Wi-Fi periodically disconnecting
Gadget Man
I have a wee problem with my Wi-Fi:
Makdrake 10.0 running with 2.6.9 kernel
Netgear MA311 PCI card (using the orinoco driver)
Linksys WAG54G AP/router/ADSL modem (with the latest firmware, 1.02.7)
Using WEP
Most of the time everything behaves as expected (iwconfig reports back
Link quality of 88/92, -16dbm signal type figures), but occasionally the
connection dies and iwconfig reports 0/92 link quality and shows
something like 107/153 for signal level. It normally connects again
within a minute or so.
Are there any known problems with this combination? I've tried hunting
through Google, but I can only find problems getting the thing connected
in the first place, not intermittant dis-connection.
I've just had a thought that I've never looked at the router to see if
it's done a reset for some reason, which I guess could be a problem.
However ... just as I've been surfing, it died again. I checked the
router and the LEDs look like they do during normal operation.
Any ideas where to start?
Regards,
Gavin.
--
"If at first you don't succeed ... reboot and try again!"
Nobbut
Did you download the firmware you are using?If so did it work before you
upgraded?
Have you tried resetting to factory defaults and then setting router up
again (Linksys actually suggest this on one of their firmware upgrades)
I am still using ver 1.01.07 that came with router and so far have had no
problems ,admittedly the laptop is running XP , but you could try loading an
older version of firmware.
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/international/firmware/WAG54G_AnnexA_ETSI_v1.01.7_0304_code.bin
Gavin Cameron
I did indeed download that firmware. I'm sure it also did the same thing
with the older firmware (1.02.1, which I also downloaded) but at that
point I didn't realise what was happening. I mainly noticed when Mozilla
was doing a DNS lookup, so I initially put it down to a problem with my
ISPs DNS servers.
I can't remember which version it had when I bought the thing and I
can't remember what it was like ... I'm sure there was an upgrade
available very soon after I got it.
I've not tried a reset to factory defaults ... will try tonight when I
get home.
Thanks for the hint!
Gavin.
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"In a world without fences ... who needs Gates?"
Alan Hughes
I've got a WAG54G myself with a Linksys WMP54G card in my Linux box. judging
by comments I've seen in sites, this appears to be a common problem with
the WAG54G (I've seen a *lot* of complaints). Some people have suggested
that its a firmware headache, however from what you are saying this might
not be the problem (I'm also using 1.01.7 and was planning to upgrade to
1.02.1 soon). Linksys are comming in for a lot of stick over this box.
Alan
alexd
> Most of the time everything behaves as expected (iwconfig reports back
> Link quality of 88/92, -16dbm signal type figures), but occasionally the
> connection dies and iwconfig reports 0/92 link quality and shows
> something like 107/153 for signal level. It normally connects again
> within a minute or so.
I think I've already said this in this august forum, but here it is again...
WiFi is free of license fees because nobody else wants to use the 2.4ghz
band, being as it is, full of interference from microwave ovens. So if one
of your neighbours has a faulty microwave oven, your connection will die
whenever they microwave something.
Which tallies with what you've said - high link quality when it's working,
so that's not a problem - but when somebody powers up their microwave, the
band is flooded with noise, and you get a relatively strong signal level,
and 0 quality.
It could be that your wifi kit isn't capable of rejecting out-of-band
signals, ie you're using 2.437ghz, and the neighbour's microwave is
radiating strongly on 2.40ghz, and this makes your kit 'deaf' when it's
happening. Try tuning an AM radio to a faint station directly adjacent to
BBC 5 Live to see what I mean. I guess certain chipsets/firmware are more
susceptible to this than others.
You could try different channels [you've got >10 to pick from] and see if
that helps. Also, you can get directional antennae if you're really that
bothered about it.
Of course if this is happening regularly at 3am, then either you have
nocturnal neighbours, or I'm just making this all up...
alexd
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Gavin Cameron
Hmmm ... never considered that! The nearest microwave that may have been
switched on is about 10 metres (through walls) from both the AP and PC.
Perhaps I should try to borrow a spectrum analyser from the work to
prove / disprove this theory? ;-)
In the meantime, I still need to try a "reset to factory defaults" and
then try changing channels. I was a bit busy last night to get around to
it, as I need to rumage around for an RJ45 cable ... the latest firmware
disables admin access via WiFi :-(
Cheers for info,
Gav.
Nobbut
"alexd" <lo...@my.sig> wrote in message
news:2888707.G...@alexd.mine.nu...
> Gadget Man wrote:
>
8><.......................................................................................
>
> I think I've already said this in this august forum, but here it is
> again...
>
> WiFi is free of license fees because nobody else wants to use the 2.4ghz
> band, being as it is, full of interference from microwave ovens. So if one
> of your neighbours has a faulty microwave oven, your connection will die
> whenever they microwave something.
Quote from Linksys CD-Rom which comes with wag54g
2. Interference.
Any device operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum may cause network interference
with a 802.11b wireless device.
Some devices that may prove troublesome include 2.4 GHz cordless phones,
microwave ovens, adjacent public
hotspots, and neighboring 802.11b wireless LANs.
Also
How do I resolve issues with signal loss?
There is no way to know the exact range of your wireless network without
testing. Every obstacle placed
between the Gateway and a wireless computer will create signal loss. Lead
glass, metal, concrete floors, water
and walls will inhibit the signal and reduce range. Start with the Gateway
and your wireless computer in the
same room and move it away in small increments to determine the maximum
range in your environment.
You may also try using different channels, as this may eliminate
interference affecting only one channel.
One assumes the user reads his manual.
> Which tallies with what you've said - high link quality when it's working,
> so that's not a problem - but when somebody powers up their microwave, the
> band is flooded with noise, and you get a relatively strong signal level,
> and 0 quality.
> It could be that your wifi kit isn't capable of rejecting out-of-band
> signals, ie you're using 2.437ghz, and the neighbour's microwave is
> radiating strongly on 2.40ghz, and this makes your kit 'deaf' when it's
> happening. Try tuning an AM radio to a faint station directly adjacent to
> BBC 5 Live to see what I mean. I guess certain chipsets/firmware are more
> susceptible to this than others.
> You could try different channels [you've got >10 to pick from] and see if
> that helps. Also, you can get directional antennae if you're really that
> bothered about it.
8><..........................................................................................
Johnny B Good
from Gavin Cameron <gavin....@baesystems.wibble.com> contains these words:
----snip----
> In the meantime, I still need to try a "reset to factory defaults" and
> then try changing channels. I was a bit busy last night to get around to
> it, as I need to rumage around for an RJ45 cable ... the latest firmware
> disables admin access via WiFi :-(
Meaning the previous firmware didn't? Incredible!!!
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alexd
<snip>
On second thoughts, seeing as this gets asked frequently enough, maybe it
should be in the FAQ [even though it's OT].
alexd
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19:13:02 up 23 days, 22:01, 3 users, load average: 0.18, 0.38, 0.58
This is my BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMSTICK
Gadget Man
>
<snip>
> One assumes the user reads his manual.
RTFM ??? That's only a last resort when things don't work at all ;-)
Gav.
Gadget Man
reset to factory defaults and changed channel number.
In the past few days I've not seen it drop out yet. I've got
KWiFiManager docked permanently now to give me continuous signal strength.
Cheers,
Gav.