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    Router Problem or Windows Problem?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by carlo, Jul 3, 2006.

  1. carlo

    carlo Notebook Enthusiast

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    Last November i bought a wireless package that contained a D-Link (DI-624) router and a pc card for my old notebook. They work very well together. Now I have a Dell e1505 with an intel wireless card and have a hard time getting it to connect to the router. I've secured it with WPA2 and sometimes it connects perfectly well. Other times it just hangs when it's trying to acquire an IP Address. Repairing the connection doesn't help. The only way to get it to connect is by taking the notebook over to the router and plug it in via ethernet. Once connected, it gets an IP address just fine. Then I can unplug it and voila! The wireless is working just fine. It's a pain to have to go plug it in just to get the wireless working each time. Is this a windows quirk or the router? Oh, this happens with another friend's Dell too (it has dell's wireless card).

    any ideas?
     
    carlo, Jul 3, 2006
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  2. jujube

    jujube Notebook Deity

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    It maybe the Dell wireless card or it could be different wifi standard: a/b/g - sometimes that causes compatibility issues.
     
    jujube, Jul 3, 2006
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  3. Vcdechagn

    Vcdechagn Notebook Geek

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    If it's just an IP address issue, try eliminating the DHCP portion of the issue by programming a static IP address, gateway, and DNS server(s). See if that fixes your problem. Also, go into your router's config and look at your DHCP lease info. See if your problems are occuring on the same scale as your DHCP lease settings (if your DHCP lease lasts a week and you have to plug in once a week, for example).

    Good luck.
     
    Vcdechagn, Jul 3, 2006
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  4. gethin

    gethin Notebook Evangelist

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    Try using WPA instead of WPA2, not a lot of things support that, and Dell's card might be aving a problem with it.
     
    gethin, Jul 3, 2006
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  5. carlo

    carlo Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for all the ideas. I'm pretty sure it's the router, maybe it does have something to do with the DHCP. I restarted the router after posting and it works just fine for now. We'll see how long that lasts. I'm not 100% satisified with this D-link router... good speed, but sometimes the connection leaves some to be desired.

    The intel card I have doesn't seem to have any problems using wpa2. the dell card on my friend's laptop had a little trouble however.
     
    carlo, Jul 4, 2006
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  6. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have seen routers have this kind of symptoms before. Some have problem when the log fills the designated bufer up. Try setting the log to log errors only, or turn off. Doing a power cycle clears the buffer and all well again for awhile.

    Also some chip sets used in wireless equipment is not always 100% compatable with other mfg, even though the meet the same spec.

    I have ralink 2500 (mini-pci) in my laptop, it has problems with everything. Even in the same room 5-10 ft away, dropped connections.
     
    blue68f100, Jul 4, 2006
    #6