wireless comes and goes

Message

fjs08 · #1 Post by **fjs08** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:59 am

Ok, now this is becoming a real pain. The wireless drops off to the point I have to yank the router power cord 2-3x/day. And now it's starting to happen at home too??
What's with this?????
How can I correct it. At first I thought it was the router, but my office associate who uses a iBook from Apple never has problems.

Frank

mdarnton · #2 Post by **mdarnton** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:46 am

Have you got all the latest drivers, etc.?

Roy_W · #3 Post by **Roy_W** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 9:16 am

Do you use IBM Access Connections - If yes which version, you must avoid version 3.20, install 3.21 if you require Access Connections.

Is Windows Wireless Zero Config switch on or off. If you use Access Connections it must be switched off.

Do you have the Update Patch "Microsoft Windows XP (KB826942)", installed, if so, remove it then rerun some tests.

[ I made the assumption that you have XP installed].

#4 Post by **carbon_unit** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:22 pm

What brand of routers do you have?
Have you flashed the firmware on the routers?

T23_Owner · #5 Post by **T23_Owner** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 9:26 pm

I am going to solve this once and for all for I have NEVER seen an explanation for this. Its wirless G traffic. No matter what router you use it will still do that. Its because the G band is too polluted now. There are too many people with cordless phones and routers that all use the G band as well as microwave ovens etc. Switch back to B band. I did and I am sane for it. I returned 3 routers all different brands because of this problem. I switched my G linkys router to B only and it is fixed. You see all my neighbors use G and people arent using B that much anymore so B is a clean signal. Your cable modem doesn't send more than 10mb of data anyway so it is really no speed improvement to go to G for surfing. I had an apple airport basestation for 4 yrs and it never once lost a connection. It is B band. I decided to upgrade because I am a tech junky and it drove me insane. Now I am just keeping my linksys G router but have switched it to B and it has not lost a connection yet. G sucks thats all there is too it. When wirless Z comes out everyone in the industry will be saying how it is sooo much better than G because of lost connections and polluted airways. I maded up the wireless Z by the way but it will happen.

Sitck with B. Cheaper, cleaner, less headaches.

XCoalMiner · #6 Post by **XCoalMiner** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 10:14 pm

One remote possibility, IBM has a nice write up on their support site named
Troubleshooting wireless networking issues - ThinkPad. Maybe look over that, and see if anything stands out.

Kenn · #7 Post by **Kenn** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 12:00 am

My old HP laptop was rock solid in the wireless department. I got 3 T42 thinkpads with Intel 2200BGs, and they all exhibited this weird drop/freeze problem, forcing me to reboot and pull the AC out of the router to fix.

Now, everything is working FLAWLESSLY. I followed the suggestion of someone on this forum and disabled Windows' control of the Wireless Config setup. Apparently, it's conflicting with IBM Access Connections, and that was causing all of my problems.

1. Go to the start menu, and select "run"
2. In the run window, type "services.msc" without the quotes
3. At the bottom of the list is "Wireless Zero Configuration. Double click it.
4. Stop the service. Then set "Startup Type" to "Disabled."
5. Reboot.

Granted, I turn the wireless on and off much less frequently than with my old laptop, because I'm a little paranoid that the problem will pop up again. But it hasn't, and I've been fiddling with Access Connections using different wired and wireless profiles and switching APs on and off for the past few weeks. So far, no drops, no crashes, no freezes! Fingers crossed...

fjs08 · #8 Post by **fjs08** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:49 am

HI,

>>Have you got all the latest drivers, etc.? <<

For what--seriously?? How would I know?? The t40 isn't that old, and I'm using the same routers both at home and at the office I always have. Both are Linksys. In addition, at home, my wife is using a Dell with a Linksys PC wireless card which is on the same set up as my TP and she never loses a connection and my associate at the office uses an Apple and never loses his. And this never happened the first couple of months I had the T40.

>>Do you use IBM Access Connections - If yes which version, you must avoid version 3.20, install 3.21 if you require Access Connections. <<

I use the Access IBM button every once in a while and I do get messages to download IBM updates. Is that what you mean?? And how can I tell what version I have.

>>Is Windows Wireless Zero Config switch on or off. If you use Access Connections it must be switched off. <<

I see another note telling me how to do this. I'll check it out.

>>Do you have the Update Patch "Microsoft Windows XP (KB826942)", installed, if so, remove it then rerun some tests. <<

I have Microsoft notify me when there are updates, and I've installed all of them.

>>[ I made the assumption that you have XP installed].<<

Yep. XP Pro.
_________________
>>What brand of routers do you have? <<

Linksys. All "B" series, not G.

>>Have you flashed the firmware <<

You really don't want me to answer this do you???<bg>

>>Its wirless G traffic. No matter what router you use it will still do that. <<

Could be. It never happened before, and it happens more at the office than at home. I'm going to our condo in St. Petes where I have the same setup, including a Linksys router. I'll see if I get the same problem there.

>>One remote possibility, IBM has a nice write up on their support site <<

I'll look at this too.
>>My old HP laptop was rock solid in the wireless department. I got 3 T42 thinkpads with Intel 2200BGs, and they all exhibited this weird drop/freeze problem, forcing me to reboot and pull the AC out of the router to fix. <<

My Dell never did this, and my wife is still using it, and she doesn't have any problems, and yes I need to pull the AC out of the router to fix--for a while! I've not had to reboot-yet.

>> I followed the suggestion of someone on this forum and disabled Windows' control of the Wireless Config setup. Apparently, it's conflicting with IBM Access Connections, and that was causing all of my problems. <<

I'll do it immediately and let you know.

Thanks to everyone.

Frank

Logi7 · #9 Post by **Logi7** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 1:43 pm

my wireless is doing tis as well

when using IBM acress connections iltll connect - adn then 2 seconds later disconnect
and itll keep on doing this forever

im using v 3.2 of acess connections

ive even formatted and fresh installed the software (off the ibm sit e- to get any updates) and its still doing it...

my other ocmputers connect fine...

its usinf WEP 128 bit key

Roy_W · #10 Post by **Roy_W** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 3:27 pm

Logi7,

Have you tried uninstallling IBM Access Connections and using only XP to connect.

Are all your other machines using IBM Access Connections.

Is your router limited to a certain number of concurent connections.

Have you been successful with other Wifi routeurs.

Are you using A, B or G , are all your machines using the same band.

Logi7 · #11 Post by **Logi7** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 3:37 pm

i left my computer there for 2 hours and when i came back it was working

haha i haev no idea what happened

but loosk liek its working now

are there any 3rd party wifi connection managers that i can use?
I really dont like the IBM one, its really bloated...

Roy_W · #12 Post by **Roy_W** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 3:50 pm

I initially used IBM Connections and I agree its overly bloated, I dont like those little popup windows in the system tray or the number of extra services required.

I have since returned to using XP's built in version. It doesn't do anything wonderfull but it does work. From time to time you have to ask it to search for the network after swapping betwen wired and wireless. This happens whenever I leave the office ( wired network) at lunchtime and return home ( Wireless network) because I put the Tp into standby whilst travelling the short distance.

On the whole though I find that it works well.

jsmit86 · #13 Post by **jsmit86** » Sun Aug 08, 2004 4:21 pm

1. Try a few different channels, and see what happens. Often interference is the cause of flakey connections.

2. Speaking of flakey connections.... Simply Upgrade to the latest version of IBM access connections software, install it, and the make sure the WinXP Wirelss Zero Congfig utility service is stopped and disabled!

Before I did these things, I had exactly the same symptoms you have. After these tweaks, totally smooth sailing! Very Happy

fjs08 · #14 Post by **fjs08** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:19 am

I tried shutting down the WIndows Wireless Zero Config (WWZC)and everything shut down. This am, I couldn't get any wireless to work. Did work immediately upon plugging it in. So I shut down the WWZC, restarted the notebook, then restarted WWZC and I got a connection.

I may look at uninstalling the IBM Access Connections. Is that done via XP's Control Panel Add/Remove Software??

It's strange that this doesn't occur at home, or even at Panera's, but only at the office.

Frank

Logi7 · #15 Post by **Logi7** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:08 am

Ive since, also reverted back to window's wireless manager

all the IBM software thast been running has relly started to piss me off
ive formatted and the only ibm software im running is the battery maximizer - which id happily uninstall if i could find an alternative (anyody knwo of one?

)

rhema83 · #16 Post by **rhema83** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:13 am

I have no problem with using Windows XP wireless config. I could make a home adhoc network with a Windows 2000 Pro computer. Everything is great.

T23_Owner · #17 Post by **T23_Owner** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:44 pm

If your neighbor has a wireless G router you will lose connection. If your neighbor uses his microwave, you will lose connection, if your neighbor has a cordless phone on 2.4ghz band you will lose connection. Its a fact.

This is the reason it works some places but not others.

teleplex · #18 Post by **teleplex** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 7:32 am

Use channel 1 to avoid interference from a microwave. Tests were done and the lower channels experience less interference. Channel 11 is the worst and most any 2.4GHZ device will disrupt your connection.

wireless comes and goes

wireless comes and goes

Who is online