I just sent the follwoing e-mail to

[ChicagoTechNet]

I just sent the follwoing e-mail to linksys tech support. I am also posting here and hope some one can help.

I am helping one of my clients to setup a wireless network. They have one BEFW11S4 router and two WUSB11 adapters. Here are some issues.

1. I find the signals, sometimes are excellent, sometimes weak or even disappear without any thing change. I have followed your tips "Useful Tips to Help You Get the Best Performance" but they keep getting the same issue.
2. I also find in the same neighbor, there are another two wireless networks. When our wireless signals are weak, the XP computer with wusb11 may connection to one of the neighbor's wirelesses. Then these two computers will lose the LAN connection because they are assigned different IPs.

Question:

1. Why the signals sometimes excellent but other time weak without any thing change? Can the neighbor's wireless reduces the wireless signals?
2. How can I block the neighbor wireless signals or setup these two xp to avoid seeing these two wirelesses?

Thank you.


Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Windows, Network and How to at

http://www.ChicagoTech.net

 

[skotman]

If linksys has this option you can either turn down the power on the WAP, or not broadcast either of the SSIDs. This will prevent you from picking up your neighbors network and vice versa.

I know dlink's WAPs support this but I do not know about linksys.

Scott Heath

http://www.scottspad.com

AIM: orange7288

 

[bcastner]

The client only shows signal strength. If you had a severe sore throat, and were yelling loadly at me in a crowded room, I could well hear the volume of what you were saying but still find it difficult to understand you.

From my own notes:

. I am assuming that on the client side 802.1x authentication is disabled, the WEP keys are copied to the clients not from the 13-bit plainstring, but from the larger ASCII display of the WEP keys;

. For XP clients: you are using the Wireless Zero Service; that if you are not using WPA in the LAN, the MS KB
Q815485 Hotfix is removed; 802.1x is unchhecked; your drivers are completely up-to-date; and:

to deal with competing wireless networks:

. You must not disable the broadcast of SSID;
. You must add to the "Preferred" box at the bottom of the configuration client the SSID of your router/access point;
. You should have unique appearing SSIDs and not the defaults;
. You should try to have non-conflicting channels. Try 1, 11, 2, 8, 2 and 6 in that order;

See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q811427

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;324024

You do not speak in detail about the adapters, but see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;821400

Bill Castner

 

[bcastner]

All,

Make sure the firmware and driver software is completely up to date.

The best resource for this is to use the Linksys FTP site, rather than the pure Web site: ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/network/

Sort the directory in "Modified by Date" order if you have set a Folder view.

Check first too at an incredible site for Linksys issues, the DSLR site at:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/equip,16

Read first, update the firmware second. I warn you that take a lot of user comments with a grain of salt. There concerns may not be yours, and a user complaining about slow permformance of a game may have little to do with whether it a firmware or driver dhcnage helps in an enterprise much less a small workgroup setting. In the main the Cisco acqusition has helped; the only sore point is if you have the last version release of the BEFW11S4. There is an extensive discussion on the sight of firware issues that are a must read, as is in this case, a firware upgrade.


Bill Castner

 

[ChicagoTechNet]

Thank you for all replies.

1. WEB and authentication is disabled.
2. SSID is enabled.
3. The unique SSID lists on "Preferred" box.
4. All drivers and fireware were upgraded two days ago. However I downloaded them from web. Will check ftp site.

I did change the chnnel from 6 to 9. since I didn't see any different, I changed it back. May tru it again next time.

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Windows, Network and How to at

http://www.ChicagoTech.net

 

[tharder]

Also keep in mind that other AP's are not the only thing that operate in the 2.4 spectrum. Any use( or use by your neighbors) of a 2.4g portable phone will impact your signal and make it work fine one minute and block it the next.
We have started using a Symbol Spectrum NIC and the spectrum analysys tool off their site to see what's operating in that part of the spectrum before settling on a particular channel. I know there are other tools out there to scan 802.11 channels but they for the most part only look for other AP's or bridges.

 

[bcastner]

Bob, it is not "hearing" the client well enough. See my earlier comments about signal strenth vs. noise.

Change the orientation and increase the gain of the antenna on the Access Point/router.

If the clients are notebooks, the antenna is like horizontally poralized.

. Go to Radio Shack or online (several vendors) for the 5.5 dbi rubber ducky antenna:

http://www.pacwireless.com/html/apxtender.html

. Orient the antennas so that once is at Noon, and the other at 3 PM (parallel to the floor). Raise the entire unit as high and as close to the notebooks as you can.

A difference in 6 inches in the physical placement of the router can make a huge difference.

 

[ChicagoTechNet]

Hi All,

Thank you very much for all help and tips. My client decided to use wired insted of wireless. I am not sure I have a chance to do what they suggested.

Again thank you.

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Windows, Network and How to at

http://www.ChicagoTech.net

 

[cajoan]

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Windows, Network and How to at

http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Impressive signature. But out of sync with the questions asked. Does Bob know you're using his pc?