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Wireless Wierdness

sourceninja

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Ok, this makes no sense, but I'll see if anyone has any ideas.

My macbook pro is typically connected via ethernet to my linksys WRT54GS v6 router running dd-wrt v24sp1. This works flawlessly. I connect up the ethernet, the usb (for keyboard, mouse, and time machine) and a dell 2001fp monitor that I run as an extended desktop.

If I want to work downstairs in front of the tv I unconnect everything and go downstairs and use the WPA (tkip+aes) wireless G connection (set it mixed mode because my wife has a work machine that only supports wireless B). This also works just fine. I can sit downstairs and use wireless on battery or power adapter without issue.

Now for the weirdness. If I take that laptop back upstairs and put it on my desk the wireless works fine (about 2 feet from the router) UNTIL I plug in my external monitor. Once I plug in my external monitor ping times spike and eventually I can not ping anything.

The wireless stays connected and shows full strength, only I can't ping anything or browse any internal or external resources. If I unplug my monitor everything starts working again.

All I can say is WTF!!!
 
Here is a test, do something on your laptop that is going to push your graphics card, with the monitor unplugged. Play a newer game, watch some 1080p videos, whatever. See what happens to the wireless then. The only thing that I can think of based on my hazy understanding of the layout of the MBP's logic board is that when you hook up the external monitor it causes the graphics card to work harder which in turn generates heat in that region of the board. That heat may be ill affecting the 'thingies' (technical term) that control the wireless.
 
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Good idea, I'll play spore tonight with the wireless on and see if my wireless dies.
Click to expand...

Plug in your laptop power cord, THEN plug in your monitor cable. Now try wireless 🙂
 
Ok, I solved the problem. The solution makes no sense.

I changed the channel on the router from 6 to 1.

Problem solved.
 
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Ok, I solved the problem. The solution makes no sense.

I changed the channel on the router from 6 to 1.

Problem solved.
Click to expand...

Well, it only makes sense that for a problem that made no sense, you would have a solution that also made no sense.
 
So my WRT54GL came in the mail today. I fired it up stock linksys firmware and tested, on channel 6 I can not connect to wireless with an external monitor in use. This does not matter where the router is placed in the room. Change to channel 1 or 11 and it works fine.

On a side note, I just flashed that one with DD-WRT and it works just great 🙂
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Ok, I solved the problem. The solution makes no sense.

I changed the channel on the router from 6 to 1.

Problem solved.
Click to expand...

Well, it only makes sense that for a problem that made no sense, you would have a solution that also made no sense.
Click to expand...

:laugh:
 
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