Connection probs with Linksys G Router and Card

[ajharn]

Hi All,

I've just plugged in a Linksys WRT54G Router to share an cable modem between two machines. First machine is physically cabled to the router, works fine.

2nd machine I installed the Linksys WMP54G Wireless-G card (Version 2).

I've been having the problem previously described on this board where the system tray wireless networking icon reports that a "wireless network is available" I open it and see my router's SSID. I hit connect, screen returns to the desktop for about 10 seconds, then the sys tray bubble pops up again telling me a "wireless network is available"...and the entire process repeats endlessly. NOTE: When I set up my router, I changed the SSID and set it to G-Only mode. This is the state it was in when I first attempted to connect to it.

I've followed most if not all of the advice in this forum so far with limited success, here's a history:

1) Upgrade router firmware and card driver to latest versions. --RESULT...minor progress...I was suddenly able to see AND CONNECT to my neighbor's network. Still unable to connect to my network.

2) The OS in question is XP Home SP1...a brand new DELL machine. There is no Hotfix (Q815485) to uninstall here. There is a NIC on the motherboard that I uninstalled from the OS and disabled in BIOS.

3) Following other advice here, I enabled WEP on the AP and the card. --RESULT...no change.

4) I reset my router to factory defaults (SSID=linksys, Channel 6, no encryption). --RESULT...whammo...I suddenly could connect to my own network...briefly.

5) Now that I'm connected...I note that the Signal strength is rated from Good to Very Good...with an average 33mbps connection. (Neigbor's network was Low strength with an 11 mpbs connection, for reference).

6) Wanting to know what setting on my router was blocking the connection, I start stepping through the router changes I made initially...first...I switch from Mixed mode (B&G) to G-Only mode. Connection remains stable. Second...I change the SSID...-RESULT...whammo...I can no longer connect. (Each time I go back to being unable to connect, I get the exact looping behavior described in the 3rd paragraph, above).

7) At this point, everything goes to #$^&! I reset my router to factory default again, but I can't connect this time. I also can suddenly no longer connect to my neighbor's network...I get same behavior. Arrghh..what the heck does this mean?!?!

Key fact: I tried this with a Version 1 card originally, and thinking my problem might be with the card...I exchanged it for a V2 card. I have tried the card in different PCI slots...same result. Also, the upgraded firmware and drivers were downloaded yesterday...8/27...so they are current.

Important Questions:
1) I'm not 100% sure I'm enabling WEP properly...please advise.
On the Router's config, I chose WEP 40bit (for lowest common denominator)...I enter a passphrase and it generates 4 10 digit Hex keys. I hit apply. WEP is enabled according to the setup screen. I then go to client, pull up the "Available Wireless Networks" screen and configure the wep settings. I set it to Open and WEP...then in the network key field I punch in the FIRST of the 10 digit network keys my router generated. I leave the key index field set to the default of "1". Is this the right way to do it?

Also, if it asks me for a network key on the connect screen, I again punch in this same key. REMINDER: I get the same problem behavior when I do this as when I don't.

2) I saw some thoughts here that changing channels away from channel 6 might help. I can do that on my router...do I have to do that on the client also? If so, how? The advanced config screen for the driver list an option that says something like "ISSD" channel (NOT SSID)...and it is set to 11 by default. I see no other setting involving channels in the NIC driver.

Comments:
Signal Strength -- Doesn't seem to be the problem as when I sucessfully connect...I had good to very good signal...computers are less than 30 feet apart...separated by maybe 1 1/2 walls.

Interference: There are cordless phones in this house, but none have been in use while I was testing. Same answer toward microwave. Is there some other interference I should look for.

802.1x Authentication...I have tried ocassionally activating this on the client just in case, but have generally left it off. Seems to have no effect on any config I've tried.

Thanks for reading this far. Hope I anticipated most if not all of your eventual questions. Would really appreciate your help. I did talk to Linksys tech support once on this, and the guy didn't even understand how Wireless Zero Config worked and which screens were which. He eventually (after It talked him through WZC tweaking) suggested maybe I had a bad PCI slot in my brand new system. (Again...I tried more than 1 slot).

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks,
-AJ

 

[bcastner]

For the WMP11 I recommend disabling the WZC service and using the client utility, even under XP.

The channels should match between router and card, although the card can initiate a scanning function, you will reduce the interference from your neighbor's setup.

802.1z should be disabled. period. Unless you have a radius server.

Remove XP Hotfix 815493, the WPA Hotfix.

In the Linksys client software, be sure to make your settings for a default profile, and save them.

Place the router in "Mixed Mode", not G-only. It is still buggy on the router side as far as I am concerned in G-only.

Use Device Manager to configure the adapter, do not just depend on the client software. Configure the adapter in both places, Device Manager first.

 

[ajharn]

bcastner,

Thanks for you reply. I really appreciate it.

Couple of comments and problems with a few of your recommendations.

I can not install the linksys WLan Monitor utility in XP. Launching causes a brief flash of the install window then dumps back to desktop. I believe it detects XP and cancels itself.

This is an XP Home SP1 clean install...there is not Hotfix to remove. I looked...it ain't there.

Point noted on mixed mode...I'd been thinking that might be the case.

I have configured the adapter in device manager, but cannot figure out how to change channels here as noted above...any advice?

Thanks,
AJ Harn

 

[bcastner]

The monitor will install under XP.
Disable the WZC service then follow exactly the instructions shown in your documentation as if it was a Win2k machine.

ISSD Channel == Channel number
If I remember correctly it should be under Device Manager, Network Adapters, Configure, Advanced.

 

[bcastner]

I should note that I have used this adapter under XP with Wireless Zero without issue.

See if adding a preferred network selection helps:

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q302088

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;313242

 

[bcastner]

If possible, test the adapter in another machine.

There was a period when a lot of bum adapters came out of Linksys.

 

[bcastner]

One last thought, you need to have Administrator level privileges to use the service component of this adapter's driver. So test logged on as the Administrator.

It would be a good idea not to use the default blank password to ensure that the client for Microsoft Networks is always started.

 

[ajharn]

Chagned the damned channel!

That's what it all came down to.

--My Linksys Wireless G Router came out of the box set to broadcast on Channel 6.

--My Linksys Wireless G NIC came out of the box set to broadcast on Channel 11.

???!??!

Further...The Linksys Router calls this the SSID Channel...while the Linksys card refers to it as ISSD???

Am I high? Have I been smokin' somthin'?

Worst of all...The Linksys documentation makes ZERO mention of how to change the channel of the card if you're using XP. Furthermore, the term ISSD does not appear in the documentation.

In the end...Wireless ZERO Configuration turns out to be a be more like, Wireless pain in my butt.

Anyway...it works now.

Thanks for your generous help bcastner, especially for finally confirming that the ISSD channel is the correct channel to change on the card.

Cheers,
-AJ

 

[SunSt]

I have been told by Cisco (Linksys) that the WMP54G will only work on PCs with a PCI slot of v2.2. They say that this slot has only been in common use for the past 12 months or so.

It may be that you are trying to use it on an 'older' PC. I haven't been able to find out how to determine what version a PCI slot conforms to - people say look in the manual - I have, lots of manuals, they never seem to mention this particular detail. You could check with Dell, they always seem quite helpful.

None of this is mentioned anywhere on the Linksys site and their support people appear to know nothing about what would seem to be a fairly major limitation.

 

[bcastner]

I have had no issues in 2.1 slots.