windows to manage the connections.
2. Go into Control Panel, Device Manager, Network Adapters, right-click on your wifi card and select Properties, click the Power Management tab and uncheck the box that lets Windows turn off the device to save power.
3a. If you run Windows 7 go into Network and sharing Center, Manage Wireless Networks, select the entry for your router (if there is one) and click remove.
3b. If you run Windows 8 click the wireless icon in the system taskbar area, right-click on the entry for your router and click Forget This Network.
4. Download the wireless drivers for your laptop from the Clevo site and install those (I've had problems with the latest Intel drivers on my card).
5. Also download the Hotkey driver from the Clevo website and install that (even if it appears to be working ok).

If none of that works I'd give PCS a call because it could be a faulty card. You might even consider upgrading to a non-Intel card, the web is full of problems with the Intel Centrino wireless cards.

 

[Pagey]

I'm not sure how you've set your security up, by the way you've explained things there doesn't seem to be any at all, (which can be a pretty bad thing.)

If you did connect the other devices before the laptop with passkeys, then you'll need it now, (you may have done this but you haven't said, so I'm assuming.)

My advice at this point would be: Make sure you have security on your router, (you will need a passkey to connect the laptop to the router if security is present on your router.)

 

[redxxvi]

I'm not sure how you've set your security up

I do have security set up (WPA2-PSK (AES) with passkey, plus the Access List in advanced settings). Many neighbours with WiFi so I made this a priority, thank you for the advice though, it cannot be overstated.

 

[redxxvi]

Welcome redxxvi!

I have the same card in my Optimus IV. Mine worked mostly ok though, my problem was it would drop connections. PCS have replaced the card.

The failed association test just means you're not connected to a hotspot, that's why the signal and ping tests fail.

Are you able to connect to any other hotspot, other than your own router? Try taking the laptop to a coffee shop, station or library where there is wifi.

Some things you can try are (do these in this order and see whether you can connect each time):

1. Tell the Intel Pro/Set software to allow Windows to manage the connections.
2. Go into Control Panel, Device Manager, Network Adapters, right-click on your wifi card and select Properties, click the Power Management tab and uncheck the box that lets Windows turn off the device to save power.
3a. If you run Windows 7 go into Network and sharing Center, Manage Wireless Networks, select the entry for your router (if there is one) and click remove.
3b. If you run Windows 8 click the wireless icon in the system taskbar area, right-click on the entry for your router and click Forget This Network.
4. Download the wireless drivers for your laptop from the Clevo site and install those (I've had problems with the latest Intel drivers on my card).
5. Also download the Hotkey driver from the Clevo website and install that (even if it appears to be working ok).

If none of that works I'd give PCS a call because it could be a faulty card. You might even consider upgrading to a non-Intel card, the web is full of problems with the Intel Centrino wireless cards.

Thank you for the welcome!
I should have stated I have Win7 64-bit.
I cannot find the option to tell Intel ProSet to allow Windows to manage connections (though I did read elsewhere of this possible fix). Will try reinstalling the drivers.
After unchecking Power Management tab box, no change (after reboot, which I do after changes).
I tried removing profile from Manage Wireless Networks and recreating, but no joy.
I downloaded Clevo drivers (they appear to be Win 7 Intel, "Intel WLAN + Bluetooth combo card driver for Windows", Combo_I.zip). I presume these are the correct ones for P150EM. No change.
I downloaded Hotkey driver (Hotkey.zip), but it does not install (looks for wrong version of .msi file on install?)

I will attempt all again soon when I have more free time, and look for a hotspot in town to try connecting to. I did think of turning my mobile phone into a hotspot (if it is possible?) but I may be taking risks as I am new to WiFi phones and hotspots. This laptop WiFi procedure does seem very complicated, I connected my phones to the router easily but this seems incredibly complex. I feel like getting a new card if I don't fix it soon.

Thank you again for your help, I will report back if I resolve the issue.

 

[ubuysa]

Thank you for the welcome!
I should have stated I have Win7 64-bit.
I cannot find the option to tell Intel ProSet to allow Windows to manage connections (though I did read elsewhere of this possible fix). Will try reinstalling the drivers.
After unchecking Power Management tab box, no change (after reboot, which I do after changes).
I tried removing profile from Manage Wireless Networks and recreating, but no joy.
I downloaded Clevo drivers (they appear to be Win 7 Intel, "Intel WLAN + Bluetooth combo card driver for Windows", Combo_I.zip). I presume these are the correct ones for P150EM. No change.
I downloaded Hotkey driver (Hotkey.zip), but it does not install (looks for wrong version of .msi file on install?)

I will attempt all again soon when I have more free time, and look for a hotspot in town to try connecting to. I did think of turning my mobile phone into a hotspot (if it is possible?) but I may be taking risks as I am new to WiFi phones and hotspots. This laptop WiFi procedure does seem very complicated, I connected my phones to the router easily but this seems incredibly complex. I feel like getting a new card if I don't fix it soon.

Thank you again for your help, I will report back if I resolve the issue.

In my version of Pro/Set there is an option to let Windows manage wireless connections. If yours doesn't have that option then uninstall all the Pro/Set software (including the card driver) and reinstall selecting just the driver, that way Windows will manage the connections.

Your ability (or not) to connect to a different hotspot will be a very useful diagnostic test.

 

[Pagey]

The driver from the Intel download site I have is: "wireless_15.5.6_e64", this has been flawless. Obviously if that doesn't work could be a dud, OR the card may be loose. If you're confident enough you could remove the speaker grille and the keyboard to gain access to it, (obviously with the laptop off and no battery in.) Then you could carefully remove the connections and the card, then carefully re-attach everything again. If that doesn't work, deffo a dud.

I can't remember what wifi sniffer I used before, but this looks like it could do the job.

Hope this helps ya.

 

[redxxvi]

Hello Ubuysa and Pagey, thank you both very much for your help, I finally got the WiFi card to work today.

I have an embarrassing confession to make, I had used the wrong MAC address in my router Access Control List. I used the network card address instead of the WiFi card address.
I did turn off the ACL briefly to check for this a few days back, but it didn't help at the time (perhaps I was trying an incompatible driver). I went back to the Clevo drivers today, spotted the MAC issue and it worked.
Not before I had bought a WiFi dongle though, but I will keep this for another PC.

Thank you for the link to the WiFi sniffer, I have been trying that out.
Thanks again and my apologies for the basic mistake.
Cheers!

 

[Pagey]

Hey no worries fella, happens to the best of us I can assure you.

Glad you got it sorted.

 

[ubuysa]

Glad it's sorted!

 

[Pagey]

Welcome redxxvi!

I have the same card in my Optimus IV. Mine worked mostly ok though, my problem was it would drop connections. PCS have replaced the card.

Did it work fine afterwards?

Doesn't matter what Intel drivers I'm using, (either Official Intel or the Clevo ones) it still drops the connection.

 

[ubuysa]

Did it work fine afterwards?

Doesn't matter what Intel drivers I'm using, (either Official Intel or the Clevo ones) it still drops the connection.

Hi Pagey, yes and no. The new one worked a lot better than the old, but it does still drop connections occasionally. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to it either. On a boat there's a lot of electrical and radio noise as pumps switch on and off etc. but it doesn't seem to be related to any of that. My laptop is also less than 1m from the MiFi hotpsot too. I've actually resorted to plugging the MiFi into the laptop so I'm not using the WiFi card at all now, except on those (very rare) occasions when I take the laptop off the boat. And then I'm only using it for short periods.

If I needed WiFi I think I'd get a different card (and not another Intel one either).

 

[Pagey]

Cheers man.

I'll see if I can get a replacement, but I might look into getting something "better" I'm pretty sure I could get away with sticking in another model.

 

[ubuysa]

Cheers man.

I'll see if I can get a replacement, but I might look into getting something "better" I'm pretty sure I could get away with sticking in another model.

If you're thinking of changing the card I would get a non-Intel one. The slot where it fits (under the keyboard) looks to be "standard", not that I'm an expert on these things. The card is tiny, it's about 30mm square with a double-sided connector slot on the bottom and two small coax push-fit sockets on the other end. A photo is below.

 

[Pagey]

Cheers man, I got the replacement delivered today and fitted, worked perfectly!

As an added bonus for the Optimus IV is the fact you get 3 aerials so you can use even better wifi modules. The best Intel one is around 30 squids, couldn't really find any non-Intel ones tbh.

 

[ubuysa]

Cheers man, I got the replacement delivered today and fitted, worked perfectly!

As an added bonus for the Optimus IV is the fact you get 3 aerials so you can use even better wifi modules. The best Intel one is around 30 squids, couldn't really find any non-Intel ones tbh.

Thanks for the update, I'll keep that in mind.

 

[ab3rry]

Cheers man, I got the replacement delivered today and fitted, worked perfectly!

As an added bonus for the Optimus IV is the fact you get 3 aerials so you can use even better wifi modules. The best Intel one is around 30 squids, couldn't really find any non-Intel ones tbh.

Do you mind me asking which one you ended up replacing it with? I have similar symptoms to the ones you described in your other thread; just randomly stops working and the upgraded Intel drivers have just exasperated it.

 

[Pagey]

I'm currently getting my laptop RMA'd to get to the bottom of this issue.

I know exactly what the problem is, it's just trying to fix it...

To give an idea: Check your wifi connections and see which ones it's automatically connecting to...

 

[Pagey]

Ah poop, I think I've found the problem... :/

 

[dogbot]

The suspense is killing me