Wireless Network Connection Dropping

[Sahrin]

Hey, I'm running XP SP2 and my wireless connection behaves in the following way:

Connected (Signal Low) 11.0mb
Connected (Low) 5.5mb
Connected (Low) 2.0mb
Connected (Low) 1.0mb
Not Connected
Acquiring Network Address
Limited or No Connectivity
Connected (Low) 11.0Mb (repeat)

I can't think of what this could be, because it seems to have no problem recycling the connection. If I repair, it skips to the limited connectivity part and starts over. I find this all very irritating, and the thing that is most troubling is that the WAP is literally one room over, with maybe 20 feet of distance between the WAP and the adapter.

I have my UPS in almost direct line of site between WAP and adapter, and I was thinking this might have something to do with it. Is there a solution to this problem?

 

[JackMDS]

It sounds like you have ?Distance? problems.

For debugging purposes. I would put the Wireless Client in the same room, switch off the Wireless security and start from there.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

:sun:

 

[wyvrn]

Hey I brought this back up because I am having the same problem. I am using an Averatec notebook with a Ralink minipc, built-in wireless adapter. The laptop worked fine and then I had the same symptoms as OP above.

I bought an antenna that adds 8db to router. However, distance isn't the problem. I can be sitting right next to the router, and get the same thing.

I called Motorola (they make my router) and we updated firmware. I don't think that is the problem, because, other people's laptops don't drop connection like mine, on my network.

I called Averatec, and have update drivers, troubleshot network settings, ad nauseum. The lady suggested it might be XP SP2 because she sees lots of BB posts about it.

Before I send my laptop in, does anyone have any advice?

 

[wyvrn]

I cannot remove SP2 from my computer. I followed the MS knowledgebase article on how to do it, but it doesn't appear in my windows directory or on list of updates in add/remove programs. Hmm..

 

[nweaver]

I have never seen SP2 cause issues, except with firewall stuff (not really wirless related, more general network)

To troubleshoot wireless:
Run netstumbler, find the best channel for signal to noise ratio. Try to be at least 4 channels from other AP's in the area (better to share then be <4 channels away)
Setup channel, sit next to AP, turn ALL security off, and test the connection. Add 128 bit WEP to AP and client, test again...continue adding security related changes until you either lose a stable connection, or are satisfied with your security. If the AP has no security and you are sitting next to it and have an unstable signal, it's either AP or client most likely. Since you say other clients are fine, I would send the laptop back/replace the card (if it's MiniPCI, AKA "built in")