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C&IT Computing & Information Technology

What should I know about using power save mode on my laptop computer?

Power Save Polling (PSP) mode is a feature that provides extended battery life for laptop computers. The mode requires coordination between an access point (AP) or router and the Wi-Fi adapter. Some APs or routers may not implement the feature correctly or completely, which may cause:

 

  • Loss of your Wi-Fi connection
  • Inability to initiate a Wi-Fi connection
  • Poor Wi-Fi connection

 

Using battery power may make these problems more noticeable.

 

An easy workaround for this issue is to put the Wi-Fi adapter into continuously aware mode (CAM) in order to disable the PSP feature. There are two ways to do this:

 

Wireless Wi-Fi connection utility

 

Click Advanced > Adapter Settings > Advanced tab.

  • Windows XP: Select Power Management, uncheck Default/Auto and move the slider to Highest/Maximum Performance.
  • Windows 7 or 8: Select Transmit Power, change Value to 5 (highest).

 

Network control panel applet (NCPA)

 

  1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Network Connections.
  3. Right-click the wireless connection and click Properties.
  4. Click Configure.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
  • Windows XP: Select the Power Management setting, uncheck Default/Auto and move the slider to Highest/Maximum Performance.
  • Windows 7 or 8: Select Transmit Power and change Value to 5 (highest). If the slider is already at Highest/Maximum Performance, move the slider to another setting and then back to Highest/Maximum Performance.

 

NOTE: Using these methods may cause Bluetooth devices to not receive signals. Please contact your computer manufacturer for additional information.