Very strange WLAN connection problem

[TheJTrain]

Ok, here's one I'll bet no one's heard before. I can't seem to get my IBM to connect with my SMC Barricade wireless router, but my wife's Dell laptop connects with no problem, and the IBM can connect to my neighbor's wireless network with no problem. I've had my home WLAN running for a couple of years now (and a home LAN for a couple years before that) and while I'm no JackMDS, I know my way around home networks well enough to handle mine and a few friends'/familiy members'.

Here's the particulars:
IBM Thinkpad with Intel(R) PRO Wireless 2100 Mini-PCI Adapter with most recent driver, 1.2.4.35
Windows XP Pro SP2

Dell B120 with Dell 1370 Wireless Mini-PCI Adapter with Windows XP-shipped driver, 3.100.35.0
Windows XP Home SP2

SMC2404WBR Barricade Turbo Wireless Router
- DHCP enabled
- MAC filtering disabled
- broadcasting SSID
- no WEP enabled
(normally I run it with all four of those set opposite, but for troubleshooting purposes I opened the sucker up)

1) I turn on the wireless broadcast on the router, boot up the Dell, it automatically connects to the WLAN and I'm surfing effortlessly.
2) I boot up the IBM, and bring up the WinXP Wireless Zero Config utility - it can "see" the fact that my WLAN is there, so I select it and click "connect".
3) It tries to connect for a few minutes, then the "waiting for wireless network" dialog goes away with no success/failure message, and my WLAN has an "Automatic" next to it in the "Available wireless networks" window. But it's not connected 'cause the taskbar icon says so, I can't surf, and I can't ping the router.
4) Repeat step 3 multiple times after rebooting IBM and router - no change.
5) I see my neighbor's unsecured WLAN in the "Available wireless networks" window, select it (with the IBM) and click "connect" - it connects in less than a second and I'm surfing merrily away (though with quite a weak signal). Repeat with Dell and get same successful connection.
6) Try my own WLAN again with IBM - experience same failure.
7) Disable the WinXP Wireless Zero Config utility (on the IBM), install Intel's PROset software, latest version 7.1.4.5 for the 2100 adapter.
8) After confirming that the WinXP Wireless Zero Config utility is no longer usable to connect to WLANs, repeat steps 3-5 using Intel's PROset software. See same results for both WLANs (mine=failure, neighbor's=success).
9) Start laughing hysterically in frustration.
10) Post to AT.

Um, help?

Thanks in advance,
Jason

 

[spidey07]

what encryption are you running on the router?

take all that out of the way and try again. the intel client also has a "troubleshoot wireless" option in the menu that can provide some good logging/messaging of what is going on.

 

[nweaver]

don't use WZC, the intel tool is much better. Also, with the newer ones, there is an "intel wireless troubleshooter" under the tools menu. That is crap, but it gives you acess to the logging, and that IS useful.

 

[TheJTrain]

spidey - no encryption at all (I usually run it but turned it off for troubleshooting purposes).

nweaver - the intel tool didn't work any better for me than WZC! The intel tool has no items under the Tools menu (seriously, it says "No Items" grayed out), but there's a "Troubleshooting" tab where I can enable/disable the log.

I'll get the log running and try again, and post back with what happens.

Thanks guys,
Jason

 

[netsysadmin]

What model IBM laptop is it? Most IBM laptops have a program from IBM called Access Connections. You might want to try the wireless using that method.

John

 

[pikachu656]

Do you have MAC Address filtering on?

 

[Madwand1]

Looks like you've eliminated the security stuff. Perhaps it's something lower-level, like turbo mode enabled on the router? Some clients are good at ignoring things they don't understand, sometimes things need to be turned off to connect.

You might also try finding out your neighbour's low-level "advanced wireless" settings and trying to replicate them on your router. Try blank account name, "admin" on the password, etc.

 

[TheJTrain]

netsysadmin: It's an IBM T42 - couldn't find anything under Access IBM or Thinkpad directories about connections, wireless or otherwise.

pikachu656: Usually yes, but I turned it off for troubleshooting purposes. Didn't help.

madwand1: I couldn't find anything in the router settings about turbo mode or anything out of the ordinary. I even tried turning UPnP (Universal Plug n Play) on - no joy. I'll try that on the neighbor's router - I haven't seen it broadcasting since I last posted. Is your username from a Roger Zelazny novel by any chance? ;-)

I even tried installing a PCMCIA wireless card (the one I used with my old Dell [so old, its processor was 650MHz!] laptop, so I know it works with this router), and tried using the Realtek utility and WinXP WZC utility, and got yet another result. This time, rather than giving me no message whatsoever like before, it told me that there was "limited or no connectivity" after seeing the wireless network as available and clicking "connect". Still couldn't get out so it didn't do me any good. This is really weird. I even updated the router's firmware (I had 1.10, 1.12 is current) and tried every combination (both wireless adapters, both utilities for each), still no good.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I tried running the logger in the Intel utility, but after turning it on and messing around for 10 minutes or so trying different settings etc., the only thing in the log is:
Date and Time:
Date: 1/28/2006
Time: 20:11

Adapter Information:
Name: PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter
MAC Address: [the MAC address of the adapter]
IP Address: 192.168.0.103 [which isn't even in the IP address pool of the router's DHCP server]
Driver version: 1.2.4.35
Firmware version: 714.2.20

SW Radio: On @ 20:11:41
Unassociated @ 20:11:41

and then nothing after that, nothing at all. I tried disabling and re-enabling the logging, messed around some more, but the new log was the same (with a new time stamp).

Jason

 

[Aarondeep]

you try hard resetting your router to factory defaults?

 

[TheJTrain]

Never did try a hard reset, but on the off chance it was some weird thing where Intel chips don't like SMC routers, I went and bought a new Linksys WRT54G from Circuit City knowing I could return it if it didn't work any better. Heh - worked like a charm, wouldn't you know it? So I suppose I'll stick with the Linksys, especially given that it'll do everything I could do with the SMC and I got it for $31 instead of the $70 the price tag said. I felt like I was reading a Monopoly card: "Register error in your favor: take $40". The dude running the register didn't even blink and I kept my trap shut. Sweet!

Thanks for the suggestions,
Jason