D Link question

[jesshimom]

We finally bought and installed a D Link Router/card kit from Costco for my laptop. Hopefully I can muddle through the issue and someone will have a bit of info on how to deal with this. I think it's an 802G????

Anyway, the connection speed on my laptop says 108 mbps and it says signal strength excellent. However, it keeps disconnecting and I have to reconnect. I was told that because of all the pumps/powerheads we have throughout the house (4 tanks) they are causing interferance with the connection; especially the pumps on a timer that cycle on and off (something about radio waves they emit???). So, I was told basically the most sure fire way to get around this issue, since it really isn't a signal strength type issue, was to hard wire. I'm just wondering if this makes sense, as none of it does to me.

Thanks for any info! :idea: :idea: :idea:

 

[esmith]

That sounds like it might be possible, but highly unlikely. How far away are you from the wireless router when this is happening? Some of my friends have had problems connecting when they are on the far end of their house, as the signal must pass through all the walls to get back and forth to the router...but most of them do have 802.11b, and I have 802.11g and have never had any problems with mine.

Another thing you might try is searching on Google for anyone having problems with the same firmware you have. I have two different cards, one is firmware version B and one is version C, and my version C is a little finiky comared to the version B (you can find the firmware version on the bottom of your wireless card, then check the version on your router). There might even be a firmware update on DLink's site which will fix your problem, so you will want to check there too.

HTH,

Eliyah

 

[mattseattle]

try this and see if this solves the problem....
Double click on the Wireless Network connection icon if it's in your tool tray
Click Properties
Click Wireless Networks
Down under Preferred Networks you should see the SSID of your wireless adapter
Make sure the name is highlighted and click on Properties
You'll see an Authentication tab - click on that
There is an option "Enable IEEE 802.xx Authentication for this network"
Uncheck it
Then click OK and close out the windows

Mine was doing the same thing as yours when I bought my 802.11g wireless card and after doing the above steps it solved the problem.

Also, our 2.4ghz cordless phone will sometimes kick us offline but that is another issue.

and who told you it was powerheads doing this? i seriously seriously doubt that is the problem. my tank is right by my wireless router and i'm not having any issues like that due to my tank.

 

[jesshimom]

You're of course so smart Matt. Scott just wonders if that has anything to do security wise???? It was weird though because when by the tanks downstairs with the laptop when you would hear the pump cycle on, it would disconnect.

Thanks!

 

[mattseattle]

no, that option has to do with security when hooking to a domain and such. the security for wireless deals with WEP/WAP. That is only enabled if you set it up in the wireless router and network card portion. It's a good idea to enable this so you are not sharing your wireless connection with your neighbors.

so what i outlined above fixed the issue? wow...i'm impressed if it did. i should pat myself on the back.

 

[jesshimom]

Yes it fixed it but I'm confused if it affected security at all.... if it is enabled it disconnects, (I tried again). WIth it unchecked are you saying the neighbors can share our wireless connection? You have to speak very simply (as you know) because I'm very techno-illiterate.

 

[mattseattle]

hop on IM and I'll chat with you there about it.

 

[Llarian]

802.1x requires a cert server typically and a lot of extra configuration to pass its auth tokens to the clients. Without that, you can associate, but since you're not authorized to remain connected (as there's no SOA for the 802.1x setup), you get booted right away.

Enabling WEP and disabling SSID broadcast are both good ways to keep most people from connecting to your access point. If somebody REALLY wants to get on, they still can, but its probably not worth their trouble at that point.

-Dylan

 

[mattseattle]

thanks Dylan. Yeah I knew that and was trying to explain it to Colleen in terms she would understand.

 

[Katchupoy]

In my case, I cannot use WEP because I have various brands of wireless going around in my house...

The only sure way I can get it secured... is

1) to config my network to static and not dynamic.... this way, they will need to know the exact IP address group you are in to before they can see you.
2) Then put passwords to all computers specially those administrator that has blank defaults should be changed....
3) change also the workgroup name you are into... in this case... they need to be in your workgroup before they can access your computer. And usually they wont see your workgroup name.
4) And last, use a firewall. I use ZoneAlarm and config it in such away that only specific IP addresses have access to your computer.

5) And last but not the least. Config your router too to close all ports of all unused IP Addresses... So if you have 3 computers... then you can close... 192.168.0.1 to 69... then open 70, 71, 72 and then close 73 to 255...

Also, don use obvious ip address such as the one I used above... you can use many addresses that is hard to guess....

example.... 192.161.56.70 to 73

I hope Im right.... please correct if otherwise...

 

[mattseattle]

all good suggestions....

most of my neighbors haven't secured their wireless networks. they haven't even changed the default passwords on their routers and such. i could easily hop on to their routers and change their passwords and lock them out. not that i'd do such a thing!

 

[Llarian]

In my case, I cannot use WEP because I have various brands of wireless going around in my house...

Eh? WEP is WEP is WEP. Some stations generate weaker keys than others, but as long as the bitlength of the key is the same on both sides, they should be compatible. Some of the higher-end auth protocols that piggyback on WEP (LEAP, PEAP, etc) are prorietary, but WEP should work for any network card that supports it (which is basically anything made in the last 5 years.)

-Dylan

 

[Llarian]

Oh, WRT to your security mentioned above.

Admittedly, I do this for a living, but 2 minutes with nmap and a packet sniffer and I could get past all of that if I felt like using your bandwidth for a few minutes. The single biggest thing you can do to secure a wireless network is turn off SSID broadcast so it won't automatically show up to everybody with a WinXP box in range. You can still see it if you really want to, but its the low hanging fruit concept (If its too much effort, why bother? Drive a couple blocks and there's another one) The next best thing is WEP.

(Actually, I take that back. The best thing you can do is MAC address filtering. Its still able to be bypassed, but its MUCH harder and not all card support it)

Of course, the usual disclaimer applies. The only 100% security is to unplug the power cable from the back of the computer. (And, if a laptop, remove the battery and hope there's not enough ambient charge in the air to run it. )

-Dylan