vpr wireless network card

[Justin]

I am new to this forum. I bought a vpr matrix 200A5 in January. Anway, I just got done talking to customer service at best buy, and it seems that they have been having a lot of problems with poor distance from the wap and sometimes the card working and not working. Well anyway they said that for right now they are sending as a temp fix a wireless pc card with an antenna. I will be recieving one at the end of the week.

Just wanted to let you know!

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Justin
I am new to this forum. I bought a vpr matrix 200A5 in January. Anway, I just got done talking to customer service at best buy, and it seems that they have been having a lot of problems with poor distance from the wap and sometimes the card working and not working. Well anyway they said that for right now they are sending as a temp fix a wireless pc card with an antenna. I will be recieving one at the end of the week.

Just wanted to let you know!

Do we contact the store or the VPR tech support for this?

[Justin]

All you have to do is contact vpr tech support. I was on the phone with them for an hour trying to fix it. When the tech support person finally gave up, he turned me over to his manager and they told me that they are having lots of problems with the wireless network card. They also said that the wireless card they send out, may be a permanent fix or a temporary fix. He did not know for sure.

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Justin
All you have to do is contact vpr tech support. I was on the phone with for an hour trying to tell fix it. When the tech support person finally gave up, he turned me over to there manager and they told me that they are having lots of problems with the network card. They also said that the wireless card they send out, may be a permanent fix or a temporary fix. He did not know for sure.

Thanks for the update, I will be calling them as soon as I get some free time.

[Ioman]

BTW what brand card did they give ya?

Thanks.

[Chris Shaeffer]

Suh-weet!

I'm really glad they are owning up to it- the wireless ideal rocks, but my access point is just across the room and it fidgets in an out like crazy at times. I can't take it 2 rooms away through thin walls, or even 40 feet away out in the driveway.

This being my first experience with wireless, though, I have to frame of reference. How much range SHOULD I expect from a wireless card?

Take care,
Chris

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Chris Shaeffer
Suh-weet!

I'm really glad they are owning up to it- the wireless ideal rocks, but my access point is just across the room and it fidgets in an out like crazy at times. I can't take it 2 rooms away through thin walls, or even 40 feet away out in the driveway.

This being my first experience with wireless, though, I have to frame of reference. How much range SHOULD I expect from a wireless card?

Take care,
Chris

300ft max typical is around 150-200ft I believe.

[Justin]

I will recieve the wireless network card in about a week. According to tech support, their are two options, a usb wireless hookup or a pc wireless hookup. Either way the choice is up to you.

[ToddBradley]

You're kidding! So it's not really a "fix" it's a separate wireless network interface?

[Justin]

I just recieved the wireless network card today. It is a linksys wireless pc card. It works great. It works a lot better then the one built in the 200A5. When I was talking to customer service for VPR, they said this might be the fix, or they may eventually fix the internal network card.

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Justin
I just recieved the wireless network card today. It is a linksys wireless pc card. It works great. It works a lot better then the one built in the 200A5. When I was talking to customer service for VPR, they said this might be the fix, or they may eventually fix the internal network card.
Does the Linksys card work with any 802.11b network? Or is it proporietary to only Linksys equipment? I do not think tou mentioned what brand your wireless network is.

[Angus]

Does the Linksys card work with any 802.11b network? Or is it proporietary to only Linksys equipment? I do not think tou mentioned what brand your wireless network is.

Linksys gear is compatible with everything out there. Networking standards, unlike web standards and a lot of other standards in computing, are actually pretty well respected and gear from different people interoperates well.

[Chris Shaeffer]

Just got off the phone with vpr tech support. Very easy phone call- polite and helpful fellow on the other end.

Pay close attention to the phone maze options when you call in. Make sure you get through to vpr matrix rather than a general computer extension.

After a brief discussion of the wireless problem (I told him I could get only 20 ft away before it started getting really squirrely) he passed me on to a case manager without trying to figure out how to fix it.

Case manager was very up front and didn't beat around the bush trying to fix it. He said that 20 ft. was exceptional performance for the unit and that the engineering department was aware of the problem and they'd send me a PC Card or USB replacement unit. I picked the PC Card and he said I'd get it in less than a week. End of story. Easy.

I thought I'd pass on the "good news." I'd rather have an integrated unit that works well, but at least with the PC Card I can get the range I want- or give it to a buddy at times for an impromtu "ad hoc" network in a meeting or while I'm traveling.

Take care,
Chris

P.S. Another thing I've noticed is that the darn thing will sometimes report that it isn't connected when it really is! I'm hooked up to my net connection via the wireless right now but Windows is telling me that the wireless connection is unavailible... OK!

[fortinaa]

I had a heck of a time setting up the wireless connection on this laptop with Netgear MR814. This was my first time... but geez. I ended up having to go through tech support with both companies (after seeing this post). They didn't directly want to send me out a new laptop card, but did forward it to their case manager since i kept dropping signal within 20 feet or so. I'm supposed to hear back within 2 days... I'll keep you updated.

[Psycheman]

I called technical support today about poor distance on the internal wireless card. The tech guy asked how much distance I was getting, I told him about 25 feet. He then told me that that was pretty much what I should expect as far as performance with any wireless connection. Luckily I have been through this forum and also have the specs on other wireless cards. 25 ft is riduculous. I nailed him right there on his BS and he immediately flopped over and admitted they were sending out replacement wireless cards as a temporarly fix. It pays to know what you are talking about with them or you will get the run around. I don't think he was expecting me to know what has been going on. Now I just have to call from home so I can register since I didn't have the serial number here with me at work. They also have to have me work through their "fixes" so they can document the problem "thoroughly" before I get escalated to a case manager. Guess I will jump through their hoops! Sounds like most are pleased with using a Linksys wireless card!

[Chris Shaeffer]

Hmmm...

Well, I was polite, curteous and appreciative with the tech support guy, but I also spoke in a tone that said "I know what I'm doing and I'm not calling to ask for help setting up a wireless card that I know doesn't work."

It may also be that until they run into this particular problem, the peon tech support folks don't KNOW that they should just forward the case on to a manager. Seems like a waste of time to me, but I suppose if they can get someone to back down or find some other cause they can blame then they might not have to ship out another $100 card. It may be that the management has not broadcasted that they have a replacement card availible even though it costs tech support phone time for us all to go through the hoops until the peon gives up and calls for the manager.

Whatever. I'd rather they be honest, call the manager right away, and let the peon go help someone who needs help figuring out how to eject a DVD.

Take care,
Chris

[Psycheman]

Well, he was polite while he was feeding me his BS, and he was polite when I called him on his BS, and he was polite when he told me I would have to call back from home to register before he could help me, and he was polite when....

Yes, they were polite while probably having their fingers crossed hoping that I didn't know what I was talking about. I mean, immediately after he found out I did know what I was talking about he all but admitted that 25ft wasn't a good performance number because he knew they were sending out replacement wireless cards. It seems they are willing to own up to the problem when forced to. Otherwise, they hope to save a few bucks by merrily sending people on their way.

[nedlyj]

FYI

While I hate having to spend more money, I also already have the Linksys wireless pc-card, so getting another one would be a waste for me (although I guess I could sell it for $50 on eBay) - and I really like NOT having a pc-card sticking out the side of the laptop if I don't need one.

So, I bought a Linksys wireless Signal Booster (for $79) for my house and I can say that my range has dramatically improved. Through 2 walls and up a level (about 45 feet straight line distance), my connection with the built-in wireless in the 200A5 is now "Very Good" - just as it is with the pc-card itself. And through one wall and out the back door on the patio (about 50 feet distance) my connection is "Excellent". Prior to adding the Signal Booster, my connection about 20-30 feet away was "Poor"

So, for me, my home situation is solved. I still cannot connect to the wireless network at my work and have to use the Linksys card for that, but I can live with that because it's not an everyday need for me.

-nedlyj