Dell Wireless 1704 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz) adapter - refuses to connect to internet on Dell 15R Inspiron 5220

Hi viber,

Before reinstalling the Windows, you may try changing the security type on the wireless network. Please refer to the user manual of your Wireless Router for the same.

Also perform the following steps to change the power settings of the wireless card:

1.    Click on Start and type ‘Device Manager’ (without the quotes) in the search box.
2.    In the search results above, click on Device Manager.
3.    Expand Network Adapters category, right-click the wireless adapter, click ‘Properties’, click ‘Power Management’ tab, and then clear the ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ check box.

Also try the power management settings in Windows. The steps are listed below:

1.    Click Start > Control Panel > Power Options > Edit Plan Settings.
2.    Click on Advanced Settings.
3.    Expand ‘Wireless Adapter Settings’.
4.    Expand ‘Power Saving Mode’ and select ‘Maximum Performance’.

5.    Click on Apply and OK.

Let me know if you need further information or assistance.

Hey Gaurav,

Thanks for 4 reply, but i already tried these steps (referred from other blog posts).

here are the configurations, I made on my machine:

*All the setting mentioned by you in your reply.

*antenna diversity from Auto to Aux.

*roaming tendency set to aggressive.

after doing all these configurations on my machine...problem still exists.

whats your opinion on this?

Did you try changing the security type? You may try changing the encryption type on the wireless network from WPA-PSK to WEP and see if that helps. If that does not resolve the issue, you might have to reinstall the operating system.

Please remember to backup the data before re-installing the Windows.

Let me know if you need further information or assistance. I will be glad to help.

WPA-PSK configuration is working fine for my other laptops....the question is why it is causing trouble on WPA-PSK?

if tried OS re-installation...this is re-occurring on Windows 7 machine....NOT on Windows 8.

this issue is troubling me a lot...please find solution...while writing reply, i disconnected twice :(

viber,

Go to Drivers & Downloads enter your service tag number, then select your operating system. Under Network, download and install the latest drivers.

Try these tweaks...

Intel ~ Recommended settings for 802.11n connectivity If using a Dell wireless adapter, try using the recommended setting, they should work.

Start, control panel, device manager. Click on Network and then right click on your wireless adapter, left click properties, power management. Uncheck the box, allow computer to turn off this device to save power.

Click on advanced and look and see if this adpter has antenna diversity. If it does, then change the antenna diversity from Auto to Aux.

Go to the power options, and changed the Wireless Adapter Setting, from Maximum Power Setting to Maximum Performance.

Rick

Thanks Rick for guiding me in right direction,

As mentioned in Intel ( http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/sb/CS-030709.htm ) configuration....I used Channel bonding/Mixed mode, to make the adapter to use 20/40MHz instead of 20MHz only(default). 

And Voila!! ...It Worked for me...now it is not causing any problem. (all the other configuration are mentioned in this thread)

Thnks Rick and Gaurav :)

This is my working configuration:

I cannot  believe that Dell has done nothing about this issue. I just had gone through the whole set up for my router and other things just to find that it is Dell that is causing the issue and not anything else. Should have thought of this earlier. People from Dell keep suggesting to try and change this on the router try to change that, but the issue is that Dell is the new introduction to the system that was working fine. I have other laptops that connect at good and relaiable speeds but it is this stupid machine that has caused all the grief.

The above tips and the tips from en.community.dell.com/.../19466262.aspx seem to work but still my ping back to the router is taking much more time than the Toshiba, HP sitting right next to it. OK I have swapped positions and places in the room but unless I am sitting in the same room as the router the thing does not seem to work as better as others. The only issue with max WiFi power setting is that it will chew more power so really we should nto have to do it. I also think that the physical position of the WIFI card in the laptop could be an issue as well. I say this as changing the way the laptop faces seem to improve things. I have done more trouble shooting with this machine than I have ever done in my life with any thing that I have bought from any other manufacturer.

Look since I posted this I have had to do more setting changes on the adapter. Basically I have told the adapter exactly what each parameter for the link is and it seems to be okish, still drops but nothing like before. But still the service is unacceptable.

Another update, there is something in the adapter that everytime you change a setting it resets itself and seems to be fine for few seconds and then goes back to drop outs. Still investigating but my gut feeling is the physical position or other internal intereference to the adapter. Could be and happy to be wrong here.

The signal strength indicator is all over the place. Have never seen this before.

I configured this way and it worked for me (at 54Mbps):

http://adf.ly/Fz9G1

As an alternative u can try below configuration:

http://adf.ly/Fz8zQ

It is horrible that Dell has contiued to use such products with cards. No solution just problems.

First and Last Dell,

Some people think it can be a drivers issue.

What happens when you try THESE DRIVERS?

Rick

Thanks for the link.

 What is shocking is that Dell has no solution for the issue. And we have paid for a product! How is my time spent here going ot be compensated? How is the time and effort by all the people with the same issue going to be accounted. We all here are doing Dell a favor and trying to get a Paid product to work as it should. I spoke to a Dell guy and he said change you setting here and there. I told him that all other products 3 Toshiba's, 1 LG, 1 ASUS, iPads, Android phones, Nokia Phones all these things work and the only new item was this misadventure of buying a Dell. So you want me to change all my setting all my network HW just because I bought a Dell? WHY?

If it was any other item I had bought from a shop they would be delaing with Dell and I would be walking away with my money or another product! Unfortunately not in this case. Has Dell heard of product recall? Now you will say the problem is intermittent. But from my prospective either Dell should replace my (Use the word that fits the TOU) network adapter with an Intel or just swap the product altogther. But nothing like that will happen. What will happen is that I stay away from Dell and listern to advice more carefully as I should have done inthis case.

But once bitten always shy may be the way here!

I believe that you are a volunteer, I hope Dell gives you a reasonable product to support and not such (Use the word that fits the TOU).

First and Last Dell,

I just found this in my notes, sorry.

Go to start > device manager > advanced > bandwidth capability > change to 20/40mhz

Rick

First and Last Dell,

There were some adapters that some virus programs were removing the drivers for. Some virus programs would not allow the computer to connect, usually after an update. So if a member does not provide all the information, I have to slowly ask questions.

The drivers that I gave you, if you still have problems, please let me know. I have a link to some other drivers but I try to use the drivers from Dell's website, when possible. I have heard this is a drivers issue and it's just hard to figure out if I'm giving the correct information, since I don't have this adapter. The Antenna Diversity is in some adapter and some it's not. I try to update my notes to tell me if the adapter has this. If the adapter does not have this, then I stop posting about the antenna diversity for the adapter.

I am a volunteer and helping people give me that great feeling inside. There are times when I get stuck but I can usually find a friend to help past the problem, so it's also a learnign experience.

Rick

First and Last Dell,

I cannot control what virus program you use or prefer.

I have seen members uninstall McAfee using the McAfee Removal Tool restart their computer and they could connect.

Rick