Qualcomm Atheros AR9485WB-EG - wireless adapter occasionally loses connection (Windows 8.1)

Hi all,

I had the same problem, but found this driver update today, somewhere on the Microsoft Support.

You can drive the latest driver update here: http://www.atheros.cz/atheros-wireless-download.php?chipset=60&system=8

This is driver version: 2014-03-26 

Release data: 10.0.0.287

Hopefully it works, because I have had it with these annoying and ridiculous issues.

Hello amigos:

Solution for Qualcomm Atheros AR9485WB-EG - wireless adapter weak signal found. Thanks to James Croft.

It happens that the internal antenna cables for the WiFi card were placed incorrectly by the manufacturer. I believe this fix works for Sony, Asus, Lenovo and many other model that might have the same WiFi card model. It also works under Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

I have a Sony Vaio E Series model with this WiFi card model. I tried formatting it with Windows 7, then installed all the Windows updates, checked for the latest WiFi drivers, etc. However, non of that worked until I found this link:  http://www.jamescroft.co.uk/blog/technology/fix-for-lenovo-g580-wifi-issues-on-windows-8/

I opened the Sony Vaio and switch the antenna cables. Now it works perfectly, full signal...!! Here is the link on how to open a Sony Vaio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiFEiRPwSw8

So it's not Microsoft, it's not the WiFi card, it's not your router, it's not your ISP and it's not you. Someone gave the incorrect instructions to the computer assemblers. However, our friend James found the solution..!!

Good luck opening your laptop..!!

I'm in Tech Support at a community college, and many of our students with Windows 8 computers have had trouble connecting to the campus wifi.  I always find that the computers having trouble have the Qualcomm Atheros card.  I'm glad to finally find out that the problem is not really the card but rather the way it was installed (Thanks, Mario!), but since very few of our students can or should open their computer cases, I guess we'll stick with the solution we currently offer, which is to use a small external wifi adapter. 

In case there's someone here who doesn't want to void their warranty by popping a case, here's what we have on our web site for our students:

Some Windows 8 computers are having difficulty connecting with the student WiFi.  This appears to be a problem with certain network cards, notably the Atheros network card made by Qualcomm.  Until a solution is available, you may wish to purchase an inexpensive USB wireless network adapter to bypass your internal network card.  This has worked successfully with many student's computers.

Some USB adapters that have worked well on campus are:

• Edimax EW-7811Un Wireless nano USB Adapter, available at Amazon.com and Walmart.com for about $10.  [Jan. 2014]
• SIIG JU-WR0112-S1 Wireless-N Mini USB Wi-Fi Adapter, available at staples.com for about $15.  [Oct. 2013]
• TP-Link TL-WN723N Mini Wireless N USB Adapter, available at staples.com for about $15.  [Oct. 2013]

Others are available locally for $25-$40 at Best Buy, Staples, and other stores, but have not been tested by our department.

To use these USB network adapters:

1. Plug the adapter into a USB port on your laptop and allow it to be recognized by the system.
2. Click on the network symbol (or ) in the lower right corner of your screen.
3. Ignore the available networks under "WiFi" and look at the networks under "WiFi2" (or higher number, depending on your system). Click on Student-WiFi and enter the password for the student network.
4. After it connects, open a browser and go to a web page to be sure you are fully connected.

Meanwhile, be sure to check frequently for Windows Updates, as there may be a software solution available in the future.

Sounds like we shouldn't hold our breath on a software solution to a misinstalled card, though! I did read of one guy who opened his case and simply removed one antenna from his network card, which fixed the problem for him.  Perhaps there will be a software solution eventually that disables one antenna, but considering it's been a problem for a long time now, I doubt it.

On a Lenovo computer with Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 WB EG Network adaptor wifi worked for 9 months and then suddenly only in direct next to the wifi router, but not anymore at 1 meter distance or more.

The James Croft solution works. Since half an hour I do have a stable connection again. Thanks for bringing this solution in this forum.