Wireless disconnects when other networks become available

[bliksem tobey]

Hi. I set up my home network wireless this weekend using
Linksys products. My desktop is running XP. I have
successfully set up the wireless router and the network
adapter on my desktop but am having one issue with the XP
settings and behavior. I am experiencing the following
issue...

A neighbor has a wireless network set up. I can see it
when I look at the "Wireless Networks" tab of
the "Wireless Network Connection Properties" dialog. I
see his network (as well as mine) in the "Available
Networks" list. Only my network is listed in
the "Preferred Networks" list. The issue I am having is
that it appears that whenever my neighbor starts or stops
his network, my network connection icon in the taskbar
pops up the message "WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION - One or
more wireless networks are available. To see a list of
available networks, click here." and I loose my
connection. The status turns to "unavailable" and I loose
connectivity. In order to resume online activity, I need
to click the network connection icon in the taskbar,
select my network and hit the "Connect" button. This is
very disruptive.

Is there a way I can configure XP to only look at my
network, ignore all others, and maintain my connectivity
as long as my router isn't failing?

I'd be happy to provide more information if needed. If
possible, please CC replies to blikse...@hotmail.com.
Thanks.

bliksem

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811427

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)

[bliksem tobey]

Thanks for the response Barb. I wasn't broadcasting the
SSID of the network. So I changed that part of my
wireless router configuration and powered-down/powered-up
all devices in the network just to be sure the settings
had taken effect. Last night, unfortunately, I continued
to experience the same issue.

It appears that whenever there is a change in the
available networks (a new network becomes available or an
existing one ceases to be available) that message ("One
or more wireless networks are available...") pops up and
the wireless connection status changes to "Wireless
connection unavailable". I've seen other messages on this
board indicating that message may sometimes be
inaccurate, but I test and indeed have no connectivity.
When I re-open the "Wireless Network" dialog, my network
is listed (along with the others) and I click "Connect"
to re-establish the connection.

Could this have anything to do with the channel that my
network is broadcasting on? My guess is no because I
recall at least one of these networks using a different
channel than mine when I was investigating. I'm trying to
think of anything that would cause this.

Thanks for the help in advance.

bliksem

>.
>

[U.Wolff]

>.
>I'm having a similar problem, but not because someone
else is using their network nearby. My wireless network on
an HP Pavillion laptop with integrated Broadcom WLAN chip,
also running XP Home, times out after exactly 3 min. and I
get the same message as you on the desktop. Another laptop
I have running on Windows 2000 has no trouble keeping
connected.(Netgear PCMCIA WG 511). Router is Netgear
ProSafe FWG 114P. The Netgear card on the HP laptop
doesn't fix the issue. It still times out, so I suspect it
is XP related.

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

You can certainly try changing the channel. Try 11 or 1. How many
networks are in your environment? What kind of router/access point do
you have?

On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 05:01:30 -0800, "bliksem tobey"

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

Make certain the 802.1x authentication is UNmarked-
Start, run then type in:
ncpa.cpl [ok]
Right click on the wireless connection/ Choose propoerties/
Goto the Wireless Networks tab
In the bottom windows on this page titled 'preferred networks'
choose
your home network name and click on Properties.
Ensure that the checkbox 'The key is provided for me automatically'
is
not checked.
Goto the tab labelled Authentication & ensure that the box labelled
'Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network' is unchecked.
Remove any other SSIDs//networks from the preferred networks list

On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 10:58:11 -0800, "U.Wolff"
<anon...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>I'm having a similar problem, but not because someone
>else is using their network nearby. My wireless network on
>an HP Pavillion laptop with integrated Broadcom WLAN chip,
>also running XP Home, times out after exactly 3 min. and I
>get the same message as you on the desktop. Another laptop
>I have running on Windows 2000 has no trouble keeping
>connected.(Netgear PCMCIA WG 511). Router is Netgear
>ProSafe FWG 114P. The Netgear card on the HP laptop
>doesn't fix the issue. It still times out, so I suspect it
>is XP related.

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