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From: AnthonyL on 19 Mar 2010 11:39
I have two XP laptops accessing a wireless access point (actually
currently a Cable & Wireless router just working as an access point).

Mostly it is fine, but fairly frequently the connection doesn't work,
with the Wireless network connection showing Connected - Signal
strength Good, but I have no connection and cannot ping the AP.

Today for instance I switched on the Lenovo 3000 laptop and got the
above issue. Ran Network Stumbler and the AP shows up fine. Tried a
repair connection (sometimes this worked especially on my now defunct
DLINK AP), then I switched on the Dell Inspiron. Even without logging
on the Lenovo connection suddenly became active once the Dell had
booted up.

Without fail a switch off/on of the C&W AP works as also did when I
had the Dlink 700AP.

Currently I'm on fixed IP's but that doesn't make any difference.

The network is not straightforward and is as shown below:

C&W AP (home) -> Linksys WAP54G -- 400m wireless bridge mode --
Linksys WAP54G (office) -> C&W router -> ADSL and LAN

The Linksys work perfectly, on Channel 6, the C&W AP is on Channel 1.

Where do I start to get a reliable wireless connection every time?

Is the a Windows XP wireless issue?

Many thanks


--
AnthonyL
From: alexd on 19 Mar 2010 13:42
On 19/03/10 15:39, AnthonyL wrote:

> C&W AP (home) -> Linksys WAP54G -- 400m wireless bridge mode --
> Linksys WAP54G (office) -> C&W router -> ADSL and LAN
>
> The Linksys work perfectly, on Channel 6, the C&W AP is on Channel 1.
>
> Where do I start to get a reliable wireless connection every time?
>
> Is the a Windows XP wireless issue?

If multiple machines fail to connect to the same AP, which a reboot of
the AP fixes, then I can't see how it can be anything other than an
issue with the AP. Latest firmware on the AP? Tried another AP? If you
still suspect XP, try booting of a linux live CD and check the wireless
from that.

--
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From: AnthonyL on 20 Mar 2010 05:38
On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:42:06 +0000, alexd <troffasky(a)hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On 19/03/10 15:39, AnthonyL wrote:
>
>> C&W AP (home) -> Linksys WAP54G -- 400m wireless bridge mode --
>> Linksys WAP54G (office) -> C&W router -> ADSL and LAN
>>
>> The Linksys work perfectly, on Channel 6, the C&W AP is on Channel 1.
>>
>> Where do I start to get a reliable wireless connection every time?
>>
>> Is the a Windows XP wireless issue?
>
>If multiple machines fail to connect to the same AP, which a reboot of
>the AP fixes, then I can't see how it can be anything other than an
>issue with the AP.

But that isn't the only fix. Switching on the Dell often allows the
Lenovo to connect.

When I had the Dlink the Lenovo just about always connected but the
Dell would usually connect only if logged in with my wife's non-admin
credentials but then would fail when I logged in with admin
credentials. A repair would usually fix that.

>Latest firmware on the AP?

Can't find it.


>Tried another AP?

As stated in original post and above two out of two AP's have given
problems.

>If you
>still suspect XP, try booting of a linux live CD and check the wireless
>from that.

Good thought.


--
AnthonyL
From: Bob on 20 Mar 2010 06:50
On 20/03/2010 09:38, AnthonyL wrote:

>> Tried another AP?
>
> As stated in original post and above two out of two AP's have given
> problems.

Irrespective of that neither of the C&W ADSL Modems have had good reviews.

"This router has a mind of its own and only chooses to work when it
wants to, not when you want it to. In order for it to work you have to
switch it on and off a number of times before the green light remains
on, otherwise it will just flash and switch off, and you will not be
able to conect to the internet. Thus on average it takes me 20 minutes
from when i decide to go online before i can actually connect to the
internet.

Also, it goes through these bizarre mood swings when it won�t send out a
signal even though it appears to be plugged in and switched on... For
example, you can be surfing the net and all of a sudden you will lose
your wireless connection and the computer will tell you no wireless
networks are in range. It then takes about 40 minutes of restarting the
thing before it works again."
<http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Wireless-802-11G-ADSL-Router/dp/B0009HJEMO>

<http://www.deanmarshall.co.uk/store/Action::IFind--ASIN::B000I1OCR8>

I would try and borrow another AP. Given that these models are several
years old and do not appear to have access to any firmware upgrades I
would be looking to replace them.
When you used "Netstumbler" did you check to see if there were any other
Channels in use that might cause an intermittent failure?

From: AnthonyL on 22 Mar 2010 09:08
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:50:01 +0000, Bob <bob(a)invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On 20/03/2010 09:38, AnthonyL wrote:
>
>>> Tried another AP?
>>
>> As stated in original post and above two out of two AP's have given
>> problems.
>
>Irrespective of that neither of the C&W ADSL Modems have had good reviews.
>
>"This router has a mind of its own and only chooses to work when it

<snip>

><http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Wireless-802-11G-ADSL-Router/dp/B0009HJEMO>
>
><http://www.deanmarshall.co.uk/store/Action::IFind--ASIN::B000I1OCR8>
>
>I would try and borrow another AP. Given that these models are several
>years old and do not appear to have access to any firmware upgrades I
>would be looking to replace them.

I won't disagree with the reviews. I ended up with 2 units, one I use
as the ADSL router. That is fairly solid and has been for a couple of
years except the wireless side died. Having said that I'm in a
'remote' village and the router is hardly being pushed at 1 Mbit/s if
we are lucky.

The other is the one that this post refers to, though I have never had
to do more than a reboot.


>When you used "Netstumbler" did you check to see if there were any other
>Channels in use that might cause an intermittent failure?
>

There is a neighbour a few houses down who also uses Channel 1. The
signal is pretty weak.


Any recommendation for a solid adsl/wireless router + switch? I would
be buying two, one for use as the ADSL router, one for use as the AP
point, but the AP would serve as a backup for the main ADSL
connection.

Thanks


--
AnthonyL
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