Re: wireless regular loses connectivity

On Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:27:12 -0400, Chris F Clark
<cfc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
<sddhcsp3y8v.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

I would like some suggestions on tracking down/debugging the following
problem. Thanks.

I have the following setup.

In the "office" (on 2nd floor):
A cable modem that talks to Charter Communications.
A linksys WRT54G router.
Four machines that are plugged directly into the wired ports
of the router:
1 is a desktop
3 are thinkpad laptops in docking stations,
that also have builtin wireless cards
(the wireless cards are probably all turned on)

In various rooms on the first floor,
I have the following items all wireless:
Two Tivos using Tivo wireless adapters (a series 2, and a humax)
another laptop (a Dell with a pcmcia wireless adapter)
and occassionally one of the thinkpads from the office
is also wireless downstairs

I also have about 5 or 6 neighbors that also have wireless setups
(although only two of them get even "two bars" (I don't know nor
specifically care what units those bars are displayed in) worth of
signal strength and both those are secured as mine is, so I assume
that we haven't picked the same channel as except during the problem
times I get reasonable throughput).

Make sure your own SSID is _unique_ (different from anyone else in the
world, especially your neighbors).

Also, I have some 2.4 Ghz phones, although they are not in use at the
times I encounter the problem.

They may nonetheless cause problems! Likewise the many other sources of
2.4 GHz interference (e.g., microwave ovens).

The setup mostly works ok, except that sometimes on regular intervals
the wireless connection gets lost. That is, on some days, but not
everyday (or not necessarily even once every week, although generally
at least once per week), I get into a situation where the wireless
connection seems to work for some period then lose connectivity, and
then work again for a similar period, and lose connectivity. I've not
timed the intervals, but they could be as short as 1 minute at a time,
but 5 minute intervals seem more likely. The intervals may not be the
same each time either, and sometimes it seems worse than others.

What are the _exact_ symptoms? Does the icon in the System Tray change?
I have no idea what you mean by "gets lost" and "lose connectivity".

Note that I'm not absolutely certain that it is the wireless that is
losing connectivity. The symptom I'm certain that occurs, is that my
RDP connection via VPN over the internet to my desktop at work loses
connectivity. It is generally not bad enough that I completely lose
the circuit, but it does "hang up" such that I lose typing (and
redisplay) and have to minimize the session and then restore it (and
the icon that shows the connection is lost flashes during that time).

Most of the connectivity outages are relatively short, say 15-30
seconds, just long enough to interrupt my typing. Aside from this
loss of connectivity, the network seems to be fine, e.g. I can get
moderate sized files (unless the file size causes the download to
cross the loss of connectivity) off the internet without delay at
comparable rates to lan transfers at work.

Sounds like weak signal and/or interference. You may need better
(directional) antennas -- wireless signals have trouble penetrating
walls, floors and ceilings.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>
.

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