Author Topic: Wireless (Read 227 times)

Mace2004 · « **on:** January 07, 2007, 11:19:06 AM »

Just curious but has anyone else been experiencing wireless link issues this past week? I've got a D-link wireless router and normally have a rock solid connection within my office. My wife's computer is in a different room a ways away but it's also been solid until this past week or so. We both show solid signal strength (70-80 for me, 50-80 for her) but we keep losing the link. She loses it more often but it happens to me to. Also, I usually can see two or three additional wireless networks within reception distance but they're not showing up at all. My kids are both home from college with their wireless laptops and they've both said they're seeing the same problems, even more they say it's not just my network, it seems to have been happening everywhere. Before I run off to buy a new wireless router anybody else seeing this? Maybe a sunspot issue?

Thanks,
Mace

Reschke · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2007, 11:24:00 AM »

Not sure about any issues but I just bought a new Dlink DIR-625 router and DWA-542 card for my new PC I am finishing up. I had to download a new firmware to make it work right yesterday. It seems rock solid for now and I have a signal strength of nearly 90% strength now with the router in the middle of the house near the cable box. Just in case though I am going to go buy a bunch of cable and run outlets into every room where computers will be located so I am not depending on a wireless connection.

CptA · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2007, 09:26:06 AM »

Reschke,

It sounds like interference from other nearby wireless access points (APs) transmitting on the same channel, since you said you could detect two or three other nearby APs.

By default, most wireless routers and access points are configured to use channel 1, channel 6, or channel 11.

These are respectively the First, Middle, and Last channels of the U.S. 2.4Ghz 802.11B/G Band allocation.

Most folks don't bother to change the channel after purchase and installation, so those three channels are the most used, and most likely to experience interference.

The default Windows wireless network services will attempt to connect to any APs that it can detect, so when the signal from another nearby AP is detected, it will drop the current connection, and attempt to connect to the new one(s).

There are a couple of things you can do:

1. Change your Router/AP to another channel. Try channels 7 through 10 as these are the least likely to be used by others. Don't forget to change to the same channel on all of your WLAN NICs (Wireless LAN Network Interface Cards) in your Laptop or Desktop computers as well.

2. Don't use the default Windows wireless network services. Install the software that came with your wireless network hardware if possible, and setup a network profile specific to your local network. If that is not possible, then be sure to set your local network as the only "Preferred Network", and do not allow your hardware to connect to other networks.

3. Change the default SSID of your network to something else. By default many Linksys routers have a default SSID of "Linksys". If a bunch of linksys routers or APs are all operating within range of each other, and all of them are broadcasting the same default SSID, you can see how the equipment can get confused.

4. Try to pick a SSID specific to you, but not something obvious or common. Don't use your Name, Address, or anything else that would make it easy for a hacker to find or access your network.

5. Setup your network to use WEP encryption, or even better, to use WPA encryption.

6. Once all your computers have working profiles and reliable wireless connections, set your router or AP to stop broadcasting it's SSID. This will make it more difficult for hackers to find your system. If you need to add any additional computers to your network, you may need to temporarily turn SSID broadcasting back on until the new computer finds and connects to the network and saves a profile. Remember to turn it off again.

Good Luck!

CptA

Vulcan · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2007, 02:36:48 PM »

It may be interference from a number of sources including microwave ovens; bluetooth connections; TV senders (let you wireless repeat cable/sat tv around a house) ; cordless phones.

802.11b/g wireless is easily intefered with. The cheaper brands (Dlink/Linksys/Belkin) all have fairly poor radio's and will never get close to spec signal strength. Theres not much you can do as a decent AP is 3-4 times the price (Cisco, etc).

If you do decide to buy a replacement AP look at an 802.11a unit. This frequency is less likely to be interferred with. Although be aware you may have to upgrade your wireless cards as well.

And if possible get something with WPA2, WEP is easy to crack, WPA (1) has been cracked (though its not as easily as WEP).

Mace2004 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2007, 04:28:43 PM »

Thanks for the inputs. I've had this wireless setup for two years now though and nothing has changed. I have seen the interference caused by bluetooth though and this is different. I picked up a new "high power" D-Link wireless router and am now getting a consistent 90 percent on my machine and 80 percent on my wife's but still getting an occasional drop but not nearly as severe as previously. Don't know if the previous router transmitter had gotten weak or if the stronger signal is just doing a better job of overcoming whatever interference I was getting. I'll have to give it some time to see. Thanks again.

Mace