Belkin router dropping network during games

Hi guys. I've had a Belkin wifi router for a while now, and I have a
problem it seems noone can fix.

The router is connected via wi-fi to my computer upstairs (about 10 ft
away, so no distance issues), and works fine, most of the time. The
problem comes when I try to game. Usually the game I'm playing isn't
even using the internet or the network, but after a few minutes the
network disconnects and leaves me with a red-crosses network icon in my
tray. The time it takes to disconnect varies, usually from about 5
minutes to as much as 20. If I exit the game, the network will
reconnect eventually, quicker if I "repair" it. The weird thing is that
the problem seems to be with the router itself. I have a 360 wirelessly
set up to it too, and the network dies on that at the same time.

Belkin suggested I change the channel, as well as pretty much every
other setting on the damn router, but nothing works. The upstairs comp
uses an INexQ USB wi-fi connector. As far as I'm aware, there are no
other SSIDs in the area, and my current one is the only one in my list.

Can anyone please reply if they have any idea what could fix this?

> Can anyone please reply if they have any idea what could fix this?

What game? What model Belkin?

Bill Kearney wrote:

> What game? What model Belkin?

All games, from the most recent, to cobweb-strewn DOS games. One that
use the internet and ones that don't.

And it's a Wireless G+ Modem Router Model No. F5D7633uk4A

Try changing channels again. Try 1-3, or 8-11. Try both ends of the
spectrum, and see if there's any difference. If not, it's not an
interference issue.

Dont 360's wireless controllers use 2.4ghz as well? That could be
causing wifi troubles..

Also, check the power management settings on the PC for the wifi
adaptor; default is usually "Allow windows to turn off this device to
save power". That can be a huge P.I.T.A., and cause loads of
reconnection headaches.

-Luke

delirium86@googlemail.com hath wroth:

>Hi guys. I've had a Belkin wifi router for a while now, and I have a
>problem it seems noone can fix.

What model Belkin router? Oh... F5D7633uk4A. Got the latest
firmware installed?

>The router is connected via wi-fi to my computer upstairs (about 10 ft
>away, so no distance issues), and works fine, most of the time.

10ft through a wall or ceiling? What is the wall or ceiling made
from? If concrete, foil backed insulation, or other metal in the
walls, you will have serious signal loss.

>The
>problem comes when I try to game. Usually the game I'm playing isn't
>even using the internet or the network, but after a few minutes the
>network disconnects and leaves me with a red-crosses network icon in my
>tray.

It takes two to play a game locally. One user is apparently using an
iNexQ USB (model number?) client. Latest firmware?

Where is the other user? Wireless or wired connection?

>The time it takes to disconnect varies, usually from about 5
>minutes to as much as 20. If I exit the game, the network will
>reconnect eventually, quicker if I "repair" it.

At first glance, I would suggest inteference. Yet, changing channels
has not fixed the problem. There are sources of interference that
will clobber all channels (i.e. Microwave oven) which is a possible
cause. See the list at:
| http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Interference

>The weird thing is that
>the problem seems to be with the router itself. I have a 360 wirelessly
>set up to it too, and the network dies on that at the same time.

Very interesting but you're making too many assumptions. If both the
Xbox 360 and the Belkin F5D7633uk4A do the same thing, then it could
also be the USB client radio that you're using for testing. I suggest
you try your client computah on yet another wireless router. If it
still disconnects, it's either the iNexQ USB radio, or interference.

Incidentally, try the test going through your wall and ceiling as
before. Then try it with the radio in the same room so you're not
dealing with signal strength issues.

>Belkin suggested I change the channel, as well as pretty much every
>other setting on the damn router, but nothing works.

Yep. That's my method... change everything and see what happens.
Please note that you'll never get support to suggest changing the
product they're trying to fix. In this case, it's going to be
difficult because the F5D7633 includes an ADSL modem in the same box.

There are a few settings you can tweak to make this easier. Disable
802.11b compatibility. Set the wireless speed to 6Mbits/sec
temporarily, not "auto". Turn off encryption temporarily. Turn off
the G+ turbo (or whatever it's called) feature. If it magically
starts to work, see which setting is the culprit.

>The upstairs comp
>uses an INexQ USB wi-fi connector. As far as I'm aware, there are no
>other SSIDs in the area, and my current one is the only one in my list.

Huh? Changing the SSID doesn't prevent interference problems. Just
pick a unique SSID to prevent your client computer from accidentally
connecting to the neighbors. Can you see any other wireless networks
with your USB client radio?

>Can anyone please reply if they have any idea what could fix this?

I think the key is in the wall or ceiling. If your iNexQ has a signal
strength and quality indicator, it would be interesting to know what
numbers it offers. A low signal level, or a lousy signal to noise
ratio, will cause disconnects.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Luke122 wrote:
> Try changing channels again. Try 1-3, or 8-11. Try both ends of the
> spectrum, and see if there's any difference. If not, it's not an
> interference issue.
>
> Dont 360's wireless controllers use 2.4ghz as well? That could be
> causing wifi troubles..
>
> Also, check the power management settings on the PC for the wifi
> adaptor; default is usually "Allow windows to turn off this device to
> save power".

I've changed to every channel and there's no difference.

The 360 has been off lately, especially when I'm gaming on the PC, so I
don't think it'll be the controllers.

How do I change the power options for the wifi? It doesn't appear to be
in Power Options in the Control Panel.

Cheers, Del

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> What model Belkin router? Oh... F5D7633uk4A. Got the latest
> firmware installed?

Yeah, latest firmware installed.

> 10ft through a wall or ceiling? What is the wall or ceiling made
> from? If concrete, foil backed insulation, or other metal in the
> walls, you will have serious signal loss.

It's wood and plaster. I'm pretty sure that's all it is. The signal is
always either excellent or very good. Also, this has been happening
pretty regularly, but only during gaming. I'm sure if it was a
microwave or some other interference, the network would be dropping
outside of gaming too.

> It takes two to play a game locally. One user is apparently using an
> iNexQ USB (model number?) client. Latest firmware?
> Where is the other user? Wireless or wired connection?

Two to play? I'm playing single player on all of these games, as there
is noone else in the house who games, and I can't play over the
internet as it disconnects.

> Very interesting but you're making too many assumptions. If both the
> Xbox 360 and the Belkin F5D7633uk4A do the same thing, then it could
> also be the USB client radio that you're using for testing. I suggest
> you try your client computah on yet another wireless router. If it
> still disconnects, it's either the iNexQ USB radio, or interference.
>
> Incidentally, try the test going through your wall and ceiling as
> before. Then try it with the radio in the same room so you're not
> dealing with signal strength issues.

I am trying to find someone else I can borrow a router from, but I
haven't had any luck yet.

> There are a few settings you can tweak to make this easier. Disable
> 802.11b compatibility. Set the wireless speed to 6Mbits/sec
> temporarily, not "auto". Turn off encryption temporarily. Turn off
> the G+ turbo (or whatever it's called) feature. If it magically
> starts to work, see which setting is the culprit.

Like I said, I've turn almost all the settings on and off, and had no
luck so far.

> Huh? Changing the SSID doesn't prevent interference problems. Just
> pick a unique SSID to prevent your client computer from accidentally
> connecting to the neighbors. Can you see any other wireless networks
> with your USB client radio?

The reason I included the SSID info was because another forum had asked
if my computer was getting low reception on mine, and skipping to
another stronger connection in the area. And no, no others show up in
the area.

> I think the key is in the wall or ceiling. If your iNexQ has a signal
> strength and quality indicator, it would be interesting to know what
> numbers it offers. A low signal level, or a lousy signal to noise
> ratio, will cause disconnects.

As I've said above, the signal is always strong, and if it was
interference the network would be dropping all the time, not just
immediately after starting a game. Thanks for your advice anyway.

Del

On 10 Oct 2006 09:32:36 -0700, delirium86@googlemail.com wrote:

>It's wood and plaster. I'm pretty sure that's all it is. The signal is
>always either excellent or very good.

So much for the poor signal theory.

>Also, this has been happening
>pretty regularly, but only during gaming. I'm sure if it was a
>microwave or some other interference, the network would be dropping
>outside of gaming too.

True, but it might be a coincidence. For example, if your game
playing coincides with someones dinner preparation time.

>Two to play? I'm playing single player on all of these games, as there
>is noone else in the house who games, and I can't play over the
>internet as it disconnects.

Sorry. The only games I play are online multi-player flight simulator
games. There's no way to play just by myself.

As I think I understand this, you have the Xbox 360 plugged into the
Belkin wireless router and are connecting to it with your client radio
running the iNexQ USB adapter. Do you have the Xbox 360 plugged in
with an ethernet cable or are using wireless? There's a very small
chance that if you're using wireless to the Xbox, that mutual
interference to the iNexQ USB adapter is causing the disconnects. The
easiest way to test this is to use an ethernet cable connection to the
Xbox instead of wireless.

>I am trying to find someone else I can borrow a router from, but I
>haven't had any luck yet.

I once managed to "borrow" a router from a big box store based on the
assumption that I could return it for credit or refund if I didn't
like it. I did my testing, repackaged it carefully, and returned it
for credit. I hate doing it this way, but if you tell the store
exactly what you're doing, they might agree to such a loaner.

>Like I said, I've turn almost all the settings on and off, and had no
>luck so far.

Did you turn off the ones I mentioned?

Well, if you have time to run an experiment, try running a
peer-to-peer wireless network (ad-hoc) between the iNexQ USB radio and
the Xbox 360. Both support it. Turn off the Belkin as you won't need
it. I'm not sure what it will prove, but it seems like an interesting
thing to try.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@cruzio.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS