Ethernet Port Unplugged Problem

[ranjit]

Hi All,

I am using a ThinPad T42 laptop running on Windows XP Professional version 2002 SP3. I also have installed sucessfully the Access Connections (v5.30), the Intel(R) Pro/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter (v1.2.4.41), and the Intel(R) Pro/1000 MT Mobile Connection Adapter (v8.10.3.0).

Lately, I am facing an intermittent connection/disconnection problem with my home wireless network. The error message that I get when the connection is down is as follows:

"Ethernet port is unplugged" (Error code: 024)

When I looked up Network Connections, I notice that my Local Area Connection is disabled, and I have a new icon called Internet Connection which is also disabled. My other laptop that is running Vista is working fine without any disruptions. What is going on, my friends?

Cheers,
Ranjit

[sjthinkpader]

Other than a hardware failure with the 2100b card, are there any other 2.4Ghz device between the WiFi Access Point and the T42 such as a cordless phone? Are your neighbors using the same WiFi channel?

[ranjit]

Hi sjthinkpader,

Thank you for your message.

I do not think that the wireless adapter is defective as I am able to connect to the home network on an intermittent basis.

There is a cordless phone located near the wireless router and modem, and again I do not think there is much interference as other laptops running Vista and XP are working fine.

Some of my neighbors are on channel 11 and some on channel 6. My Channel is 11.

I have a feeling that this problem may be related to the Intel(R) Pro/1000 MT Mobile Connection adapter. It is showing as disabled, and when I try to enable it by right clicking and selecting 'enable', I see a messgae to say that the 'connection failed. What should the status of the Ethernet adapter be when connected to a wireless network?

Cheers,
Ranjit

[craigmontHunter]

I had problems with the 2100B card dropping connections, on channel 11, and I switched it down to 6 and it worked. You may not want to choose 6, but That solved most of the problems ($20 3 year old router - has some other problems) I have had this problem with a couple of diffrent routers in the higher channels, so set something in the middle (never tested lower channels)

Good luck

[mpcook]

You say you have a new icon called Internet Connection which is disabled. I have had similar issues, they were resolved by enabling Internet Connection. However, then I discovered that I can only get online with the one laptop when the other is online. This "Internet Connection" icon/function was new with SP3. I spent some time googling this, and unfortunately did not save it to give you details. But ultimately there was a new default Win function that was invoked with SP3 that I had to disable, I think this was ICS, you should google this and you will find the solution. Once I did the "fix", the "Internet Connection" icon disappeared, and so did my internet connection issues.

Mike

[sjthinkpader]

802.11b uses DSSS modulation but 11a, 11g, 11n use OFDM modulation. While you can set the WiFi access point (router) to serve both, you can imagine it will switch back and forth. Since you have a conflict with your neighbor, I suggest you change to use channel 3.

In the AP wireless setting, if the guard interval is set to "short", try changing it to "long". This will reduce your thru put but may improve signal quality.

The best location for a 2.4Ghz cordless phone basestation is at the opposite end of the house from your access point, long side. This way, each device has a mostly uninterrupted "view" of its basestation. For instance, in my house, the WiFi AP is in a spare bedroom and the phone basestation is in the kitchen. Just recently switched to 1.6Ghz DECT phones too.

[ranjit]

Hi craigmontHunter, Mike and sjthinkpader,

Thank you for your messages.

I have now changed the channel from 11 to 3 as suggested by sjthinkpader/craigmontHunter and the system is looking good so far. I have also rolled back the driver of the Intel(R) Pro/1000 MT Mobile Connection adapter from 8.10.3.0 to 7.2.17.0 and the adapter is now showing as 'Network cable unplugged' as opposed to 'Disabled' earlier. The 'Internet Connection' icon has also disappeared as a result of unticking the 'Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client' in Networking Services (Start-->Control Panel-->Add or Remove Programs-->Add/Remove Windows Components-->Networking Services-->Details-->Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client)

Regarding setting the 'guard interval' to long, I am not sure where to find this option in AP configuration. What I currently have is as follows:

Authentication Type: Auto
Basic Rate: Default
Transmission Rate: Auto
CTS Protection Mode:Disable
Frame Burst: Disable
Beacon Interval: 100
DTIM Interval: 1
Fragmentation Threshold: 2346
RTS Threshold 2347
AP Isolation: Off
Secure Easy Setup: Enable

By the way, I am using a Linksys WRT54G router with a Linksys AM300 modem both with the most up-to-date firmware.

Cheers,
Ranjit

[sjthinkpader]

If there are power saving settings on AP and client, use full power.

[ranjit]

Hi sjthinkpader,

I don't think I have a power setting option in my Linksys WRT54G router. The only option that I do see is the Power Management option for the Intel(R) Pro/Wireless 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter. It is currently set to default and it is based on the computer's power source. What should we do?

Cheers,
Ranjit

[mpcook]

Hi sjthinkpader,

I don't think I have a power setting option in my Linksys WRT54G router. The only option that I do see is the Power Management option for the Intel(R) Pro/Wireless 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter. It is currently set to default and it is based on the computer's power source. What should we do?

Cheers,
Ranjit

I agree with the prior post, change it from the default to full power.

Mike

[craigmontHunter]

The ethernet adapter will disable itself after a period of time (especially if a wifi connection is enabled) to save battery life. there should be a option in device manager to prevent the computer from turning it off. It being disabled never affected my wireless, but your mileage may very.

Jack