Finding Wireless problems

[Barakka]

Having problems with my wireless network recently.

Have a Belkin 54G WAP, PC using a Belkin 54G PCI Card, and a laptop with a Belkin 54G PCMCIA card all about 6 months old. All have been working fine until about a month ago (solid 54Mb/s connection), when the network just dropped off and disappeared. Could connect to the WAP via the wired network but not via wireless, much rebooting and shouting etc. and it came back on.

Worked fine again until a few days ago when the network disappeared again... after last time it has been on Broadcast SSID incase this happened and it just can't be seen, anyway I changed the channel ID and it came back on.

But now the network is just useless, I get a steady 54Mb/s connection, open IE to connect to the web and as it's trying to open Google you see the connection drop 54, 48, 32, 24, 18, 12, "wireless network not available"

Anyone had these sort of porblems before ?

[herulach]

can you see any other wireless networks in the area?

[Barakka]

Unfortunately not, there's only mine in the area, are you thinking it could be a fault on the AP ?

Think I might have an old 22Mb AP i could try lying around somewhere.....

[herulach]

i'm thinking your nextdoor neighbour just installed a wireless network and youre getting interference tbh

[Barakka]

So if I turn my AP off my WiFi finder should still give me some beeps ? Will give it a try tonight

[Dr. X]

Google for 'netstumbler', it'll tell you if there are any nearby wireless networks and what channel they're on. You can try changing your channel as apparently having significantly different channel numbers helps avoid interference so much.

[Barakka]

Google for 'netstumbler', it'll tell you if there are any nearby wireless networks and what channel they're on. You can try changing your channel as apparently having significantly different channel numbers helps avoid interference so much.

Cheers for that, showed me an AP within range on the next Channel, very useful app that, will have to have more of a play when I get some free time

Think my problem is down to the AP though, did a reset to factory defaults on it and saw it pop-up in NetStumbler and then drop off about 20 seconds later never to return. Tried every combination/Channel/reboot/reset I could think of and it still comes online when first booted for about 20 seconds then disappears.

Dug out a spare Wireless broadband router and bodged that up as a WiFi bridge and works perfectly... 54Mb stable as can be so I guess my AP is the culprit. Disappointed as it's a Belkin one (so half decent) and only about 6-8 months old.

Thanks for the help

[taqies]

Yerp, My belkin died after one year of use. I think it's because of our heavy usage of p2p traffic..

[Rabs]

IRC, the only true channels with no slight overlap (cross talk between frequenices) are channels 1, 6 and 11.

Try setting your router to one of these, also - how far away is your wireless equipment from your router? Ive seen cases when if your too close - the wireless throws wobbles with the exact symptoms you describe.

Also, as mentioned - other wireless access points/routers can cause the symptoms you mention - only cure is to switch channels.

You could also try changing encryption type to WPA (preferably), 128bit WEP or even 64bit WEP (with different keys everytime) and see if that cures the problem.

If theres a firmware update available for your router, make sure you update it - this can solve many wireless problems.