Disconnect issues with WRT54G

[Mercutio]

I know a couple folks here have them (Linksys' G AP, WRT54G)

Has anyone run across "frequent disconnect" issues with this device? I have a couple of clients with APs that I've had to replace because their NICs "lose" their AP periodically.

One of them is complaining about this now on his replacement unit as well.

Is this endemic with the WRT54G or am I just unlucky?

 

[Buck]

Are these PCMCIA/CardBus NICs or PCI NICs?

 

[blakerwry]

i just read some user opinions... one thing I saw a couple times was that by default the wireless access point is set to only transmit at the 54Mbit rate... auto speed is probably more reliable.

Also to note, some people have suggested that changing from the default channel has also helpped them..

But for every negetive there seems two positives... so I'll just say you're either overlooking something (like the auto speed) or you're unlucky with either your AP's or your wireless NICs.

 

[Mercutio]

Mostly PCMCIA or integrated. One of the sites has a machine with a PCI NIC.

Client PCs are all running 2000... except one machine that's using OS X (e.g. it ain't a software problem).

I did site surveys as I did my installation - these are offices that are well-covered and have good signal strength even outdoors and in nearby hallways. These are businesses, too. Not a lot of cordless phones floating around causing problems.

It's happening on all the machines, usually all at the same time. Gotta be AP-related.

 

[Mercutio]

blake, I'd beat myself to death with a soup spoon if I didn't know to change change channels on an AP that's exhibiting interference problems.

These are mixed clients as it is - Centrino-base notebooks (or that one iBook) with 802.11B integrated. The APs have had to be set in autospeed mode.

I found this in digging around on the subject.

It could be that a lot of people have a bad product, or just that several people have bad examples of a very common product, but it doesn't look good from reading that.

 

[blakerwry]

i hear the new netgears are pretty good... the futuristic looking ones...

 

[Howell]

You are facing the exact issues what I experienced with my 4 WRT54G's. Well RMA it back, get a new one. My 5th one works really great.. no issues since the past 4 months.

Neighbor recently got one and had the same sort of problem(s). Got the 7/21/2003 update and it helped a lot. He talked directly to the LinkSys developers and they admitted they are still working on signal quality and compatibility problems, and expect a series of firmware updates over the next few months. They recommend that if he is having quality or range problems, that he change his Transmission Rate setting from AUTO, to a much lower forced rate, and strongly recommend the 11Mb setting used by the older equipment. He now gets much better quality and greater range, 250 feet works fine to his PDA.

*Shrug* Could it be 110-power fluctuation related?

 

[Mercutio]

Well, I visited the site in question and yes, it's the router that's disconnecting. I replaced it with a similar but less capable model from DLink. I'm hoping the problem doesn't re-exhibit, but everything was working better when I left.

I'm going to set up the Linksys unit in my house and monitor it to see if the problem followed the router or if it's something about that site.

 

[Clocker]

Merc-
With my WGR614 (Netgear) I had frequent disconnect issues when using 128-bit WEP. So, I was forced to use 64-bit WEP for a while.

Since I got the latest firmware from Netgear, I can run 128-bit WEP without any disconnection issues whatsoever. So, you might try experimenting if WEP is causing your problem...and look for a firmware update (which I'm sure you're up on anyway)...

C

 

[Handruin]

After reading the troubles about this router, I'm hesitant to recommend the linksys to Laura's parents. Is the netgear model a better choice? Amazon has the linksys WRT54G for $100 after rebate.

 

[blakerwry]

i hear the new netgears are pretty good... the futuristic looking ones...

This is the conclusion I came to after a couple of hours of onliune research. They're supposed to have better range than the comparable models from other companies. Aparently their setup options are about average, I didnt see any complaints nor complements other than it was easy to setup.

 

[Mercutio]

I'm a little hesistant to purchase Bay Networks anything, and Netgear = Bay Networks. I've never been a fan of their high-end equipment.

Just from cursory examination, it appears the WRT is still disconnecting. This is a desktop PC with a USB adaptor, and I'm only maybe 15 feet from the silly thing. I've seen the "Wireless Network 2 has been disconnected" twice since I sat down this morning.

 

[mubs]

Y'all may recollect that I asked a question about the WRT54G a while back (got it from Amazon for $59 after $10 MIR). I also bought 2 WPC54G's to go with it. The first thing I did was flash the router to the latest firmware and download the latest drivers for the PCMCIA cards. Set up was smooth, except couldn't turn on WPA. Apparently MS has issued an update to Wireless Zero Config, but I had to call Linksys Tech support to find that out (it doesn't get downloaded thru WinUpdate). Dumb guys don't say anything about it on their website.

The whole setup has been in use 3 weeks, and nobody's complained yet. I see one of the users every week end, and keep badgering her about it, and all she's got to say is that everything has been working perfectly.

Incidentally, there is another wireless router in the neighborhood that broadcasts it's SSID, so it's not that it's a pristine environment. There is no cordless phone in the place, but anywhere from 0 to 7 cell phones at any given time.

FWIW, I've set the router to 54g mode only.

So Merc, if you're using the latest FW on the router, it's either the specific settings in the router or the environment it's used in. Sorry can't help other than to relate my experience.

 

[mubs]

Merc, MS has apparently "quietly" released several wireless bug fixes for WinXP. You may want to check them out. Read about it here.

 

[Mercutio]

Ahem.

This will probably lead to re-visiting several customer sites.
Maybe I'll just move 'em all to RADIUS and be done with it.