Problems with access point

tazimodo · 19 Jan 2007 at 19:41

My landlord lives upstairs and i have the low level flat below. He uses a BT voyager 2110-7d wireless router. The signal does not reach into the flat so he dropped an ethernet cable down into my kitchen but my home office is in the living room so i bought a belkin range extender/access point and pluged it in via the ethernet cable. My laptop has a belkin 54g laptop network card in it.

Although i get internet access (as i am able to write this) the internet stops every 10 mins (hence why i will copy what i have written to paste it back if it fails to post!) The bottom icons tell me the laptop card is receiving a signal although this fluctuates between excellent and good even though nothing is being moved. The network icon also tells me it receives signal (between good and strong) the access point has all the right lights lit green as well.

I then close down all active firefox windows, wait a few mins and load them back up again (max 3 tabs open at any one time)

How can i stop it dropping out and what is causing it? its infuriating and i am desperate to get a wireless kit for my xbox but am hesitant to spend out the cash if my signal won't hold for the laptop will it keep dropping for games?

Sorry for such a long post but any help would be very appriciated!

norm · 19 Jan 2007 at 21:54

How does the internet perform when only connected to the ethernet cable?

If it functions normally, then look at the access point. Make sure your laptop is connecting to the correct one. If for some reason you lost connection with the Belkin AP it might try and renegotiate with the BT AP.

Also check Belkin for any firmware upgrades, and use only 802.11b until it's working normally.

tazimodo · 20 Jan 2007 at 13:05

thanks for the advice, Just connected to the ethernet cable is fine although does involve balancing myself in the kitchen above the sink (not ideal!)

Have checked out the belkin site including all FAQ but apart from acknowledging they manufacture it there is no further info! Its a range extender/ access point F5D7132uk.

I have found that if the connection drops, if I disconnect the wireless network connection via the lower tray icon and then re-connect it seems to work again! Not quite sure what is going on! At least its a temporary solution!

Will 54g be man enough to handle xbox online gaming?

MAllen · 20 Jan 2007 at 13:57

First - Belkin kit is cheap and nasty. I have had many headaches from customer's who have bought this stuff, whereas the decent brands are simple to setup and use. Lost hours to this lack of quality stuff.

Second - Are you using Belkin's own WiFi tasktray tool? If yes, then change to Microsoft's Zero Wireless Config. This will involve telling the Belkin tool you want to use MS Zero Config. Then you need to go to the Services list and make sure MS Zero Config is set to "Automatic" otherwise it doesn't come on with every reboot. Then use msconfig to disable the Belkin software completely.

Third - If you are using the MS Zero Config util, try swapping back to the Belkin WiFi tool instead. (One of these will probally work better than the other - so experiment)

Finally - Once you are connected to your access point, try stopping the MS Wireless Zero Config Service. This only needs to be in place when you connect. Once connected, you can turn it off as your laptop will then hold the signal fine. I have read some posts where there is mention of the MS Zero Config Service "renegotiating" the connection, and thereby dropping and reconnecting too often.

Also check that your WiFi isn't "falling asleep to save power". I have found many laptops that bizzarrrly turn off the Ethernet socket when on battery power.... even when there is a cable plugged in.

Yep - the above points all contradict theirselves. But this is the fun world of Belkin kit. All very hit and miss. Usually I batter most of the systems I have worked on and beaten them into submission with the above tricks. OR just told the customer to go out and buy some decent quality kit instead!!

tazimodo · 20 Jan 2007 at 15:17

thanks for the heads up, am working my way through those points now.

If ** not a fan of Belkin what do u tend to use? I don't mind getting a better one although do not have an unlimited budget! any suggestions?

norm · 20 Jan 2007 at 16:46

Linksys/3com make some good products.

MAllen · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:17

tazimodo said:
thanks for the heads up, am working my way through those points now.

If ** not a fan of Belkin what do u tend to use? I don't mind getting a better one although do not have an unlimited budget! any suggestions?

The best kit comes from companies who actually PRODUCE the hardware. This way their firmware stays up to date. Belkin just ship the kit in from the East without really knowing what it is or what it does (My Own Biased Personal Opinion)

I'd choose these kind of brands: Linksys, D-Link, 3-Com, Buffalo, Netgear.

Though there are many other decent brands around....