Anyone actually *use* advanced features of non-standard WiFi utility in Windows?

[Ichinisan]

Every non-standard WiFi utility I've ever seen has been an un-intuitive mess with a horrible UI and unexplainable compatibility problems. Supposedly, these non-standard WiFi utilities exist for extra corporate security features that are absent in the standard OS WiFi utility.

Which corporate networks actually use these features?

I've noticed that the Macbook Pro / Macbook Air is increasingly popular with corporate types, especially IT staff. If there are corporate networks that require those horrible 3rd-party WiFi utilities, are Apple computers simply unable to use these networks?

The other day, I spoke with someone who just had Internet service installed with a new cable modem + WiFi combination device. He had an employer-provided system running the Intel PROset utility for a 6200 AGN WiFi chipset. We tried various WiFi security settings in the WiFi modem, making sure to set a slightly different SSID each time:

• WPA/WPA2-Personal + TKIP/AES
• WPA2-PSK + AES
• WPA-PSK + TKIP
• Open

Each time he tried to connect, he would get a useless error message like "could not connect." A laptop running Windows 8 with the OS-standard WiFi utility could connect just fine, no matter which mode we used. The guy didn't want to even try switching to the Windows utility on the XP machine because he was afraid to change anything without his employer doing it (even if it could be easily changed-back).

These third-party WiFi utilities can really be irritating sometimes. They don't always have a way to switch back to the standard "Wireless Zero Configuration" utility from Windows. They usually do have a way, but it's extremely difficult or impossible to help someone find the option when I'm not on-site. When I am able to switch-off the non-standard utility, the standard Windows utility works perfectly.

RAGE.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I use the intel utility all the time, makes it very easy to create a package with all my settings and run a single file to get my clients settings set to the proper options to use on my network, has way better diagnostic tools as well. If you have issues with the intel utility you have no business configuring a wifi network

 

[Ichinisan]

I use the intel utility all the time, makes it very easy to create a package with all my settings and run a single file to get my clients settings set to the proper options to use on my network, has way better diagnostic tools as well. If you have issues with the intel utility you have no business configuring a wifi network

How about when I tell someone "select your network and connect" and it REPEATEDLY FAILS with a vague message like "could not connect" -- and then the standard Windows utility works fine...?

Maybe you can explain where the Windows utility is inadequate (aside from not showing the channel or having useful diagnostic info). I'm having a hard time understanding what you said you need PROset for.

Windows can store your profile and connect. It sounds like you're saying you want to constantly manage network priorities and switch location profiles and other stuff. Not very user-friendly.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I used Lenovo's Access Connections on a couple laptops. For the most part it's ok. It has it's quirks though.

I tried to uninstall it long ago on my T42. It works for like a month, then all of a sudden I couldn't connect to certain wireless networks. I had to reinstall Access Connections to get it to work.

 

[imagoon]

I prefer GPO. Those utilities do nothing but interfere with automation.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I hate wifi adapters that don't use the built in manager. Such a pain trying to manage wireless with some POS software. The one in Windows "just works".

Love or hate Microsoft, it's always better to use a tool that is built in to the OS and usually that tool will interact better with the rest of the OS than some 3rd party POS. The issue with lot of hardware (in general, not just wifi) is the driver/software is usually an afterthought and not much effort goes into making it good. I don't know how many times I've gotten rid of hardware not because the hardware itself did not work but because the software or driver was crap.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

How about when I tell someone "select your network and connect" and it REPEATEDLY FAILS with a vague message like "could not connect" -- and then the standard Windows utility works fine...?

Maybe you can explain where the Windows utility is inadequate (aside from not showing the channel or having useful diagnostic info). I'm having a hard time understanding what you said you need PROset for.

Windows can store your profile and connect. It sounds like you're saying you want to constantly manage network priorities and switch location profiles and other stuff. Not very user-friendly.

Any time i've seen it fail was because the security settings were improperly specified.

The diagnostic tool built in shows me some pretty verbose error logging which can be useful in troubleshooting network issues.

I can give a user a single .exe file and tell them to run it and their entire security setup is done. I can also disallow them from connecting to non-allowed networks.

This isnt something for the standard user, this is a benefit for admins. You can also use GPO for most of the same things, I just prefer the intel utility.

I will agree however that ones like the Dell utility and the broadcom are crap and serve no purpose, same as broadcom wireless adaptors

 

[imagoon]

Wait... you actually touch each machine? How do you deploy the updated certificates and passwords? GPO it is a single setting and all the machine get it... Do you have to rerun the utility on all machines?

(yes I know small vs large environment.)

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Wait... you actually touch each machine? How do you deploy the updated certificates and passwords? GPO it is a single setting and all the machine get it... Do you have to rerun the utility on all machines?

(yes I know small vs large environment.)

I am actually in a large environment, and where applicable I use group policy. I have some devices however that for one reason or another cant be on the domain due to odd vendor requirements. In these cases the intel utility is a valuable asset.