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Poor wireless performance on 5 GHz connections on Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3

View products that this article applies to.

This article describes some issues for business customers when they use Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3 devices. A hotfix is available to fix these issues.

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Symptoms

When you use a Windows 8.1 or Windows 10-based Surface Pro 3 or Surface 3 and connect to a wireless network on a 5 GHz wireless channel (channel 36 and higher), the following issues may occur:
  • Slower throughput when it is connected to 5 GHz wireless connections, compared with 2.4 GHz wireless connections.
  • Network performance is decreased or appears to get worse over time.
  • Can't authenticate to a wireless network by using Enterprise security.
Note These issues may not occur consistently. Disconnecting and then reconnecting to your wireless network may stop the issue from occurring. If you're connected to a 2.4 GHz wireless network (channels 1 to 13), and you're having any of the issues that are listed above, this article doesn't apply to your problem, because this article is specific to 5 GHz wireless connections (channel 36 and higher). Also, if you are running Windows 10 Version 1511, this article doesn't apply to your problem.

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Cause

These issues occur because the Marvell wireless adapter driver version 15.68.3091.193 (originally released on Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3) may sometimes manage 5 GHz connection speeds incorrectly, and this may cause inconsistent throttling of the wireless connection. 

Please notice that multiple factors can influence wireless network connectivity and throughput, including but not limited to: Environmental factors such as heavy machinery or load-bearing structures, Wireless Access Point/Router firmware revisions, Wireless configuration settings in use, software that is running in Windows, and proximity of other sources of electromagnetic (EM) signals. We recommend that customers troubleshooting wireless issues by isolating as many variables as possible in order to ensure successful resolution to their issues.

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Resolution

Windows 10 users can upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1511. This will install Windows 10 Marvell Wi-Fi driver version 15.68.9032.47, which will fix the issue. Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book already have this driver.

For Windows 10 customers who can't upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1511, the hotfix package will install driver 15.68.9032.47 to fix the issue. This driver uses a Windows 10 driver model and can't be installed in Windows 8.1.

For Windows 8.1 customers, the hotfix package will install Windows 8.1 driver 15.68.3093.197 to fix the issue.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that's described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there's a "Hotfix Download Available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section doesn't appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to get the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that don't qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
Note The "Hotfix Download Available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you don't see your language, it's because a hotfix isn't available for that language.

Prerequisites

There's no prerequisite to apply this hotfix.

Registry information

To apply this hotfix, you don't have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix doesn't replace a previously released hotfix.

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File information

Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3 for Windows 10
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Mrvlpcie8897.sys15.68.9032.47 1,046,53621-Oct-201503:59x64
Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3 for Windows 8.1
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Mrvlpcie8897.sys15.68.3093.1971,016,32810-Dec-201507:25x64
Wificlass.sys6.3.9600.17790420,36010-Dec-201507:25x64

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Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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References

Learn about the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.

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Keywords: kb, kbfix, kbqfe, kbautohotfix, kbhotfixserver, kbsurveynew, kbexpertiseinter

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Article Info
Article ID : 3120232
Revision : 1
Created on : 1/7/2017
Published on : 12/31/2015
Exists online : False
Views : 307