PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: Andy K on January 24, 2009, 11:47
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I've had alot of problems with my wireless since using vista ::)
and just wondered if it is a common problem with vista.
I've not had problems with XP or Win98
Currently using a PLEXUS USB reciever
Problem
1) When a neighbours unsecured network is switched on it won't let me connect to mine. So I end up manually connecting to theirs.
2) When theirs is off, I have to wait about 2-3 mins after switching the PC on before my PC will connect to my router.
My signal level is good (one down from the top)
my route is secure.
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I'm not familiar with a PLEXUS USB reciever, Andy, but one idea might be to change the Wireless Channel that your router receives on, so it's different to your neighbour's.
The above should hopefully solve things, but you might want to get your neighbour to secure his network, as that would also hopefully stop any interference with your own, and would be good for his own protection.
By the way, not a telling off, just an advisory, but did you know it's illegal to access another person's wireless network without their consent, as he could be facing a bill for your internet use, if he's on a capped service. Of course, if you have an agreement with your neighbour, it's sort of OK, but may still be against the T&Cs of his ISP.
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yeah, I'd go with trying a different channel before blaming vista - though I always like to get into a vista bashing..
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thanks for the replies.
I changed channel ages ago when I set it up, to make sure it wasn't on the same channel as anyone else.
This stop interferance or clashing I assume.
But my computer will still scan all channels.
how do I look at which channel the neighbour is on in vista ???
P.S I don't know which neighbour is it.
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This might help, Andy: http://www.download.com/InSSIDer/3000-2085_4-10848357.html?tag=mncol
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Is there not an option to use preferred networks only in your wi fi network settings in Vista ?
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This might help, Andy: http://www.download.com/InSSIDer/3000-2085_4-10848357.html?tag=mncol
Are you familar with this tool. I installed it, and I think it put it somewhere in program files, but I can find it / see how to run it ? :blush:
I also noticed today and yesterday that sometimes it won't connect to either (manually), I reboot the machine and it's happy.
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Are you familar with this tool. I installed it, and I think it put it somewhere in program files, but I can find it / see how to run it ? :blush:
I've just installed it on XP and it appears in the Start Menu > All Programs list, under 'Metageek'. However, when I tried to run it, I got the error in the attachment below, so maybe it will only run on Vista? :dunno:
I also noticed today and yesterday that sometimes it won't connect to either (manually), I reboot the machine and it's happy.
Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the Plexus receiver, but I occasionally have to reboot my Vista laptop in order for it to connect to my wireless router. I wouldn't like to say whether it's a Vista problem, or one of general connectivity, i.e, positioning, hardware, etc.
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I have three machines using Vista and no problems I use a netgear adaptor on one the other built in,hope you get it sorted and this helps in some small way good luck
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Oh excellent. Thanks. It runs on my machine.
They are on different channels then.
My router is the top connection Orange
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv321%2FAndyPK%2Fwireless.jpg&hash=2ac296bc49f9a596fdab5ca2f767cf2fe79a2a46)
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I can only suggest changing your channel to somewhere in the middle, say 6 or 7, so it's well away from the others. Other than that, I'm a bit stumped for any more ideas. Just a point, but you said you don't know which neighbour is affecting your connection, so how are you certain that it is one of them which is causing the disconnections?
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There are a whole host of other devices that can affect the wireless signal. For example wireless doorbells, video senders and cordless phones all use 2.4Ghz range signals. You can normally set the channel on your router to auto and let it choose the best channel to use.
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The only device from that list I have is a wireless doorbell.
I don't think it is a hardware problem, but more of a software problem.
Once it connects it's fine for hours until the PC is shutdown.
I expect the only way I will solve it is to reinstall windows. ::)
And that is another story.
a) as normal I have no Windows CD provided
b) I can't see an option to create one off the HDD
c) I assume it's in a boot menu. Alt F9 ?
It's a zoostorm PC.
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Have you tried removing all of the network settings, and starting again, Andy?
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don't think so.
what/how do you mean ?
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Right, rather than clearing everything, first, go into Control Panel (Classic View) > Network and Sharing Center > Manage wireless networks, then make sure your connection is at the top of the list, and clear all the other entries. You can also right click your connection, select Properties, and you should see three boxes. Make sure 'Connect automatically when this network is in range' is ticked, and untick 'Connect to a more preferred network if available'. That might make it ignore any connections other than your own.
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yeah tried that many times
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And what happens? It just finds the other networks again? I wonder if there's any way to stop it automatically searching for networks?
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Ok. Here is another tangent :leer:
To be honest what I am about to say is what I thought the problem was in the first place but moved away from it (for some reason).
There are two wireless connected PC's in the house.
Router is turned off at night.
It appears I have to boot one PC up first (dell/thomson), so that it connects to the router (and takes an address ?)
Once this has happened the Vista PC (plexus) which gives me the trouble appears to be happy to connect.
Ages ago I setup/fiddled with the router settings to make it secure, not knowing what on earth i was doing.
Maybe adding fixed addresses has caused this problem ?
Due to someone going back to work today, (and leaving the Dell/thomson switched off) has pointed me in this direction.
I could well have two or more problems. :dunno:
Could you experts take a look at these settings and tell me if i have set it up wrong please :-\
Thanks
It's a siemans router
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv321%2FAndyPK%2Fwirelessip.jpg&hash=18c33dba98bbfaa9849567dfaebc1cf91daa37f6)
(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv321%2FAndyPK%2Fwirelessip2.jpg&hash=5cbb8bfb4477faa327c7414dcae9218808231693)
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Sorry Andy, I'm not familiar with that router, and only managed to connect my own more by luck than judgement, so hopefully someone else will be able to shed some light on this. Is one of the computers connected by Ethernet cable, or is the whole set up wireless?
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they are both wireless
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The allowed MAC address for the Dell Thompson is different to the assigned address.
The MAC address should be fixed on the equipment so I would alter it on the allowed part to match the actual one and see if that works.
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It appears I have to boot one PC up first (dell/thomson), so that it connects to the router (and takes an address ?)
Once this has happened the Vista PC (plexus) which gives me the trouble appears to be happy to connect.
Amazing. Today I turned the router on, turn on the problem PC. And it logged in fine ':|
I don't think there is an error with the mac addresses. The dell/thomson doesn't give me problems,
I think that is the screen resolution making the character look different. But tell me which ones you think are wroing and I will check
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Setup looks OK to me (from the routers perspective). When your troublesome PC does connect without a problem do you actually get allocated the IP addresses that you expect for each machine ? If not; is one of the computers possibly set up as a static IP allocation that clashes with one of your DHCP allocated ones ?
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don't know, How would I check ?
Type ping on the PC ?
I have entered the last number 9 - 13 into the router to force an IP address ?
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Would opening a command window, then typing ipconfig /all be what you're looking for?
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Yes Simon, spot on !
Edit: you'll need to check the wireless adapter of course for the matching MAC addresses (just in case you have more than one MAC for the machine). If there's no cable for the (assumed) ethernet port then that will show as "media disconnected" or words to that effect.
That will show which IP address has been allocated to each of the machines. You should also do that when the machine fails to connect and check what's been allocated to the other machines.
Here's where you'll find it on vista:
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ipconfig /all
gave this
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Zoostorm
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : xxxxx
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 5:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : xxxxx
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : RT73 USB Wireless LAN Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-B0-8C-04-F9-2C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.14(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 19 February 2009 19:13:57
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 29 March 2145 02:09:15
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8168B/8111B Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1F-E2-5F-F4-F2
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
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Right, so that one machine has been allocated it's 192.168.1.14 address (it's preferred address as noted in the output). Which is correct for that one machine (comparing the MAC address and IP address from the PC with how it's set up on the router). You now should do the same for all of the other machines that you've configured in the router for both the failing and working scenarios. In the working scenario they should all match their configuration on the router (ie the pairing of MAC address and IP address). Notice that this machine is also confirming that's it has been set up with both HDCP and Autoconfiguration enabled and that the subnet mask also matches. If any of them show up with the adapter config not set to DHCP and Autoconfiguration enabled then that may be the culprit. If everything looks OK and you can still provoke the failing scenario by starting machines in a different sequence then it's back to the drawing board for another possibility.
Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection 5:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : xxxxx
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : RT73 USB Wireless LAN Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-B0-8C-04-F9-2C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.14(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 19 February 2009 19:13:57
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 29 March 2145 02:09:15
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
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thanks. Will check the other one.
Another thing I forgot to mention.... :-X it that another way to encourage it to connect is to boot it up and leave it alone for 3 mins or so, it will then connect. If I try to manually tell it to connect it refuses straight away without even trying.
I'm now having other issues with IE7, so I'm going to have to try and reinstall vista. Oh what fun.
I just hope it might fix this problem too.