What would you do?

So I have had the problem where the wifi completely disapears once. I've tried everything nothing worked but all the sudden it sort of fixed it self and the wifi was fully functioning again. Since then (almost a week ago) I have not experienced the problem. I been offered a replacement but I will have to wait a couple of weeks until the new shipment arrives as it is completely sold out in my country. My concern is if I accept the replacement it will have the same fault but that the "wifi disapearing issue" will happen multiple times every day as some members in the networking and wifi subforum have described. So my question to you guys is: Should I keep this one and cross my fingers and hope the wifi will not disapear again (bear in mind it has only happened once) or should I accept the replacement when it arrives and pray for better luck?

 

I wouldn't bother with a replacement. It's a driver issue - it's the fault of atheros who made the driver - same thing happens consistently on both the windows and linux machines. Happened to me a couple of times too

That said, i figured out a way to live with it. The problem is the driver doesn't get removed and reinitilized properly sometimes, so the device isn't visible to the operating system.

If you're on a linux device, run part one of this howto about suspend. Once you do, you can fix the disappearing wifi by simply suspending and unsuspending - I've tested it and it works.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2702

 

I have been wireless browsing extensivly on my A150 and i can confirm the Atheros card should work fine on: US Robotics 54gMax, Thompson and Linksys routers (WRT160N) without network dropouts. However I did experience drop outs with the Netgear WNR3500, this is todo with a compatibility issue as stated on the Netgear forum and not necessary with the One.

Check your router configuration to be sure the Atheros card can handle it (disable any propriatery WIFI accelaration modes) and make sure the signal strength is fine. Also check to see if the channel you are using isnt overloaded by interferance of other WIFI devices (you can use Netstumbler to check it).

If the above isnt working, you can either replace your WIFI router or the internal Atheros ePCI WIFI modem with an Intel based WIFI modem (check the HOW-TO guide on this forum).

Cheers,
Tony

 

So if I got a replacement it is most likely that it would have the same fault? Unfortunatly I have a xp device...

 

The problem is that the entire wifi connection disapears, the wifi icon doesn't even show. Can that be caused by the router?

 

radissen: yeah based on response from the forums, it's likely it will keep happening to you. You just need to figure out a way to completely shut off the wifi and start it back up again (which is what my linux suggestion does). Im not sure how to do that on windows, and yes the device completely disappearing is not a router fault though that is a valid problem on the forums as well.

 

Thank you so much. I guess I wont accept the replacement, I am simply afraid that the fault will be worse on the replacement, I mean on this device it has so far only happen once. Do you think the fault on my device will get worse over time or is it possible it won't ever come back? Sorry for all my stupid questions but this is my first xp device (I usally use MAC). Also my cooler/fan is really noisy (at least compared to my macbook) is this normal?

 

I didnt realize this problem, as it never occured to me (for once i am not suffering from a AAO issue ).
What do you mean with the icon isnt visable.. Does the device also not appear anymore in the XP 'Device Manager'?
If the whole device drops out, you can check if the PCI is connected correctly, else
there is a way to replace the WIFI card. It is explained on the 'HOW-TO guide'.

Cheers,
Tony

 

Yeah it completely disapears also in the device manager. I really don't want to change the wifi card as the device is only a week old and I have been offered a replacement.

 

Everybody please feel free to chime in with your opinion as to whether I should keep this one or accept the replacement....

 

I got my first one replaced due to the noisy fan. The noise is the same, but this is about wi-fi lol. My 1st 'one' I did notice that the wi-fi was slow and I had to do some fixes as per some threads here. One time it said IP address cannot be found or something. I can't remember exactly now. It was a bit buggy but worked.

My 2nd acer, I started it up and i've had to do nothing for the wi-fi. It's been working perfectly. I hope it stays that way. it's been a week and I had probs with my 1st unit the 1st day I got it. So my 2nd one does seem to have a better wi-fi in it.

If they will replace it I would get it if they will replace it again if the wi-fi isn't as good or worse. I do think the wi-fi on my 2nd unit is better. same router on both units.

xp model

 

radissen: what's the time line on that replacement offer? how long have you got before you can't swap it for a new one anymore? wait and see what happens I guess...

That said, the chances of it being WORSE are slim, since it seems to be a software issue. provided that what you got was indeed the same software issue that the rest on the forum have had.

Ok I think I should let others pitch in now

 

No you've been great, I highly appreciate your input. Well they said that it hopefully will arrive this week or the week after.
I am so torn right now. On one hand I can live with the issue provided it doesn't get worse. But on the other hand it seems stupid to turn down a brand new computer. Then again my biggest concern is that the replacement will be worse than this one and that they won't replace that.

 

I get the feeling you're spooked with your current one and probably would feel better starting fresh. I would ask them if they will replace the next one if it has the same problem and if they will, then exchange it. If they wont exchange it again you might be better keeping the one you have.

 

Ok, so for the extra $100 you get:

10" screen vs. 9" screen (at the same resolution)
Built in bluetooth
6 cell battery vs. 3 cell battery

Would I pay $100 extra for those features in my AAO? Well, I got a micro bluetooth for $12.99 shipped which I'm going to add internally.
So would I pay $87 for a 6 cell battery and a 10" screen? The screen doesn't matter all that much to me. It causes extra weight which means not really.
So would I pay $87 for a 6 cell battery? No, I wouldn't.

When the AAO with 160gig/6 cell battery is widely available for $399, it will be the king of choices. I would have definitely paid the $50 for that.

 

Excuse me but what are you talking about? This isn't a thread about getting a newer version of the AAO but whether or not to get a replacement for my faulty AAO...

 

Yeah you definitely got a point. Perhaps I should follow your advice and talk to them when they call me about the replacement.
I am just so concerned that the next one is going to be faulty too and then I will have to swap (at best) and since it is selling out as soon as it hit the stores here i DK I'll probably have to wait weeks (at best)to get a new one...
Ok I admit it I have been thinking about this way too much... I am just really torn....

 

Haha, wrong thread. Sorry about that!

 

That's what I thought...