Netgear 802.11b adaptors driving me up the wall

[imported_Phil]

Hi all,

I work for a certain very large PC superstore in the Kent branch, UK (I'm sure UK folks know who I'm talking about..."where in the world...") ;-) and we're trying to get a wireless network going in the store, won't bore you with why.

Machine A is a new PC which is connected to the internal store network (Cat5->wall) and goes from there to the 2Mbit ADSL line and the corporate intranet. High-spec, running WinXP Home, with one of these wireless adaptors.

Machine B is a WindowsME machine (for testing purposes, I hate ME, argh!), also high-spec, with also one of these adaptors.

I've got the LAN & Wireless connections bridged in WinXP so that the ME machine can not only get on the 'net, but the intranet too. It works fine for about five minutes, then the connection cuts out (no more data received by B), a reboot sorts it out.
I've eliminated Machine B by trying a WinXP Home laptop, that also cuts out after about five minutes connected. The connection still shows that it's active, but no more data is being received by machine B.

I called Netgear tech support (a tech calling tech support, how humiliating...!), the French (sigh, this took a looong time) guy said to try hopping to another Channel and dropping the transmission rate to 5.5Mbps from 11Mbps. However, you can't do this under WinXP because only the drivers are needed and therefore are only installed. On ME or under, the utility is installed which means you can change channels and speed etc.

So- how can I get Machine A's connection settings changed as I can't use the Netgear program? Also, why the hell is the connection screwing up after about five minutes data transfer? It can't be the distance, as the two machines are about thirty feet away, with only a glass partition between the two, which really shouldn't be messing things up, as the laptop I tested was *next to* Machine A when testing. Changing the data rate shouldn't be the fix, as it's set on Auto anyway (have tried it with 11Mbps).

If anyone could help, I'd be so grateful, I really want to get this sorted and try to keep my 100% fix rate!

Thanks,

Dopefiend

 

[imported_Phil]

<bump>

 

[Double Trouble]

Interesting.... I've been using the netgear 802.11b for a while with no major issues. Given that distance is probably not the problem, could it be that it's not really that it 'cuts out' after 5 minutes, but rather that something (perhaps some other device in the office) is turned on and causes interference? Maybe a telephone (2.4 Ghz wireless) rings around that time, causing the connection to get messed up? Maybe someone downstairs puts his burrito in the microwave and turns it on, causing the connection to drop?

Do you have the latest drivers loaded on both machines for the wireless devices? Are they the same brand? Some of the 802.11b devices don't seem to want to work with each other as well as they should.

I don't know what the answer is, just trying some possible ideas....

 

[imported_Phil]

Same drivers for both adaptors (well, same version, but the WinME one installs a systray icon with lots of configuration stuff whereas the WinXP one uses Windows' built-in wireless config prog which sux).
And, no digital telephones near the system, unless you count two mobile phones...?

Dopefiend

 

[Double Trouble]

That's an interesting one indeed. The only thing I can think of is to try a different brand of wireless NIC to see if it does the same thing. If it does, there's something in the environment causing a problem. If it doesn't, you may just have a bad Netgear NIC.

 

[Mist]

Here's an anecdote, but which may help you look at the problem from another angle.

On my Mothers mantlepiece in her home, she has a clock which chimes every hour.

Now, at 2pm everyday when the clock chimes, it turns on the music centre, no other time, just 2pm. I assume that it's some kind of frequency from the chiming which is causing this.

My point is that since you mention mobile phones, then could a similar thing be happening with you, since when manufacturers develop their products, they obviously can't take every environment into account.

Is there maybe a mobile phone mast nearby, or maybe even the frequency from your instore communications or whatever?

Since it's wireless, then I think that there maybe a frequency somewhere which is interfering with your connection.

I'll be interested to follow your results.

Btw, I prefer to use a branch of your employers. They may be a bit more expensive than others, but at least I'm assured of quality, which I'm not if I go to a discount PC shop. Your employers services are definitely underrated.

Michael.