Weird wireless network problem.

[Booshanky]

I went to a clients house a while back. she said she was having trouble getting any wireless signal in their house, so they bought a linksys WRT350N router and that helped out with the signal problem they were having.

So I go over there, configure their router and get it all secure, but they have this one desktop computer downstairs that just CAN'T connect for some reason. Initially I thought it was because the antenna was broken (it was pretty bent from the pc being shoved back into a desk), but when I replaced it with a brand new card with an external antenna it STILL doesnt' work.

It'll see the network just fine, and it shows a really strong signal strength. But when I try to connect to the network it will just connect and disconnect every second or so. Looking at it though the wireless configuration utility that came with the new card, it just says "link up" one second, and "Link down" the next. When it shows "link up" it shows the signal strength, signal quality, and noise level and all those look perfect. Until it drops the signal the next second. It happens so quick I can't even ping the router, let alone load a web page.

I even put the old wireless card back in (a linksys wmp54g) and used the antenna that came with the new card and it does the exact same thing.




Here are some even more mind-boggling facts. Her mac laptop works just fine in that area. Connects to the network perfectly, no signal degredation or anything. Also, the desktop PC can connect to this other unsecured wireless connection in the neighborhood just fine, even though it's got a shitty signal strength. It just can't connect to her network.


I changing around settings in the router, different channels, setting it only to use wireless G, etc. Nothing worked, nor would I have expected it to considering three other computers in the house connect to it without issue.




Any clue what it might be?

 

[xSauronx]

try re-entering the security key. common behavior for an improper key is that it will connect and disconnect immediately. probably have a l instead of an I or something

 

[Booshanky]

Yeah, I've tried that. I had to enter the key multiple times after switching out the network cards. It's not a super complicated key or anything. It's WPA-PSK if that helps at all.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Booshanky
Yeah, I've tried that. I had to enter the key multiple times after switching out the network cards. It's not a super complicated key or anything. It's WPA-PSK if that helps at all.

meh, ive entered a key wrong more than once trying to fix it before

does it work without security enabled? are the drivers up to date?

 

[Booshanky]

I have not tried it without security enabled. If it worked without security enabled what might be the fix for it then?

And yes, all drivers are up to date.

 

[spidey07]

Then that means it's a security setting.

You can sometimes see what you're seeing if every single detail about security isn't perfectly matched with the AP. Be generally if you're troubleshooting wireless the first step is to remove all security.

 

[JackMDS]

We need to know if the problem stems from core wireless problem or wrong configuration.

Trying it without security is the first step in isolating the problem.:light:

If the problem gone when you disable security then we know that something is wrong with the security setting, and can help you to fix it.

Otherwise there is No way to fix things unless you send us airline tickets and a big advance check so that some one can fly over and fix the thingy for you.:thumbsup:

 

[Booshanky]

Ok, I'll check it out the next time I go over there. The main reason I didn't bother to disable the security was because three other computers could connect to it just fine so I figured it had something to do with the computer itself rather than some sort of security configuration problem.

 

[JackMDS]

The security pe-rse can be OK, but there might be a mismatch between the Router and the specific computer.

Sometime passphrase can end up yielding slight different Hex Code. easpeacilay with WEP.

Example: http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#wep