Intel Wifi Adapter Finicky

gnulab · Oct 7, 2024

Hi,

I recently bought a Lenovo laptop which sometimes has trouble connecting to wifi access point using its built in Intel AX211 wifi network card. In the end I buy a nano size TP Link wifi adapter and the TP Link could connect flawlessly to access point.

Now, my TP Link wifi adapter is spoilt while on a road trip so I have to rely on the built in wifi adaptor and here is how it is played out:

Intel -> Access Point => unable to get connected
mobile phone -> Access Point => gets connected smoothly
Intel -> mobile phone (set it up as hotspot) => gets connected smoothly

I hardly read of incompatibilities between wifi adapter and a wifi access point. So anyone experiencing the same thing with Intel wifi adapter?

antspants · Oct 7, 2024

gnulab said:
I recently bought a Lenovo laptop

How recently? If I bought a laptop and there was something wrong with the wifi (proven by the fact that wifi adapter worked) I’d send the laptop back.

gnulab · Oct 7, 2024

antspants said:
How recently? If I bought a laptop and there was something wrong with the wifi (proven by the fact that wifi adapter worked) I’d send the laptop back.

Recent enough that it is still within the warranty period. But, this is the 2nd laptop that has finicky Intel wifi adapter though not the same model AX211. So I am wondering if it is actually a hardware issue, or Intel is being finicky or there is such a thing called wifi incompabilities (can "see" the AP, but cannot connect; or frequent disconnections)

antspants · Oct 7, 2024

Hi again. Something you could try:

Go to device manager
Go to network adapter.
Click on network adapter (intel WiFi 6e…..)
Right click and go to properties.
Go to advanced.
Select 802.11 a/b/g wireless mode and select 5ghz 802.11a

If it doesn’t work, ensure that 802.11 n/ac/ax value is set as 802.11ax

Just remember what you’ve changed it from incase you need to roll back.
This is something I found Online.

antspants · Oct 7, 2024

What driver version are you using?

antspants · Oct 7, 2024

I also read from a couple of people, that any driver from version 23.20.1 and lessor worked better. Anything above cuts out. Of course I can’t tell you if this is a fact or not.

My Lenovo Yoga has AX210 and it works really well so I can’t compare, sorry.

What’s your exact laptop model?

hdmi · Oct 8, 2024

If you know how to do it without hosing the whole Lenovo, try replacing the Intel AX211 card with something like an Intel AX201 such as the Intel AX201.NGWG.NV (non vPro), for example. Then see if it works stable. Another thing that you could try is to install the AX211 in a different laptop to find out if the card is doing OK. After you've tried several AX201 cards in the Lenovo and none works (but all or almost all of 'em work fine in a different laptop), then you'll know it's probably the Lenovo that's giving you pain.

Just be sure to choose between AX201/AX211 cards, not between AX200/AX210 cards. That's just because the former ones use CNVio2 so are compatible with an M.2 Key E slot that uses Intel's CNVio2. Whereas the latter ones are not. Similarly, cards that don't use CNVio2 (such as the AX200 or the AX210, for example) are only compatible with an M.2 Key E slot that doesn't use CNVio2, as CNVio2 is a proprietary standard from Intel that connects the CRF module to the CNVi IP in the Intel SoC/PCH (and this standard has become extremely widespread in modern Intel based laptops).

kelper · Nov 15, 2024

I find my Intel Wifi card stops suddenly every couple of months on my laptop and on my wife's. Normally I can get it working just by reseating the card - a simple operation. But today that didn't work and I had to fit a new card.
The old card was an AX201NGW and the new card an AZ210NGW. it was only £17.20 on Amazon.

hdmi · Nov 16, 2024

kelper said:
I find my Intel Wifi card stops suddenly every couple of months on my laptop and on my wife's. Normally I can get it working just by reseating the card - a simple operation. But today that didn't work and I had to fit a new card.
The old card was an AX201NGW and the new card an AZ210NGW. it was only £17.20 on Amazon.

Scroll up. The AX210 is not compatible with laptops that originally came with an AX201 so it simply refuses to work. The AX201 (and the AX211) uses Intel's proprietary CNVio2. It means that the card is specifically designed to ONLY work in a CNVio2 M.2 Key E slot. Whereas the AX200 (and the AX210) is non CNVio2 and ONLY works in a non CNVio2 M.2 Key E slot.

kelper · Nov 16, 2024

@hdmi Many thanks, I have been deleting and installing drivers trying to fix this. The Wifi works but not the Bluetooth so I am OK for now as I don't need BT.

Is there any way to get rid of the redundant entry for the old 201 in DEvice Manager? Uninstallin ghte driver works temporarily but it comes back after a boot.

hdmi · Nov 16, 2024

kelper said:
@hdmi Many thanks, I have been deleting and installing drivers trying to fix this. The Wifi works but not the Bluetooth so I am OK for now as I don't need BT.

Is there any way to get rid of the redundant entry for the old 201 in DEvice Manager? Uninstallin ghte driver works temporarily but it comes back after a boot.

View attachment 116440

Clean Installation of Wireless Drivers

Explains how to perform a clean installation of wireless drivers.

www.intel.com

kelper · Nov 16, 2024

I have tried your suggestions but there was no option to remove the driver after uninstalling the device. Today there is so I will uninstall both devices and remove both drivers, reboot and see what comes up. I hope OP does not think I am hijacking this thread and that my posts are useful and/or informative.

Update: both devices reappeared in Device Manager

hdmi · Nov 16, 2024

kelper said:
I have tried your suggestions but there was no option to remove the driver after uninstalling the device. Today there is so I will uninstall both devices and remove both drivers, reboot and see what comes up. I hope OP does not think I am hijacking this thread and that my posts are useful and/or informative.

Update: both devices reappeared in Device Manager

I assmume that you have already updated the BIOS and chipset driver from the system manufacturer's website, if available. Next, I would make an image of my Windows partition and all the partitions needed to keep Windows fully functional, then try a clean install of Windows just to be able to get a handle on what exactly must be going on with this laptop. Depending on the result, if still needed to shed more light, I would then consider to remove the new WiFi card from the slot. You can just leave it dangling off the antenna wires with the laptop standing on its lid, at least if you are careful enough not to detroy anything in the process of doing so. Then completely uninstall the driver again. Reboot, shut down again, put the card back in again, etc. etc.. until you figured this whole thing out. But I am lazy so, probably instead I would just grab a new AX201.NGWG.NV off of amizon...

kelper · Nov 16, 2024

I agree, since I don't need Bluetooth, I will wait until this annoys me enough to take the back of my laptop off again. I'm just worried that the antennae plugs and sockets are tiny and weak - not designed for frquent insertions! The 211 versions have different nibbles on their cut outs and until I openup the case, I'm not sure a newer card would fit.

kelper · Nov 16, 2024

@hdmi

I do appreciate your advice. Tomorrow, I wil put back the old AX201 card and se if it works or if only the Bluetooth works. Since reinserting the card has worked before I'm interested to see the result. I guess the Bluetooth will work and the wifi won't. If true, I will just order another AX201 since the AX211 has different cut outs. I will try and photo the 'receiver' on the motherboard. But so far, the wifi is working well.

hdmi · Nov 16, 2024

kelper said:
different cut outs

The CNVio2 models are E keyed, the non CNVio2 models are A+E keyed. What you need is the AX201.NGWG.NV (albeit the AX211.NGWG.NV should also work).

AX200NGW

AX201NGW

AX210NGW

AX211NGW

kelper · Nov 17, 2024

I have ordered an AX211. Will revert when it's fitted. Thanks again.

kelper · Nov 17, 2024

Well, I ran sfc /scannow and it found problems. Dism could not repair them so I did a repair install of Windows. After that I ran DISM restore health an got a clean bill. Then I ran sfc /scannow and it found and repaired some corruption. Device Manager now shows only the new card and Bluetooth is working!

I checked my facts and it was definitely an Intel AX201NGW. The replacement was an AX210NGW.

hdmi · Nov 17, 2024

kelper said:
Well, I ran sfc /scannow and it found problems. Dism could not repair them so I did a repair install of Windows. After that I ran DISM restore health an got a clean bill. Then I ran sfc /scannow and it found and repaired some corruption. Device Manager now shows only the new card and Bluetooth is working!

I checked my facts and it was definitely an Intel AX201NGW. The replacement was an AX210NGW.

So the E-keyed M.2 2230 slot you have is compatible with both the CNVio2 and the non-CNVio2 flavor of Wi-FI cards then. That's a nice windfall IMO.

Intel Wifi Adapter Finicky

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