Intermittent wireless network problems

[Kevin]

After an undetermined period of time my laptop loses the
wireless network connection. I have seen a number of
posts on this newsgroup reporting what I believe to be the
same problem. The experts always (on the posts I have
read anyway) write back and say to deselect the
button 'Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this
network'. I currently have WPA-PSK (wi-fi) security setup
on my wireless network. In fact I suspect that my network
connection is lost when the group key renewal occurs.

The problem is I don't think this button can be disabled
without disabling the wi-fi security. That is certainly
something I do not want to do. Does anyone know how to
keep the WPA-PSK security and not intermittently get
dropped from the wireless network?

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

You cannot disable 802.l1x for WPA-PSK. the advice you see is for
people running WEP.

Can you post a little more about the brands and models of wireless
adapters and routers/access points on your network? Also, have you
downloaded the wireless rollup fix?
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826942 might fix the problem you
describe.

 

[Guest]

I have already installed the 826942 rollup. I verified
that in my registry settings. My laptop that is having
the problem is a HP Pavillion ze4560us and the wireless
adapter is a Broadcom 54g MaxPerformance 802.11g (driver
version 3.40.25.3 - 10/28/2003). I have a desktop that
is connected through a cat 5 ethernet connection but that
computer has yet to drop the connection.

Earlier today I installed the Broadcom Wireless
Configuration Utility. It looks to have great diagnostic
information. Since installing that my connection hasn't
failed though I am really curious to see what it says
when the connection breaks. I also see there is an
adapter setting under the Power Management tab to 'Allow
the computer to turn of this device to save power' and
that is selected. Should I deselect that?

My wireless router is a Linksys WRT54G. The latest
firmware is installed on it.

Also, I would like to let you know that your article on
the Micrsoft website for WPA security article (July 28th)
helped me tremendously in getting my network secure.
Thanks!

 

[Kevin]

I was a little quick on the send button. The 6:52 PM
post should be from Kevin and not anonymous

 

[Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]]

yes, try deselecting the power management option. please report back
if that helps. glad you found the column useful.

 

[Mike Fulstow]

Hi Kevin,


I have experienced the same kind of problem using WPA-PSK and have
found that the Microsoft recommended configuration is not the whole
story. When you configure WPA-PSK and TKIP on the Association Tab on
the Wireless Client config, Microsoft say that the 802.1x and EAP type
confi on the Authentication tab have no affect on the authentication
mechanism. This does not appear to be the case. My client is
configured to use Smartcard or Other Certificate; AKA PEAP-TLS.


The way the client authentication behaves with PEAP-TLS is controlled
by the following registry key: -

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\EAPOL\Parameters\General\Global

You add a DWORD to this location called AuthMode. The valid range is
from 0-2. 0 sets 802.1x EAP authentication to use machine credentials
(certificate in TLS) or user credentials (certificate) whichever comes
first.

1 means use machine credentials but if the user hasn't logged on drop
the connection after 60 seconds.

2 means use machine credentials only.

I have set the DWORD to 2 and it works! I am able to login into the
domain and the connection stays up with no problems after that.

If you do read please let me know how you get on with with this config
and hopefully your problems will be solved.

Cheers Mike.