The Repeater, Access Point, Laptop Triangle of Death (Please Help)
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The Repeater, Access Point, Laptop Triangle of Death (Please Help)
Hello all,
This board comes closest to describing a place where I can post wireless internet problems, so I am going to post it here and hope that someone knows something about REPEATERS, and something about WIRELESS CONNECTIONS. A repeater is essentially an access point for wireless internet.
I am living in Spain for the semester, and the wireless internet infrastructure they have set up here is horrific. It is supposed to reach into the rooms, but it doesn't, so I always had to go into the hall to access the internet, which is annoying as hell.
I researched my own solution to this issue, purchased a Repeater with an Antenna, and connected it to my laptop and set it to the university network settings here. It worked perfectly, but for some reason the wireless connection signal would switch between "Excellent" and "Very good" every now and then, which literally interrupted the connection. This is a problem because to log on to the university wireless, I have to use a logon and password. To LOG OFF, I have to click "log off". If I don't do this and I close the browser along with the "log off" browser box, I won't be able to get data from the network, even though my wireless connection says I am connected.
Thus, I set out to stop my connection from switching to Excellent to Very good. I figured out that the root of this change was in a MSFT service called "Wireless Zero Configuration utility". When I disable this mysterious service, it stops the connection from switching between "Excellent" and "very good". However, there is another problem.
I don't know anything about wireless connections, but for some reason my connection keeps switching between "11 mbps" and "6 mbps" and "2 mbps" and even "1 mbps" sometimes. This also causes a disconnect in my system for some reason, and thus leads to the problems above all over again. Again, I found a solution: If I adjust my wireless card's settings to connect only to "fixed rate high", it stops this change from occuring and it stays at 11 mbps.
Now, all this was great, until yesterday, when my connection freaked out. It couldn't even detect my repeater (the access point) so it didn't see any wireless networks to connect to. I got it running again only by restoring the original zero configuration utility, auto-rate selector (11,6,2,1 etc.), and then disabling the damn zero configuration service. The little icon in my task bar for the wireless connection was flipping out as well, it would keep blinking as though it was trying to find something, but because Wireless Zero was disabled, it couldn't configure 802.11 or whatever.
Anyway, I have stopped changing things. Essentially, I am able to connect now with the zero configuration utility disabled but with my wireless hardware set at "auto-rate" detect. However, the connection craps out every now and then, which is less than ideal, in fact its annoying as hell.
If ANYONE knows ANYTHING about ANY of these terms, please post the information so that I can rationalize my movements on this issue. I feel like I dont know enough about what mbps are and what the zero utility does to make educated movements to correct the problem. I'm basically using trial and error right now.
Speaking of which, I have kept a log of exactly what has happened since I finally got the connection restored. Maybe this would help people understand, if they would be so kind to read it, exactly what is happening with my computer. It is posted below:
When I restart wireless configuration service, connects to repeater at excellent strength.
Start AIM, no problem.
Disconnected.
Restarted wireless zero utility
nothing happened.
Opened network connections and highlighted wireless connection.
Nothing happened
Searched for wireless connections in range, 3 appeared, then disappeared again.
Highlighted wireless network connection again.
Attempted to connect to a network.
Connected, said there is no signal strength, then switched to “Wireless network is now connected” to Senfiossur, at excellent strength.
Changed setting of wireless zero config to say “when fail, take no action” on all three counts.
Logged out of UNi service (this refers to a username and password that auto-pops up in my browser when I first open it. I have to log on to get any data from their access points.)
Logged back in.
Downloaded firmware upgrades for D-Link, over 1 MB of files, worked fine.
Wireless network connection is still highlighted.
Visited GA forum.
Connected for more than has been in the past.
Visit MSNBC.com in original browser, connection fails. Wireless network connection still highlighted.
Restart wireless configuration service.
Nothing happens.
Try to view available wireless networks, nothing found.
Notification: Connection lost to AIM.
Wireless network connection is now connected.
Fails again.
restart wireless zero service
Wireless connection now connected @ excellent.
Attempt to logout of Uni services; fails.
Attempt to log back in to uni services by opening browser. Fails.
Connection still excellent @ 11 MBPS.
Forced to restart because uni services won’t activate.
Didn’t restart, pasted IP of access point
Says I am already logged in already.
Logout thing pops up again, I log out, and then log back in.
Visit MSNBC.com from original browser. Works.
Visit IGNboards.com from original browser (when I say original, I mean the browser I used to input my username and password to log onto the university network, much like what happens when wireless is used in the BSAD UVM school). Works.
Click on link @ IGNBoards, connection fails. Reconnects about 15 seconds later @ signal strength Very Good 11 Mbps.
Refresh link, works. Clink on other link, works again.
Disable wireless Zero service, but DIDNT STOP IT.
Click on link on ignboards, doesn’t load immediately, I wait.
Notification that wireless network is now connected @ excellent strength, 11 mbps
Attempt to log out because connection still isn’t working. Fails.
Close network connections.
Attempt to paste IP address in again, but doesn’t work. Check connection and says connected @ Very good strength now.
Stop wireless Zero configuration.
Forced to restart computer.
After restart connected at excellent strength 11 mbps.
Attempt to login, success.
Visit msnbc.com from original browser. Success.
Login to IGnboards from original browser, success.
Play Nintendo DS while waiting to see if connection fails in irrational amount of time.
Log in to gmail. Success.
While am in Gmail, something happens to the connection. The wireless symbol in the task bar changes to one with an x that flashes as though it is trying to reconnect to the repeater? It finally does after 3 or 4 tries, at excellent 11 mbps strength.
Read an e-mail, checked connection again. Says connected @ 6mbps now. Try to reload gmail, says unable to reach gmail.
Attempt to go to msnbc.com, fails. Connection is still excellent @ 6 mbps.
Attempt to logout of uni services. Fails.
Forced to restart.
After restart, connection connected excellent @ 11 mbps.
Attempt to log on to uni servcies. Fails.
Attempt 3rd time, succeeds [I think after a failure, I might need to wait like 5-10 minutes to retry so that the university system auto-logs me out. Not sure though]. But connection is now 2 mbps. Switched to 11 again.
Msnbc.com access, succeeds.
AIM logs on.
Wait to see what happens....
Still connected 11 mbps excellent
Test AIM, works.
Click on link on msnbc, connection fails for a moment, reconnects immediately, 11 mbps excellent.
Can’t connect to things so tried to logout, failed. Waited a while, assuming system would naturally log me out. It did. Can connect to internet again, but use IP to force the system to open logout box again so I can log back in naturally. Do so. Connection good, 11 mbps excellent again. AIM working, MSN working. Web browser working.
Click on link within ga forum, doesn’t work. Connection switches to very good. Back to excellent. Connection works again and page loads. Swithces to 6 mbps connection. Now 2 mbps. Now 1 mbps. Now back to 11 mbps.
I'm now connected to the internet always at excellent strength it seems, but the mbps switches like a bastard. Its all very confusing to me. Again, ANY information on what this sh*t is would be very helpful to me. Thanks....
Leave the wireless zero config service running unless you have a third party wireless manager installed as Windows XP requires it to detect and manage wireless network connections. It is not unusual for the signal strength and speed to change slightly, even in the same room as the repeater, but this normally doesn't result in the connection dropping.
I assume it works fine when connecting directly to the uni network? Problems usually show up when something is chaged, and the change is the first thing I'd be pointing fingers at, in your case the repeater.
I used to have a similar problem a while back with a D-Link DWL-900AP+ access point configured as a repeater that was fixed by a firmware update, although interestingly this didn't help in your situation. What model of AP is it? Do you have another unit you could try in its place?
Leave the wireless zero config service running unless you have a third party wireless manager installed as Windows XP requires it to detect and manage wireless network connections. It is not unusual for the signal strength and speed to change slightly, even in the same room as the repeater, but this normally doesn't result in the connection dropping.
I assume it works fine when connecting directly to the uni network? Problems usually show up when something is chaged, and the change is the first thing I'd be pointing fingers at, in your case the repeater.
I used to have a similar problem a while back with a D-Link DWL-900AP+ access point configured as a repeater that was fixed by a firmware update, although interestingly this didn't help in your situation. What model of AP is it? Do you have another unit you could try in its place?
Actually NZ, I haven't installed the firmware upgrades yet. I downloaded them, bubt have not installed them. How did it help you? My model is DWL G710....
It is pretty straightforward and solved the intermittent disconnects for me. Unfortunately I have found quite a few models of D-Link access points shipped with buggy firmware, fortunately newer firmware versions have so far always fixed the problem in my experience.
I updated the firmware. I also shut off the wireless zero utility and fixed the rate of mbps at which the thing connects. However, now my problem is still that it disconnects randomly for just a few seconds. That's enough to cause the network here to believe I am still logged in but know that I logged out incorrectly, thus denying me ALL access to web pages until the cache in the network clears and I am able to re-log back in. This is a 20 minute process that happens every 40 or so. Thus, it is a huge pain in the ass. Any help appreciated................................
I also decided to download netstumbler and take a look at the situation. I must say I am perplexed at the results. My repeated network has a very good noise to signal ratio. I see a lot o fpurple bars, but the only time I seem to see purple bars is when I try to access a web page. Can anyone interpret these results in any way? I also found a pretty good place for the antenna that maximizes the ratio (although I hope I'm not receiving any radiation. My connection is stable now except when it ****s out for a minute or two. But for the whole night last night I was able to remain online until I woke up this morning (utilizing AIM). I'm not sure how much better I can get it but any interpretations would be helpful. Latest computer settings:
Wireless Zero Utility: Disabled as a result of Network Stumbler
Transmit Rate on Wireless Card: Auto Select Standard
MPBS readings: Mostly 2 mbps, fluctuates between 1 sometimes
Signal Strength: Mostly excellent, fluctuates to very good.
SNR (signal to noise ratio): 40-50 on average; average is 40 about
Purple Lines(signifying signal failure for a moment): only when access web......
Hi there, If your repeater is in the same room, you should be getting the max connect rate to it, as in 54Mbps. You have said that you have been getting connect rates of 11, 6, 2 and 1 Mbps. 802.11b supports speeds of 11, 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps and 802.11g supports 54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9 and 6, if you jumping from 6 to 11 then it is jumping between 802.11b and g modulation. This can be caused by interference from other devices like microwave ovens, 2.4Ghz cordless phones and blue tooth devices etc, or someone in another flat with a 802.11b device. I would force your repeater and laptop into 802.11b mode to see if that helps. If you know someone in the university who get their hands on a spectrum analyser and come and take some readings you may be able to find the source of the interference.
As dale said, you may be encountering interference from a cordless phone or such other wireless device using about the same frequency. You can force you repeater to use a specific 802.11b or 802.11g mode, you may also want to try forcing it to use a specific channel. Repeaters and AP's will change channel from time to time to get a better signal. I assume also that your repeater is getting a good signal from the outside wireless source. Can you look at your repeater recieving signal strengths? You have repositioned it though, maybe try a place closer to the uni source but not too far away from you. Your goning to have to play with locations abit. If you know that it is recieving a good signal, then concentrate on finding a channel that works for you and force it to use only a "b" or "g" mode. Your laptop should show a strong signal without changing speeds etc. Remember you essentially now have two wireless networks, therefore possibly two speeds. Ensure you are only connecting to your repeater only. Make sure that the uni wireless is not set to connect automatically as you may inadvertetly be disconnecting from your repeater and back to the uni and so forth however this is highly unlikely as your repeater is so close.
The Repeater, Access Point, Laptop Triangle of Death (Please Help) 
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