Sony Vaio - Slow Atheros AR9285 Wireless Card

[Robert01]

Hello,

 

i wonder if anyone can help please with problems i am having with a new Sony Vaio laptop fitted with an Atheros AR9285 wireless card.

 

Details:

 

According to the specs the sony laptop (a new model VPC EB1EOE / WI) should be capable of transfer speeds to an N class wireless router of a maximum 150mbps receive and 150mbps transmit.

 

I am only getting a reported speed of 65mbps using an N class BT Home Hub 2 router.

 

Another pc sited several rooms away is reporting a speed of 130mbps and this is the speed i expected to get with the new Vaio laptop. The Vaio is 12" on a table right next to the router!

 

So far, i have reinstalled windows 7 64 bit operating system and also checked the current Atheros driver is the latest one.

 

For the record i believe the BT router operates on a 40 MHZ channel in a 2.4GHZ band (if this is the right terminology). I wondered if the Atheros AR9285 card is resticted in some way if this is the case, effectively only delivering 65mbps instead of 130.

 

Sony technical support cannot help - stating they are unaware how to proceed.

 

Of interest i "googled" Atheros AR9285 problem and have found similar tales from many other pc owners all with units using this particular wireless card.

 

Any help appreciated.

[Jelly Bean]

Hello and welcome.

 

In my opinion but I am sure the guys here will say other,Atheros aint that good.

 

To have the laptop right next to the router is not a good idea,take it to another room or further away from the router.I dont think BT routers are that good either also BT can limit connections to the router unless you pay them a higher premium to do so.

Mobile phones,cordless phones,radios etc can all interfere and drop a signal.

 

This maybe simply a case of BT limiting your connections and speed.

 

Each wireless connection to the router will limit another connection.Some machines may get a good speed others a lower one.

 

You have heard of capping speeds as well?

 

Also as an example your BT router only gives you "upto" the broadband speed you pay for.This means if you pay for 10 meg speeds you may only get 5-6 meg speeds wich will help limit your speeds.If you are only on 2-4 meg BB then maybe you need to upgrade to a higher speed.

 

NOT all connections will run at the same speed.Just because one wireless connection appears pritty fast that dont mean ALL machines connected will run at the same speed.

 

Others I am sure will input.

 

But known fact you never get what you pay for nore will you get the speeds manufacturers state you will.

[Robert01]

Thanks for the reply,

 

Sorry i may have misled you - its the slow connection speed from the router to the Sony Vaio laptop thats the issue.

 

My broadband download speed is fine at approx 10.0 to 12.4 megs, its the router to laptop connection speed that i am trying to resolve. I have tried the laptop all around the house in different rooms and even the garden, signal speed is fine, it just will not get above 65mbps.

 

I have even had a look on the wikipedia site for transfer speeds but really don't understand the implications.

 

Could it be that this Atheros AR9285 chip only running at 2.4ghz coupled with a BT 20mhz or 40mhz router is causing the problem as opposed to a wireless chip running 2.4/5ghz?

[Jelly Bean]

Restart the laptop and press the reset button on the router see if that gives you any better speed.

 

It could be the router,however I am not that great on networking and explinations on speed I can set them up and work out simple issues.,

 

I would wait till one of the boys come online and they maybe to help you further.

[Robert01]

Thanks Jelly Bean,

 

I have already reset the router but without any joy.

 

I really think the AR9285 card in this Sony Vaio VPC EB1EOE laptop is the cause of the slow wireless connection speed.

 

I'll do as you suggest and wait to see if anyone else can help out.

 

Regards.......

[Tootech]

It does seem like there is a problem with this card doesn't it. I differ in my opinion about Atheros ( sorry JB :)), I have always found them ok, although finding the right driver can be a pain.

 

The BT hub doesn't seem to have any wireless speed restriction menu's, so that isn't the problem.

 

If I were you I would do a bit of homework and swap the card for something you know will work - for example Broadcom or Intel.

 

You can pick one up for £20 on ebay - here's one for example

 

Broadcom Wireless-N 300Mbps Mini PCI-E Card DELL 1500 on eBay (end time 26-Apr-10 11:46:04 BST)

 

I wondered why you need that sort of LAN speed - is it streaming movies and the like that you are having trouble with?

[Jelly Bean]

Hey Tootech thats fine,lol.

[Robert01]

Thanks for the help Tootech,

 

At this stage i am reluctant to change the wireless card in the laptop as it's only a few days old and of course still under warranty.

 

I am at the point now where i am considering returning this Sony VPC EB1EOE because of the problem with the slow wireless speed and choosing a different brand altogether, perhaps an acer, packard bell, or a toshiba, preferably one that does not have the slow Atheros AR9285 card in it!

 

I feel i should of waited for this new model to have become established and perhaps customer reviews would of highlighted this issue.

 

I'd be grateful for suggestions as to which card i should be looking to be present. I really want one that transfers on the N wireless standard with a speed close to my other pc (130mbps) to transfer video and image files.

 

Regards......:)

[Tootech]

I don't have a great deal of experience with wireless N bandwith, I would say stick with an Intel adapter, but if anyone else has good experiences hopefully they will post.

[lrahardja]

I just purchased Sony Vaio VPCEB15FX, I noticed that Atheros AR9285 wireless N will not go beyond 150mbps, so I guess I am maxing it out. But Wireless N supposedly can go to 300mbps, not sure what's the problem with Atheros'. However, I have other Lenovo laptop that has intel Wireless N (not sure), it often goes beyond 200+ mbps. Perhaps the brand between Intel Wireless and Atheros makes a difference

 

Cheers

[Squirl1899]

Slow Atheros AR9285 64Mbps only SOLVED

 

Hey Guys, just dropped in on this thread because I was having the same issues. There are several things I have found and several problems I have fixed:

 

1) Even though this card is a "N" card it only works on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum and does NOT support the 5 Ghz spectrum.

 

2) Most routers have the 2.4 Ghz channel defaulted to the mode "Up to 130 Mbps". At least on the Netgear WNDR3700 it was. If you change this to "Up to 300 Mbps" you will get the full 150 Mbps that this card can handle. I was only getting 64 Mbps until I changed this on the router.

 

3) Yes, N is supposed to get 300 Mbps but this card does not support it, just like it doesn't support the 5 Ghz spectrum.

 

4) Make sure you are using WPA or WPA2 on your router or you will never get speeds over 56 Mbps (that goes for ALL wireless N cards)

 

5) Under "Device Manager" click on "Network Adapters" and double click the "Atheros AR9285" (or right click and select "Properties")

a) Make sure you are using the latest drivers, I am using 9.2.0.105 dated 11/5/2010

b) Under "Advanced" tab this is the configuration I have:

1) 802.11b Preamble = Long and Short

2) AdHoc 11n = Enable

3) Network Address = Not Present

4) Receive Buffers = 256

5) Scan Valid Interval = 60

6) Transmit Buffers = 512

7) Wep TKIP 11n = Enable

8) Wireless Mode Selection = Auto

 

I hope this helps clear up come issues.

[leo3891]

Driver Update Fail?

 

Hey Guys, just dropped in on this thread because I was having the same issues. There are several things I have found and several problems I have fixed:

 

1) Even though this card is a "N" card it only works on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum and does NOT support the 5 Ghz spectrum.

 

2) Most routers have the 2.4 Ghz channel defaulted to the mode "Up to 130 Mbps". At least on the Netgear WNDR3700 it was. If you change this to "Up to 300 Mbps" you will get the full 150 Mbps that this card can handle. I was only getting 64 Mbps until I changed this on the router.

 

3) Yes, N is supposed to get 300 Mbps but this card does not support it, just like it doesn't support the 5 Ghz spectrum.

 

4) Make sure you are using WPA or WPA2 on your router or you will never get speeds over 56 Mbps (that goes for ALL wireless N cards)

 

5) Under "Device Manager" click on "Network Adapters" and double click the "Atheros AR9285" (or right click and select "Properties")

a) Make sure you are using the latest drivers, I am using 9.2.0.105 dated 11/5/2010

b) Under "Advanced" tab this is the configuration I have:

1) 802.11b Preamble = Long and Short

2) AdHoc 11n = Enable

3) Network Address = Not Present

4) Receive Buffers = 256

5) Scan Valid Interval = 60

6) Transmit Buffers = 512

7) Wep TKIP 11n = Enable

8) Wireless Mode Selection = Auto

 

I hope this helps clear up come issues.

 

Hey, I plugged these into my settings except I have one issue, when I try to update my driver (it's outdated 2009) it says " You have the best driver for your device" :confused: Windows wouldn't update it to the driver you have listed. Gah. Is my computer driver outdated or is there somewhere I can manually find the driver you have listed? I recently bought a NETGEAR Wireless-b/g/n router and preparing before it arrives in the mail. I'm hoping for fast speed, I have Sony VAIO as well so I am having similar problem except I do not have my router yet. XD I have a old outdated 11mbps linksys routers :/. I also couldn't find the "WEP TKIP 11n = Enable " option...it's under advanced properties?

[Squirl1899]

Hey, I plugged these into my settings except I have one issue, when I try to update my driver (it's outdated 2009) it says " You have the best driver for your device" :confused: Windows wouldn't update it to the driver you have listed. Gah. Is my computer driver outdated or is there somewhere I can manually find the driver you have listed? I recently bought a NETGEAR Wireless-b/g/n router and preparing before it arrives in the mail. I'm hoping for fast speed, I have Sony VAIO as well so I am having similar problem except I do not have my router yet. XD I have a old outdated 11mbps linksys routers :/. I also couldn't find the "WEP TKIP 11n = Enable " option...it's under advanced properties?

I got the drivers from here:

 

Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Diver 9.2.0.105 WHQL Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7(all 32/64-bit)

[leo3891]

I got the drivers from here:

 

Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Diver 9.2.0.105 WHQL Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7(all 32/64-bit)

Thanks

[uranium235]

Ok, so I had the same problem - 65 m.bits/sec connection and finally, I'm getting steady 150 mbs with AR9285 and E2000 linksys router. That's how I did it:

 

Installing a new driver- 9.2.0.113

 

Enable Atheros connection settings ( right click on your connection - status - wireless propertis- enable atheros settings)

 

In your router, switch the connection type to N only

 

If it still doesn't work, manually change the channels on your router and test them one by one.

 

Worked for me.

Edited January 9, 2011 by uranium235

[FALK0N77]

Atheros card

 

I have found that I consistently get 65mbps using a Virgin Media Superhub but today I started downloading several large files at once which caused the bandwidth on the wireless card to suddenly bump up to 150mbps. I don't know why or how but frankly, I don't care as I find 65mbps to be plenty enough for gaming, streaming and downloading.