I am trying to set up a WiFi network in my house using a Linksys 802.11g (WRT56G), and a Linksys Wireless PC Card (WPC56G). I followed Linksys's reccomendations and let WinXP handle the setup of the wireless card. All seems well at first, but I'm having some strange behavior, and some major questions about the system.

Using NetStumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com), I can see signal strength, and it stands at about -25dBm, and the laptop is about a foot away from the AP.

Moving about 10 feet away in the same room as the AP, the signal drops to around -55 to -60dBm. Moving one room away, into the bathroom, the signal stays almost the same. If I move downstairs, and sit at the base of the staircase, the signal nosedives to -80dBm. If I go outside and sit on my porch, the signal strength will jump back up to -30dBm, then completely lose the signal.

Whats strange is that NetStumbler will report another AP active as soon as mine loses it's signal, with a MAC of all 0's, and the vendor listing as 'fake'. Is someone Wardriving me? As soon as I come back into the house, the signal from my AP will be low, NetStumbler will be able to pick it up, but the 000 AP will also be active as well.

After I lose my signal, then come back into the house, my connection as reported by the system tray, will come and go. Doesn't matter if I'm downstairs, or right next to my AP. Seems like it will spend 30 seconds connected, then 30 seconds disconnected, but while it's reporting connected, I will not be able to send or receive anything through the card (internet, e-mail, etc.) If I right click on the two-computer icon, and select "View Available Wireless Networks", nothing is avaliable. I cannot use the connection again until I reboot my computer.

I've spend the last day and a half trying to get this dang thing to work, and I've had no luck. Any ideas on what the heck is going on with my WiFi network??

 

I used to work on multiple ap's with 300 sa's. On my home system, I hardwired it.

 

first thing i did with my router is go to advanced tab than the wireless tab and change the setting from "allow all" to "restricted access" and then in the list put in your mac address for your card. that way only your card will have access.

i was told that the signal for the wifi does not travel up and down that well. i know mine looses alot of strength when i am in the basement

 

Metal HVAC ducts, wiring, and appliances will do strange things to the signal also. I hardwire everything. Try orienting the antenna perpendicular to the plane where most of your activity will be in. Example; -if you were all on one floor the antenna would be straight up.

Check that setting that 73highboy4x4 listed. My neighbor left his "open" and the cable company noticed it when they were out servicing my cable system. My son went over and fixed it for him.

 

You might try going into the router setup and changing channels in case you are getting interference.

The WPC56G probably doesnt have an external antenna available- which means it needs a really strong signal. You could try a higher gain antenna on the router to compensate for this.

Worse case- theres a "wifi extender" available from Linksys for about $100 to cover dead areas of the house.

 

73highboy4x4,
I did enable the MAC restrictions on the router, and only used my card's MAC. I'm thinking that NetStumbler is 'seeing' my wireless card as an AP when I lose the signal from my AP.

Torque1st,
Good point about the HVAC ducts! There's a tangle of HVAC ducts right outside the door (in the attic, and buried in the wall of course.)

jeffthompson,
WiFi extender will be a last resort option. I've got a friend who is a computer weee-zard, and he'll work for Guiness, so I'm going to give him a call today.

Thanks for the help y'all!

 

always remember that wifi, just like anything else that deals with rf energy, is line of sight, and you might just have some weird angles that the signal is trying to get around in certain areas of your house.

 

Is it normal for a WiFi connection to go belly up after it loses a signal? In other words, after it loses a signal from being out of range, is it supposed to 'come alive' once it's back within range? Mine won't, and I'll have to reboot to use the connection again...

 

Also, i know this i not related to your signal problem, but make sure you change the defalt password. i assume you did if you knew to change the mac setting. i was told alot of people get into wifi networks because no one chaged the defalt password

 

What brand of WiFi router you using?

Some D-Links need the Windows wireless config turned off or they behave like you describe.

 

Using a Linksys WRT54G, with a Linksys WPC54G wireless card.

 

Sorry- didn't associate you with the original thread starter or I would have known.

They are supposed to reconnect automatically or at least offer the option- it seems to take about 30 seconds for my windows to register the signal is back though.

 

I'm about to throw the whole lot out the window!! For some reason, everything has stopped working this morning! The network cable from my cable router is plugged into the back of the WiFi router, and from the router, to the back of my computer. All was well, and I could use either the wireless card, or the network cable to get online. Today, NEITHER have been working at all. The only way I can get online is if I plug the network cable from my cable modem directly to my computer. This is freaking ridiculous!

ON EDIT: Ooooh this sucker must be toying with me! Just to make sure I wasn't crazy, I plugged the cable back into the router, and viola! My wireless connection is rocking & rolling again. Waaah!

 

You have DHCP enabled on all equipment?

 

I had the same setup as your's .
I got rid of the card and use an Orinoco card.
The range of the Orinoco is better too .
My main problem was noise , like loud white noise , when i used the laptop in the same room as the AP .
It should reconnect when it looses signal without a reboot.

I cant for the life of me think of what your problem is, could you post your setting as found in your connection .

Oh and i work for Guinness too , so if your mate can't make it i will fly over and have a look :-)