7260 still drops connection with newest driver

[AGros3]

I have had an XPS 15 Touch (XPS 15-9530) with the Dual Wireless-N 7260 card running Windows 8.1 Update and have had no end of problems with wireless connectivity. I am on driver 17.0.0 and set Power Options to Maximum Performance for my wireless card. I had these same problems back when I was on Windows 8.1 with the 16.10 driver (I think that was the version) when I first got the laptop and the driver update didn't sort it out. The main symptom I see is that when I'm on my home wireless network, suddenly my wireless connection goes to Limited and I need to toggle Airplane Mode on and off quickly to reconnect and regain internet access. A secondary symptom is that I have no end of problems joining wireless networks at restaurants and coffee shops and also joining my iPhone's tethered network (I eventually just gave up and tethered via Bluetooth).

My home network is an Airport Extreme dual-band network, extended by my basement's Airport Express. Automatic channel selection is enabled but it always seems to stay on the same channels: for 5.0GHz both the Extreme and the Express are running on channel "149+153" and for 2.4GHz the Extreme is on channel 1 and the Express is on channel 11.

Is there something I can do to help troubleshoot this? I will try to attach the logging from a recent drop. I noticed the connection drop at 9:40am, although it may have dropped up to a minute before. I then toggled Airplane mode at 9:42am and regained my connection at 9:43am.

[AGros3]

There doesn't seem to be any option to attach a file to this post so I put the logging output on Dropbox here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mp7473rwwpb74as/05062014_000.htm https://www.dropbox.com/s/mp7473rwwpb74as/05062014_000.htm . See my original post for the time that it failed. I ran the diagnostics in the Pro/Set application while my connection was limited and all tests succeeded other than the ping test.

[Kevin_M_Intel]

Hi grossag,

Let me help you with this.

Checking the information you have provided, I see that you are using the Airport router so I was wondering; can you try a different router for this connection? We have received feedback from customers reporting dropping connection issues with this device.

You can also contact support at the following links for them check on this:

E- Mail support for North America: http://www.intel.com/support/mailform/networking/wireless/emailsupport.htm http://www.intel.com/support/mailform/networking/wireless/emailsupport.htm

E- Mail support for the rest of the world: http://www.intel.com/support/mailform/networking/wireless/email_support.htm http://www.intel.com/support/mailform/networking/wireless/email_support.htm

[JG6]

I have the same problem with my XPS 15 Touch (XPS 15-9530) with the Dual Wireless-N 7260 card running Windows 8.1. I can't even seem to get any connections most of the time, it just showed "Connected" but I can't access or ping to any websites, other times it showed "Limited'.

The wireless access point is a TP-Link TL-WA901ND, no other computers/devices shown this kind of problem connecting to the same access point. Updated to the latest driver 17.0.0.34 but it does not help at all.

I'm really frustrated.

[AGros3]

Hi Kevin, unfortunately swapping out my router isn't a realistic option at this point. However, as I mentioned in my original description, I also have problems joining wireless networks at restaurants and coffee shops, as well as tethering. So I would say that this is definitely not specific to Airport, although maybe the driver has additional problems with Airport. I will contact support directly.

[AGros3]

One correction I want to make is that I have the Dual Wireless-AC 7260 card, not the Dual Wireless-N 7260 card.

[ATrin5]

I've a Lenovo T540p with Intel 7260AC. Connection drops or is extremly slow.... (Router: Fritzbox 7570)

[TSliw]

I had the same exact issue with my Gigabyte P34G running the N 7260 (and later the AC 7260) adapter. I saw a link to leaked WHQL drivers version 17.0.2.5 on this post: http://forum.notebookreview.com/networking-wireless/716325-intel-7260-a-44.html# post9640196 Intel 7260? - Page 44 from notebookreview.com. I've been running these drivers since April 30th with none of the "limited connectivity" issues I had before.

[AGros3]

Thanks Tom. I tried the 17.0.2.5 version of the wireless driver from the Lenovo website to see if it made a difference. So far it's showing some promise in helping to avoid the dropped connections I mentioned, but I haven't been able to give it enough testing to know for sure yet.

The one thing that I wanted to mention I still have trouble connecting to WiFi hotspots at some restaurants even with the 17.0.2.5 driver. For example, I was at a restaurant yesterday I was able to successfully connect to their public wireless network (the connection didn't show as limited) but I was unable to do any DNS lookups so I couldn't browse the web at all. I enabled some logging during that time and put the resulting htm page here ( https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9301353/2013-05-08-13-30.htm https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9301353/2013-05-08-13-30.htm ). Oddly enough, the Pro/Set utility's diagnostic tests passed everything, including ping tests. The time when I was connected to that WiFi hotspot was around 1:30pm, although I started the connection a minute or two before. I don't believe that it was a misconfigured router, as I was able to load webpages on my iPhone just fine when connected to that WiFi hotspot.

I also included this note on the ticket I filed with Intel. I will do troubleshooting on that ticket and include any updates here on this thread.

[Kevin_M_Intel]

Try checking if you have an option under the Adapter properties > Advanced tab called uAPSD and disable it.

[AGros3]

The fix is two-fold, as mentioned in two separate comments:

1. Update to the 17.0.2.5 driver, which fixed support for Airport Extreme and iOS tethering by fixing a bug in handling QoS levels.
2. Disable uAPSD under Adapter properties > Advanced, which seemed to fix my inability to join certain wireless networks.

I am still working directly with Intel support on troubleshooting # 2. I was told that they still want to make uAPSD work correctly. I will update this thread if I am able to get a better resolution that does not require # 2.

[TFlem1]

Is there any way to set the U-APSD value to Disabled via registry or installation switch? I have 4000+ endpoints to make this change on. Any info is appreciated.

Thanks

[jbenavides]

Hello TSFleming,

We do not recommend modifying the Windows registry, so we are not able to refer to that at this time. We will check if there is a way to disable uAPSD, other than changing the Advanced properties if the Wireless adapter driver.

Please let us know the adapter model, Operating System and driver version you are using.

Have you tried updating the Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software in your systems? The current releases prevent many scenarios related to disconnections and performance.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProdId=3622 Intel® Download Center

[AGone]

I`m facing the same problem with this device "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260", the wifi becomes very unstable, it is disconnecting frequently. This happen after a upgrade my ASUS ZENBOOK UX301 to Windows 8.1.

I already install the latest intel drive to solve, but it is NOT working yet. I used "Wireless_17.0.3_e164.exe". And still not working.

Any idea?

Thanks,

[Kevin_M_Intel]

We have information that a new coming driver will be released soon to solve this problems but we don't have an ETA yet.

In the meantime, try updating the BIOS of the unit, reinstalling the driver and testing the driver provide by the Computer Manufacture since those drivers are special for OEM systems.

[AGone]

Hi Kevin,

Do you any workaround for that? or Is there any roadmap to solve this bug? It seems that 7260 has this problem a lot time ago.

Thanks

[AGone]

The new driver 17.0.5 still has the problem, the WIFI unstable.

[SMons2]

So I got my 7260AC replaced and same issues.

I've been doing a bit more research whilst waiting for the new card and did the following (with the new card) in the Advanced window of the card:

- Changed the channel width (for the 2.4GHz) to 20MHz only

- Enabled QoS Ad-hoc

The above I actually copied the settings of my sibling's new laptop (which comes with a 7260 N, with driver 16.6.0.8)

Currently on 17.0.5.8 and my AC is NOT disconnecting / slowing down. Throughputs are relatively stable, with pings ranging from 1ms all the way to 917ms. But no random slow-downs / disconnects so no complaints.

Not happy with the two odd months I spent ripping my hair out trying to figure this out. But it's going. Finally. That plus, not rich enough to get a dual-band router at the moment... But from what I hear the 5GHz works without any tweaking.

[Kevin_M_Intel]

I completely understand your frustration. We are working on this towards a solution but I regret to say we have no ETA yet.

[GMila2]

With a new Lenovo E540 with this Wireless Card! I've the same issues

Driver version is the last one from Intel, 17.0.5.8 with Windows 8.1 used as OS. Same issues. Connection is continously dropping but the strange thing is that it seems to happen only with my home router. A new DLink DSL 2750B. I've other 5 wireless devicess used in my home, laptops and smartphones with no issue at all. At office the wireless instead has no issues: there we use an old wifi router with no DSL connection (the router link wifi to a cabled LAN).

I'm not sure that the same reported issues have been solved. Not enough testing. But I don't understand what to apply. All of below suggestions or just the last two?

Applying only 1 withe 17.0.5.8 did not solved

1. Disable uAPSD under Adapter properties > Advanced, which seemed to fix my inability to join certain wireless networks
2. Changed the channel width (for the 2.4GHz) to 20MHz only
3. Enabled QoS Ad-hoc

MODIFIED AFTER 40 MINS TESTING

Those corrections did not solve. Dropping happens, less frequently but happens.

Now I'm using and external USB wifi key from DLink with no issues at all!!!

[Kevin_M_Intel]

I am sorry for your troubles. Try this version if you are running Windows 7:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24217&lang=eng&ProdId=3714 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24217&lang=eng&ProdId=3714

If running Windows 8.1, try this:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24220 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24220

Kevin M