Notebooks & Netbooks

[legzam]

Zakpack and 2much2do, I understand your positions, but that just shows Acer that even if they don’t do anything about the issue, still some people will buy anyways, just like it happened with the first generation R7. This is a $999 machine, and basic things like wireless connectivity should just work right out of the box, without the user having to go several times to Best Buy to exchange the computer to see if maybe he/she got lucky and get the magic R7, or to do all sorts of works around to make the machine useable, hopping that a BIOS or other kind of update will fix the problem some day. I have 7 different devices connected to my home wireless network, including a printer; I can print wirelessly from any of the other 6 devices, from anywhere in the house. My router is in the second floor, and I can go to the basement with any of those devices, and still get good signal. On the other hand, if the R7-572 is more than 15 feet away from the router, I get bad signal and opening a webpage takes 8 seconds. This is just unacceptable on a $999 computer, it is also unacceptable that Acer cannot guaranty that replacing or fixing the unit will solve such a problem.  Being a second generation machine, this should be almost flawless, instead still feels like a BETA product just like the first R7. Unbelievable!!!

[MDacerGuy]

I dont understand why some people are having the wifi problem and some are not. Most people are saying its fixed, including me(i had the 571 as well with the problem).

All the wifi cards (broadcom) should be the same, real puzzling how some people are still having this. But as others mentioned, i would return it. Im pretty sure most of these 572 units dont have the wifi problem. With the Haswell, i would take the time to return a couple times until i get the right one. But of course if you cant deal with it, return it for a full refund. You have till Februrary 2014 i belive for the holiday season

[zakpack]

I think that the clearest message I can send to Acer regarding this issue is one or more returned units rather than the lack of a sale.

The Best Buy holiday return extension is until Jan 15, not Feb.

[legzam]

Zackpat,

I agree and I followed your advice. I went to Best Buy and I exchanged the laptop for another R7-572. Since I was not too hopeful about the WiFi issue, I also purchase a mini USB wireless adapter, just in case.

Unfortunately this new unit had wireless connectivity issues as well. So, I disabled the internal wireless network adapter and connected the mini USB wireless adapter, but this did not work either, still 8 seconds to open a web page. It was not clear to me if the problem was with the computer or with the mini USB wireless adapter, so I did the same on my old laptop which usually open web pages in less the 2 seconds, but with the mini USB wireless adapter it took like 4 second to open web pages. Maybe a more powerful USB wireless adapter could work with the R7, but they are bigger and wouldn’t like them sticking out from the laptop or connecting them with an USB cable, that makes the laptop less mobile as well. So I am returning this one too. I think I’m going to start looking for a regular ultrabook, because the few convertibles available have issues that are unacceptable to me.

[legzam]

For what I understand, after reading, reading and more reading online there are a couple of scenarios in which you could get good wireless connectivity with the R7.

These could be good options if the machine is going to stay in the same area in a permanent way, but if you want to use it as a mobile device this works around may not be feasible.

Firstly, it seems that the R7 does not work well with wireless 2.4 GHz signal, but it does OK with 5 GHz signal. I was not able to test this because my router can only transmit on the 2.4 GHz signal. But, if you have a dual band router, you could try to open the 5 GHz signal on a separate SSID on the router and connect the R7 to that band, and keep your other devices connected to the 2.4 GHz Band.

Secondly, If you have a router that can only transmit on the 2.4 GHz, you could use a big USB wireless adapter with long rage, plugged to the machine directly, or with an USB cable. And/or use a WiFi rage extender.

Again, this may not work if you take the computer somewhere else, like school, coffee shop, somebody else’s house, etc. but if you really like this computer and are not planning to use it  a mobile laptop, maybe these works around can work for you.

I need a convertible that I can take anywhere without worrying about wireless connectivity issues, so the R7 is not for me. And that is why this is the second and last unit that I’m returning to Best Buy, and I’ll start looking for something else.

Hope others have better luck.

[brek]

After returning two r7-571s to best buy, I figured I'd try going the customer service route through Acer with bad laptop #3. Just got my replacement from them last night. The wifi actually works! I also have had a positive experience dealing with their customer service. 

BUT... there is a slight problem with this one in the spacebar. It feels spongy. It might be something I could live with and I'm getting kind of tired of setting up new computers all the time. Also, when I went to register it online it showed under warranty information that this computer was sold in july 2013. So looks like they sent out a refurb and not a new unit. 

[2much2do]

According to a reviewer on Amazon:

"The workaround is to get a Dual Band Router or have Acer send you a new laptop under warranty. They did not make the new Wifi receivers backward compatible to the older routers. Conclusion
Overall this is a great laptop with more positives than negatives. The negatives being the weight and the Wifi. I would recommend if you buy this GET YOURSELF A DUAL BAND N ROUTER and/or call Acer for a replacement computer so that you have a Wifi receiver that is backwards compatible. I think you will find this computer to be a great addition once you get past the negatives. I enjoy it and its capabilities. You will too."

[legzam]

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brek wrote:

After returning two r7-571s to best buy, I figured I'd try going the customer service route through Acer with bad laptop #3. Just got my replacement from them last night. The wifi actually works! I also have had a positive experience dealing with their customer service. 

BUT... there is a slight problem with this one in the spacebar. It feels spongy. It might be something I could live with and I'm getting kind of tired of setting up new computers all the time. Also, when I went to register it online it showed under warranty information that this computer was sold in july 2013. So looks like they sent out a refurb and not a new unit. 

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Hello brek,

Do you mind telling us how far from the router is your computer?

Is it working with 2.4 GHz signal or 5 GHz signal?

Have you try it in other places, or the laptop is always in the same location?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

[pbutin]

I have an N router at home and am just paying at home for 5 mbps.  I had unacceptable download speeds on my brand new R7 572 purchased 1-27-14 (nothing, 3mbps, 3.5 mbps, 4.5 mbps), sitting right next to the router and right next to an old Toshiba Windows 7 that was consistently getting 5.5 mbps.   I had one tech who made me refresh the system and wipe all my apps--no improvement.  Next tech had me install drivers again for the wireless card.  Short term improvement then problem returned.  Next tech was no help at all--said I could send it in (10 days new) for repairs in 7-10 days.   Higher level tech said he was not aware of any problems like this on the 572 model and agreed when I suggested doing a store replacement at Best Buy.  Best Buy was great--switched me to a new R7 572 with no questions or problems.  Took the new R7 home, got it going, at first it seemed to be getting the full 5.5 mbps on Internet Explorer.   Installed the various apps and programs I use, download speed was down to 3 mbps, 3.5 mbps, 2 mbps.  Took it to my work where the download speed on my work HP laptop is 10 mbps.   Right next to that, 2nd new R7 would not go above 1mbps.  This is an old G router but it is working fine and fast with the old HP laptop.

If it is software I have installed, does anyone have thoughts about what would cause this?  I don't want to return it again since I had the same problem on 2 different machines.   I installed AVG Free and deleted McHaffie right away.  Have Google Chrome installed but the slow speed are in both Chrome and Internet Explorer.  I am using Windows Firewall.  Everything else is fairly normal and there are no programs that don't work fine on Windows 7.

Any help would be much appreciated.  I'm not willing to send in a brand new machine for repairs and be stuck with it.  I have 14 more days at Best Buy for another store return.  Thought I might take it to Geek Squad and see what they can do on a really fast internet connection.

Other ideas?

[pbutin]

Update: sitting right next to the old G router at work, I got a full 12 mbps.   So it seems the problem is with location and distance.  Of course the old HP that gets 10mbps is in the same location (my office) that I first tested the R7.   So it either has a much better card, or perhaps the problem has to do with Windows 8.1??

But this seems to rule out the idea that the root problem is software...  I'm going to Geek Squad tomorrow to get their help on this.  They should have a stake in making it work since the R7-572 is apparently a Best Buy exclusive.  

Here's hoping.  Any ideas?