dv9212tx Laptop Continuously Drops Wireless Connection

[J. R. Sarge]

Hello all, and thanks in advance for helping to solve the problem.

I have a dv9212tx laptop with a Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG adapter. I have noticed that on all the wireless networks I use, periodically the connection will drop out and come back (once every 5 minutes to 30 minutes normally). I am running Vista Home Premium. The sequence is as follows:

- Connection is fine
- Connection suddenly drops and web browsing is impossible. All downloads (which sometimes are on but not always so that's not the problem) stop, so the wireless card has definately 'dropped' the network.
- Network status goes to "Local Only" or gives yellow exclaimation mark.
- About 15-30 seconds later, network automatically goes back to 'OK' status.

What I've tried so far to resolve the problem (and failed):

- Install latest drivers for 3945ABG PRO/Wireless
- Install all other latest drivers for the laptop (which is 1 month old)
- Changed the channel to wireless connection (tried 3 different channels)
- Tried changing security settings on wireless connection (have tried secure-shared pass, and public network as well - no luck).
- Disabled HP Wireless Assistant to let Windows handle the connection itself.
- Tried different wireless networks in different locations (same problem).

Any suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks for your time - I'm stumped with this one!

Yours,
The Sarge

[ed k.]

Hi Sarge, please let me know in troubleshooting this problem did you use info from HP support web?:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/documentSubCategory?rule=42514&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3350055〈=en
and F.Y.I.
https://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#33
:-) Ed K.

[J. R. Sarge]

Dear Ed K,

I indeed searched through the entire help section that was relevant to wireless networks before coming here.

Additionally, I know it is not a problem with my router/cable combination for several reasons:

- My wired desktop does not drop connection when my wireless laptop does.
- My friend's laptops (they are WinXP) do not drop the connection when mine does, even if it is on the same connection.
- I experience this problem with wireless connections that are at work at well, not just at home.

[ed k.]

Sarge, do you have an option to test your problem on the same laptop with XP OS (is your friends laptop with XP OS of the same type/model as yours?). If not, the test described above could tell you more if it driver or hardware or OS problem...
:-) Ed K.

[J. R. Sarge]

I currently have no way to test XP on this laptop because it only came with Vista.

I have tried (since last post) to keep my wireless roaming aggressiveness set to 'low' but this does not seem to have much impact on the problem. :(

[John Waack]

If you are still looking for a solution, give this a try:

http://www.tipstrs.com/tip/815/Improve-Wireless-connections-in-Windows-Vista

I had a problem very similar, and this appears to have improved my situation considerably.

JW

[jimberkas]

I know this thread is very old. But I'm having very similar problems(though with Broadcom card instead of Intel) I've tried the autotuning suggestion as well but this didn't resolve my problem.

Just curious if you ever resolved your network drops?