I finally got my full UK R2H package on Friday, giving me a bit of time to play with it both at work and at home...

At home, it connects perfectly to my WiFi router and internet access is easy to setup.

At work, we have a T Mobile WiFi hotspot, and whilst I can generally get onto the "login" screen, I can't seem to connect to the rest of the net from there.

I moved location and it seemed OK - but other people in the office near me, with laptops (not UMPCs) can connect fine from their desks, which leads me to believe its a problem with the strength / power of the built in WiFi - despite me being able to see anywhere between 3 and 5 instances of the tmobile AP, and having a fair to good connection (usually) when I "connect"... so it seems I have enough signal strength to connect, but not to browse properly - which is really annoying, as one of the main uses I had for the UMPC was to sit and use it from my desk at work, and at meetings around our office... and we're not allowed to plug laptops in to the "company" network (which isn't the same as the hotspot...)

Is there anyway to boost the strength of the WiFi or any other suggestions other than to plug in an external unit?

As for the rest of the package - seems very good. Keyboard a bit flimsy, I prefer my Brando mini keyboard which is actually a tad smaller width ways (I think) but just seems more "usable" because it doesn't flex in the middle if I use it on my lap...

I'm also having problems configuring Outlook 2003. I normally download a prf file from my Exchange provider (4smartphone.net) but for some reason this isn't working, perhaps because it doesn't like Tablet Edition, I've no idea...

I've not tried the TV tuner yet - in fact without a DVD drive, I've no way to install the drivers.

Has anyone else had issues with the folding keyboard not mapping symbols correctly? Again, probably a language or driver issue... but I'd hoped it would work out of the box.

Hello!

I don't have any suggestions for you but I would only like to state that I also have problems with the WiFi in my Asus R2H. At first I thought maybe it was incompatible with the router used at my house (as every single device we try to connect takes a while to work properly) but after trying to connect in other places came the confirmation that its reception is poor. When in direct line-of-sight the signal is great, but once an obstacle is in between I get typically 'very low' signal indication. As a result the RF link frequently keeps connecting and disconnecting. It is the same wether I use windows' or intel's wireless manager.

Are you using the optional (bigger) battery pack? My version comes with this bigger battery and I'm thinking maybe it's somehow blocking the signal. I'll look in some pictures another user posted of an opened R2H too see if I can identify where the antenna is.

Do you other R2H owners have considerably lower WiFi signal strength indicated when obstacles are present? It would be good to know if it's unit specific fault.

Thanks,

Michael Enders

MoonDog:

Hello!

I don't have any suggestions for you but I would only like to state that I also have problems with the WiFi in my Asus R2H. At first I thought maybe it was incompatible with the router used at my house (as every single device we try to connect takes a while to work properly) but after trying to connect in other places came the confirmation that its reception is poor. When in direct line-of-sight the signal is great, but once an obstacle is in between I get typically 'very low' signal indication. As a result the RF link frequently keeps connecting and disconnecting. It is the same wether I use windows' or intel's wireless manager.

Are you using the optional (bigger) battery pack? My version comes with this bigger battery and I'm thinking maybe it's somehow blocking the signal. I'll look in some pictures another user posted of an opened R2H too see if I can identify where the antenna is.

Do you other R2H owners have considerably lower WiFi signal strength indicated when obstacles are present? It would be good to know if it's unit specific fault.

Thanks,

Michael Enders

What you say about obstacles definately makes some sense - in my (new build, so thin-walled) house, my study and lounge are next to each other. For a variety of reasons, I have a WiFi AP in the lounge hardwired into the WiFi router in the study, separated by only about 3m in distance and 1 partition wall, but I get much better reception connecting to my AP than my router...

I'm actually using the smaller battery pack, and also running the unit on mains power, so it shouldn't be lowering the juice available to the WiFi module as a powersaving trick either.

I meant to install drivers for one of my USB WiFi adaptors last night and bring it to work to test, but I forgot, so maybe that's something to test tomorrow.

I don't particularly mind having to use a separate WiFi adaptor when sat at my desk - its only like plugging it into the wall or similar... but I just want to know what the "problem" is :)

I'm having the same problem with my R2H.  I'm using the extended battery, as I am in the US.  I've noticed that while the laptop I'm sitting next to has an excellent strength connection, the R2H gets low and tends to drop and reconnect constantly.

I'm new to the whole tablet thing, so what happens is by the time I've got the url typed in, its in the process of trying to reconnect and I get to start all over. Yay! :P

I wonder if there is some sort of usb antenna you can get to help boost the signal?  I'm assuming thats the problem as my laptop has a built in antenna for WLAN. Any one ever see any of these? Or would it be best just to get a new WiFi module with antenna?

I also have an issue with the Wifi connection and comparing to my other UMPC a Q1 first generation I am very disappointed by many disconnection problems using the R2H.

I noticed that you have a TV tuner and a keyboard with the UK package. I didn't get that with my US one. What is the TV tuner? Is it an USB external one?

I had to switch on the SID transmitting otherwise the R2H would very rarely connect/take minutes to connect or when it connected have a 'poor signal'.

With SID on, the (re)connect is still not as fast as my other PC's but is now more in the several seconds range.

I also find that when there is heavy CPU activity the WiFi disconnects, or maybe its simply not polling the USB because it has no time??

I've bought a Linksys external USB WiFi adaptor to work, and now it connects perfectly. I'm now 100% happy with this...

But at home, I'm still getting random dropouts or times it can't find my WiFi AP or Router, both of which generally give excellent coverage to other devices.

I'm hoping its just a driver issue... as WiFi is definately a requirement of a portable device like this.

Having said that, with the external WiFi on, I can view the output of my Slingbox perfectly :)

Have you guys checked to see if the Wi-Fi adapter is in "power saving" mode by default?  Many wi-fi adapters (particularly those intended for mobile devices) offer this mode that is intended to sacrifice a bit of power/range for a bit less battery drain. 

To see if it has one, go into the Control Panel, open the "Administrative Tools" submenu, and then open the "Computer Management" applet.  On the left panel of that, select "Device Manager".  You should be able to find the 802.11 adapter under the "Network Adapters" heading.  If you right click on it and select "properties", there should then be an "Advanced" settings tab on the dialog.  Under there, you should see a whole series of properties.  "Power Save Mode" (or something similar) should be one of the choices, assuming the adapter has that feature.  If it is enabled, try disabling it and see if performance improves.

-Jeff

Indeed what Jeff mentions here is correct ~ well for me it is anyway.

I received my UK model a couple of days ago and instantly fell foul of the problems with wifi as mentioned above.
For me I brought up the 'Device Manager' (although I did it by selecting Start/Run and typed in the run command box 'Devmgmt.msc'.
Anyway, I applied the same rules that Jeff above mentions and although it is still not perfect, it is a marked improvement.

The WiFi adapter is listed under Network adapters as "ASUS USB Wireless Network Adapter" and in its advanced tab there's nothing similar to 'power manegement'. How were you able to do this in the R2H then? And what is SID? 

Unforunately, there doesn't seem to be such an option for me (US version).  Would the drivers really differ by region?

I'm planning on a format n reload soon though, so perhaps it would be available with fresh drivers.  Otherwise, an external WiFi adapter sounds like the best choice.

Thanks though!

 

One thing I should note is that I don't have an R2H and was describing where the option is located on my eo v7110.  Assuming that the R2H uses a different brand of wi-fi adapter, the option may be present, but labeled differently or placed somewhere else.

-Jeff

JeffGr:

One thing I should note is that I don't have an R2H and was describing where the option is located on my eo v7110.  Assuming that the R2H uses a different brand of wi-fi adapter, the option may be present, but labeled differently or placed somewhere else.

-Jeff

I was actually asking about these options to P8RSON since he said he did the same in his. I suppose he does have the R2H. Your suggestion seems pretty valid but I can't find the option under the asus driver. Maybe P8RSON will be able to tell us how he did it.

Thanks for the help.

Michael Enders

Michael... you say you don't see it!
Mine shows up and I can select to either alter it to 'Maximum'/'Normal'/'Off'

All I did was alter it to Maximum.

Where exactly did you get your R2H from if you don't mind me asking (apologies if we have already discussed this in a previous thread).

P8RSON:

Michael... you say you don't see it!
Mine shows up and I can select to either alter it to 'Maximum'/'Normal'/'Off'

All I did was alter it to Maximum.

Where exactly did you get your R2H from if you don't mind me asking (apologies if we have already discussed this in a previous thread).

My UMPC is the US Version and it was bought through Newegg.com. What is the name of the WiFi adapter in your Device Manager? As I stated before, mine is called "ASUS USB Wireless Network Adapter". And once again.. in the advanced tab there's no mention to power management.

Michael Enders