Home wireless network just a toy?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
I have comcast installed linksys wireless network. I've had an increasing problem with network drop outs even though I'm 25 feet away line-of-site, excellent signal strength. The error i get is unable to renew DHCP. It can happen repeatedly for several minutes. They claim I'm running wireless "G" though the equipment says wireless "B" on the label.


I got mad and went back to a hard wire cable and my problems have gone away.

So far they have told me:

Can't have another computer with wireless in the same room.
Can't use cordless phone in the same room.
Can't use cell phone in the same room.
Can't run a firewall on the computer with the wireless network.
Can't run VPN through the wireless.
Maybe the network 3 houses away is interfering.

My take is linksys wireless network is a pile of steaming shiiiite.
 
that sounds about right :) i have never heard of any of those things causing a problem. sounds like crappy equipment.
 
If you have an old house... it is just a toy! If you've got plaster walls, metal beams in the cielings... your not going far!
 
who is "they" comcast or linksys? just call linksys and they'll walk you through fixing your problem. as far as linksys' rep, they're the best. they're owned by cisco so what do you expect. now Dlink is a reaal piece of ****.

edit: the person above me makes a point, if you have solid walls then that's a problem, but not as much as you think because the signal bounces (its kind of complicated) and it shouldnt matter anyway because its in line of sight. your problem sounds common though, does it error like every 24 hours? it could be as simple as your lease is too short or it might take a few minutes with a linksys support tech. it's a hell of alot easier on the phone than us trying to help you here. good luck
 
I've had more success with D-Link than any other brand. Mine works in the same room, different room, upstairs and outside. I have the wireless extreme G wireless kit (1 card + 1 router).

N2
 
I didn't call linksys, this was comcast. May I'll try linksys support.
 
I would like to have one like this. Buddy of mine used to live in one of the dorms here, his roommate moved in and started using someones network. The fact that his computer picked up a network in one of these dorm rooms amazes me. Some are so bad that when you walk inside your cell phone goes out of service. Every room is seperated by cinder block, fire doors, metal stud walls. You name it and it could get in the way here. Whatever they are using is pretty solid.
 
well it depends on the equipment on both ends. if you've got an external antenna like this

cantenna.jpg


then you can aim that badboy at networks a mile away :eek: theres alot of factors out there. anybody interested in this stuff check out www.netstumbler.org
 
DaveH said:
I have comcast installed linksys wireless network. I've had an increasing problem with network drop outs even though I'm 25 feet away line-of-site, excellent signal strength. The error i get is unable to renew DHCP. It can happen repeatedly for several minutes. They claim I'm running wireless "G" though the equipment says wireless "B" on the label.


I got mad and went back to a hard wire cable and my problems have gone away.

So far they have told me:

Can't have another computer with wireless in the same room.
Can't use cordless phone in the same room.
Can't use cell phone in the same room.
Can't run a firewall on the computer with the wireless network.
Can't run VPN through the wireless.
Maybe the network 3 houses away is interfering.

My take is linksys wireless network is a pile of steaming shiiiite.
Click to expand...
I have Comcast and a Linksys wireless router. I use my cell phone at my computer all the time. I run a Black Ice firewall on my computer. Neither the cell phones or the firewall have caused problems.
 
I got this thing, where it puts your conn through your house electrical circuit. There is a transmitter near the rounter/modem, then where ever you go in the house plug in a reciever, and a ethernet cable into that, and stick it in your comp, and you're good.

Not exactly wireless, but good enough for me, and it's way faster than what I was running before (Linksys, Wireless-B)

It's from netgear.
 
Comcast is feeding you a line of crap. I've run wireless at home for 5 years now and:

I often have several computers with wireless in the same room.

I have 5 cordless phones in the house and use them all the time while still using the wireless network.

I often use my cell phone in the same room.

I run several personal firewall products on computers on my wireless network.

I run VPN's all the time.

and

I have never had a problem with other access points causing interfering.

Next they will tell you that your microwave oven is the problem.

As to D-Link... I used to hate their products due to problems with cheap network cards and hubs/switches back in the "old days"... However... D-Link has always showed in testing to have some of the highest throughput and greatest range for their wireless products. They sure seem to be able to tune their chip sets. I have had good luck with Cisco, D-Link, NetGear, and 3Com products... Linksys has never been a great product but they sell a ton of consumer product.

As to the PowerLine products... I've seen it go both ways. Sometimes it works... Sometimes it don't. I try to avoid these setups.
 
DaveH said:
So far they have told me:

Can't have another computer with wireless in the same room.
Can't use cordless phone in the same room.
Can't use cell phone in the same room.
Can't run a firewall on the computer with the wireless network.
Can't run VPN through the wireless.
Maybe the network 3 houses away is interfering.
They forgot the most important thing: It only works while standing on your head, drinking water, and singing the National Anthem....

Oh, and then only in alternating months with Rs in them... and not when the moon is full... and not on Sundays... and...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
That's a bunch of crap. I have a cordless 2.4ghz phone base two feet from my NEtgear WiFi Router that is only used as an access point while hooked into my original Netgear FVS318 router for my wired LAN and I can sit at the other end of the house talking on my cell phone and access my database at work through a VPN connection. You need at least a level two tech as the morons you've been talking to don't know what they're doing.

John
 
i have an apple airport extreme....works great with the dsl line... plaster walls and all

it states that 2.4 ghz phones can interfere with wireless network...i have a 5.8 cordless and it has been no problem to use
 
DaveH said:
So far they have told me:

Can't have another computer with wireless in the same room.
Can't use cordless phone in the same room.
Can't use cell phone in the same room.
Can't run a firewall on the computer with the wireless network.
Can't run VPN through the wireless.
Maybe the network 3 houses away is interfering.
Click to expand...

Bull. Pure, unadulterated bull.

I run a Linksys wireless router with two cordless phones, two cell phones, and another wireless router next door at my neighbor's place. Firewalls will not interfere with pulling DHCP, and I have run three wireless computers and a Wi-Fi PDA in the same room simultaneously with no problems. I also VPN to my workplace 100 miles away.

Try updating your drivers for your wireless card; that would be my first recommendation. FWIW, I work on PCs for a living; I'll help if I can.

---
Ta,

H
 
Dr. Hannibal Lecter said:
Bull. Pure, unadulterated bull.
Click to expand...

Well not exactly, they were fairly common problems when wireless ethernet first came out. I have still heard of very rare cases where people get interference with cordless phones too. But yeah it is pretty much they are giving you the brush off. If they say the problem is with your house, or caused by you they don't have to help you.

Try giving Linksys a call, the should be able to help. It might just be the router settings causing the problem. How often is the router set to renew the DHCP? I think that if it does it multiple times during the day it is possible to lose connectivity while it is renewing.
 
I develop software for a company that has operational facilities around the world and have to go on call about once a month for a week.

It is wonderful to get a call in the middle of the night, roll over, flip open a laptop, connect to where ever I have to connect fix the problem and never have to leave the bed. Other than that it is useless to me.:D

Firewalls, cellphones and cordless phones should not be an issue if all your firmware is up to date. I use VPDN to connect to work locations and the main network, and Norton Firewalls on the other machines in my house in addition to the router firewall.
 
I need to hook up a old laptop I was given, so I may tinker with it tonight.
 
Mentioned this problem to the network support guys here.

As soon as I mentioned Comcast their eyes glazed over :D saying they have had a lot of problems with Comcast, the 54g and our work network connecting.

Not having comcast as a provider, I do use a Linksys 54g (and have been for quite a while (over a year) without those types of issues.
 
Indoors you should realistically expect around 120ft of range. However theyre only 100mW transmitters so things can easily interfere. I have added some notes below to your points. Other things that commonly interfere are microwave ovens (make sure its not in use when youre running your WLAN) and also if your PC is bluetooth enabled try turning that off. Even though bluetooth is much lower powered, it can still interfere.

Can't have another computer with wireless in the same room.

This isnt true if the other computer is on the same wireless network (ie connected to the same access point) even if its on a different access point it can still work by either changing the wireless channel or turning the power right down so theres no interference

Can't use cordless phone in the same room.

This is actually a valid point. Some cordless phones will interfere with a wireless LAN. If you have a cordless phone which runs in the 2.4Ghz range then this could be a problem. Turn off the handset and unplug the base station power so none of it works and then try your WLAN again, if it works then the cordless is your problem.

Can't use cell phone in the same room.

Cell phones shouldnt be a problem, cell phones dont run at 2.4Ghz

Can't run a firewall on the computer with the wireless network.

While a firewall may be causing some problems, it would just be because of a possible configuration error on the firewall. Its certainly not the case that you cant run a firewall on a wireless lan.

Can't run VPN through the wireless.

Definately not the case. In certain commercial wireless lan designs you would force all wireless users to connect via VPN for security reasons. They may be talking about a corporate lap top with a corporate VPN client which may not work through a home router/ firewall.

Maybe the network 3 houses away is interfering.

Depends on how far away it is, the antenna they are using, the channel both they and yourself are using and whats in between them and you. If theyre just using a standard antenna and theyre at least a couple hundred feet away then there shouldnt be a problem. To be sure you can change the channel, add 5 to the channel youre running on now and try that, thats the next non overlapping channel. there are only 11 available channels so if youre running on channel 11 you need to try channel 1 instead.


Also try resetting the access point and reconfiguring it and configuring all devices for static IP (no DHCP) that way you get out of any problems with the DHCP. Make sure you change the default password on the access point configuration page so you know no one is wardriving and changing your settings for a laugh. Use something like s93jnejhfhrn5 write it down and lock it in your desk drawer, your main risk here are people guessing your password not someone going through your stuff and finding a written down password. (If theyre rifling your desk then your wireless lan is probably the least of your problems!!!)
 
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