Getting short random disconnects... And is there a way to extendthe time outs?

[Ant]

Hi. I am getting these short random disconnects with the wireless
connection for Internet. Some of the disconnections last mostly a second
to rare five seconds. I can be online for 30 minutes just fine or a few
minutes. The disconnects vary. It doesn't appear to rely on time of the
day (even when people are sleeping). I have seen these disconnections
happen during the day time and even just a few minutes ago at 3 AM PST.

It doesn't seem to matter which operating systems (Windows XP Pro SP1
and SP2, and 2000) and hardwares (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.) used.
It doesn't appear to be a distance problem (good and excellent signals)
either since it happens one floor below the WAP and a couple rooms away
on the same floor. When I am downloading, the speed is consistence.

I read the Broadband Reports' wireless forum's FAQ:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/11298 but IEEE 802.1x authentication
greyed out and unchecked so I assume it is disabled.

Also, is there a way to extend the time out periods from disconnections
in Windows? I would like to set the time outs to a minute during
disconnections. Trillian v3.0, games, PuTTY, etc.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and
Kira from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Guest]

Hi. I am getting these short random disconnects with the wireless
connection for Internet. Some of the disconnections last mostly a second
to rare five seconds. I can be online for 30 minutes just fine or a few
minutes. The disconnects vary. It doesn't appear to rely on time of the
day (even when people are sleeping). I have seen these disconnections
happen during the day time and even just a few minutes ago at 3 AM PST.

It doesn't seem to matter which operating systems (Windows XP Pro SP1
and SP2, and 2000) and hardwares (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.) used.
It doesn't appear to be a distance problem (good and excellent signals)
either since it happens one floor below the WAP and a couple rooms away
on the same floor. When I am downloading, the speed is consistence.

I read the Broadband Reports' wireless forum's FAQ:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/11298 but IEEE 802.1x authentication
greyed out and unchecked so I assume it is disabled.

Also, is there a way to extend the time out periods from disconnections
in Windows? I would like to set the time outs to a minute during
disconnections. Trillian v3.0, games, PuTTY, etc.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and
Kira from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Sharon F]

Hi. I am getting these short random disconnects with the wireless
connection for Internet. Some of the disconnections last mostly a second
to rare five seconds. I can be online for 30 minutes just fine or a few
minutes. The disconnects vary.

I see this when I'm on the outside "edge" of the area that my wireless
router/adapter can communicate. If I move a few feet closer to the router,
the signal becomes stable and the disconnects no longer occur. Sometimes
experimenting with the location of the router will yield a better signal.
In some cases, you can add an "extender" between the router and target
computer to increase the range of the signal.

 

[Carey Holzman]

http://tinyurl.com/3lmfp

Carey

 

[Ant]

Shelly, did you accidently post a blank reply?

:

--
"PLEASE tell your aardvark that I'm NOT an anthill!" --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Beam and Yanou vs.
PIt - The Free Fall [A1-The Opus]

 

[Ant]

I see this when I'm on the outside "edge" of the area that my wireless
router/adapter can communicate. If I move a few feet closer to the router,
the signal becomes stable and the disconnects no longer occur. Sometimes
experimenting with the location of the router will yield a better signal.
In some cases, you can add an "extender" between the router and target
computer to increase the range of the signal.

Odd. I still get disconnections even if I am only a couple rooms away
(wooden walls) or even downstair (one floor) directly below WAP.
--
"Ladies and Gentlemen, hoboes and tramps...Crosseyed Mosquitoes and
bow-legged ants...I've come to tell you the story..." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Beam and Yanou vs.
PIt - The Free Fall [A1-The Opus]

 

[Ant]

Interesting. I had no disconnections for two hours straight from 4 AM to
6 AM PST this morning. I don't know if that gives any clues.

Hi. I am getting these short random disconnects with the wireless
connection for Internet. Some of the disconnections last mostly a second
to rare five seconds. I can be online for 30 minutes just fine or a few
minutes. The disconnects vary. It doesn't appear to rely on time of the
day (even when people are sleeping). I have seen these disconnections
happen during the day time and even just a few minutes ago at 3 AM PST.

It doesn't seem to matter which operating systems (Windows XP Pro SP1
and SP2, and 2000) and hardwares (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.) used.
It doesn't appear to be a distance problem (good and excellent signals)
either since it happens one floor below the WAP and a couple rooms away
on the same floor. When I am downloading, the speed is consistence.

I read the Broadband Reports' wireless forum's FAQ:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/11298 but IEEE 802.1x authentication
greyed out and unchecked so I assume it is disabled.

Also, is there a way to extend the time out periods from disconnections
in Windows? I would like to set the time outs to a minute during
disconnections. Trillian v3.0, games, PuTTY, etc.

--
o/~ All the little ants are marching, red and black antennae waving...
they all do it the same... they all do it the same... way... o/~ --Ants
Marching song by Dave Matthews Band
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Pachelbel,
Albinoni, Bach, Handel,Tartini, Mozart - Canon in D for Strings and Continuo

 

[Ant]

Interesting. I will try that. I don't think my wireless is switching to
another network because I have seen this behavior with my own WAP (don't
connect to others).

http://tinyurl.com/3lmfp

Carey

--
"Everything tastes better at a picnic... the ants, the sand,
everything." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: doom2 18

 

[Carey Holzman]

If it's disconnecting, then it's changing it's connection status, right?

Carey

 

[Ant]

Yeah. I just had two of them earlier. It doesn't seem to help, but I was
fiddling with the network stuff so that might had affected it.

If it's disconnecting, then it's changing it's connection status, right?

Carey

--
"Do not kill ants. They are your best friends." --Joe Brainard
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Ravers on Dope -
Hardcore Vibes (Original Mix)

 

[Ant]

I got another one. The suggestion doesn't seem to be helping. Any other
ideas are welcomed.

Yeah. I just had two of them earlier. It doesn't seem to help, but I was
fiddling with the network stuff so that might had affected it.

--
"An Ant-Man has very low horizons." --Forrest Gump
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Symphonic Rock
Orchestra - The Phantom of the Opera

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

Ant wrote on 24-Dec-2004 3:20 PM:

Interesting. I had no disconnections for two hours straight from 4 AM to
6 AM PST this morning. I don't know if that gives any clues.

I investigated identical symptoms with USB-attached Linksys WUSB54G and
the Linksys WRT54G access point/router. Using XP SP2 with all updates.

Some folks said they fixed the problem by disabling DHCP on the client
computer. (There might be some problem with the DHCP server on the
Linksys router.) I didn't find that helped in my situation.

I finally found an update for the driver on this particular USB adapter
(version 4 hardware). It seems to have helped considerably, but I still
get quick disconnect/reconnects every hour or so. There doesn't seem to
be any interference from other WAPs. I get the disconnects even when the
adapter is a few feet from the WAP.

 

[Ant]

I investigated identical symptoms with USB-attached Linksys WUSB54G and
the Linksys WRT54G access point/router. Using XP SP2 with all updates.

Some folks said they fixed the problem by disabling DHCP on the client
computer. (There might be some problem with the DHCP server on the
Linksys router.) I didn't find that helped in my situation.

I finally found an update for the driver on this particular USB adapter
(version 4 hardware). It seems to have helped considerably, but I still
get quick disconnect/reconnects every hour or so. There doesn't seem to
be any interference from other WAPs. I get the disconnects even when the
adapter is a few feet from the WAP.

Exactly! That is how mine is doing. I am using the latest driver for
this USB adapter. Are you also noticing this on other wireless network
devices (not just USB) and WAPs (different brands and models)? I see it
in PCMCIA cards too.

I have been online for six hours straight on one session so far tonight.
It is a different WAP too from what I noted in original post. I don't
know what's up. The current signal strength is "Good" and has been like
that before. Sometimes it goes down to "Poor", but that's rare.

I just cannot determine the pattern and source(s) of these random
disconnections.
--
"The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal
consideration." --Michael W. Fox, Vice President, The Human Society of
the United States, The Inhumane Society, New York, 1990.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Kent W. England [MVP]]

Ant wrote on 25-Dec-2004 11:20 PM:

Exactly! That is how mine is doing. I am using the latest driver for
this USB adapter. Are you also noticing this on other wireless network
devices (not just USB) and WAPs (different brands and models)? I see it
in PCMCIA cards too.

I have been online for six hours straight on one session so far tonight.
It is a different WAP too from what I noted in original post. I don't
know what's up. The current signal strength is "Good" and has been like
that before. Sometimes it goes down to "Poor", but that's rare.

I just cannot determine the pattern and source(s) of these random
disconnections.

I can't pin down the cause(s), but they seem to be driver-related or
related to the DHCP service on the router and its interaction with the
XP DHCP client.

One thing I noted in my investigations is that it can be difficult to
fully update the drivers on a USB-attached network adapter, since if you
plug the device into a different USB port, XP gives it a different
identity and may automatically install out-of-date drivers. This makes
sense, because you could theoretically buy several identical network
adapters and simultaneously plug them into different ports on your
laptop. Admittedly, this is a rare situation, but you need to realize
how USB adapters work. If you have ever updated the drivers, then both
the new and old drivers will be present on your system (since the other
adapter instances are still using the old driver).

For example, if you have two USB ports on your laptop, you need to
update the drivers by plugging the USB adapter into each port and
updating the drivers for each. If you only update one USB port and
accidentally use another (or an external hub), then you may be using
out-of-date drivers. It's worth double-checking all your adapter
instances to make sure that all are fully up-to-date.

Of course, if these adapters had PnP serial numbers, then XP could
identify each adapter and avoid creating duplicate identities for each
USB port. I believe PnP supports this, but many/most network adapters do
not.

 

[Ant]

I can't pin down the cause(s), but they seem to be driver-related or
related to the DHCP service on the router and its interaction with the
XP DHCP client.

Hmm. I seen it happened with Windows 2000 SP4 (all updates) machines as
well. How about you?

I was online for over 20 hours in one session! So perfect!! I had to
reboot earlier so I don't know if I can stay online for a long time
again. It only happened twice in the week. Sheesh, wireless isn't that
great if it is so unstable.

One thing I noted in my investigations is that it can be difficult to
fully update the drivers on a USB-attached network adapter, since if you
plug the device into a different USB port, XP gives it a different
identity and may automatically install out-of-date drivers. This makes
sense, because you could theoretically buy several identical network
adapters and simultaneously plug them into different ports on your
laptop. Admittedly, this is a rare situation, but you need to realize
how USB adapters work. If you have ever updated the drivers, then both
the new and old drivers will be present on your system (since the other
adapter instances are still using the old driver).

Even from normal driver uninstall doesn't clean this mess up? The driver
supplied by D-Link Web site is old (2003) so I am not that worried.

For example, if you have two USB ports on your laptop, you need to
update the drivers by plugging the USB adapter into each port and
updating the drivers for each. If you only update one USB port and
accidentally use another (or an external hub), then you may be using
out-of-date drivers. It's worth double-checking all your adapter
instances to make sure that all are fully up-to-date.

You know what's funny? If unplugging and replugging the wireless network
USB adapter with the same port and device, Windows XP must reinstall
driver. Sheesh. Annoying.
--
"Bother," said Winnie the Pooh, as the ants devoured him.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phillip (Ant) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx & http://aqfl.net
| |o o| | E-mail (nuke ANT if replying privately to a newsgroup
\ _ / post): (e-mail address removed) or (e-mail address removed)
( )
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.