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ranjit · #1 Post by **ranjit** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:20 am

Hi All,

Why do downloads get terminated intermittently when I am on wireless? Also, my speeds are very errrctic! I am running Zone Alarm Pro and Norton AntiVirus. Even when these programs are disabled, I get the same result. Please advice.

Cheers,
Ranjit

Leon · #2 Post by **Leon** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:34 am

Be careful you are not running BOTH Access Connections and having Windows manage your wireless or they will "fight".

ranjit · #3 Post by **ranjit** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:40 am

Hi Leon,

How do I disable one and use the other? I can currently see that IBM Access Connections is active. How can I tell if Windows is also active?

Cheers,
Ranjit

JHEM · #4 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:45 am

Ranjit,

Set the MTU to 1492 on your router!

http://www.broadbandreports.com/

Regards,

James

Leon · #5 Post by **Leon** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:51 am

Click your "Wireless Network Connection" in the taskbar.
Properties>Wireless Networks, and make sure "Use Windows to Manage My Wireless Connections"is NOT checked.

ranjit · #6 Post by **ranjit** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:59 am

Hi James and Leon,

Thank you for your speedy responses!

Yes, 'Use Windows to configure my wireless settings' is disabled.

My router has the following message regarding MTU:

Select Disable toturn off MTU. Select Enable to manually set the MTU size.Enter an appropriate size; check with your ISP for more infromation. Manually setting the MTU is not required by all ISPs

Currently, my MTU is disabled, should I now enable and set it to 1492 or should I get more information from my ISP?

Cheers,
Ranjit

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:00 am

set it

ranjit · #8 Post by **ranjit** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:17 am

Completely screwed up my download speeds! When I enabled MTU at 1492 on my router, the wireless connection was even more erractic. Please help!!

Cheers,
Ranjit

#9 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:36 am

Please tell us what:
1. ThinkPad / Model
2. Operating System and version level / service pack
3. Wireless NIC
4. Wireless NIC Driver version
5. Router make/model
6. Router firmware level

The behaviour you described happened to me with an Intel 2100 wireless NIC. At that time, the only solution was to trash it and purchase an IBM 11/a/b/g card. I understand there may be new drivers for the Intel 2100. It never was my router (Netopia Cayman Wireless).

... JD Hurst

ranjit · #10 Post by **ranjit** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:48 am

Hi James,

Here are the details...

Laptop: IBM ThinkPad T42 (new)
Model #: 2373-NUA
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
Wireless: Built-in wireless... INTEL(R) Pro/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter
Router: Linksys (Model BEFW11S4)
Router Firmware: 1.50.10

Please Help! If you need more information, please let me know.

Cheers,
Ranjit

#11 Post by **jdhurst** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:50 pm

ranjit - That is precisely the wireless NIC I threw away for precisely the symptoms you are getting. There are supposed to be very new drivers out from IBM for that card. Uninstall Access Connections, uninstall the NIC, install newest NIC drivers, restart and install newest version of Access Connections. See if that helps. Also check the LinkSys site to see if newer firmware exists. Good luck, ... JD Hurst

rocky01 · #12 Post by **rocky01** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:41 pm

do you have the latest firmware for your router? sounds like the kinds of issues that new firmware is released to fix.

after you follow those good suggestions for reinstalling the software/drivers, if you still have issues, start with some simple, handy tools that allow one to recover from bad wi-fi connectivity.

go to start button and select run and at the prompt type:

cmd

and at the prompt again type:

ipconfig /flushdns

and hit enter; next:

also try to reset the tcpip stack (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357 for discussion):

go to start/run/cmd again and type:

netsh dump

and hit enter button, afterwards again type:

exit

and hit enter again; then reboot.

************************************************************

after you try that visit http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/ and on that page it instructs on how to change your RWIN value, the single most important change to XP to improve bandwidth, MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN MTU although 1500 (1492) MTU is desireable.

************************************************************

As to WinXP's MS Wireless Zero Config, make sure you have IEEE 802.1x authentication checkbox **disabled** under your Wireless Network Connection's Properties Tab, it's on the tab where you "determine the order of prefered networks", it's called "authentication" -- you can access by right clicking your wireless icon in the taskbar and then selecting the option of "changing order of preferred networks" and then right clicking the designated wireless network name (most likely the ssid name that you made in your router's software) .

This arcane little feature makes your wireless connection intermittent (even disabled) as it seeks to engage each time your connections are surveyed and/or IP address is renewed by XP.

JHEM · #13 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:45 pm

rocky01 wrote:************************************************************

after you try that visit http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/ and on that page it instructs on how to change your RWIN value, the single most important change to XP to improve bandwidth, MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN MTU although 1500 (1492) MTU is desireable.

************************************************************

I've never had an RWIN problem with XP, it always appears to be in the "acceptable" range on new installs.

Regards,

James

rocky01 · #14 Post by **rocky01** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:09 pm

agreed james, with a solid dsl connection i get good results but before isp checked line and installed external splitter, my bandwith was a tiny fraction of rated speed -- before i changed RWIN. after that change to RWIN i had two-thirds of rated speed. however the splitter did the most as far as bandwidth -- i actually exceed advertised speeds now. from what i've read there and elsewhere the further you are from telephone company and poorer your loopback test and/or higher your pings, (i.e. the worse your dsl service) the more those settings can help.

if you think it might help no harm in trying as it's reverseable -- you can also use the convenient Doctor TCP software on the same broadbandreports website you suggested in order to change RWIN, it's very easy to use:

http://www.dslreports.com/tools

JHEM · #15 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:18 pm

rocky01 wrote:if you think it might help no harm in trying as it's reverseable -- you can also use the convenient Doctor TCP software on the same broadbandreports website you suggested in order to change RWIN, it's very easy to use:

http://www.dslreports.com/tools

More good info from you Rocky, but I'd suggest running the TweaK Test first: http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks and ONLY run DrTCP if the results suggest it.

Regards,

James

ranjit · #16 Post by **ranjit** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 5:48 am

Hi James, Rocky01 and JDHurst,

Thank you guys for all your help.

OK, right now, I have updated Access Connections and the NIC with the latest software and drivers. I also updated the firmware of my Linksys router to the latest version. Additionally, I also have IEEE 802.1x disabled under the 'Authentication' tab.

Questions I have are as follows:

1. Is it absolutely necessary to go through 'ipconfig/flushdns'. reset the TCPIP stack and netsh dump? What are these options, and will it upset my configurations in anyway?
2. How do I set 'RWIN'? I am not able to fully understand the info at http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/? I guess it is just to complex for me at this moment!
3. Finally, how do I do a tweak test at http://www.dslreports.com/tweaks?
I can never seem to be able to display the results?

Thank you.

Cheers,
Ranjit

JHEM · #17 Post by **JHEM** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 12:55 pm

Ranjit,

1) No, this won't affect your configuration in any way, it's just a means to flush any prior bad settings from the TCP/IP stack and DNS register.

2) Use the DrTCP utility.

3) Make sure your firewall is turned OFF while you run the tests, then you'll be able to click on the "Results" button and get the next screen. Answer the questions as to type of connection, OS, etc. and click "recommend".

Report back.

Regards,

James

ranjit · #18 Post by **ranjit** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:56 am

Hi James

Thank you for your input.

More questions...

1. Is 'Start-->Run-->cmd-->netsh dump' the same as resetting the tcip stack?
2. Which version of DrTCP should I downlad and install?
3. Should the DrTCP software be downlaoded and installed in all lient PCs that are connected to the network?
4. After this, should I configure the router in anyway. I only see the MTU box in the router configuration pages.

Please advice and thank you.

Cheers,
Ranjit

rocky01 · #19 Post by **rocky01** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 8:11 am

1. No, it is a separate process but it is non-invasive and will not upset your network or OS. It can be helpful in situations like yours.

2. & 3. Install the latest version. If you see benefit on your host you can make clients share same setting with it. As suggested, read up on the tweak test pages where you download the software. The FAQs on the site are instructive. And I expect most of us are drawn kicking and screaming into increasing knowledge of setting up/managing networks. Ce La Vie.

4. If the MTU on router is set for 1500 (1492) you're good to go but confiirm things like SSID name is in agreement on network as well as WPA-PSK or WEP settings. The manual for router can be cryptic but read all the parts that don't even seem to apply to your setup, at your leisure. For instance even after my router is reset by unplugging I can sometimes go into the status page and find that the PPOE is reading *not connected*. I have to click *connect* and then possibly reset again to get wired and wireless access points to sync on.

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