Multiple SSID 's Driving me #&#^+^%

Hi all

My setup. For the most part it works - yet frustrating and to the point I never do anything wirelessly that I cannot live with a disconnect (good pratice regarldess - but I have no faith anymore)

I have a Linkysys WRT54GS plugged into a Linksys BEFSXW41 (which acts as the DHCP server). The WRT54GS works only to allow wireless. I run only G mode - have one desktop hardwired into the BEFSX41 and up to three wireless clients at any given time. I use WPA encryption, allow WZC to manage the connections, broadcast my SSID and use channel 1. The WRT54G2 is on the upper floor of a two story. I use HyperWrt 2.1b to run the WRT54GS and also bought high gain antennas. The BEFSX41 is plugged into an older 3com Home connect ADSL modem.

I run Network Stumbler once in a while I see up to 7 other Networks in my area. No one else is on Channel 1. Once in a while I will loose my connection. I am sure it is interference from the other networks - but have tried almost everything. Disabling WPA , changing channels, use Intel Proset instead of WZC , various drivers for my card , various firmware for both routers. (One Linksys 802.11GS PCI card, one Intel 2915abg card , one Linksys 802.11B card - I usually hard wire that one as well). No 2.4 phones or microwaves are near. The laptop that looses the signal is usually about a foot from the WRT54GS.

Any ideas ? I was tempted to try static IP address, then mac filtering but will that just be another exercise in frustration? I was also thinking of moving the WRT54GS but that is not so easy.

Of course next option will be to turf it all and get a new MINO WAP that has it all (built in VPN tunneling and Wireless) - any ideas / experiences there ?

 

Daacon-

Are you getting wireless drop out of all your Wireless gear or just the Intel 2915 card?
I know that the 2915abg and the 2200bg run the same problem with disconnecting at any given time.

 

I can speak for the 2915abg as it is usually right beside me - the other desktop with Linksys card does loose it from time to time maybe as oftern not sure - it is the Kids computer so I only hear about it when they are home.

That said It has happened enough on the Kids computer that I can say it is definetly not isolated to the 21915 card albiet it may happen more often.

I suspect the interference as running Net Stumbler when I loose the connection I usually see a flury of new SSID 's come on board.

I have read the 2915 / 2200 posts and try some of the suggestions there as well - nothing seems to be 100% effective - though sometimes it stay stable all day .....rare occurance (for the 2915 anyway) - likley same problem as everyone else for sure.

 

Daacon,

If you're not using the Wireless for anything other than surfing the web, then may I suggest that you try changing the connection type to B only. From what I've read, using the B only connection type tends to have a higher power output than when in G or B+G modes (maybe I misread it, but I'm sure that's what I saw). This will lock your speeds to an 11Mbits/s cap, but that's more than enough to keep internet going at full speed.

I did the same when my brother complained about not being able to maintain a connection when I changed the wireless router from a B to a G. It was running in B+G mode and didn't seem that great, so I locked it back to B only and seemed to help.

Also, you may want to try downloading the lastest drivers for your Intel WiFi card directly from Intel. They have a new version out which is supposed to help with speed drops and connection losses.

-Vb-

 

Interesting approach - have not tried B only. I work from the home offiice my ISP is limited at 2.5 mps download so switching to B only is worth a shot as I do not do video or audio streaming yet anyway.

I was running the latest driver (9.0.25) as read that in another post - but I see a newer driver (9.0.2.31) there will try that first.

Thanks I will let ya know how it works out.

later...........dy

 

Also, here is another idea, I do not have my laptop in front of me so I can not verify that this is possable. I thought I saw an option in the configuration of the WNICs that turns off searching for other SSIDs. Then you can only connect to the SSIDs you have configured. If you feel you are getting dropped because of alot of other SSIDs, this MAY help.

 

EricM,

I don't believe the Intel 2915/2200 WLAN cards have this option (don't know if it's an option in the ProSet software, I just use the Windows Zero Config).

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Daacon,

You may also want to try moving the router to a different position near the center of the room (as a test). It's possible the wireless cards are in a weak signal area and the additional stray signals from other networks may just block enough of the signal to kill the connection.

-Vb-

 

Also don't forget that cordless phones will interfere with those wireless signals.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions

EricM - IntelPro Set offers the option to 'exclude' SSIDs I have found this to be no more stable ( so I switched back to WZC)

Venombite - I may try and move the rotuer - trying latest dirver first (9.0.2.31)

Chutsman - office phoine is 5.8 Ghz - we have a couple 2.4 Ghz phones but have not equated lost signal to phone calls - still long term plan is to replace the 2.4 phones.

Will see how the new driver works out ..weekdays seem to be worse as far as being spammed with multiple SSIDS (as I said before I have seen 7 at the most)

 

Update -

Moved the ROUTER - no differnce
Tried the Manual Remove / Reinstall Device and Driver - no difference

Now at Venombite suggestion running B only (still with WPA)

thx.............dy

 

Update - Ran B only was stable for about three hours then I got some message telling me someone was trying to connect to InterlProset so it disabled it ???

But I did notice (running Net Stumbler) I survied three or four occuranaces of SSID's comming online. I was still using WPA - TKIP.

Now I am experiementing with WPA (AES) not as secure but still better than WEP. Also switched back to 'mixed mode' broadcast.

To me so far looks to be an Issue with WPA - TKIP - the culprit ??? Hard to say some sort of conflict between Linksys WRT54GS (v1) and Intel 2915abg card or all cards. I have tried numerous Firmware versions on Linksys WRT54GS as well as numerous drivers on Intel 2915abg card. I have also used WZC to controll wireless as well as numerous version of Intel ProSet.

Broadcasting B only seemed to be the best so far (with WPA TKIP) ....every forward......

I see allot of support for Netgear routers here - I mentioned before I was willing to switch - anybody got a rock solid VPN / WAP machine in mind ?

thx............................dy

 

I feel I am my own thread hog .......

Well B only did not last .........I forget to mention I am also using High Gain Antenna's on the WRT54GS ...So now I am

Using WEP AES (which I mistakenly mentioned is less secure the TKIP - is more secure or at least as secure - and from what I understand less overhead than TKIP)

Broadcasting in mixed mode

Lessened power to 33% (was at 50%) a neat funtion of the HyperWrt Firmware .....

Feel like like I am taking 3 steps backward and two forward .....I know I am moving but pretty sure I am not getting anywhere :decision: