Sporadic but recurring connection dropouts on an Intel 6235 wireless adapter

[idata]

Dear all,

I have the same issues of intermittent sudden connection dropouts as reported by others with the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 Wifi adapter and the Intel Proset 15.x drivers!

My system is a brandnew desktop computer with an Intel i7 3770 Quad-Core CPU, an Intel Z77 chipset, an Asrock Z77E-ITX mainboard, 16 GB of RAM, and Windows 7 64-bit.

Previously, I already encountered the issue with this adapter's predecessor, the Intel Centrino 6230 and only managed to resolve it by going back to an older driver version. If my memory is correct, the Intel Proset 14.x version range worked flawlessly, but the 15.x drivers lead to the dropouts (I always use 64-bit drivers).

These can occur randomly after 5 or after 50 minutes. The adapter suddenly disconnects and won't reconnect to the wireless network unless it is reset. The wireless router itself is fine as there are over a dozen devices from all types of brands that connect regularly to it without any problem at all.

The fact that the problem occurs on two different cards (6230 and 6235) leads me to believe that there is a driver problem.

On the 6235, going back to a 14.x driver does not seem to be an option on the table, because the device seems to be only supported by 15.x versions. I already tried going back from the recent 15.2 version to the previous 15.1.1 (after uninstalling through the device manager), but the problem still persists. Now I just went back to 15.1.0 and it's been ok so far, but i'm not very optimistic.

I have tried different changes in the driver settings but with no success. The problem persists!

I'd be thankful for a solution.

Best regards,

Steve

Edited 9/5/2014 by John S. (Intel Customer Support).

The "/message/169514# 169514 Sporadic but recurring connection dropouts on an Intel 6235 wireless adapter" thread will be locked. This thread will remain on the forum for you to reference, but no new posts will be possible on this thread.

The 17.1.0 version of Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers has fixes for connectivity related issues with the Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6235 wireless adapter. If you are still experiencing connectivity issues after installing the very latest software and drivers and you require further troubleshooting, please contact Intel Customer Support. If you prefer to ask questions, make comments, and/or receive answers on this support forum (Wireless Networking Support Community), please start a new thread or find an existing thread that matches your specific issue with your specific hardware/software.

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[idata]

O meu está me atormentando muito! essa intermitencia de tempo em tempo está me tirando do sério! Não dá pra jogar nada on line que o ping vacila toda hora! acorda intel!

[idata]

I came here with the same problem. I'm testing tomorrow if it still has problems with different modem.

I can't believe you buy such a high end ultrabook, and you can't connect to internet. I really can't stay on the internet for more than 1 minute. Then I have to keep trying until 10 minutes later, I get a connection.

It always says my connection is limited, even though I have full bars.

I still have 13 days to turn it in so I will follow this up. I already tried to delete the drivers and let windows 8 install the drivers. Nothing. Disabling N also didn't work out.

It's impossible for me to work like this. I'm not that big of a tech man, but I can't imagine how older folks or people who know nothing about this have to go through. I imagine they send it in, wait months, still don't get it to work and give up. Perhaps never getting their money back.

The grass may be greener, but I'm not sure if apple would have this problem.

[idata]

I can confirm, that the Microsoft driver 14.8.8.75 from 2011 is working without any lags, paket loss, high/spike ping, latency problems, disconnects or other problems, and that every single Intel driver, including 15.6.1, is faulty. For example having a lag or complete stop while online gaming every 2-5 minutes. Im on Microsoft driver, and finally after month of problems, everything is working, no lags anymore, nothing. Im glad I found out about this "workaround". Really bad work @ Intel. I still hope they will rewrite the driver and make a stable one in the future.

I had all different kind of problems people wrote about here in this thread, mostly the connectivity getting instable after a time, easily seen by doing a ping and having high latency every few ping. Also noticing when doing online gaming. I was near to replace my card until I found out about the workaround of using the old Microsoft drivers.

It is not the hardware, it is the Intel driver causing the problems. Try the Microsoft one, and everything will work. Deinstall ProSet software, then go into device manager, go to adapter setting, and hit deinstall driver (had to do so 4 times), until it says 14.8.8.75 from 2011 by Microsoft.

[EZ_]

Is the 14.8.8.75 driver you are referring to valid for both n-6235 and n-2230? I'm only finding links for the n-2230. Is there any way you can post a hyperlink for the correct driver for n-6235?

EDIT: never mind... I just realized you meant that simply deleting them would replace them with the generics. &# 13; &# 13; Message was edited by: Ehaab

[idata]

I have to say, connection hasn't dropped since I deinstalled intel drivers and let windows use its own driver.

Even though I've been testing for half a day, it's better than getting disconnected every minute for half an hour.

I seriously suggest people start doing the same!

[idata]

I had been aware that the Microsoft drivers worked fine, because they were preinstalled on my Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro tablet I purchased from a Microsoft store, and I only started having these problems when the SWUpdate program updated the drivers to use Intel's. When I switched to the Microsoft drivers the problem went away, but this is not at all a viable solution, because the Microsoft driver does not support WiDi, which is a feature of the tablet that I now use. But since many of us can now confirm that it is, in fact, a driver issue, perhaps Intel can pinpoint the problem. Right Intel?

[idata]

Also for me, Samsung Ativ Smart PC pro, Samsung SWupdate installed disfunctional drivers, completely deleting them allows stable connection again.

[idata]

Thx mkdr! Your solution for the connection dropouts worked fantastic on my new Samsung NP5403UC. Thanks once again.

[EZ_]

I had bought a Samsung Ultra Series 7 (NP740U3E-A01UB) from Best Buy just over two weeks ago because it had fantastic reviews. I was having to randomly reset the WiFi adapter every once in a while because I happened to lose the signal, but I loved the laptop otherwise. Then I realized it was more frequent than by chance. A Google search brought me to this thread, so I decided to return the laptop (thank God Best Buy has a good return policy). I ended up getting an ASUS Zenbook (UX31A-BHI5T11) -- not realizing it had the EXACT SAME CARD. The connection was even worse and dropped even more frequently. I intend on returning it tomorrow night.

So, the questions is: is there any Ultrabook out there smaller than 14", made by a reputable company (I have had too many issues with Dell and HP), with solid reviews, that does NOT use this wifi card?

[idata]

@ Ehaab read post above...

[EZ_]

I appreciate the detailed info, @mkdr , however I have read too many posts of supposed fixes in this thread, that other people then come back and report stopped working after X amount of time. I just feel that it's not worth the risk or hassle at this point to even bother with a computer that uses the card.

[idata]

@ Ehaab blub? and of course it justified to return the whole laptop, right... just do what I wrote and it will work. google for it, and so i am saying you did not read correctly through this thread, because otherwise you would had noticed there weresome people hinting this and every other solution was about nonsense stuff which of course did nothing at all, or was just about updating the proset drivers, which are faulty. it is the only solution which is working. but just go ahead and buy a macbook (=

[EZ_]

If I didn't hate Apple and everything it stood for, I would have considered your final recommendation. Perhaps I will try your solution with the ASUS before I return it (which I will do anyway, since I preferred the Samsung -- so if this solution works, I will re-purchase the Samsung and implement the fix again). Thanks again for your input.

In the meantime, if anyone else has any other Ultrabook recommendations that don't use this card, it would be very much appreciated.

[EZ_]

By the way, could you post a link to the exact driver that you are referring to? Thank you, once again.

[idata]

Windows build in 14.8.8.75 from 2011 by Microsoft......

[PM5]

...and what can Win7 users do ? Win7 can't detect the Wifi driver.

I have bought a Windows7. Should I buy another system too because of a wifi card ?

[PM5]

Interesting. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-networking/windows-8-with-intel-centrino-wireless-n-2230/f8501c9a-eb51-4108-ba21-33df45eace85?msgId=ff482d31-910e-44b7-99a4-5e9fd2221ab1 http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-networking/windows-8-with-intel-centrino-wireless-n-2230/f8501c9a-eb51-4108-ba21-33df45eace85?msgId=ff482d31-910e-44b7-99a4-5e9fd2221ab1

Now I'm sure this fault is not card problem, only the driver...

[idata]

Anyone try replacing the 6235 with a 6230? Supports bluetooth 3.0 (not 4.0 like 6235). Haven't found any/many reported wifi dropout issues with it.

[idata]

I had an interesting series of events. My Samsung Gamer 7 (NP700G7C-S01US) uses a 6235. Upgrading to the new 15.6.1.20 driver caused connection stability problems in the form of the yellow exclamation point "no connection to the internet" issue. I have an Asus RT-N66U router and I was using firmware 3.0.0.4.270 for the router. Going back to version 15.5.6.48 of the driver fixed all my problems and I'm back to stable 300mbit connection that NEVER drops or slows.

I upgraded the router to a new beta version of the firmware (3.0.0.4.354) the other day and the connection problems immediately came back to the point I couldn't even connect to 5GHz band anymore. I reverted the firmware and those problems ceased. The interesting note here is that the firmware had a couple interesting fixes in the release notes:

• Upgrade to latest Broadcom driver.
• Enhance both 2.4GHz and 5GHz throughput.

I was wondering if the brand new intel driver would work with the new Broadcom driver for the chipset in the router. I'm just tired of switching my drivers out and also I take this firmware with a grain of salt since it is a beta after all. When the final revision of this firmware comes out I'll try it since there are some security fixes I am keen to install with this new firmware. Might be interesting to note for the Intel guys though.

[idata]

@hfm and what has your routers firmware to do with the stability issues of the 6235 discussed in this thread? right, nothing. use microsoft drivers like i told before and your connectivity will be stable.