08-04-2004, 04:47 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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@#%& WiFi...for now that is!
Actually, despite what I typed in as the subject, I love WiFi! But have come into a bummer of a problem. I've got an ad-hoc set up at home, and have internet connection sharing enabled and the necessary ports opened in the firewall so that sharing can take place.
Now, I've got a main desktop server that connects to the internet, and my laptop that uses the shared internet connection via 802.11b. While I can access the net on my laptop just fine, sometimes it seems as though it gets connection timeouts. Sometimes I can connect to websites, sometimes I can't...wait a few minutes and then I try it again, and it connects again, and then after a brief run of being able to access the net, it seems to timeout again. I've checked all the connection settings and it's fine - the wireless connection is always up and running (i.e. it doesn't connect and disconnect on and off). This happens even when I'm not accessing the internet on my desktop, and only accessing it from my laptop. That's why I don't think it's a bandwidth problem either.
So your thoughts on what I can do? Because I can tell you now from my side of the problem, it's quite annoying. :evil:
P.S. Wireless reception is fine @ 11Mbps.
*Sigh* - I know there's a way to solve this but I haven't thought of it just yet.
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08-04-2004, 05:17 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
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Are you sure the wireless signals is good/strong? It may be at 11MB but not a strong signal. I only get a weak signal through two walls (doors open) at my house. 
When you can't access the web, are you able to access your server/desktop (is this on wireless or lan on the router)?
I have heard of some strange issues with Linksys routers/wireless. Which wireless router are you usuing? Which wireless card(s) are you using?
Is your wireless using DHCP? Settings all good? Do you lose DHCP settins - perhaps?
Good luck.
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08-04-2004, 05:39 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by nhromyak
I have heard of some strange issues with Linksys routers/wireless. Which wireless router are you usuing? Which wireless card(s) are you using?
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If I understand correctly, he has no WAP or Router, he is running an AD-HOC connection. I would get a WAP and I bet your problems will be solved in 5 easy minutes!
Steve
Oh, and I moved the post to the off-topic forum as you didn't mention any Pocket PC! :wink:
__________________
"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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08-04-2004, 05:47 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
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:mrgreen:
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08-05-2004, 01:00 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Running Netgear MA111 USB on server and D-Link - I can't remember the model no. but it's like DL-650+ or something, a PC card for my laptop. It's all on DHCP and both computers are 2m next to each other so I don't think signal's a problem.
So you guys reckon to scrap the ad-hoc? Actually, I sometimes get the same problem (but not as bad) on a public network in libraries but that could be the signal in the libraries.
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08-05-2004, 01:07 AM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Personally, I would scrap the AD-HOC and go with a WAP. You get the added ability to use your laptop and PDA at the same time (if you are so inclined) :wink:
Steve
__________________
"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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08-05-2004, 02:25 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Hmmm...thanks Steve. I might give that a shot if nothing else will resolve the problem.
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08-05-2004, 03:12 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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You would not believe this...
Okay, so I'm doing this post while connected to a public wireless network, and just like I did at home, I experienced the same kind of dropouts from time to time. Then I worked out I had to move my laptop a few centimetres toward the right before it'd work. Then it'd dropout again and I'd move it few centimetres towards me before it'd work again (I think you get the idea). Now here's the really weird thing. I worked out that if I want an optimal signal, I should tilt my laptop on an angle toward the rear of the unit. I haven't experienced any dropouts since doing this.
So now I'm thinking it's not an ad-hoc issue or an issue on my desktop server at home, but rather an issue with the wireless stuff on the laptop. The D-Link DWL-650+ PC Card I use isn't faulty - in fact, it works just nicely, so I don't think it's a problem in the card itself. So what do you think?
Better tilt my laptop toward the rear before I click the "Submit" button. 
UPDATE: Okay, this is what I've figured out - the tilting is just a trick to raise the PC card a few millimetres off the table. Now I've chucked a book under the laptop so that the entire laptop is about 2cm off the table, and the signal couldn't be any better. No dropouts whatsoever. Do you think that because the PC card was so close to the table that it was hampering the range of the PC card? It's quite strange though, because usually it should work just fine.
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08-05-2004, 04:08 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 192
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Weird, I was about to suggest it might be this issue:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,63705,00.html
Quote:
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Here are the symptoms of the problem: A Wi-Fi-enabled computer running Windows XP is working fine one minute, pulling up Web pages and processing e-mail. Then, for no reason, the connection drops, websites fail to come up and the e-mail flow stops. The small wireless connection icon in the taskbar says the signal from the access point is strong, so the problem isn't that the user wandered out of radio range. The icon even shows that the computer's Wi-Fi hardware is sending information to the access point -- it's just not getting anything back. And manual attempts to re-establish the connection through XP's built-in wireless configuration tool won't do the trick. Even more bizarre, the connection sometimes comes back on its own.
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08-05-2004, 01:21 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DJ Apod
Do you think that because the PC card was so close to the table that it was hampering the range of the PC card? It's quite strange though, because usually it should work just fine.
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Just what kind of table do you have? :lol: I have a D-Link card in my laptop (which I am using right now) it's sitting on a table, and I don't have to raise it to keep connected (and I stay connacted all day, without any drop outs! If you really have solved your problem, you could always get a docking station for your notebook, that will raise it a bit (depending on manufacturer)...
I still think it must be something else... :wink:
Steve
__________________
"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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