Wireless-b connection randomly "dies" when using WPA encryption

[MoonSword]

Topic sounds simple, right? Well, maybe not. You be the judge.

Router is a "BEFW1S4 v4" Linksys wireless-b router. Not great, but it was a gift, so I don't complain. I've upgraded the firmware to the latest version.

The network adapter is a "WUSB11 v2.8" Linksys USB wireless-b adapter (also a gift), and I am using the latest driver for that.

The computer is running Windows XP Pro w/ SP2. I've also grabbed all the latest high priority Windows updates, and didn't see any other updates related to wireless networking.

The issue is that I've setup WPA Preshared Key encryption on the router and the computer. Everything connects and seems to work fine for a liitle while. I've got "excellent" signal strength. Heck, the wireless adapter is probably no more than 20 - 25 feet away in an adjoining room. I don't have any other 2.4 GHz devices (i.e. my cordless phone is 900 MHz), and I did not place the router near any sources of interference that I was able to identify. Problem is that the wireless connection "dies" anywhere between 10 minutes to 3 and a half hours. When I say "die", the connection just quits, but Windows doesn't realize it. It says I'm still connected, although the connection duration in the network adapter stats has stopped ticking.

I know that WPA encryption is very sensitive to signal strength, but I'm getting "excellent" signal strength, so I doubt that's the problem. The router is set to channel 1, and I've also tried channel 11 with the same results. I don't use channel 6 because I have a neighbor downstairs who uses channel 6 (and all the default settings). Heh. I've tried to warn my neighbor about that, but she doesn't get it. But I digress...

The network is fine if it's unencrypted, but I don't want it unencrypted. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks.

MoonSword

 

[MoonSword]

Update: I have an open dialogue with Linksys tech support, but that has been unproductive, so far. I moved the wireless adapter to another computer, read excellent signal strength, setup WPA-PSK (TKIP), and the connection only lasted 55 minutes. It's not signal strength. It's not fault of the first computer.

MoonSword

 

[JackMDS]

I do not follow any more 802.11b firmwares, but I recall that a lot of the 802.11b models including the Linksys use to have problems with encryption.

If WPA level of security is important to you, given the current "Fire Sales" on 802.11g, it might be a good idea to upgrade.

:sun:

 

[imported_Phil]

Funnily enough, my 802.11b access point is giving me the same problem. The connection slows.. slows.. slows... dies. Anything from a few seconds to a few minutes later, it's back and absolutely fine.

I use WEP as it doesn't support WPA. I'd love to be able to tell you how to fix this, but I suspect you're best off following JackMDS's advice and getting a decent 802.11g wireless device, as I will once I have a bit of free cash and this has annoyed me just a little bit more 😉

 

[Rottie]

try 1.50.14 firmware for your router. it is very stable.

 

[MoonSword]

Linksys took it down from their website. They only link to the newer 1.52.02 firmware now. Any idea where I might find the older firmware?

(I know, I know... shoulda backed it up... shoulda, woulda, coulda... didn't. My bad.)

MoonSword

 

[Rottie]

Firmware 1.50.14 download

 

[db]

During any of the times when this problem happens, is there any Power Option activity or timeouts (including screen saver)?
Also, are you running a stock hosts file?

 

[MoonSword]

Firmware 1.50.14 download

Thanks! 🙂

During any of the times when this problem happens, is there any Power Option activity or timeouts (including screen saver)?

Sometimes, but not consistently. It has also happened several times while my girlfriend and I were playing a game over the network.

Also, are you running a stock hosts file?

Yes. I never touched it. In fact, it's a very recent install of windows, and I did a spyware scan which came back fine.

Update: A friend of mine let me borrow a linksys WUSB54G USB adapter for wireless-G, and I installed it with the latest drivers (v1.0.8.0). Funny thing is, it kept reading unstable signal strength between 2 and 5 bars, and kept adjusting the network speed between 2 to 11 Mbps, but it never dropped the network connection. I tested it for 7 hours.

When I use my WUSB11 v2.8 adapter, the longest connection duration I achieved was 3 and a half hours (but more often dies under 1 hour), but it always read a full 5 bars of signal strength, and never adjusted the network speed below 11 Mbps. This adapter is in brand new condition.

I'm thinking that there may be a bug in the WUSB11 v2.8 drivers, or the adapter is a lemon. I'm favoring the drivers because the adapter works fine as long as I'm not using WPA encryption. I'm gonna try an older version of the drivers and see what happens.

MoonSword