Problem With Home Wireless Connection

[DCH]

Hello everyone. I'm a first time poster, so I hope this is the right section.

Here is my problem:

I have just purchased a wireless router (linksys befw1134 ver. 4) for my home DSL internet connection (swbell dsl). The model is plugged into the router and then the desktop, which is running Windows XP Pro.

My Laptop is a new Dell w/internet wireless (intel I think) and its is running Windows XP Home. I have the router set as follows:
1. MAC Filtering is on. The MAC address for my laptop is the only one I've allowed.
2. Wireless Security is set to WPA-PSK (pre shared key). I put my password in and set it to reset the key (?) every 3600 seconds (the default, actually).
3. The SSID is not being broadcast, and I've changed it from the default "linksys".

My Laptop is set with all the same settings for this particular connection (including the WPA-PSK password, and the SSID name).
Everything works FINE for about an hour or so (maybe more) until my connection to the internet ceases. THe two little computers at the bottom are still there and flashing. The Laptop says the connection is available and even is receiving "excellent" signal strength. However, I cannot connect to anyweb sites at all. IE says I have to work offline because it can't connect to the internet, even though it is receiving strong signals from the router.

The desktop is on the internet and connects to web sites during all of this. I have tried to change the settings on the router (i.e., disabling WPA security, broadcasting the SSID...). Nothing works.

I am not a networking expert, so any help would be great. Thanks.

p.s. Do I need XP Pro do make this worK?

[Redfallon]

Originally Posted by DCH Hello everyone. I'm a first time poster

Welcome to PCMech!

Originally Posted by DCH I hope this is the right section.

Yep

Originally Posted by DCH My Laptop is a new Dell w/internet wireless (intel I think) and its is running Windows XP Home. I have the router set as follows: 1. MAC Filtering is on. The MAC address for my laptop is the only one I've allowed. 2. Wireless Security is set to WPA-PSK (pre shared key). I put my password in and set it to reset the key (?) every 3600 seconds (the default, actually). 3. The SSID is not being broadcast, and I've changed it from the default "linksys".

That's exactly the setup you want. Are you using static IP addresses or are your computers being assigned an IP address from the router (DHCP aka obtain an IP automatically?)

Originally Posted by DCH Everything works FINE for about an hour or so (maybe more) until my connection to the internet ceases. THe two little computers at the bottom are still there and flashing. The Laptop says the connection is available and even is receiving "excellent" signal strength. However, I cannot connect to anyweb sites at all. IE says I have to work offline because it can't connect to the internet, even though it is receiving strong signals from the router.

Do you have firewire on that laptop? Are there any other "network adapters" listed in with your network devices? I had a problem where xp listed IEEE1394 (firewire) as a network adapter, had similar problem to yours, disabling the adapter fixed my problem. Does "repairing" or "refreshing" the connection fix the connection or does it require a reboot?

Originally Posted by DCH Do I need XP Pro do make this worK?

No, XP home will network just fine, however, if you haven't upgraded to SP2 yet, you may want to consider this, as it is more "wifi" friendly than previous XP versions.

[mbossman2]

welcome....you are far ahead most people in your set up....

do you have the latest firmware for your router?

[DCH]

hello everyone.

Yes I am using DHCP to obtain the IP automatically. Clicking repair doesn't do it, nor does refreshing the connection. Usually reboot does it. I have updated the firmware and the driver for the internal wireless adapter on my notebook.

I do have 1394/firewire on my network connections folder as well as an ethenet connector (wired networking?), neither of which I am using normally but both of which are enabled. I have tried following your advice and disabled the 1394/firewire (since I really don't use it that much) and also the ethernet adapter. I am connected to my wireless network with all the security settings enabled as I stated before and so far so good. I was on for a couple of hours earlier and I stayed connected. So, maybe that did it. Thanks for the advice. I never would have thought of that.

As for XP ServicePack2, the INSTANT I install it my wireless connection goes bye-bye. It says there is no reception at all. WHen I uninstall the servicepack, I get the wireless signal back. Go figure. I'd kinda like to figure it out so I could be fully updated with Windows, but I really don't feel like messing with it. You know what they say, "If ain't broke (anymore ) don't fix it!!

thanks everyone.

[Redfallon]

Glad to hear you may have found a solution. Now out of curiosity, do you have a front panel firewire port that connects through a cable that plugs into the rear firewire port? I ask because I think that's the reason the firewire network shows up. As for the ethernet, did you used to have the computer hooked up directly to the cable modem, and then bought a router or anything? As for SP2, the problem is probably with the firewall being enabled by default. Or I've heard some people say that SP2 reset their network TCP/IP settings, or cleared them, and they had to re enter them. MY SP2 install worked seamlessly. I think getting rid of the DHCP and using static IP addresses for your computer(s) would be the way to go. I am unsure what the default gateway would be for your router, however. What is the IP you use to surf into your router? Like a linksys is, by default, 192.168.1.1

[DCH]

Hey,

Actually the firewire port is on the side of the laptop. I'm not sure exactly howi it is configured. That is the one that I disabled. I don't believe that I have one on the desktop.

And I had the desktop computer originally connected to the DSL modem, and then put the wireless router inbetween the computer and the modem. The ethernet connection I disabled was on the laptop, and I don't really use that one either. The ethernet port on the desktopis, of course, still active (wired to the router).

I have heard the same things about SP2. Specifically, that I would have to configure the new firewall to allow my wireless connection.

I have also learned that our DirectTV signals, and other unrelated signals, can interfere with the wireless network and disable it temporarily. I have the router right next to the desktop, but there may be some intermitant interference. So, I may move it a bit further away.