Great signal, but windows won't attempt to connect, why?

beckerexl · 11-30-2004

Hey all you stumblers out there...i got a situation, maybe someone knows why its happening?

Dependong on where I am standing in my house, windows will either decide to try and connect or just keep it on the wireless connections list with an "Automatic" label next to it...as well as 3 green bars. I could have 1 or two bars and windows will attempt to connect, but other times I might have 3 or 4 bars and it will just sit on the list and not try to acquire an IP like it should. So my question is what makes windows decide to try and acquire an IP (if its set for automatic connection or manually executed)...because it seems like the signal strength doesn't make much of a difference?

(BTW I'm running Windows XP sp2 with an intel 2200BG internal wireless, however I experience alot of the same problem with my orinoco gold)

Your wirless expertise is greatly appreciated!

RedSector · 11-30-2004

I have had this problem from time to time since SP2 put that stupid eyecandy interface to the Wireless Zero Config. I think it just goes out and gets drunk. Anyway, you want to make sure it is set to automatic (which it appears you have), and then at the bottom of the window there should be a button that says connect. Try clicking that. Note: After you do that it may think you are aquiring an ip even though you have one. If you still are not getting an ip, there might be somthing on the router like MAC filtering that is preventing you from obtaining an ip. Thats what works for me.

beckerexl · 11-30-2004

yea I've tried it all...and like i said, it WILL connect if I am in the right location of a room, and I know mac filtering is deffinetly off. It seems to be a straight up windows xp bug

Thorn · 11-30-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by beckerexl

yea I've tried it all...and like i said, it WILL connect if I am in the right location of a room, and I know mac filtering is deffinetly off. It seems to be a straight up windows xp bug

If it was doing it in random locations, I'd say it's an XP bug, but if it's tied to the location that much, it probably has to do with the signal, although it probably is the signal clarity rather strength. You can have a very high signal, and still have little or no throughput due to interference.

The locations where it doesn't connect probably have a higher noise level or have some other form of interference.

Metaboe · 12-01-2004

other 2,4 ghz transmitters in the same room ?

example : a 2.4 ghz IR-Radar detector

http://www.wardrivers.be/files/Petzl/radar/dd455s1.jpg

or a 2.4 ghz video transmitter ?

streaker69 · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metaboe

other 2,4 ghz transmitters in the same room ?

example : a 2.4 ghz IR-Radar detector

http://www.wardrivers.be/files/Petzl/radar/dd455s1.jpg

or a 2.4 ghz video transmitter ?

Also big problem is 2.4ghz cordless phones. Is your Microwave oven between you and your access point? Does your neighbor have a cordless phone nearby. Are aliens hovering over your home? Could be black army helicoptors as well.

I hear cattle mutilations are up in your area..

RedSector · 12-01-2004

It could be that the Wireless Zero Config is simply lying. Look at my example.

Thorn · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSector

It could be that the Wireless Zero Config is simply lying. Look at my example.

Accept that he said it's happening in specific locations.

RedSector · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

Accept that he said it's happening in specific locations.

Yea, sorry... It was just me failing at an attempt to illustrate the point that WCZ can be unreliable

The Others · 12-01-2004

It would be a good test to disable WZC and try the connection manager provided with the card.

I'm going to stick my neck out and propose that the problem lies with a poor or intermittent signal in the specific locations you are suffering in. This is being handled badly by WZC which leads to your problems.

I believe that, the fact that specific areas are causing you troubles, does not rule out the possibility of a bug in WZC. The bug (or, more likely, short-fallings) of WZC lie in its ability to opperate in conditions of intermittent signal.

Of course, this is just a guess. You'll have to prove this theory either right or wrong by your own means. I recommend trying a different connection manager, or OS (try knoppix, for example) and performing a basic site survey of your environment. Walk around a bit with an orinoco classic card and Netstumbler to see if these cold-spots relate to any visible differences in the wireless landscape.

Thorn · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSector

Yea, sorry... It was just me failing at an attempt to illustrate the point that WCZ can be unreliable

I'd agree, accept that it's tied to location. It almost has to be some type of RFI.

Hoever, the unreliable nature of WZC brings up a point. Could it be that the signal has dropped off due to some RF block in a given location, but that WCZ is still reporting the last reading?

beakmyn · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

...

I hear cattle mutilations are up in your area..

Don't.

RedSector · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Hoever, the unreliable nature of WZC brings up a point. Could it be that the signal has dropped off due to some RF block in a given location, but that WCZ is still reporting the last reading?

That could be. I tested it in the following manner:
First I checked the Link Quality of my signal (90%)
Then I created RF interfearance (I brought my laptop near the running microwave)
I rechecked the Link Quality (Fluctuating between 33% and 40ish)
At the same time checked WZC (It was happily reporting super duper signal strength)

So it is quite possible. Mabey (probably) WZC only polls the signal strength when it refreshes, therefore reporting inacurate data.

The Others · 12-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSector

...So it is quite possible. Mabey (probably) WZC only polls the signal strength when it refreshes, therefore reporting inacurate data.

This is easily tested: beckerexl needs only to go to one of the areas causing him trouble and refresh WZC. If the new reading reports a low signal strength, than your theory is correct. If it is still reporting a strong signal, however, then your idea falls short.

I still believe that this issue wont be resolved if beckerexl continues to use WZC as his sole wireless survey tool. This is the Netstumbler forums, after all; maybe Netstumbler could be used to provide some decent, emperical, evidence.

beckerexl · 12-04-2004

I tried using the Intel ProSet manager and the problem seemed to get worse. Could this problem be related to the fact that there are around 40+ networks (detected by NS, around 20 by WNZ)? Many of them are all on the same channel as well. I tried changing the channel on mine but it didn't really make much difference.

11-30-2004	#1 (permalink)
beckerexl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 20	Great signal, but windows won't attempt to connect, why? Hey all you stumblers out there...i got a situation, maybe someone knows why its happening? Dependong on where I am standing in my house, windows will either decide to try and connect or just keep it on the wireless connections list with an "Automatic" label next to it...as well as 3 green bars. I could have 1 or two bars and windows will attempt to connect, but other times I might have 3 or 4 bars and it will just sit on the list and not try to acquire an IP like it should. So my question is what makes windows decide to try and acquire an IP (if its set for automatic connection or manually executed)...because it seems like the signal strength doesn't make much of a difference? (BTW I'm running Windows XP sp2 with an intel 2200BG internal wireless, however I experience alot of the same problem with my orinoco gold) Your wirless expertise is greatly appreciated! __________________ When I get nervous, I get scared. And when motherfuckers get scared, that's when motherfuckers get accidentally shot. B E C K E R E X L

11-30-2004	#3 (permalink)
beckerexl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 20	yea I've tried it all...and like i said, it WILL connect if I am in the right location of a room, and I know mac filtering is deffinetly off. It seems to be a straight up windows xp bug __________________ When I get nervous, I get scared. And when motherfuckers get scared, that's when motherfuckers get accidentally shot. B E C K E R E X L

12-01-2004	#10 (permalink)
The Others PeaceDriver Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Dos Palabras, Mandoras Posts: 2,920	It would be a good test to disable WZC and try the connection manager provided with the card. I'm going to stick my neck out and propose that the problem lies with a poor or intermittent signal in the specific locations you are suffering in. This is being handled badly by WZC which leads to your problems. I believe that, the fact that specific areas are causing you troubles, does not rule out the possibility of a bug in WZC. The bug (or, more likely, short-fallings) of WZC lie in its ability to opperate in conditions of intermittent signal. Of course, this is just a guess. You'll have to prove this theory either right or wrong by your own means. I recommend trying a different connection manager, or OS (try knoppix, for example) and performing a basic site survey of your environment. Walk around a bit with an orinoco classic card and Netstumbler to see if these cold-spots relate to any visible differences in the wireless landscape. __________________ all good ends all ?u=273

12-04-2004	#15 (permalink)
beckerexl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 20	I tried using the Intel ProSet manager and the problem seemed to get worse. Could this problem be related to the fact that there are around 40+ networks (detected by NS, around 20 by WNZ)? Many of them are all on the same channel as well. I tried changing the channel on mine but it didn't really make much difference. __________________ When I get nervous, I get scared. And when motherfuckers get scared, that's when motherfuckers get accidentally shot. B E C K E R E X L

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11-30-2004	#2 (permalink)
RedSector Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 673	I have had this problem from time to time since SP2 put that stupid eyecandy interface to the Wireless Zero Config. I think it just goes out and gets drunk. Anyway, you want to make sure it is set to automatic (which it appears you have), and then at the bottom of the window there should be a button that says connect. Try clicking that. Note: After you do that it may think you are aquiring an ip even though you have one. If you still are not getting an ip, there might be somthing on the router like MAC filtering that is preventing you from obtaining an ip. Thats what works for me.

12-01-2004	#5 (permalink)
Metaboe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 46	other 2,4 ghz transmitters in the same room ? example : a 2.4 ghz IR-Radar detector http://www.wardrivers.be/files/Petzl/radar/dd455s1.jpg or a 2.4 ghz video transmitter ?