2013 Archives

[superonyx]

Since I have been considering buying this pc I decided to stop in one of the local best buys this afternoon to check it out again. I really like the form factor and the IPS 1080p screen that makes the windows metro UI elements more touchable.

However this is what I found. The acer r7 was showing full bars of connection to the best buy broadcasted router. I went to speakeasy speedtest site and ran the test about 10 times on the Acer and then ran it on some cheapo HP throw away computers and a few samsung and apple MacBooks. Every pc was connected to the same best buy router per the sales reps I involved in this experiment. The Acer R7 always came back with a speedtest result between 1.0 to a high of 1.3mb. The Samsung was pulling 7-8mb. The hp was around 3-4mb and the apple was pulling 5-6mb.

This may not be a scientific test but it is accurate enough to prove that their is an issue. I obviously have no idea what this issue is exactly but when browsing the windows store Ect on the acer it also game me 2 warnings that the computer wasn't connected to the Internet. I was not able to try to run the test on other web browsers since Internet explorer was the only installed browser and the systems are locked down enough.

This test was enough to finally convince me to either look elsewhere or just be happy with my dell xps 17. I was looking for something different that would be light enough and large enough and have the tablet form factor with a 1080p screen but this pc doesn't exist at this time. I am not really convinced on the regular laptop clamshell form factor with a touch screen since reaching across a laptop arms out wouldn't be something I would do very often when I'm being honest.

[KoosH]

I have the same problem. Next to my modem speed was approx 10 Mbps. At A distance of 6 meter it droppend to 0.25 Mbps.
At this distance (the same position) my Ipad still had A download speed of 15-20 Mbps.
I bought him today from BCC in the Netherlands. Reading all this I will not wait for A solution and return him asap.
Installed is A Broadcom 802.11n with driver 6.30.59.144 (29-3-2013)
I even tried to set it to run always, but that did not help.

[Hase]

Same here in Germany:

Bought two R7, both came with the Broadcom Adapter. Same symptoms as everyone on both devices: Slow wifi connection as long as I'm within say 5 meters of the router. Leaving the room means loosing connection. Fiddling around with energy saving plan (as mentioned in this thread) or re-installing the driver lead to nothing.

One R7 goes back to the vendor today, the other one was intended to be a birthday present for my father: If the problem is not solved until the end of next week I'll have to look for something else - which would be a pity, the computer itself is fantastic and exactly what I was looking for (especially after upgrading with a msata SSD).

I really could not imagine that "explore beyond limits" means that the limit is a very small space around your Router And while I'm pleased Acer is reading this thread a little more information surely would be helpful.

Sincerely

[Smurk]

Recommend that acer support makes a "WiFi problem with broadcom on Aspire R7" post sticky together with some official information, suggestions what ever useful

[qxlb3r]

Yes Acer please give an update about this issue!

[superonyx]

Has anyone who reads this actually sent their PC to Acer to repair and received it back? I am very curious what they do when they have one of these in for a repair. Are they going to send it back with the exact same problem unfixed? If they fix it then what and how?

[Smurk]

Read through the previous reviews yourself! It´s entertaining to hear folks´ money well spent while waiting for "repairs".

If you don´t appreciate the joke get a refund or totally break the product just for fun

[choongyouqi]

exact same issue here. messaged my local acer support and they told me no one complaint before and I'm the first 1!

[superonyx]

I found a test from a reputable site and it doesnt look like good news..........

However it seems that by using only the 5ghz band that it should help the speed....I think this means you may have to use a router that supports this band, or actually a dual band router. I think this band could cause issues with some wifi devices. This site mentions his feeling that the issue is the design of th wireless antenna in the R7.

Also the test result are so bad on the Acer R7 that the 2.4ghz band seems to be unusable. 

I dont know if this issue is circumvented by using a usb wifi dongle and bypassing the built in router.

This doesnt look like something a firmware update can fix so I wouldnt hold your breath.

Take a look at the link below:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7127/the-joys-of-80211ac-wifi

The test results on on page 2. 

[b9chris]

That is pretty solid evidence of bad hardware design on the R7. That matches my personal experience with it. I'll keep the machine and likely buy the Mythlogic adapter to cope, since Acer's disappearance from this thread does not give me hope they plan to do anything to fix their mistake.

When people ask what the difference is between buying a Mac and a PC, this is the real answer: Apple would spend the money to repair all those expensive units they sold. For some reason PC manufacturers keep trying to compete without acknowledging they need the same follow through, or they get a deserved bad reputation. PC manufacturers struggle with thin or lossy margins and seem confused as to how to obtain the same price performance Apple gets every day. The way they handle issues like this is the simple answer.

Your move, Acer.