Wireless link dropping out

InSanCen · 03-13-2007

Hi all.

Newbie question, flame-retardent suit is on.

I am having trouble with my wireless connection dropping out. The link is to a Colleague's Acess Point. I have permission to use it, and it is within the terms of his ISP's ToS (He phoned them). The AP in Question is a BT Home Hub (Thomson Telecom manufactured). I am using a Belkin F5D9050 USB dongle that (appears) to use a RAlink chipset. I can also use an MSI PCI card (again, RaLink chipset), with an RP-SMA connector and a 2.5dBi "rubber duck" antenna if needed.

Even though the icon in the system tray (WinXP Pro, SP2) is indicating that I am connected, pages Time Out, and downloads freeze. Netstumbler is showing a solid -80dBi signal, wit no gaps in the plot.

It appears to be a DHCP problem, since clicking the "Repair" button on the Wireless Properties dialog seems to work. As far as I know, this just disconnects from the network, and asks for another IP address. I may well be wrong, my networking knowledge isn't great.

I have tried various "Wireless Zero fixes" that appear to stop the service once you have a connection, but the results are the same in both configurations.

I don't honestly know what is happening, hence this post.

Do you have any pointers to possible solutions (I am learning to use linux, but this is a slow process). I am all for learning, and I do not want to be spoonfed the info. I would rather understand it, and be able to apply it in a future situation, should it be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

InSanCen

Dutch · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

Hi all.

Newbie question, flame-retardent suit is on.

I am having trouble with my wireless connection dropping out. The link is to a Colleague's Acess Point. I have permission to use it, and it is within the terms of his ISP's ToS (He phoned them). The AP in Question is a BT Home Hub (Thomson Telecom manufactured). I am using a Belkin F5D9050 USB dongle that (appears) to use a RAlink chipset. I can also use an MSI PCI card (again, RaLink chipset), with an RP-SMA connector and a 2.5dBi "rubber duck" antenna if needed.

Even though the icon in the system tray (WinXP Pro, SP2) is indicating that I am connected, pages Time Out, and downloads freeze. Netstumbler is showing a solid -80dBi signal, wit no gaps in the plot.

It appears to be a DHCP problem, since clicking the "Repair" button on the Wireless Properties dialog seems to work. As far as I know, this just disconnects from the network, and asks for another IP address. I may well be wrong, my networking knowledge isn't great.

I have tried various "Wireless Zero fixes" that appear to stop the service once you have a connection, but the results are the same in both configurations.

I don't honestly know what is happening, hence this post.

Do you have any pointers to possible solutions (I am learning to use linux, but this is a slow process). I am all for learning, and I do not want to be spoonfed the info. I would rather understand it, and be able to apply it in a future situation, should it be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

InSanCen

Who is his ISP ? British Telecoms ? What kind of contract does he hold ?

Dutch

ccie4526 · 03-13-2007

If DHCP is the culprit here, find out what IP addresses the router is handing out, then assign yourself a static IP address with appropriate netmask and gateway. To verify the RF link between yourself and the router, use the ping command to ping the router. Several times. If you either get requests timed out or no replies whatsoever, then there is an RF link problem between yourself and your neighbor. If you get replies from the router, then attempt to ping some host on the internet. If you get an unknown host error, then you have a DNS lookup problem and should change your resolver IP addresses. If you get replies from that remote site, then everything should be working fine and the problem would then seem to be beyond the scope of the network infrastructure.

Good starting points, at least.

streaker69 · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

Hi all.

Newbie question, flame-retardent suit is on.

I am having trouble with my wireless connection dropping out. The link is to a Colleague's Acess Point. I have permission to use it, and it is within the terms of his ISP's ToS (He phoned them). The AP in Question is a BT Home Hub (Thomson Telecom manufactured). I am using a Belkin F5D9050 USB dongle that (appears) to use a RAlink chipset. I can also use an MSI PCI card (again, RaLink chipset), with an RP-SMA connector and a 2.5dBi "rubber duck" antenna if needed.

Even though the icon in the system tray (WinXP Pro, SP2) is indicating that I am connected, pages Time Out, and downloads freeze. Netstumbler is showing a solid -80dBi signal, wit no gaps in the plot.

It appears to be a DHCP problem, since clicking the "Repair" button on the Wireless Properties dialog seems to work. As far as I know, this just disconnects from the network, and asks for another IP address. I may well be wrong, my networking knowledge isn't great.

I have tried various "Wireless Zero fixes" that appear to stop the service once you have a connection, but the results are the same in both configurations.

I don't honestly know what is happening, hence this post.

Do you have any pointers to possible solutions (I am learning to use linux, but this is a slow process). I am all for learning, and I do not want to be spoonfed the info. I would rather understand it, and be able to apply it in a future situation, should it be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

InSanCen

Pointless measurement as you're not using supported hardware.

MikeP928 · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

Hi all.

Newbie question, flame-retardent suit is on. InSanCen

Whoof!! (Fires up pilot light)

Did you notice the definition of basic NetStumbler questions only in the Newbie Lounge?

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

I am having trouble with my wireless connection dropping out. The link is to a Colleague's Acess Point. I have permission to use it, and it is within the terms of his ISP's ToS (He phoned them). The AP in Question is a BT Home Hub (Thomson Telecom manufactured). I am using a Belkin F5D9050 USB dongle that (appears) to use a RAlink chipset. I can also use an MSI PCI card (again, RaLink chipset), with an RP-SMA connector and a 2.5dBi "rubber duck" antenna if needed.InSanCen

As Dutch asked, who is the ISP. We have heard this tune before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

Even though the icon in the system tray (WinXP Pro, SP2) is indicating that I am connected, pages Time Out, and downloads freeze. Netstumbler is showing a solid -80dBi signal, wit no gaps in the plot.InSanCen

Are you running NS at the same time as trying to connect to a network? Won't work, NS breaks the connection to scan the other channels. That signal value is useless with unsupported hardware. So disregard it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

It appears to be a DHCP problem, since clicking the "Repair" button on the Wireless Properties dialog seems to work. As far as I know, this just disconnects from the network, and asks for another IP address. I may well be wrong, my networking knowledge isn't great.InSanCen

When it goes away, enter IPCONFIG/ALL in a DOS window and look for a valid IP address and related info.

Start up a continuous ping to the router and watch it for a couple of minutes, ping x.x.x.x -t

TraceRT to your DNS servers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

I have tried various "Wireless Zero fixes" that appear to stop the service once you have a connection, but the results are the same in both configurations.

I don't honestly know what is happening, hence this post.

Do you have any pointers to possible solutions (I am learning to use linux, but this is a slow process). I am all for learning, and I do not want to be spoonfed the info. I would rather understand it, and be able to apply it in a future situation, should it be needed.

Any help is appreciated.

InSanCen

As Thorn would (and probably will) say, this is networking 101. Search and learn.

<quietly waits for this to be moved to free fire zone, depending on responses.

MikeP

Thorn · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeP928

As Thorn would (and probably will) say, this is networking 101. Search and learn.

That's amazing! It's exactly what I was going to say. How did you do that?

Dutch · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

That's amazing! It's exactly what I was going to say. How did you do that?

He's 33.3% Cajun, 33.3% Floridian and 33.3% Amish ?? ... And 100 % mean CableMonkey...

Dutch

brwrdrvr · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch

He's 33.3% Cajun, 33.3% Floridian and 33.3% Amish ?? ... And 100 % mean CableMonkey...

Dutch

MikeP Cajun?? Couldn't be. If that were the case he'd be eating Gumbo on a daily basis.

streaker69 · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by brwrdrvr

MikeP Cajun?? Couldn't be. If that were the case he'd be eating Gumbo on a daily basis.

He does, but his 33.3% Amish demands that there be Scrapple in it.

Airstreamer · 03-13-2007

/booming superhero announcer voice ON!

"This sounds like a job for...."

/drum roll

/switch to weally weally qwiet elmer fudd voice:

The utility that CAME WITH THE HARDWARE to check the signal and for errors and for dropped packets, and lions and tigers and bears! Oh My! Haaaaaahaaa! Silly rabbit!

InSanCen · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airstreamer

/booming superhero announcer voice ON!

"This sounds like a job for...."

/drum roll

/switch to weally weally qwiet elmer fudd voice:

The utility that CAME WITH THE HARDWARE to check the signal and for errors and for dropped packets, and lions and tigers and bears! Oh My! Haaaaaahaaa! Silly rabbit!

It's Useless. Says I have a full strength signal, and am "connected to the internet" but i can't ping the Gateway/Router. It's idea of details are also quite vague.

Dutch,
I'll get back to you on the ISP details, as I'll have to ask my colleague. I do know that it's an unlimited business contract, and he already has it over several sites in his business, if that helps.

I'm not trying to hack anything... I have no interest in Stealing Bandwidth etc.

MikeP928
No, not running NS at the same time, I know it breaks windows attempts to connect. Cheers though. IPCONFIG says that the IP and gateway are what I would expect (192.168.1.x) but ping's just time out, although Wireless Zero and the Utility that came with the Adapter say I am connected.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be having a read through the liinks in the Networking 101 thread. Like I said, I may not know much now, but I do want to learn.

MikeP928 · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by InSanCen

<snip>
IPCONFIG says that the IP and gateway are what I would expect (192.168.1.x) but ping's just time out, although Wireless Zero and the Utility that came with the Adapter say I am connected.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be having a read through the liinks in the Networking 101 thread. Like I said, I may not know much now, but I do want to learn.

Functionality of your .11b connection and your ethernet connection are completely independent. Your wireless connection sounds to be working OK. Troubleshoot it as if it was a wired connection, and don't let the wireless part of it distract you.

MikeP

Barry · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by streaker69

He does, but his 33.3% Amish demands that there be Scrapple in it.

Scrapple etouffee?

InSanCen · 03-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeP928

Functionality of your .11b connection and your ethernet connection are completely independent. Your wireless connection sounds to be working OK. Troubleshoot it as if it was a wired connection, and don't let the wireless part of it distract you.

MikeP

Cheers. I will try not to treat it any diffeent to a wired connection.

The ethernet on this machine is not connected on this machine (and disabled). Until I resolve a dispute with an ISP and a Line provider I have no use for a ADSL Modem/Router. Any IP adresses Issued are to the wireless connection(s).

I have left a message with my colleague, and will hopefully have the ISP info that you require soon.

I'm not really sure where to start with regards to ground-up reading with regards to Networking, there is just so much to cover. Any pointers to a good Primer text? I know some of the basic's (can set up a small wired home net with static adressing easily enough), but do not understand how they work, and that is what I am looking to understand, or I will not be able to build on it.

Off to read some more

Airstreamer · 03-13-2007

Hmm. My Intel drivers for my Dell D-620 ALL have dB sig levels, noise levels, s/n levels, packets rx'd tx'd errored packets, retransmits, etc. MORE than enough information. As did the drivers for the Dell True Mobile1150, which even drew a pretty little "near real time" scrolling bar graph.

Are you running the card drivers with WZC disabled, or is XP handing you it's usual pile of warm dogshit for information? (As far as wireless info is concerned, that is.)

03-13-2007	#1 (permalink)
InSanCen Special Needs Unit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wales, where men are men and Sheep are worried Posts: 3	Wireless link dropping out Hi all. Newbie question, flame-retardent suit is on. I am having trouble with my wireless connection dropping out. The link is to a Colleague's Acess Point. I have permission to use it, and it is within the terms of his ISP's ToS (He phoned them). The AP in Question is a BT Home Hub (Thomson Telecom manufactured). I am using a Belkin F5D9050 USB dongle that (appears) to use a RAlink chipset. I can also use an MSI PCI card (again, RaLink chipset), with an RP-SMA connector and a 2.5dBi "rubber duck" antenna if needed. Even though the icon in the system tray (WinXP Pro, SP2) is indicating that I am connected, pages Time Out, and downloads freeze. Netstumbler is showing a solid -80dBi signal, wit no gaps in the plot. It appears to be a DHCP problem, since clicking the "Repair" button on the Wireless Properties dialog seems to work. As far as I know, this just disconnects from the network, and asks for another IP address. I may well be wrong, my networking knowledge isn't great. I have tried various "Wireless Zero fixes" that appear to stop the service once you have a connection, but the results are the same in both configurations. I don't honestly know what is happening, hence this post. Do you have any pointers to possible solutions (I am learning to use linux, but this is a slow process). I am all for learning, and I do not want to be spoonfed the info. I would rather understand it, and be able to apply it in a future situation, should it be needed. Any help is appreciated. InSanCen

03-13-2007	#3 (permalink)
ccie4526 My search-fu is weak! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: West BFE, Texas Posts: 423	If DHCP is the culprit here, find out what IP addresses the router is handing out, then assign yourself a static IP address with appropriate netmask and gateway. To verify the RF link between yourself and the router, use the ping command to ping the router. Several times. If you either get requests timed out or no replies whatsoever, then there is an RF link problem between yourself and your neighbor. If you get replies from the router, then attempt to ping some host on the internet. If you get an unknown host error, then you have a DNS lookup problem and should change your resolver IP addresses. If you get replies from that remote site, then everything should be working fine and the problem would then seem to be beyond the scope of the network infrastructure. Good starting points, at least. __________________ --- <#include std.disclaimer.h> AltarThug of Wired and Unwired, The Church of WiFi http://www.churchofwifi.org http://www.linuxisforbitches.com http://www.wigle.net http://www.kismetwireless.net

03-13-2007	#10 (permalink)
Airstreamer Sniffin' the aether Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: A little North of Reason Posts: 2,821	/booming superhero announcer voice ON! "This sounds like a job for...." /drum roll /switch to weally weally qwiet elmer fudd voice: The utility that CAME WITH THE HARDWARE to check the signal and for errors and for dropped packets, and lions and tigers and bears! Oh My! Haaaaaahaaa! Silly rabbit! __________________ "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.." - Claire Wolfe, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution

03-13-2007	#15 (permalink)
Airstreamer Sniffin' the aether Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: A little North of Reason Posts: 2,821	Hmm. My Intel drivers for my Dell D-620 ALL have dB sig levels, noise levels, s/n levels, packets rx'd tx'd errored packets, retransmits, etc. MORE than enough information. As did the drivers for the Dell True Mobile1150, which even drew a pretty little "near real time" scrolling bar graph. Are you running the card drivers with WZC disabled, or is XP handing you it's usual pile of warm dogshit for information? (As far as wireless info is concerned, that is.) __________________ "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards.." - Claire Wolfe, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode