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[margolbe]

Hi,

I'm on my second one.

There is a problem where the card seems to lock and I can no longer get internet access.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the driver and it works OK for a day or so and then I have the same problem.

I am running Windows Vista.

What is weird is that when the card locks, the red light keeps flashing at a regular rate -- about once a second.

It also seems to freeze my Vista networking on the system tray.  When I try to click on it nothing happens.  I can run other programs but can't get into network settings.

My old adapter was a DWA-140 and never had a problem like this.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

[arod]

What utility are you using?

[MasterChiefDutra]

Its been a wile since you posted, not sure if your going to get this or not. What i was wondering was weather or not you properly uninstalled the previous adapter from your machine prior to installing the 160, if yes then make sure you disable and or turn off all other network adapters and uninstall and reinstall the adapter using the drivers for your OS located on the support site of Dlink.

[Nerva]

I'm having the EXACT same problems.

I get frequent dropouts even though the signal strength is 75%.   The signal strength doesn't surprise me, given that I'm upstairs and my DGL-4500 is downstairs.   But every time it reconnects it shows reasonable signal strength and sometimes just immediately disconnects again, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.   There are plenty of other 2.4ghz networks, but no 5ghz networks, which is where I'm operating.

Heavy use will apparently crash the Vista USB functionality and lockup the network functionality.   The network icon shows I'm still connected, but it's dead -- hovering over it doesn't make a tooltip appear, double-clicking on it does nothing.   Bringing up the network properties just produces a blank box.   The adapter itself keeps blinking as if there's no problem.   If I unplug the device, nothing changes.   I can't plug other USB devices into that port, either.   I end up having to power-off my computer (it won't shut down).   So, it appears that heavy use causes the Vista USB support for that port to crash.

[margolbe]

I am on my second DWA-160.  I see that the firmware is Revision A.

I am having the same problems I had with the first one -- after a few hours my computer locks up and I lose my internet connection.  I have to restart to restore it.

Does Revision B solve these problems?  Would I be able to send this back to D-Link and get a revision B adapter?

[FromAtoN]

More than likely it is too late for a return to the retailer since it's probably 2 months old.  You could try D-Link but highly doubtful although you should get a return since revision A has problems with Vista and they had to get a new manufacturer to "correct" problems with B.

I'm having mixed results on XP with Rev. A & B on different laptops.  Can't say for certain if I would prefer B over A on XP.  I'll make a decision before the return policy expires.

[virginiatc]

My signal strength was so weak that I could not connect to my home network.  The solutions I found are as follows:
1. Install the device (revB) in the provided USB extension, instead of the USB port on my desktop.  Now, the device is sitting vertically whereas previously in the desktop USB port, it was horizontal.  Apparent, this is the key.  However, the owner's manual does not mention the need to use the provided USB extension.
2. Install firmware ver 2.44 for my DIR615 revB Router.

[arod]

Virginiatc,

Yeah each USB port has different power outputs. The USB ports in the front end of your PC probably uses less power than the ports in the back or on top.

[qtmod]

I bought three DWA-160 (A1) adapters a few months ago to connect to my DGL-4500 @5ghz.

This replaced my old Belkin N1 router and Belkin wireless-N cards.

My main PC runs Vista x64 and is one floor down from the router in a small house.  I used to get "Good" to "Very Good" connections with my old Belkin setup.

Now with the new Dlink setup, I get "Poor" and "Fair" connections.  According to the router, the best connection I've seen is "40Mbps, 12% Signal".  I get disconnected randomly at least a dozen times a day or so.  I am not in a populated area with a lot of wireless traffic.

Yes, my router is set to "Auto 20/40 Mhz".  Yes my Router is set to fixed "802.11n Only".  In the adapter preferences, I disabled 2.4ghz completely, and am running only 802.11n on the 5ghz section.

Right after I bought my DWA-160, I noticed there was a new "Rev-B" folder on the Dlink FTP site.  Now I come here and see many others with issues with the A1 models.  A1 and Rev-B model chipsets are made by different manufacturers...sounds fishy to me.

Can we RMA the A1 models for Rev-B models?  What is up with quietly replacing faulty hardware with a completely different chipset?

[arod]

qtmod,

To receive an RMA,you will have to speak with tech support and the technician will then have to troubleshoot your unit and confirm if it is indeed defective. If you are issued an RMA you will have to let the agent know you would like to receive a rev_B.

Tech Support: 877-453-5465

[FromAtoN]

I bought three DWA-160 (A1) adapters a few months ago to connect to my DGL-4500 @5ghz.

This replaced my old Belkin N1 router and Belkin wireless-N cards.

My main PC runs Vista x64 and is one floor down from the router in a small house.  I used to get "Good" to "Very Good" connections with my old Belkin setup.

Now with the new Dlink setup, I get "Poor" and "Fair" connections.  According to the router, the best connection I've seen is "40Mbps, 12% Signal".  I get disconnected randomly at least a dozen times a day or so.  I am not in a populated area with a lot of wireless traffic.

Yes, my router is set to "Auto 20/40 Mhz".  Yes my Router is set to fixed "802.11n Only".  In the adapter preferences, I disabled 2.4ghz completely, and am running only 802.11n on the 5ghz section.

Right after I bought my DWA-160, I noticed there was a new "Rev-B" folder on the Dlink FTP site.  Now I come here and see many others with issues with the A1 models.  A1 and Rev-B model chipsets are made by different manufacturers...sounds fishy to me.

Can we RMA the A1 models for Rev-B models?  What is up with quietly replacing faulty hardware with a completely different chipset?

I gave up with N and 5GHz and living in a crowded 2.4GHz area.  At least my speeds are better and not getting continuously disconnected.  I never had a problem with my A/5GHz setup.


You can probably save yourself grief and time if you still have your old box.  Go to your nearest retailer that carries Rev B and buy one.  Return the Rev A back for a refund.  Guess you could stick the old A into the B box but that wouldn't be as nice. 

[Edtek]

2. Install firmware ver 2.44 for my DIR615 revB Router.

Where did you get version 2.44 for your rev b DIR-615?

The latest I see on the website is 2.25 for my rev b....

[arod]

That could be a typo? Maybe the user was reffering to 2.24? Or perhaps he go it from another country???

[Jaska]

It seems that I am able to reproduce all the most severe problems people have with their DWA-160 Rev A models in Vista. 

My 5 GHz connection drops every now and then exactly the same way as margolbe describes in this thread's opening message. I haven't been able to figure out a way how I could restore the network without restarting Vista - I have been trying lots of tricks, though. In addition, I cannot shut down nor restart the machine in a normal way. Vista stays in the "Shutting down" screen forever and actually often does so even if the network has been up until trying to shut down. This cannot be reproduced if DWA-160 is not attached during Vista startup. So, the only option is to Power off my machine with the HW power button.

In addition, I am having also another quite annoying problem with my DWA-160 which is described in http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=5145.msg39102#msg39102.

Do you think Rev B would solve the problems and is there a possibility to get the replacement? Or is there a fix under construction for the described issues? I am not trying to be offensive or rude but unfortunately I don't feel like having bought a working product.

[arod]

What driver version are you running and are you using the dlink utility to connect to wireless network or windows?