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Asus UX305, Intel dual band wireless-AC 7265: "Limited Connection"

RLah
Novice
14,212 Views

I have seen other posts relating somewhat to this same "Limited Connection" at public wifi hotspots.

I received a new Asus Zenbook UX305FA-USM1 unit on June 9 and the home WiFi setup had no problem whatsoever. But the next day, went to major chain bookstore/coffeehouse to use their hotspot wifi and only got "limited connection", i.e. NO Internet. I have had no problems using my Acer C720 Chromebook in the same hotspot location... neither do any of my other Android devices have any problems. But this Asus Zenbook cannot connect... very perplexing.

I have tried updating with Intel's driver and went back to the store, but the problem remained. There is a Best Buy store adjoining the bookstore and even its public wifi gave "limited connection". -- But I will say that did get a working Internet connection at 2 major hardware chain stores and a major hotel. The big hamburger chain was spotty but seemed to work when I got a strong signal inside the building.

So, Intel, what do you say about your AC 7265 unit? Anything? Do I rollback to original ASUS driver... which did not work in the first place, at least I don't recall updating the driver before my first attempt at the bookstore.

I should mention that I have already made the changes mentioned in /message/283535http: this post and will go back a third time to the bookstore tomorrow to test it... is this worth the try?

Please help! I don't want to return this unit just because only some of my favorite hotspots don't work.

59 Replies
jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

Hello Intel_indiana,

As you mentioned, some access points may not work well with the standard configuration of the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265. Mostly because this adapter is pretty new and is optimized for 802.11ac connections.

The actions mentioned in the forum are the first actions you should try, this may actually resolve connectivity issues.

Just a little clarification, to set the HT Mode for 802.11n compatibility the option to use is "HT mode". If this one does not work well, you may also try "disabled". The option "VHT Mode" is for 802.11ac compatibility.

RLah
Novice
4,037 Views

Thanks for the response! I finally feel like I have some hope now... this is the first forum to do that. -- I appreciate the clarification on the "HT Mode". Looks like I'm getting a little experience "under the hood" of these network adapters.

You also give me some hope with that networking issues will settle down with time. I will report back with my experience at the bookstore tomorrow.

BTW, if I can't get yours to work, should I maybe try connecting a USB Wireless N adapter to see if I can use it where your Wireless-AC 7265 has problems?

jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

We will be waiting for the results after the actions performed. Let us know if there is any change in the behavior, or in case the issue persists.

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RLah
Novice
4,037 Views

Here are the settings I tested:

Disabled Bluetooth adapters

Preferred band: 2.4 GHz

U-APSD: Disabled

Transmit power: 5. Highest

The results at the bookstore were no different than before -- either no connection or "limited connection", useless. However, I did take along a USB wireless network adapter, plugged it in, installed the driver, and viola!... it immediately connected to the bookstore wifi, just like my Acer C720 Chromebook continues to do.

So for now, I have a "solution".

BTW, I have received a suggested driver to download from Asus Tech support which directed me to their download http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&p=3&s=747&m=UX305FA&os=41&ft=19&f_name=WiFi_Intel_Win81_64_VER171511.zip# WiFi_Intel_Win81_64_VER171511.zip site, but it seemed the same as your Intel "Proset" product. After installing it, I got virtually the same result at the bookstore public wifi hotspot. (I'm writing this on my Chromebook at the bookstore).

I will be watching for newer drivers over the coming months to see if this erratic behavior settles down in the new AC wireless world.

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

We are sorry to know the issue persists, feel free to let us know in case you want to try further troubleshooting.

If you prefer, you can wait for the next driver release, a new version is normally available in thehttps://downloadcenter.intel.com/ Intel® Download Center every few months, please check the https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/83635/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-7265 Downloads for the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 regularly for updates. We always take this type of cases into consideration and we expect new driver releases to improve the behavior of the adapter.

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RLah
Novice
4,037 Views

Glad to hear of the ongoing updates... I'll be on the lookout.

And just to confirm my experience so far -- after we left the bookstore, we drove around the mall and while I dropped off my wife at the Macy's front door, I opened my Asus Zenbook and with 4 bars of signal strength, it connected... from the parking lot! Why some public hotspots work and other don't is a mystery to me... some glitch in calling up the Terms and Conditions screens?... a need for at least 4 bars of signal strength?... too many Wifi signals in one area confuses this adapter?

If you want to know the other US national store brands I tested, let me know.

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RLah
Novice
4,037 Views

BTW, how do I take off my real name handle and replace it with a pseudo name?... I thought I had properly set up a "handle"

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

Hello,

I see your name handle as Intel_indiana, I am not able to see your real name:

When you are using your profile, you will see your real name in the community tool, however, this will be seen only by you, other users, like me, will see only your handle.

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PBels
Beginner
4,037 Views

I really really hope so, waiting impatiently

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

Hello 1PietBels,

Here are a few things you can do to improve wireless connectivity.

- Make sure you are using the most recent driver for your Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265. You can obtain the latest version from your http://www.intel.com/support/oems.htm Computer Manufacturer. The Version 17.16.0 is available from the https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/83635/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-7265 Intel Download Center for the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265.

- Apply the advanced adapter settings from the following advisory: http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-030709.htm?wapkw=wifi+recommended+settings Wireless Networking — What are the Recommended Settings for 802.11n Connectivity?

- Set your wireless power plan to Maximum Performance. This is done by going to the Windows* Power Options - Change plan settings - Advanced power settings, and set the Wireless adapter to Maximum Performance, when plugged in and on battery.

- For troubleshooting, disable Bluetooth and check if this helps with the connection. It might be done with a switch in the chassis of the PC, or with a keyboard combination. It can be also be done in the OS configuration.

If the issue persists, please provide additional information:

Router/Access Point model and firmware version.

Operating System (including 32 or 64 bits)

Have you tried connecting to different wireless networks?

Have you tested if the issue happens when using the 5 GHz band, or 802.11ac?

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APMichael
New Contributor I
4,037 Views

Hello!

Like Intel_indiana and 1PietBels I own an "Asus UX305" notebook also and I have problems with the wireless connection almost every day! On my last business trip it was a torture using the "AC 7265", because of the constant connection dropouts and/or the slow speed! Even in our office it is nearly impossible to use the wireless connection. I tried every driver and every setting I found on your website - nothing helps. I am very disappointed with the performance and the compatibility of your "AC 7265". (This is the only device not working! All our other notebooks, phones and tablets are working flawless.)

Our office uses "Netgear WN203(v1)" access points with the latest firmware 2.0.11. The "Asus UX305" notebook uses Windows 8.1 64-bit.

I hope you can fix the continuing connection issues as soon as possible. Thanks.

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JCain1
Beginner
4,037 Views

Hello intel community,

I have exactly the same problem here on my Asus UX305 FA, the wifi become 'limited' randomly and the connection drops out..i have to reboot or sleep the computer to retrieve a connection. My router is a Sagem Livebox FTTH v2 , i also tried every recommended settings in this thread and sadly nothing helped...

I hope Intel will react very quickly against this critical problem. Thank you.

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jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

Hello,

Please make sure you have applied the recommendations from previous posts: latest driver, recommended adapter settings, power plan settings, disable Bluetooth. These normally help improve the connectivity.

Checking the information for the Netgear WN203(v1) and Sagem Livebox FTTH v2, they are both 802.11n, Single band, 2.4 GHZ, If the issue persists, you can apply some additional configuration in the driver to improve connection with this type of access points:

802.11n channel width for band 2.4: 20 MHz.

802.11n channel width for band 5.2: Auto (not in 20 MHz only)

Fat channel intolerant: Disabled

Roaming aggressiveness: Medium/low or lowest.

Throughput enhancement: Disabled

Transmit power: Highest

Wireless mode: 802.11 a/b/g

Also, try the following to disable 802.11ac features and improve 802.11n connectivity:

HT mode: Enabled

uAPSD: Disabled

In the wireless router, check the following options:

Auto channel scan: Enable

802.11 mode: Use 802.11n

Channel width: 20 MHz

Also, go to Windows* Device Manager - Network Adapters, look for the Intel® Wireless Adapter and enter the adapter properties, in the Power Management tab, toggle off/on the option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". Check if the behavior improves when you change this setting.

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JCain1
Beginner
4,037 Views

Thank you for the reply jonathan_intel.

I tried almost everything you said: latest oem driver(also tried the latest intel), power saving mode to maximum performance, bluetooth disable through the control panel => network and sharing center => change adapter settings => right click on bluettoth device then disable , right?

In Device manager => network adapter => right click on Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 then all this settings applied:

First, my computer is in french so i changed the language to english but the drivers properties stays in french...there is 2 properties i'm not sure you talking about:

- Fat channel intolerant => "incompatible avec canaux de 40Mhz" in french?

- Throughput enhancement => "fusion des paquets" in french?

The others are easy to translate:

- 802.11n channel width for band 2.4: 20 MHz.

- 802.11n channel width for band 5.2: Auto

- Roaming aggressiveness: 1. Min.

- Transmit power: 5. Max.

- Wireless mode: 6. 802.11 a/b/g

- HT mode: HT Mode

- uAPSD: Disabled

Sadly on the Sagem Livebox FTTH v2 i don't have the choice to use 802.11n only. I'm using the WPA2 security mode so i guess it uses 802.11n by default and also i don't have the choice for the channel width. Hopefully i can set the channel to auto.

Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in the Power Management tab was the first things i tried and it didn't help at all.

Do you think Intel drivers can do something to resolve this problem? or this is an incompatibility between the acess point and the wifi card?

Thank you again.

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APMichael
New Contributor I
4,037 Views

Thank you for your fast reply.

I tried all your recommendations already, sadly with no success. (My driver and router configuration is exactly the same.) I read almost every "AC 726x" thread and Intel FAQ, but I still do not found any solution for the connection dropouts or the low throughput.

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BStor1
Beginner
3,414 Views

Sadly, I purchased an ASUS 305F 6 weeks ago and have had nothing but issues from day 1 with the wi-fi. It was either dropping off, not connecting or had limited access. I turned it on today and now there is no wifi drivers at all...

I have gone through this entire thread and tried everything to fix it with no success. The computer has now gone back to the ASUS servicing department as even the computer guru at the shop couldnt understand why.

So now I am without a laptop for at least 4 weeks, not good when you run your own business and rely on the laptop to operate.

Very dissapointed with the intel product to say the least.

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RD5
Beginner
3,414 Views

I get the same issue. Intel should really be ashamed of their work at finding a solution. This is horrifically unprofessional.

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PBels
Beginner
4,037 Views

Hallo, I'm not replying to Intel_indiana in particular, but wanting to say I'm in the same situation with my Asus ux305 and the wireless AC 7265. This AC makes this wonderful machine a bad dream. So, shall I go back to my seller and ask for a particular change to make ? Or wait until a decent answer is provided here ? WHAT IS THE BEST TO DO ? Momentarily, I use my older computer again, what a shame. Can I myself do something to improve the reception ? Intel, PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAse help and offer a solution for all these Zenbook ux305 buyers.

DHoul
Beginner
4,037 Views

Hi

I have recently bought a new laptop from PC Specialist in the UK which included the AC 7265 wireless card.

My initial problems were with very poor Bluetooth range which a replacement wireless card from PC Specialist did not cure but, I found switching the aerial cables on the wireless card made an enormous difference to the Blutooth range which is now acceptable, (though not as good as other devices).

It was also soon evident that I had poor wifi range problems as well which came more to light when I started to take the laptop out of the home environment and found that I couldn't connect to many public networks or had very slow connections compared to my old outgoing laptop or even my phone. The aerial switching did not make any difference and I have also applied the adaptor settings you recommend with the latest drivers, also with no positive results. Switching off Bluetooth certainly improves wifi speed when using 2.4 Ghz networks, (there is no improvement with 5Ghz networks, and I see that other people cannot even see 5Ghz networks with this card, but reception is still poor with Bluetooth on or off).

So the only reliable solution I have come to is to use a wireless USB dongle which works perfectly. My download speed at home with the USB dongle is 38Mbps, pretty much my maximum internet speed, but using the internal AC7265 and Bluetooth off, the speed is 15Mbps. With Bluetooth on it's 7Mbps.

Whilst I don't have an AC router, (Asus RT - N66U), I thought it churlish not to buy an AC spec'd wireless card in the new laptop as I'm sure to update the router sometime in the future, but it appears that another wireless card without AC may have been a better choice.

Do Intel honestly feel that another driver update will solve this problem, or is it actually a shortcoming of the hardware in the AC 7265?

jbenavides
Honored Contributor II
4,037 Views

Hello,

I would like to inform that we are aware of this type of condition and we expect fixes for this issue with the upcoming driver version which will be available soon. You may check the https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/83635/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-7265 Downloads for the Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 regularly for updates.

Also, you might want to contact the http://www.intel.com/support/oems.htm Computer Manufacturer Support, since they often release their driver version a few weeks before the generic version is available from Intel® Download Center.

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