Linksys wireless problem

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 8:21 am

I'm having a problem with my Linksys wireless network. I connected a Linksys WAP11 to my DSL modem Router (3Com 812) and a Linksys WPC11 PC card to my notebook. All was working well for a few weeks, but recently it is taking up to 15 minutes for the two to connect when turned on. Once connected I have no problems. I've rechecked all connections and settings, they are the same as when I first set them up. I also have a desktop computer which is wired into the network, not that this matters. My notebook is a Toshiba Satellite running Windows Me, yeah I know, but what can I say, it came with it. I don't think it should take that long for a connection to be made. Any suggestions?

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 8:25 am

Need details before we can help.

WAP firmware version?
WAP using DHCP?
WEP enabled?
SSID broadcasting on?
Are you running the Linksys wireless utility?
Can you access WAP settings from it?
Can you ping the WAP?
Can you access WAP setup through http?

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 12:19 pm

Okay, here are my answers to your questions.

WAP firmware version? - 1.01f
WAP using DHCP? - DHCP served from 3Com 812 DSL Modem
WEP enabled? - Yes
SSID broadcasting on? - Yes
Are you running the Linksys wireless utility? - Yes
Can you access WAP settings from it? - I'm not sure how to access WAP settings from the Linksys wireless utility! If you mean does the Site Survey show an entry, then yes.
Can you ping the WAP? - Yes
Can you access WAP setup through http? - Yes, from wired desktop and notebook once connected.

WAP is setup as just 'access point', nothing fancy. The channel is 6 and WEP is enabled.

More info for you.
WPC11 Firmware 1.04.02.00

The WAP log showed that the system started at 7:44.37,
DHCP discover @ 7:44:42, 7:44:50, 7:45:07 & 7:45:40
DHCP request success @ 7:45:40
Wireless PC connected at 8:06:25

The notebook was turned on at 7:45, takes a couple of minutes to boot.

From the log this morning it took 20+ minutes before the notebook connected. As I said in my first post, it used to connect much quicker.

Thanks for your help.

Old Fart · Post by **Old Fart** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 3:11 pm

Call Linksys tech support, had the same problem with a customer's equipment when plugged directly into the network here at the office. They troubleshot me to the point where they said it was a bad wireless card and actually gave me an RMA to return it to them.

Cust bought a new wireless card, and everything is groovy now.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 4:40 pm

Thanks, I was afraid that might be the case. I'll give them a call.

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:14 pm

Sorry so long to reply.... just checked in. Hmmmm.... I think a call to their support may be on order too. Those times are incredible, especially the DHCP discovery times.

Just for kicks, have you tried setting a static IP for the card? I'm wondering if there may be an issue with it. Just set IP to something within whatever range your router uses, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and set DNS server to your gateway (router) IP address. See how it works. May be a problem with the 3com. I would also set the WAP11 static- no reason to ever set it to use dhcp.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 9:43 pm

Thanks, I'll implement these suggestions. I've shut down a few times and the system has reconnected right away.

I'm wondering if the PC card has a problem in that it needs to warm up for 15-20 minutes before connecting. I'll know better tomorrow morning.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 7:55 am

I set the WAP11 and WPC11 to static IPs as suggested. But, it still took about 12 minutes for the notebook to connect, much better than the 20 minutes before. Then again today could have just been a good day.

I'm still thinking that the card may have to warm up before it connects.

Another question for you concerning the WPC card. The configuration utility shows that the fragmentation and RTS/CTS thresholds as being set to 2432, with it labeled as disabled. This is what the setup defaulted to. Could these be part of the problem?

BTW, the status page of the WAP show no dropped packets, and my connection to the internet is as fast as it was when the notebook was wired to the LAN.

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 8:50 am

Just checked- my RTS threshold and fragmentation is also 2432. I don't understand what you meant by "disabled"? You mean it's grayed out, and you can't change it on the card property sheet?

Preamble mode- Long Tx Preamble

I'm also assuming you're in Infrastructure mode, not ad-hoc.

This sure does sound like a hardware issue- either card or WAP. Can you borrow another card from someone to try it out, process of elimination? I'm spoiled by having lots of extra "stuff"...

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 9:03 am

Under the labels for the thresholds there is the word disabled in parentheses.

Preamble is long, infrastructure, and security authentication type is AUTO. The transfer rate is also set to AUTO.

The card is new enough I should be able to exchange it.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:33 am

I emailed Linksys tech support. They sent back a document with some changes to settings. It didn't make any difference. It still takes 15-20 minutes for the laptop to connect. They asked me to disable WEP, set authentication to Open, change thresholds to 2034, beacon interval to 10-50, TX rate to 1-2 MBps.

I know what most of these terms mean except Beacon Interval. I don't want to leave my wireless net open that these suggestions provide. So, I'll play around with these to see what happens, but I'm still fairly sure that it's a warmup problem for the PC card. I say that because if I shut the laptop down and keep the WAP powered, it still takes a long time for the laptop to connect when it's powered after being off for an hour or so.

What should be a typical time interval from power up to connect?

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:38 am

Seconds, not minutes! Only on very slow older laptops have I ever seen it take longer than a few seconds, only 'cause it takes those old slow machines a long time to load all the Windows services, etc.

I agree- I would never let a system sit open, but maybe they want to see if there is another issue. They weren't suggesting you LEAVE it that way, were they??

BTW- just curious- what OS are you using? Do you have any friends with an 802.11b wireless setup that you bring your laptop to their place?

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 1:54 pm

Thanks for your time twwabw:

My notebook is running WinMe, I know don't flame, it came that way.

Tech support didn't say I should leave it that way, I assume it was just for troubleshooting. I've had the card for a little over 4 weeks now and it didn't show this problem for a couple of weeks. I don't know exactly when this problem started, it was probably a slowly progressing problem until I noticed it. I'd turn the system on in the morning and then go eat breakfast or do something else while the notebook booted. I'm waiting on a reply from the latest email to tech support. Then I may try to do an exchange where I bought it. If that fails, I'll RMA an exchange with Linksys.

If I shutdown and then restart the notebook almost immediately it connects quickly. More evidence of a warmup problem?

I don't know of anyone with 802.11b that I could try it with. Maybe I could drive around town to see if it can detect another system.

Another piece of info for you. When I turn the notebook on, I can get a listing in the Site Survey tab of the WAP. I select it and then say connect. It then takes minutes to do it. If there is only one site listed I shouldn't have to do that should I? BTW, it still took minutes to connect with note book in the same room as the WAP.

Anyway, for my edification. What is the beacon interval and what is DTIM?

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 3:16 pm

I just exchanged the WPC11 card and all seems to be working. As soon as I entered my network SSID it connected to the WAP.

So we'll see if the problem with the other card comes back.

BTW, when I removed the first card it was quite warm to the touch, is this normal?

Old Fart · Post by **Old Fart** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 3:22 pm

Glad you got it resolved. Yes and no to the heat question, depending on the configuration of the layout of the machine, if it was anywhere near the processor or battery compartment, it may well get quite warm.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 5:47 pm

Could this heat cause the performance problem? In other words, will this new card start acting the same as the other one? My emails to tech support were answered in a timely manner, but they didn't even mention that it could be a warmup problem. I just took the chance and exchanged it.

I was outside the 30 day period, but they exchanged anyway. Great place to do business and their prices are reasonable. They aren't a chain, just a locally owned electronics/computer store.

And, for my information: what is the beacon interval and DTIM?

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Thu Dec 19, 2002 5:49 pm

Originally posted by Old Fart
Yes and no to the heat question, depending on the configuration of the layout of the machine, if it was anywhere near the processor or battery compartment, it may well get quite warm.

Yep- big difference depending on laptops. My Dell is cool as a cucmber when I pull it out. But last week, I set one up on a HP with an AMD processor, and you could barely touch it when you pulled it out.

dsl-jds · Post by **dsl-jds** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 6:42 pm

An update for anyone who might be interested.

The new card is also quite warm to the touch but it isn't showing any of the problems I had before. Knock on wooden head.

It connects as soon as the notebook boots. Much better than waiting 20 monutes.

SG Broadband Community

Linksys wireless problem

Linksys wireless problem

The jury is still out!

Update

Update!

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