New ROM Install?

Newton · 04-24-04, 12:09 PM

Some of you may know about my situation:

- New X3i
- Very stable WiFi net at home
- Random WiFi connect behavior, 50-70% success rate
- Even worse connection rate for Outlook to Comcast
- I have A01, but I am not sure if I got the x3i with it, or if it was upgraded by running the currently available patches at the Dell site

I am convinced that my x3i hardware is OK and that my home WiFi net is stable - everything connects 100% of the time, even my Tivo wireless adapter. But not my x3i!!

Today, out of frustration, I went to install the ROM that Dell pulled from their site - the one that have given many x3i users excellent connection results. No dice. It won't install a version of ROM that you already have. Despite the fact that my x3i says version A01, there seems to be more than one A01 version, and I'd like to have the one that works.

Is there any way to fool the x3i into letting me install the upgrade that Dell pulled? Would you folks recommend not to do this?

joelw135 · 04-24-04, 02:21 PM

If you have A01 on your PPC you have the latest ROM upgrade all the other little patches were included in that A01 version. The currently available ROM files are patches, not a true upgrade. If you got the X3i from Dell then you have the latest.

teerexx52 · 04-24-04, 05:07 PM

I just got my x3i after using an Ipaq 4155. The inconsistency of the wifi connecting is certainly disturbing. My Ipaq connected almost 100% of the time. Seems strange that Dell will not address this issue.

Newton · 04-24-04, 05:37 PM

teerexx52:
What version of ROM do you have?

teerexx52 · 04-24-04, 05:42 PM

A01(01050400EN)

Newton · 04-24-04, 07:08 PM

Same as me.

My suspicion is that the A01 pulled from Dell is actually a different version. I think this because the users that got their hands on it (and can install it) went from occasional connects (like you and me) to at/near 100% connect rate. Plus, do you really think that Dell installed a version of ROM on our new devices that they pulled off their site? I don't think so. This would make no sense.

teerexx52 · 04-24-04, 08:29 PM

Why would they pull something that could fix this problem?

joelw135 · 04-24-04, 10:45 PM

I know why they pulled it in other countries, the agenda section came up in English in the German version. Since I have had it I could only say good things have happened.

Newton · 04-25-04, 04:19 PM

Thanks joelw135.

My hope is that Dell releases a fixed version of A01, or releases an A02 - either way, we need better connection success rates.

teerexx52 · 04-25-04, 04:24 PM

I agree!! I am considering sending this back as it just happens to annoy me when I am in a hurry to check my email I have to play and play with this Axim to connect. My Ipaq on the same network worked flawlessly. Other than this quirk it is a fine PDA but wifi connectivity is important to me.

Newton · 04-25-04, 05:31 PM

Ditto.

I would probably try another Axim if offered. I do have faith in Dell products overall. I don't expect 100% perfect connections, but it's got to be better than this! I, too, use a PDA to check email and it defeats the purpose when you have to spend 5 minutes to get it to connect.

I am done wiith my rant.

teerexx52 · 04-25-04, 05:35 PM

Well I wonder if they would offer to replace if I called in. The first time I called in they sai8d I had to run my wireless network without encryption and that would fix it. NOT!!!

jacklew · 04-25-04, 06:17 PM

There was only one ROM upgrade A01 R74809 (010504 or Jan 5, 2004) and they pulled it. I flashed R74809 over A00 on my original x3i and pOutlook worked faster on A01. R71183 and R75705 are just patches. They have been shipping x3i's with A01 - just went through 3 of them.

Yes, you cannot flash with an older or same version. I do not have any problems with wifi connection to my SMC2804 802.11g router in mixed B+G mode with SSID disabled, firewall enabled and WEP enabled.

However I did have a big problem with defective short range wifi on x3i's. However I don't have faith in Dell x3i's now.

10 digit vs. 6 digit

teerexx52 · 04-25-04, 07:25 PM

I called in and they are sending me a new unit

jacklew · 04-25-04, 07:51 PM

teerexx52 -
Great! When you get the replacement, walk it through the wifi connect. Then look up the SN with Start | Settings | Connections | Dell WLAN Utility | About and see whether there is a trend of 10 digit = bad wifi. After you are satisfied with your wifi range, restore your data. If you don't get one that works, contact Dell again - I only needed 3 replacements to get one that worked. You might want to post in the threadWifi Lack of Range afterward.

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