Ultra-Thin

[jroymd]

delphino,

Please disregard above message. I am confusing WLAN driver 221 with BIOS 2.12.

[piscesjl]

Here are some Router and Windows 8 related tips that drastically reduced my dropped connections.. (using driver .221)

Router Tweak:

- Download a WiFi monitoring tool, such as inSSIDer, and find a WiFi channel least used.

- Try setting your wireless router to the least used channel determined above.

- Also, if your router supports 5GHz frequency, try enabling it and give it a unique name like my_router_5GHz.

Windows 8 Tweak:

- Open a DOS prompt and list WiFi profiles stored on your laptop with command: netsh wlan show profiles

- Delete all WiFi profiles except the one you want to connect to using command: netsh wlan delete profile "[profile name]" i=*

The theory being that if you live in a multi-dwelling building where there are many competing WiFi routers setup (I can see 50 available WiFi routers in my area), the ultrabook tries to hop between the strongest WiFi signals, causing the random disconnects. But that's just a theory. Ultimately, Windows 8 or Acer needs to lock the connection to your router. This issue was born with Windows 8 .. from what I can tell from all the posts I've seen on the web about the latest installment of Windows.

Let me know if this helps.. but we still need a final solution from Acer.

[maverick2149]

I haven't had problems with dropped connections but there is a network (an unsecured 802.11g) that I can't connect to AT ALL and every other machine I own can connect just fine (Droid X, Razor Maxx, Transformer Prime, Dell Lattitude, Dell XPS).

My S7 won't obtain an IP address from the network despite me trying every conceivable configuration to include statically assigning an IP.  I tried .75, .217v3, and .221.  I tried every suggestion in this thread.  Anyone else had this issue-not connecting at all?  I've had it connect to other networks fine.

.217v3 and .221 were an improvement in that they can connect to my mobile phone hotspots while .75 could not.

Anyone get anything new from Acer?  THIS IS A PAIN!

Ultrabook without wifi = pretty much useless.

[rjv]

@maverick2149

This may be of admittedly very small use, but let me suggest that you check your Windows event log to see if your machine is attempting to connect, but failing. The error codes can often be deciphered online by just typing them into google, and sometimes effective solutions are suggested. (The event log online links themselves have been almost universally useless.)

We know your pain, but I must add that in many ways you seem to be doing better than many of us by not having dropped connections. We would love to know your secret!

My apologies if all of this was well known to you.

[piscesjl]

@maverick2149

Are you connected but just not getting an IP assigned to your laptop? If so, did you try

ipconfig /release 

ipconfig /renew

Not sure what you may have tried already.. but

1. Is there a way you can check the max number of allowed connections for the router, and if that number has already been reached?

2. Maybe try disconnecting one or more of the other devices and then try reconnecting the S7.

I also would be interested in how you have avoided WiFi disconnects like the rest of us.

[maverick2149]

@rjv / @piscesjl

Thanks for the suggestions- unfortunately I don't have access to the router (stuck in a hotel for a while) so I can't do much troubleshooting.  I've tried pretty much everything else without success, guess I'll be using my hotspot for a bit!

As to why I haven't had any connection dropping- wish I had something concrete to tell you!  My only guess is that it might be related to the type of network/particulars of the setup.  Since my machine works 100% fine on one network and can't even get an IP Address on another it seems reasonable that the drivers haven't been written to support all networks/configurations.

I'm no network expert but that's my guess...

[tmk]

Vizio WAN Drivers 10.0.0.220

Guys... I found that the Vizio i7 thin and light run the Atheros Wifi drivers. I installed the 10.0.0.220 from their site and so far my Wifi has not dropped since. It has always reconnected after sleep - albiet a little slow sometimes (5-10 secs) 

It goes with warning - they are not acer approved and could break your system - but for me they have made all the difference. Your experience may vary and I am not responsible if they screw something up worse than it is. Make a backup. 

Good luck all!

TMK

[rgunnell]

Yep, I bought a new router.  Never found a solution except this one. Purchased an R6300

[Zimmie]

offcource we cant download this my wifi drops every 3 minutes

I have downloaded the Vizio WAN Drivers 10.0.0.220 driver now after 7 wifi drops.

there is a option update the current driver ore remove what option have you used tmk?

maby we can complain by www.atheros.com there are the provider off this **bleep** driver

[removed link to executable]

Have you seen this

Windows 8 is not compatible with the Qualcomm Atheros AR5BMD222 and no driver support for this device.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-hardware/windows-8-is-not-compatible-with...

[piscesjl]

@zimmie

I agree this is a Windows 8 Driver compatibility issue. Nothing else will fix this issue.

FYI.. The latest BIOS update doesn't make any difference.

So we wait for the next Driver and hope.

Note: The online Acer support says they have been bombarded for 20+ days with the WiFi disconnect issue with Win8.

Note2: I spoke to L1 and L2 support. Lastly I had a phone call with someone from Acer Corporate support; they spoke to Acer_Cory and he just says they are working on the Driver but they still don't have a date for the release.