Atheros WLAN Driver Fixes Connection Issues With Many New Routers (Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, etc...)

[danielrien]

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi:

This post is for those that have the below listed Atheros adapters, and recently upgraded their routers, only to find they cannot connect to the internet anymore.

When using their old equipment, there were no problems.

Symptom:  When upgrading to a new router, normally connection is made to the local network, but one cannot access the internet.

Symptom:  Wireless connects if using WEP security or no security, but will not connect when using WPA2-Personal security.

For those who have the following Atheros wireless adapters and are experiencing issues with connecting to the internet, there is a driver available that should remedy the situation. 

It is good for all Windows operating systems 32 or 64 bit.

Supported Devices and Features

Atheros AR5006 802.11a/b/g WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR5007 802.11b/g WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR5009 802.11a/g/n WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR9380 802.11 a/g/n WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR9382 802.11a/g/n WiFi Adapter
Atheros AR9485 802.11 b/g/n WiFi Adapter

Here is the link to the driver download page:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=32...

Best Regards,

Paul

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[Paul_Tikkanen]

I found this one too...it's for windows 8...

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=US&swItem=ob-109...

[aflaguna91]

Quick update on my situation . . .

Tried both recommended drivers that Paul posted today.  Was not successful at home.

Finally made it out of my home to test connecting to a public wi-fi spot and was successful! 

So now my issue is related to my home network.

Will start searching other threads to troubleshoot there, but if you have any other quick suggestions would love to hear them.

Thanks again!

[megakilroy]

I got a new DV7-7223CL from Costco with an Atheros 9485 wifi adapter and Windows 8.  I am getting frequent disconnects and not great connection the rest of the time.  Have a wireless router in the basement, and our old laptop was in the same place as this new one and never had issues.  I also have a desktop up on the 2nd floor that uses a usb wireless adapter.  That one has a full 5 bars of signal quality with a 130Mbps connection.  This new laptop is on the 1st floor, has 2 bars of signal quality and a 72Mbps connection (which it doesn't act like).  It will work okay for a while, but then the next time I launch my web browser or an online game, it disconnects from the wifi completely.  Then sometimes it comes back and connects to the wifi network, but says "Limited Connectivity" and has no Internet access.  All while the other two computers on the network are working fine.

I updated to the latest drivers (10.0.0.212) and still see the same thing.  Using a Linksys E1200 router.   Anybody have any other suggestions before I take it back to Costco?

[sibdeb]

Well, the updated driver for windows 8 didn't make any difference. It won't even last five minutes before having to reset the router.
To aflaguna91 & megakilroy:
Do you happen to have DSL? I do - Centurylink. If you do, maybe that's the problem. I don't know, just fishing here.

[aflaguna91]

I do have DSL and Centurylink. I have an open ticket with them to research and can comment back.

Also, HP has opted to try replacing wireless cards which I've declined since I have two new laptops with different Atheros WLAN cards having the same problem.

Have also tried two other wireless USB adapters so leaning heavily toward a router/DSL conflict.

[aflaguna91]

Problem solved.

For me it has turned out to be a router issue.  I daisy chained an old G router I had lying around to my existing DSL router/modem combo.   Then setup a new SSID and was able to connect both of my new machines to that.

[megakilroy]

sibdeb,

We have Charter Cable Internet.  So apparently that isn't the issue.

[megakilroy]

Starting to look like it is just a crummy antenna on the laptop's wifi.  If I move from one side of the house to the other (~30 ft) so that I am directly above the wireless router in the basement, my Signal Integrity jumps to 4-5 bars, and when it dropped the connection on the other side of the house, I brought it to the room right above the router and the internet access came back.

EDIT: Just tried a game online, and experienced no lag at all in the room above the router...  This is opposed to being almost unplayable due to lag in the other room.  I'm really starting to lean towards the issue being a cheap/bad wifi antenna.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Can you move your modem and router to another place where you have a cable jack?

I used to have mine in the basement because that is where the cable comes in, and I only had a wired PC hooked up to the cable modem.

As time went on, we went wireless--still keeping the wired PC in the basement and I put the wireless router on top of the PC hutch.  I had lousy connections on the second floor of the house except for one PC which was directly above the router.  I had dead spots in the house--even on the first floor. I imagine the metal heat ducts were interfering with the signal.

I read that the best place for a router is on the uppermost floor of the house as close to the center as possible.

So, I decided to make my basement PC wireless and moved the cable modem and router from the basement to the second floor of the house where I had another cable outlet. I put it as far away from a wall as I could (which is another thing they said--have the wireless router as far from any walls as possible).  Mine is on an entertainment center about 18" from the wall, and about 8 feet from the window of the room.

That was the best decision I ever made.  All of my PC's have 4-5 bars--even in the basement.  Never have dropped connections, etc. No dead spots in the house anywhere.

I would also remove the A/C power and battery and check the antenna leads to the laptop's wireless card to make sure they are firmly secured. I have read where a few forum members found a lead poorly connected or disconnected altogether.

I have Charter cable too.