Wireless Network card replacement on G74SX-A1

[mag1]

Are people switching out their wireless adapter (Atheros in G74x) because of lame -n performance? I've found several other users who have the same problem as I, namely when the adapter is in the "automatic" mode (the only way to "get in" the -n mode), the max connect speed is 64Mbps and internet download speed drops to 1.5Mbps. However, by selecting b/g mode, even though the connect speed drops to 56Mbps, my internet download speed increases to nearly 4Mbps (normal for my pathetic DSL service). Clearly there is a problem with the Atheros -n connectivity which ASUS will not acknowledge. My G84x was returned from BIZComm with with a terse "could not duplicate" .

Note: I have 2 older computers with -n adapters which connect with my Linksys E2000 router at 144Mbps and provide me with full internet bandwidth.

[dstrakele]

Here's what I get for a speed test off the LinkLINE server in Los Angeles (I'm in AZ) running the G74SX-A1's stock Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Lan Adapter on -n (40MHz) off Cox Cable Preferred using an ASUS RT-N56U Router. My trading platform was open, updating and rescaling 46 real-time charts every second and 7 web pages open in IE9 when I ran this test.

I've updated the Atheros driver to 9.2.0.439, but I was getting these speeds with the stock driver. The Atheros Wireless Selection Mode was "Auto", the default.
Attachment 3260

I'm searching to see what could cause -n connectivity to have a slower download speed than b/g, but I'm not having much success. http://www.dslreports.com/forums/all has forums that may help you resolve your connectivity issue.

[JRd1st]

Yes, it does

I installed a 6230 and Wireless Console 3 DOES control the Wifi, but no longer even sees my BT. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling WC3 but to no avail.

Any ideas?

[BrodyBoy]

I've always found the Wireless Console to be pretty useless. It really doesn't do anything that Windows can't do....so I always leave it out after my clean installs. Does Windows see and control the BT card?

[JRd1st]

Yes, Windows has no problem.

WC3 is more convenient than using the Control Panel. At least, Intel MyWiFiTechnology puts an icon in the tray for WiFi, Atheros didn't so you REALLY had to go into the ControlPanel to enable/disable the wifi. Maybe that's why Asus developed WC3 in the first place.

I'll look and see if I can find something I can edit to fix this. If it's hardcoded in the program I'll forget about it. :shrug:

[BrodyBoy]

Fn+F2 toggles the Wi-Fi adapter on/off. That's true regardless of which card you have installed.

EDIT: But oh yeah.....you were originally asking about BT. Without WC3, toggling the Wi-Fi with F2 is the easiest way, IMO. If you want BT switchable, too, you can just put the little blue BT icon on your taskbar and toggle it there. No WC3 needed at all.

Then you have one less chunk of Asus bloatware to troubleshoot!

[JRd1st]

True, but that was one piece of bloat that was slightly useful.

EDIT: lol, guess what? There IS no option to turn BT off in the Intel BT Icon. I would HAVE to go into the Device Manager. lol

[BrodyBoy]

I didn't mean the Intel software.....I never use that beyond the initial setup. Just Windows. It has its own little blue BT icon for the taskbar. Gives access to anything you might need to do with the BT device...including disabling it.

[Norsky48]

Let us know how that works out for ya, ok?

Well, I'm back from Europe and got the 6230 installed. It works very well, the speeds in our home office (where the router is located) went from ~14 MB/s to +20 MB/s and if I'm down stairs, I was getting ~12 on the Atheros and now with the 6230 I'm still at +20! A great upgrade for ~$20. These speeds are from Speedtest.net

[AQUASTEVAE]

have ordered the 6300 ult n, and couldn't care less about bt. connection strength and speed are the god's of my world. now, the only thing is, i am still interested in installing that third antenna wire. i know it probably won't come into play very often right now, but down the road... i'd rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. i know that the keyboard of the g74 pop's out pretty easily, but what about the palmrest's and screen bezel? i need brodyboy, or who ever else has them, to post some pic's or vid's.