HP Pavillion Dv1000 : Intel 2200 Wireless Adapter Problem

Hello All,

My configuration and parameters details are as follows;

-- HP Pavillion Dv1000 Laptop, running Windows XP SP2 (with almost all released updates from Microsoft online update) Dual booting with Ubuntu Linux 6.04.

-- Intel PRO/Wireless BG 2200 Wireless LAN Adapter with Intel latest drivers 9.0.4.33. In the wireless driver configuration “Power Management” and “Transmit Power” sliders are set to maximum, while “Throughout Enhancement (packet bursting)” is enabled. Wireless adapter configured and working with Ubuntu Linux 6.04 as well.

-- “Wireless Zero Configuration” as of Windows default is used to manage the Wi-Fi settings (not the Intel PROSet Utility which usually comes around with latest drivers download). The “Infrastructure Mode” for wireless LAN is used. The wireless connection in the Windows is set on DHCP mode to obtain the IP address automatically.

-- Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router Ver 7 , with firmware 7.00.6 upgraded as of March-2007. Configured on Ethernet Internet Cable Connection (used in local neighborhoods , CAT5 wires running from Cable Provider’s Switch to Ethernet NIC of the customer’s desktop). Since WRT54G Wireless Router exists with a switch (and probably other routers ) at Cable Internet Provider’s end, that’s why its configured on “Static IP , SubNet, and DNS” from the same IP addressing range of my Cable Internet Provider. The CAT5 wire from the cable provider is plugged in “Regular Switch LAN Ports (1-4)” of the Wireless router not in the “WAN” port. This lets me access the LAN shared resources of my neighborhood PCs as well (instead of using NAT and router’s DHCP which gives an internal IP address to isolate internal network from WAN).

-- The DHCP on the router for incoming connections is ‘Disabled”, since now it virtually serves only as a Wireless Access Point to let me fetch the IP address directly from the Cable Providers DHCP server. Internet is configured on “Proxy Settings and Port No.”, the most common method in the Web Browsers configuration.



Linksys WRT54G Router’s other configuration is as follows ;



-- Have made a unique SSID and set to broadcast. The router and wireless card on the laptop both set in “G Only” mode since I do not have any 802.11b devices, so no need for mixed mode.

-- Using default “Channel 11”. WEP security method with an ”Open Passkey” authenticated when connecting to my wireless network. The MTU is default ‘1500’. Beacon Interval is ‘50’. RTS and Fragmentation threshold set to ‘2307’. Enabled ‘Burst Mode’. Made all these settings as advised by some of the gurus whom I came across searching for ways to optimize the Wireless connection.

-- There are no other wireless routers / networks in my area neighborhood “for sure”. Router is placed within “2 feet” vicinity of the laptop. (basically both are placed on my room table). No substantial obstruction is present b/w the router and the laptop at all.

-- I have a Billionton Class 1 (100 meter) USB Bluetooth dongle connected to my laptop all the time for synchronizing and access to the mobile and PDA, but it is not actively functioning all the time. I have already read a number of documents citing possible but negligible interference of the Bluetooth and Wireless LAN Adapter/Router signals (since both operate with different techniques in the same 2.4 Ghz band spectrum). Using “BlueSoleil ver 2.3.0” as the Bluetooth software protocol stack in Windows.

My queries / problems are ;

-- The Wireless connection drops out at random intervals while browsing internet or LAN resources. This intermittent disconnection may occurs in 5 minutes or maybe in 2 hours, and causes all ongoing connections to break out and reset. The wireless connection icon in the Windows Taskbar disappears and resets itself to show the Pop-up balloon of the network name and connection strength. The same happens when using Wireless connection within Ubuntu Linux 6.04

-- The Laptop button for wireless and its light goes off automatically at random intervals and sometimes gets back again while at other times it does not. It breaks all the on going connectiont to the wireless networks, thus interrupting any downloads/browsing. Its a strange problem without a clue, since I have tried installing all latest HP and Intel wireless drivers. I am unable to find out whether its a problem with the Wireless Router and its settings or the Intel Wireless 2200 PRO WLAN adapter.

-- The Wireless connection speed is also random, as sometimes its reasonably fast, but sometimes it fluctuates from zero to full speed at regular intervals. This is shown in the Graph for Wireless LAN Adapter in Windows Task Manager (checked via generating traffic on the LAN by moving large files etc). Though the “Connection Strength” is always “Excellent” and “54 Mbps” in the connection status all the time.

-- Have already tested these scenarios by unplugging the Bluetooth Device as well, but no improvement occurs. This does not happen in the “WIRED” mode when connected to one of the Router’s Ethernet port.

If anyone can offer any more trouble-shooting / optimizing tips for my scenario then I would highly appreciate for this help.


Best Regards,
S.F.Hasan.

 

If I read your post correctly your desktop is set to static IP, with the modem or wall connection connected to a LAN port. Not correct. This will limit the number of connections to 1, desktop.

Who ever setup your router need to go back to school. First, all of the static IP settings need to be transfered into the router wan (internet) side. Then clone your MAC address into the router. Your wall connection moved over to the WAN port. Then set your internal LAN to DHCP. Now reboot the router then your pc and see if you can connect via wired. Your notebook and desktop PC should all be set to DHCP (wired and wireless) too.

Now make sure you have all of the latest downloads, router and NB.

Now you need to change your security over to WPA (PSK, TKIP), wep is almost like no security. Once your router is set to WPA, delete your old connection on the notebook and let it find your ssid. Then enter the pass phrase. If you have WPA2 on router and NB use it.

Now if you have any cordless phone that use the 2.4 ghz, these along with microwaves can cause interference. If running XP download Netstumbler and run a scan of wireless devices in your area. Play close to what channel they are running on. You want to select 1, 6, or 11 that as the weakest signal or not in use. I would recommend letting it run for 5-10 min.

ON your nb check your power management properties on the intel 2200 port. You want it set to be on at all times. What happen is that the nb will lower and/or drop the power to the port to conserve energy. MS is not smart enough to know if your using it. Your original static setup would allow your ISP to see any pc connected to it's network and bypass the internal FW in the router. So your ISP may be dumping your wireless.