Random Loss of Wireless Connection - Networking

Hi everyone, I have cable internet in my home, pumping through a WGR614 NetGear router. It routes internet to my Xbox 360 (wired) and my new Dell Inspiron Laptop (wireless). I have no problems with the 360.
But on occasion, every 1 to 2 days or so, the wireless connection drops, and I get a windows error that my wireless security key is invalid, despite it being already typed into the field and I KNOW it's accurate. I simply cycle the power on the Netgear router, and it's back humming.
Small inconvenience, but I can't figure out what would be causing it. My windows and networking knowledge is limited.
Thanks for all inputs and suggestions.

Related

AS 4.0 kills wireless connection

Just got an XDA Exec, first time PPC user, moving from Palm.
Installed AS 4.0 - no problem
Synced - no problem
Wifi connection to my router - disconnected when Exec plugged in
When I plug in the Exec, a new ip address is created for my laptop in the
169.xx... range. (Local Area Connection , Device: Windows Mobile Device shows up in Network Connections)
Then when the sync starts, the firewall asks if activesync can communicate with another IP address in the 169.xxx.... range (I assume this is the Exec's address)
Sometime during this process, the wireless connection drops. When I unplug the exec, the wireless connection starts working, but drops out every few seconds, and then connects again.
I have to reboot to get a stable wifi connection.
Using Windows XP Pro, 802.11g, Kerio Firewall
Anyone with any ideas ?
Thanks
I have a simular problem, i have a toshiba Portege with built in WiFi, it also has toshiba software than when you "dock it" or plus in a RJ45 network cable, it will disconect the wireless, and vise versa, if you "un dock it" or unplug the RJ45 it will enable the wireless connection.
the has worked for years using activesync 3.8, 4.0 and 4.1 with my XDA2i and XDA2s.
I just got my XDA Exec and just pluged in the usb cable to sync, (activesync works fine) but my laptop then thinks i have a new 10mbs wired connection, so it disables my wireless lan, if i then disable the new conection made, the laptop reverts back to wireless but then it kills the activesync.
so agin Activesysc 4.1 did NOT do this the 2i and 2s but DOSE with the Exec
John
I would not care if it did not work only while the exec was plugged in as it is usually only for a short time while syncing. The big problem is that the wireless connection does not work properly after I unplug the exec. I need to reboot to get it to work again in a stable manner.
Have searched all over the place, have found no info, but did run into a post by a chap in Japan that seems to have a similar problem:
http://www.pocketpcjunkies.com/Uwe/...veSync-4-0-disables-wireless-networking-on-PC
I agree its not a bad problem of it disconecting whilst AS is syncing, but i leave mine in to charge.
at least my WiFi works fine as soon as i remove the USB cable. So i just plug the jasjar into a mains charger and activesync over bluetooth. Could you not do this as well as a tempory solution
John
I charge my Exec on mains so that's not a problem. I'm going to try solving this for a little while longer and then will have to try using bluetooth. Don't have a BT dongle for the laptop so I thought I would try to solve this first before going out to get one.
Lucky for me my laptop also has Bluetooth built in. I did on the XDA2i once manage to do activesync over wireless lan (the xda and laptop both connected to the same router/access point, even after doing some port forwarding i never got to work from other locations back to my laptop at home
cant remember how to set it up, but maybe this is a tempery fix for you rather than getting a BT dongle
Here's a followup
Tried the following things:
1) Disabled the wireless connection, and connected using an ethernet
cable.
Then plugged in Exec and synced. Wired connection held up fine throught
the sync. (When I plugged in the Exec, AS said that the exec was
already being synced to another pc called "Windows PC" so I should give
this pc a new name "Windows PC 2", to separate it out. However, it's
the same laptop! I guess this is because the wired connection gave my
laptop a different ip than the
wireless? - not sure about this). ANyway, no problem witht he
connectiong, before, during or after syncing/connecting the Exec.
2) With a freshly booted laptop and a working wi-fi connection Killed
the wcescomm and wcesmgr processes after syncing. Made no difference.
Wireless connection stil out. Had to reboot.
3) Finally, with a freshly rebooted laptop with a stable wireless
connection, I
- diabled the wireless adapter in Network Connections
- plugged in an ethernet cable, got a good connection
- plugged in the exec
- synced with the wired connection on
- checked that the wired connection was okay
- unplugged the ethernet cable
- enabled the wireless adapter
And no go, no stable connection to the router - until a reboot.
Then finally narrowed it down:
This may seem strange, but the problem with the wireless connection
only occurs if I am using WPA-PSK encryption (which I was using when I
started) on the wireless net. It does not happen if I use WEP or no
encryption. I have changed the security settings (and nothing else)
repeatedly and can recreate this at will.
Also, it has to be the AS 4.0 /Exec causing the problem as I have no
issues with connectivity until I connect the Exec. This too I have
repeatedly checked to ensure that I rule everything else out.
This issue is less to do with ActiveSync 4.X than the version of your Win Mobile OS. Are you running WM5 in your device because if so, it will do exactly that as you described.
For WM3 devices, you can have both AS (both V3.X and V4.X) and WiFI active concurrently. My guess on this is that the MSFT designers are trying to simplify the network side for multi-home devices (to borrow an old IP term here). If both network adaptors were allowed to be up as in the case of WM3, how does the device decide which is the preferred route when you can active sync to your PC via WiFI also ?
What happens to existing sessions when network routes are dynamically altered within the device, etc and so on?
This raises a whole host of issues which need to be thought through.
For that matter have you tried to configure your XP PC with a fixed LAN and WiFi connection and just try telling it to route intelligently by your LAN card instead of WiFi ? :roll:
I can confirm mrandery's findings. I had the same problem. Setting the wireless encryption to Web instead of WPA solved the problem for me as well.
This is bad. I can set my router to use WEP, but can not set my office's one, I'm not authorised to do so. It's default is WPA-TKIP.
as4 conflicts with Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG
I don't know if any of you realize this, plug in Exec to your note book does not kill your wireless connection, but it affect the whole network, everyone connect to the same router as you will also have connectivity issue, not just you alone.
Don't Microsoft have any solution for this?
postef said:
I don't know if any of you realize this, plug in Exec to your note book does not kill your wireless connection, but it affect the whole network, everyone connect to the same router as you will also have connectivity issue, not just you alone.
Don't Microsoft have any solution for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this now.
Plugged my exec into my laptop when at my brothers and it threw his PC off the network too. If anyone does find a solution to this it would be great.
No body can fix this??
My frind using Wizard and have the same issue.
See http://www.airscanner.com/blog/blog.php?blogid=0601040857
I tried this airfix, but it could not solve the issue.
Ditto same problem.
Hi guys ..
have just read through this post and it is exactly the same issue as a friend of mine.. i thought it was an isolated case however it would appear not .
If possible could all of you that have this issue please reply with the make / model of your WiFi Router and the Wifi card in your laptop .
other info like Router firmware may be good also if you know it ?!
maybe we will see a pattern ?
thanx all
There is a pattern -
- Intel wireless cards (2200 & 2915) & drivers
- Using WPA encryption (WEP and unencrypted not affected)
- it knocks off all wireless computers on the same network (not just the one with AS installed)
Router / PPC / laptop models seem to be unimportant.
Search google groups for a thread entitled " ActiveSync 4.1 kills wireless"
Wonder if this is ROM issue?
I have new (two weeks old) M5000 and only ever charge with usb.
I have d-link wireless router at home, and connected to it are two laptops and a desk top.
I can surf all night without have connection issues from all three PC devices, and from the M5000
All this with AS4 running to keep my sms messages synced up with Outlook (using Jeyo)

Atom WiFi Wont Connect When Laptop Wireless is On!!

This seems bizarre - but when when my laptop (Acer Travelmate 290) internal wireless card is on, the Atom wifi wont connect to the ADSL wireless router (Netcomm NBSPlus4W ADSL2+). It sees it, try to connect but wont connect.
Switch the laptop wireless off and the atom connects Ok. Its not 100% the case but I have switched the laptop off & on enough times to prove itsmore than just coincidence.
I tried the latest Atom wireless ROM upgrade to ...R00045 but no change.
All the other computers are happy to work together including a desktop & wireless IPAQ PDA, but unfortumatley the Atom just doesn't want to play together!
Any of you gurus have any suggestions. The Atom help desk proclaimed they hadn't heard of this problem!
Thks, Chris
Max #of DHCP users or Defined MAC adresses might be helpful in router settings :?:
What happens if you connect the Laptop to the router by cable? is the Atom then able to connect?
check the settings in your wireless connection for the modem, you will probably find it is restricted to one connection at a time, if your laptop is on but you disconnect the wireless access can you then connect your atom if yes this is the problem.
Cheers
Many thanks to you all for your replies.
The number of connections doesn't seem to be a problem as I tested with a desktop wth ethernet connection, two wireless connected devices (a desktop and a wirelss ipaq pda) plus the laptop via ethernet and the Atom connected ok.
The problem seems only related to the laptop internal wireless as I have now changed the laptop to use only an extemal wireless card and now the Atom always connects ok.
All other wireless devices are happy to connect while the laptop internal wireless is used.... BUT not the Atom.
Has been very frustrating and time wasting - just to identify the source of the problem. As to a fix... if you have any further thoughts or suggestions I'd look forward to hearing from you.
thanks Chris

hotel room without wireless

Anyone know how to convert CAT5 Cable to wireless in the Hotel room. I love to bring my PDA with me , when I travel. But, I found a problem to using the internet in most of the hotel.
Problem: Most hotels only have CAT5 network , when you plugin your notebook computer, you have to go to the login page to login. But when you using PDA(wireless). The question is how to use the internet?. If you bring a wireless rounter with you. When you plugin . how to make it found the hotel login page on your PDA?
Easiest method is to buy a Wireless bridge. Linksys sells these. Its a device that will tern an Ethernet Cable into a wireless signal.
I travel a great deal and although there are a great number of ways to deal with this issue...this is how I get around it.
I bought one of the little Dlink pocket routers like this one for a great price (less than $30). What you can do with this product (and others I'm sure...) is clone the MAC address of your laptop's ethernet port. Basically...it'd work like this...
1.) Plug your laptop into the hotel network.
2.) Jump through their proxy hoops to get out onto the net.
3.) Unplug the cable from the hotel network and into the pocket router.
4.) From the router's config pages...set the NIC to clone your laptop's MAC address.
5.) Plug the hotel network into the pocket router WAN port.
Badda bing! You're sharing their network wirelessly...doesn't take a lot of time at all. I've really enjoyed the Dlink one I got...small...flexible...and it comes with a nice travel case. Linksys (or Cisco now), Apple, and others all make similar products and some of them have the benefit of not needing a power adapter and just plugging straight into the wall outlet (a big benefit IMHO), but I can't speak for exactly what kind of functionality they provide versus the Dlink product as I've never used them.
By the way...a bridge will not help you do what you want...you need at least an AP...but if you get one of the devices like I mentioned...you get the added benefit of a NAT firewall between your device and the hotel LAN (which can be a very good thing by the way).
I can't see why you can't just plug in a standard access point via the WANport. Set the internet connection to Automatic DHCP.
Then the first time you access the net it will be ready for logging in.
eangulus said:
I can't see why you can't just plug in a standard access point via the WANport. Set the internet connection to Automatic DHCP.
Then the first time you access the net it will be ready for logging in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because many hotels control access to their internet connections by utilizing various methods but most often by controlling access via MAC addresses. Think filtering a wireless connection by only allowing certain MAC addresses... Now...if an AP allowed MAC address spoofing...then I certainly don't see why just an AP wouldn't work just as well (other than the fact that you don't get the benefits of a router).
By the way...this topic is certainly not Hermes specific and should likely be moved to a more appropriate forum.
One note should be made.... If the hotel is using NAT to assign IP addresss, and you use a second NAT with your router... you may not be able to use various VPN clients. Double NAT'ing doesn't work for many IPSEC VPN clients. i.e. AT&T NetClient
A number of switch vendors offer the ability to limit each port on their switch to allow traffic to one MAC address per port. A bridge would show multiple MAC addresses and typically when the switch sees that, the port is automatically shut down. This is done in many cases where there is a $10-15 a day charge for internet access and the hotel doesn't want you setting up an AP to share the cost with your travel mates. Thus they limit to one MAC address per port. The router solution would show up with only one MAC address... but you then have the double NAT issue in some cases. If you are not using a VPN, that may not be a problem.
Just some additional data points to consider.
I love the linksys travel router - more expensive then their mini router (about the same size) except for 2 things that are key for me. First, it's powersupply is embedded and 110-220v and 2 - it let's you connect it to a hotel wireless hotspot and then share that hotspot over wifi. This is great - it means that 4 people with rooms next to each other can share the fee of the hotspot and share it. It also means I can share that same hotspot with my phone! The only downside on this one over the mini router is it only has one wired out jack but that's no big deal for me!
Note that plugging a router into a network jack when the site in question is set up to use DHCP can cause some havoc on the network. I doubt many hotels are savvy enough to start hunting around for rogue routers when people in the hotel can no longer get IP addresses, but bear in mind that it's always a possibility. It's probably not a good idea to leave something like this plugged into the network longer than necessary.
Also note that whenever I've encountered a location where the establishment requires you to log into a web page in order to access anything, I've had no problem doing that from the Hermes.
Doom Tints said:
Note that plugging a router into a network jack when the site in question is set up to use DHCP can cause some havoc on the network. I doubt many hotels are savvy enough to start hunting around for rogue routers when people in the hotel can no longer get IP addresses, but bear in mind that it's always a possibility. It's probably not a good idea to leave something like this plugged into the network longer than necessary.
Also note that whenever I've encountered a location where the establishment requires you to log into a web page in order to access anything, I've had no problem doing that from the Hermes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one I mentioned only asigns an IP to people on it's end and not outside - it even uses it's own IP range. It is designed to be transparent to the existing network.
Yes, I know. However, depending upon the network setup, this can still cause problems.
For example, some versions of Symantec's 'On Command/CCM' (a suite for pushing software updates to computers automatically when they are booted on the network) can communicate with some routers in such a way to where the router thinks it needs to try to provide one of its IP addresses to the network. This invariably ends up having a computer in some random place on the network ending up with a 192.168.x.x IP. When an admin sees this, he/she knows that there is a rogue router on the network.
Alot of work... as you know these hotel internet connections are controlled. If you're posting here use that 3g or even edge instead of giving the hotel your credit card to have a field test (is that a ppc program?) or field day with.
Doom Tints said:
Yes, I know. However, depending upon the network setup, this can still cause problems.
For example, some versions of Symantec's 'On Command/CCM' (a suite for pushing software updates to computers automatically when they are booted on the network) can communicate with some routers in such a way to where the router thinks it needs to try to provide one of its IP addresses to the network. This invariably ends up having a computer in some random place on the network ending up with a 192.168.x.x IP. When an admin sees this, he/she knows that there is a rogue router on the network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I doubt this will happen in most hotel networks and aside from that - I doubt that there is hardly ever a network admin on hand 99.9% of the time
The Linksys Travel Router is the product I'd highly recommend as I've been using it around the world for some years now.
It has a hardware switch that let's you control its functionality. In one position, the Wired Ethernet is simply converted to Wi-Fi and once you connect, you still get the IP from the hotel's DHCP server. If you need to share the connection with more systems (such as your laptop and your phone or with some colleagues in adjacent rooms), you just switch to another mode after logging in to the hotel's network and the Linksys becomes a NAT router and gives you a private IP.
It also comes with a nice travel case...
SayMobile said:
The Linksys Travel Router is the product I'd highly recommend as I've been using it around the world for some years now.
It has a hardware switch that let's you control its functionality. In one position, the Wired Ethernet is simply converted to Wi-Fi and once you connect, you still get the IP from the hotel's DHCP server. If you need to share the connection with more systems (such as your laptop and your phone or with some colleagues in adjacent rooms), you just switch to another mode after logging in to the hotel's network and the Linksys becomes a NAT router and gives you a private IP.
It also comes with a nice travel case...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the device I've been talking about - the only thing I add to the kit is a european outlet adapter (which fits nicely inside the coiled ethernet cable included

Can't connect to my home wireless connection!

Hello,
First, its not that the router have problems, because I can connect an iphone and 2 other pc through wireless!
On wi-fi connection settings I can see the wireless connection. But when I try to connect to it, it stays "connecting" and then it fails and automatically become Unavailable!!
Any idea how to fix this problem?
router: Level One WBR-6001
I have exactly the same problem. Well try to work this out. I have two broadband lines in my home. One broadband line has a Zoom Router on it. The other Broadland line has a Dlink Router. My P3600 (WM6.1) can connect via Wifi to the Dlink router no problems with any Encryption. However, when I ever try connecting to the Zoom router I can see the wireless connection. But when I try to connect to it, it stays "connecting" and then it fails and automatically become Unavailable. I even can access unsecured networks up to 500 yards in my street. Anyhow I contact HTC support and they are one of the worst customer support group i have ever come across. They takes ages to respond to e-mails and offer stupid solutions that do not work. They Are as much good as a fireguard in a chocolate factory. So I contacted Zoom Support that do not what is causing the problem but at least they are in investgating the issue unlike HTC who seem not to be interested. My money is on the router.
Confirmed from HTC the problem was my router. I got new one a 3com router started working right away.
I had a 3com before this one and it worked well with my phone.
but i had to change it cuz it got broken

Tether to Router?

So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Chopstix9 said:
So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or you could get a wireless adapter for your Desktop. That's what I did. Now I can stream Amazon Prime on my Xbox 360, and PC game at the same time.This is what I have and works like a charm.
Good luck.
Oh my desktop is already wireless enabled, that's not an issue... Been running the house off the phones for a couple years... Just gave up a little bit when I got rid of cable interet. Whole house networking to other computers in the house, had to plug the wireless printer back into the desktop, it's no longer a network printer, etc.... was just toying with the idea and wondering if it would work is all.
Actually, in looking at the micro usb - rj45 adapters, I don't think it will work. Those are actually ethernet adapters, like adding a network card to a slot on a pc. Made for taking a net signal FROM a network, not sending one TO it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you just get a compatible wireless dongle (Something you would use for sniffing/injecting packets) and use it as an access point so you can broadcast the signal throughout the house?
Another thing you can do is pick up a router that you can install Tomato or DD-WRT on and use it as a wireless client bridge. It would connect to your phone, and again, broadcast that signal through the house.
Chopstix9 said:
So I can use my standard USB cable and tether to the laptop and have net connection on lappy. Same with desktop. USB tether works just the same as wifi tether. What about getting a micro USB to RJ45 (ethernet) cable and tethering to the internet in jack on my router. Would that put the net signal on the router like a modem would?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DJNads said:
Another thing you can do is pick up a router that you can install Tomato or DD-WRT on and use it as a wireless client bridge. It would connect to your phone, and again, broadcast that signal through the house.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Assuming the phone would even operate in this manner (I've never tried but sounds like a great idea!), you'd need a router that is capable of operating in bridged mode/wireless bridge/access point mode (may be labeled as either of them). You'd then have to configure the router to said bridged mode. An easier route (and possibly more expensive) would be to purchase just an access point.
MrHyde03 said:
Correct. Assuming the phone would even operate in this manner (I've never tried but sounds like a great idea!), you'd need a router that is capable of operating in bridged mode/wireless bridge/access point mode (may be labeled as either of them). You'd then have to configure the router to said bridged mode. An easier route (and possibly more expensive) would be to purchase just an access point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may have an old WAP in my junk closet. A router that can bridge may work but first thing I think I would need is a router or WAP that has a USB connection on it.... I'm looking to plug the phone into the router to provide the internet signal instead of a cable/dsl modem, creating a typical LAN ... I can still use the LAN in-house sans the net connection. Just a pain to disconnect from one network (phone hotspot) and connect to another (netless LAN) for file transfers network printing etc ...
Chopstix9 said:
I may have an old WAP in my junk closet. A router that can bridge may work but first thing I think I would need is a router or WAP that has a USB connection on it.... I'm looking to plug the phone into the router to provide the internet signal instead of a cable/dsl modem, creating a typical LAN ... I can still use the LAN in-house sans the net connection. Just a pain to disconnect from one network (phone hotspot) and connect to another (netless LAN) for file transfers network printing etc ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't need to physically connect your phone to the router at all. Depending on what router you get, it should be able to pick up the wireless signal from your phone's hotspot and rebroadcast it as its own network.
Edit: And honestly, I'm not sure connecting the phone via usb to the router would even share the connection. That router doesn't have the drivers needed for that to work.
To the OP, off topic question but what did you have to do to activate wi fi tether? your sig, tells me that your on stock and can still do it, yes? thanks!
Side note, it's been awhile but when I moved into my apartment I had no internet for a few days.
I did the USB wired tether to a laptop, then the laptop I think I enabled ICS/internet connection sharing and then connected with rj45 to a router, and it shared that as the WAN connection.
motrinHD said:
To the OP, off topic question but what did you have to do to activate wi fi tether? your sig, tells me that your on stock and can still do it, yes? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What part of my sig tells you I am on stock?
I've done both these things. I've taken my cell and flashed a router with dd-wrt and set it up as a repeater bridge but that means that only the computers near that router gets internet, unless your house is wired for ethernet (or using wireless). My current setup is having the phone tethered to a computer running Zentyal linux. This is a cool distro that can replace a 2008 Small business server in a work environment but it does the trick for my router at home. I had it running on an old P4 and recently graduated to a Zotac Zbox Mini ID41 which is tucked away behind my TV. I set up the computer to hand out dhcp and be the router and gateway. When i plug in my cell in tethering mode, zentyal recognizes it and i set that USB device as external WAN. It usually takes some getting used to and about a minute to normalize after the phone is unplugged and taken on the road. This has worked for me so far but when i'm at work, no internet at home. I'm currently attempting to talk my workplace into letting me subsidize a Verizon Jetpack i can leave home which will do the same job.
As a side note, i live in rural WI and we only have Satellite internet as a choice, which really stinks as both carriers have a bandwidth cap which we were constantly hitting two weeks into the billing cycle. They then throttle you down to less than a meg until your billing cycle renews.
We RV all summer most years and I use WiFiRanger gear to network our 5th wheel. That way we can grab a WiFi AP if one is available and the credentials are known or I HotSpot my phone and the Router grabs the phone's WiFi AP and we are good to go.
If you are stationary and only intend to use the phone's HotSpot as a WiFi AP then WiFiRanger's GO2 should do the trick. They are currently working on a firmware upgrade that will allow some great bandwidth monitoring and device usage controls. Their price is comparable to most full featured routers being offered but not cheap.
I am a satisfied user and Beta tester of their equipment, not an employee or representative. We use several of their offerings to maximize our capabilities on the road.

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