Linksys WRT54G router and XP SP2

[Guest]

I have an issue that bugs me really bad and I do not know how to stop it or
if it even is a problem and needs to be stopped. It appears that Windows is
disconnecting me from my router and then reconnecting. I see this popup
appear from the wireless nic at random times that tells me that my "wireless
network connection is now connected". I have read that this only happens
using SP2. I'm not sure if I am disconnected/reconnected, or this is just a
harmless reminder that I am "online".

Can someone please tell me what is up with this?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Windows isn't disconnecting you, it is telling you that the signal to the
router was lost momentarily. This is irksome, but harmless. You might check
for a driver update for the network card, and also for a firmware update for
the router (do NOT install a firmware update from a wireless pc, always do
it from a system that is cabled directly to the router).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Alphonse]

Though I cannot tell you why this is happening, I can tell you that it is
not a reminder that you are connected... it is harmless while on the net
because it happens so fast that never anything is lost, except a little
image or two if it happens while a page is loading, but if you were copying
files between pcs, or installing s/w through your lan it would be a
different story.

 

[Vagabond Software]

I have an issue that bugs me really bad and I do not know how to stop it or
if it even is a problem and needs to be stopped. It appears that Windows
is
disconnecting me from my router and then reconnecting. I see this popup
appear from the wireless nic at random times that tells me that my
"wireless
network connection is now connected". I have read that this only happens
using SP2. I'm not sure if I am disconnected/reconnected, or this is just
a
harmless reminder that I am "online".

Can someone please tell me what is up with this?

I had this problem with one of those $20 Gigafast Wireless PCMCIA cards. It
took some doing, but I eventually managed to find the right driver update
for the card. Now it remains connected without the annoying disconnections.

carl

 

[tommy626]

I had this problem, I went to services then to wireless zero config, change
the startup to disable and for me all is well

 

[Guest]

re:

Hi Tommy,

Thanks for the reply and the advice. I am trying what you said and will let
you know if this little annoying issue goes away for me. My net connection is
obviously working, and there have been no popups "yet" for me. I'm curious!
What does this "Zero Configuration" setting do, and am I going to have any
problems with my wireless network anywhere else by having this disabled?


Thanks again..

Dwayne

 

[Guest]

Hi again!

I wanted to let you know of a problem. With that service disabled, I was no
longer able to see the available network connections. In other words. when I
would right-click on the ICON in the sytem tray and choose, "view available
wireless networks, there was nothing there. I guess once you connect to a
network and then disable that service, the connection will remain. You can
not, of course, disconnect without the service being on. Besides this issue,
I wonder if I need to be aware of anything else that might be a bit more
nasty. I can live with not being able to disconnect. especially since that is
the underlying issue anyway...LOL

Thanks

 

[LiberalsSuck]

I have the same issue with the WRT54G router and a WMP54G wireless card,
although I have not yet installed SP2. I installed the latest (at that
time) Windows XP WPA Hotfix (KB826942 from Microsoft) and latest WRT54G
firmware upgrade 2.02.7 (as of 5/6/04).

With the above configuration, I will lose the connection for several minutes
every so often (a few times per day). I have the security set pretty high:
WPA (with best encryption possible), MAC address filtering, no broadcast of
SSID, etc.

I do have wireless zero configuration enabled. When I tried disabling it, I
couldn't see ANY connections to choose, much less enable a connection and
have it work. I have heard that others disabled it (and some of them used
another kind of wireless management program) and had everything work well.
Wierd!

Without the security (no encryption, no MAC filtering, broadcast SSID to the
whole neighborhood), I maintained a consistent connection (slightly faster
too) that never went down, unless my someone walked by with a 2.4 GHz
cordless phone. Then, there were temporary interruptions.

In my opinion, the WRT54G router and WMP54G PC card do not broadcast very
powerfully compared to other wireless router choices. This can actually be
a benefit in that a neighbor's wireless system has a smaller chance of being
able to pick up my router's transmissions.

My advice (take with a grain of salt as I am no expert):
1) Ease up on the encryption as much as possible. Go to a smaller bit (not
128). See what happens.

2) Set your router to broadcast the SSID. So what if your neighbors next
door can see your router show up on their PC's wireless system. As long as
you keep some encryption, they can't access it. I keep mine turned off
because of my conspiracy theories about the IRS, ATF, and one world
government.

3) Try the lesser WEP encryption. It's not as good, but since when do you
need to keep CIA-trained hackers from accessing your system? I keep mine on
WPA because it makes me sleep better at night. I can live with the
interruptions. Of course, having the connection go down while playing Call
of Duty online tends to tick me off to no end.

4) Get rid of all 2.4GHz cordless phones and electronics. Hey, if the
wireless system is that sensitive to even the slightest hiccup in that part
of the EM spectrum, buy a 5GHz cordless phone. They're pretty cheap now a
days, and you're cordless phone reception will be better.

5) Stupid, but funny...line your walls and ceiling with aluminum foil or
lead-lined sheetrock (if you have the money). Then, disable all security on
your router. Your family will look at you strange, but your friends with
pocket protectors will think that you're the man!

I think that these Linksys products are just not the best on the market
(best technology wise and best value either).

 

[Guest]

Funny that you mention the 2.4GHz phone issue. I had the same connectivity
issues for a while. I upgraded the firmware on the router (directly cabled,
of course) and it appeared to go away. The connection would on occasion get
REAL slow or we would have poor phone reception. Our phone and wireless
network were operating on the same frequency range. I went out and got a new
phone 5+ GHz, and all had been well since. If you have a cordless, it could
be weakening your signal.

 

[-rwxrw-r--]

Funny that you mention the 2.4GHz phone issue. I had the same connectivity
issues for a while. I upgraded the firmware on the router (directly
cabled, of course) and it appeared to go away. The connection would on
occasion get REAL slow or we would have poor phone reception. Our phone
and wireless network were operating on the same frequency range. I went
out and got a new phone 5+ GHz, and all had been well since. If you have a
cordless, it could be weakening your signal.

Wouldn't it have been easier and less expensive to setup your wireless ap to
use a different channel that didn't interfer with yoiur 2.4GHz phone?