I can ping other computer, but packets get lost?

[millhouselives]

Hi,

I just helped a friend set-up his new Verizon DSL modem. This modem is connected to his Windows Me computer(desktop). This setup ran fine. We connected to Internet sites and configured his e-mail account via verizon web page and were happy. Next step was to add a Linksys router so that his wife could share the Internet connection on her XP home computer (desktop).

On the Windows Me computer there is no network card installed, so I installed a Linksys USB adapter to gain access to the router default page 192.168.1.1 and was able to see routers configuration page and change the ssid from the default "linksys" to another ssid. So far so good.

Now went downstairs to his wifes computer, and installed another Linksys USB adapter on her computer. I get both good link and signal numbers , over 90 using the wlan monitor that comes with the Linksys usb adapters. But when I try to access Internet via Internet Explorer. No luck. page does not load.

So i did an ipconfig on both computers. The windows me (his) computer gives me an IP address of 192.168.1.100 and a default gateway of 192.168.1.1. The windows XP computer (hers) gives me an IP address of 192.168.1.101 and a default gateway of 192.168.1.1

So I checked on the windows me computer first and I can ping its home address of 192.168.1.100 and I can ping the router at 192.168.1.1, but when I ping the 192.168.1.101 address of the XP computer..I get 4 packets sent..with three lost and one good. Sometimes I get no packets sent, and sometimes I get two lost and two good.

So in my limited experince it seems that even thought I am showing good siganl and link numbers, so is the wireless signal just not strong enough?

Router is a 802.11B BEFW11S4-VN and adapers are WUSB11-VN.

Any ideas on how we can get this to work, without using CAT5! We do go thru three walls and down one flight, maybe we are just being unreasonable. Also if someone could explain to me the difference between Link signal and Link quality that the linksys wlan utility shows or point me in a direction that would explain the difference between the link and quality numbers would be helpful. Thanks for any help, we really would appreciate it!

 

[bcastner]

For DSL/PPoE connections you really need to:

. set manually the router MTU value (For Verizon DSL, the value should be 1492).

. then test at each client. The critical values are client MTU and RWIN. The only sane way to do this is by a test. I recommend highly the DSLR/BroadBandReports.com site, and use the freeware too DrTCP at the site to make the MTU and RWIN adjustments:

http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks

 

[millhouselives]

Thank you for reply. Well, today I attempted some more troubleshooting on my problem. First I ran a 75 foot CAT5 cable from the Linksys router to the NIC card in the XP home computer. Then I disabled the wireless network connection on the same computer. Now I am able to ping 192.168.1.1, I can ping 192.168.1.100(100 is the Windows Me computer) (and I can ping 192.168.101 (101 is the XP home computer.) Now on the XP computer I can not ping from a command line either by URL name or by IP address.

When I ping (from XP)216.109.127.30, I receive the following message :reply from 192.168.1.1: Destination net unreachable.

Now from the Windows Me computer I can ping 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.100, and 192.168.1.101. I can also ping from a command line both by URL address and IP address with no problems. The Windows Me configuration is as follows: one Linksye USB wireless adapter plugged into one of the USB ports on the Windows Me computer, the Verizon westall dsl modem is connected to the Linksys wireless router by CAT5 cable. There is no network card in the Windows Me computer.

Now, I also set both C: drive to share files and I am able to see the Windows Me computer from the XP one, and I can see the XP computer from the Windows Me computer.

I can browse and send and receive e-mail on the Windows Me computer. I can also access the router web page at 192.168.1.1 from the XP computer by typing the IP address in browser window.

So what am I missing, the only thing I can not do is open Internet browser and surf on the XP computer. It's making me crazy. So right now I would be happy just to get that working and then maybe I go back to wireless connection from the XP computer to the Windows ME.
thanks for your help so far.

 

[bcastner]

Step One: faq779-4625

Not all web site will respond to a ping request. Fewer and fewer in fact want to host ICMP traffic of any kind, including ping traffic.

This internet feature was unfortunately abused for denail of service attacks and by "worms". Often your ISP routers will just drop the traffic because of concerns about potential abuse.

 

[millhouselives]

Ok I have downloaded the winxsock fix and will apply on my next visit. I agree with the fact that some sites will not respond to a ping request, but in this case I used two known good ones. Pinging my name to these sites on the WinMe computer I receive replies so I should also receive replies from the XP computer. Since it is a little bit of a trip to my brothers, could you list Step Two in case Step one does not resolve my problem. thanks again for your help.

 

[bcastner]

Step Two would be to check all hardware, and likely replace the ethernet adapter.

 

[millhouselives]

bcastner,

I'm not sure I understand your answer. If I am able to ping each machine from each other and also reach the gateway from each one, plus share files between them why would replacing the NIC fix things, just curious.

 

[millhouselives]

Hi all, sorry its been a while but I had some work that took me away for a bit. Well the mystery is solved. When looking at the Linksys router status page I noticed that I had no Wan address. What turned out to be the problem was that on the Linksys setup page where you can select the type of connection ie: obtain IP automatically, PPPoE, etc. Our router was set to obtain IP auto, changed this to PPPoE, filled in the user name and password, refreshed and now had WAN address. That was all it took. I feel so stupid, because I had looked at status page and the bell just never went off in my head that "no WAN IP address" no outside access to other computer. Thanks to all who wrote in to help. Thanks much to bcastner for your help. I hope my answer helps someone else out in the future.

 

[bcastner]

millhouselives,

Thank you. I can assure you I have made much sillier mistakes. And a record here helps others.

Thanks,
Bill Castner