Linksys Wireless Connection Drops

[StevenB]

Hello all.

Yes, it's yet another "My Wireless Won't Work Right" thread! Your help would be greatly appreciated!

I recently moved to a new house, and set up one PC downstairs, with a Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router. PC#1 is hardwired to the router, no problems there. PC#2 (with a Linksys WMP54G card) is upstairs, one floor up and probably 20 feet over. Both PCs are above ground (nothing in the basement).

Initially, PC#2 was connecting pretty well. Generally I'd hit 54 Mbps and "very good" signal quality. But, it was spotty. While the connection wouldn't drop entirely, it would frequently drop enough to disrupt my FTPing of large files across the internet. I had my suspicions about the card, which had been jostled a lot and didn't seem to have a great connection between the antenna and card itself.

So, I replaced the whole setup with a brand-spanking new WRT54GS router and a WMP54GS card. Unfortunately, things have gone from bad to worse. It took me 3 hours on Support Chat with Linksys to even get any kind of a connection from PC#2, and now it just dies completely for huge chunks of time. I'll be online with a 54 Mbps connection, Very Good signal strength, then BOOM, couldn't find a network. Then 30 minutes later, it will miraculously find it again. (Upstairs, Linksys' monitoring tool finds the network with a signal strength of between 65% and 75%, it just can't connect to it.)

To make matters more confusing, I have a laptop as well. The laptop has a Motorola wireless card. I can sit the laptop exactly where the PC#2 is, and I get a solid 54 Mbps connection with "Very Good" signal quality, the whole time through. Even when PC#2 drops offline, the laptop is still fine.

I've purchased a Linksys Range Expander (WRE54G), but after playing with it for a bit, abandoned it, because there were just too many variables. Trying that again is next on my list.

I haven't played at all with the actual position of the antennae on the router - I just don't know enough about wireless to know if that should have an impact.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[schtek]

virus!!!
sp2 loaded on xp???

uninstal internet protocol on the network then eboot reinstal

good luck


"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing."

 

[cgkeller]

Hello StevenB,

I had a similar problem on my network of 3 computers.
I fixed it with the help of the Technical Support of Linksys
(free of charge, and very courteous).
Try the following site:

http://www.linksys.com/

Below is a sheet that I call "How to repair a Wireless Connection", which guides through the NETCHECK of Linksys, which I found very good.

I hope it helps.

Charles.
******************************************************

Linksys-Technical Support-for Outside-Sep.29,.05
File \\585\E\Data\Linksys\*.*
Charles
------------------------------------------------------------

In Kelowna, the Wireless Connection from the Router to my DELL Laptop goes down about once a month. To fix it, just follow these instructions:

How to repair Wireless Connection on DELL (My-Network):
Connect to:

http://www.linksys.com/

Go to: Technical Support:
– Easy Connect --à go to Netcheck (see below)
- Easy Answers
- Downloads
- Technical Support Contact

To repair a wireless connection:
- Easy connect
- Wireless Adapters Installation
- Start NetCheck
- check all boxes
- checking for the latest updates (Time 3 min.)

Verdict: - Your computer is running two wireless management utilities (2 WEP-Keys)
- Fix it
- The redundant wireless management utility has been disabled.
- NetCheck is now re-checking your system (Time: 3 min.)

Configure a wireless connection:
- You may want to configured them (Router & Adapter) to create a wireless connection.
- Download Linksys NetSet Assistant
- NetSet.exe – 1.28 MB – run or save this file? (run)
- Checking Router
- SSID is the name of your Home Network = **********
- (all 3 computers must have the same SSSID)
- Data Encryption Type: 64-bit
- WEP key = new – 10 digits – ********** - Sep.29.05
- Enter new WEP Passphrase: 5 characters (*****) – Sep.29.05







Page 2
NetSet Assistant
- NetSet was able to access the Internet. To help you add other computers to your network, this package includes a setup program and your specific wireless settings information (NetSetClient.exe)
however, it is only for WinXP, not Win98..
- Saved to \\DEL\C:\My documents\My NetsetClient\ Netsetclient.exe.
- It will also save a file called: Your Router Settings.txt
- Use this package to add other (wireless) computers to your wireless Network.
- Establishing Internet connection…. Please wait…
- At the bottom of the screen, it says:
- WIRELESS CONNECTION IS NOW CONNECTED.
- Signal strength: excellent.
- Speed: 11 Mbps.


Text of Dialog box “Choose a wireless Network”:
- opacharles
- Connected (with a star)
- shows 5 bars for signal strength
- To disconnect from this Network, click “Disconnect” below.

The girl at Linksys gave me a reference number (050830-015109) in case I wouldn’t be able
to solve my problem.

I found the service from Linksys very good..

My equipment:
- Router: Linksys – 2.4 Ghz – 802.11b – Wireless B – Model BEFW11S4

- Laptop Adapter: Linksys Wireless –B , 2.4 Ghz - Notebook Adapter , Model WPC11, v.4

Bought in August 2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Details of Linksys Technical Support can be found on page 3.






Page 3

Details of Linksys Technical Support Page:

à Technical Support à Easy Connect:

à Select your problem Type:
1. Router initial setup, Router Wireless configuration and Wireless Security

1-A Router problems;
- Click here if you need help installing a Linksys Router ?

- Click here if you need help creating a wireless connection
between your computer and a Linksys Router ?

- Use this option to set up wireless security ?

2. Wireless Adapters Installation

2-A: Wireless Adapters Installation

? Step 1: If possible, connect the PC directly to your Linksys
Router, using a network cable.

? Step 2: Verify that you have Internet access

? Step 3: Insert the Linksys Wireless Adapter

NETCHECK is now checking…..
No problems were detected.



---- End.

 

[flapeyre]

First thing, as the Linksys page says, is to make sure you either use the Linksys utility and disable windows management of the wireless connection, or take the Linksys utility out of the startup folder and let Wndows manage the connection. I prefer to roll my own within Windows - much simpler that way. If you have a third party utility running in the background, it may be changing settings (especially security settings) that should not be changing.

Dic mihi solum facta, domina.

 

[StevenB]

THanks for your help, everyone. Of all the things I tried, it looks like the solution was simply to change the channel on the router. I changed from the default channel (6) to 7, and now the connection is very robust!

 

[flapeyre]

Probably someone else in the area has a wireless network on channel 6. They may not be broadcasting their SSID, which makes it invisible to Windows (unless you know what the SSID actually is).

Dic mihi solum facta, domina.

 

[MaxPipeline]

I find that channel 6 can be a pretty "busy" channel. Alot of wireless devices use channel 1,6 or 11 as the default because these are the 3 "non-overlapping" channels. It is likely that there are other wireless networks within range. Also I have found that 2.4GHz phones can cause problems with 802.11b/g networks.

 

[wybnormal]

Change channel to 11 or 1

Make sure you are NOT using Windows to manage the wireless connection.

Make sure you have CURRENT drivers for the wireless card

Get rid of the range extender

Get a decent 5db antenna for the AP if you really need it, a better move is to reflash using Alchemy firmware (or other)

Use a quality NIC on the PC/Laptop if you have a choice

One of the most important and overlooked is to disable powersaving on the wireless card. On a sniffer, I can watch a laptop come and go like the tide when power management is enabled.

MikeS

http://www.packetattack.com

http://www.packetpress.net

Home of the book "Network Security Using Linux"

 

[StevenB]

OK, I'll bite. How do I disable powersaving on the wireless card?

 

[wybnormal]

Normally speaking, under the device management advanced properties. Along with the tabs like GENERAL, there is one called "POWER MANAGEMENT". You will find a radio button for disabling the power management of the card.

MikeS

http://www.packetattack.com

http://www.packetpress.net

Home of the book "Network Security Using Linux"