Linksys Wireless USB Adapter loses connection to Internet

I'd still check the power management settings, in case "inactivity" is being falsely detected. The USB adapter itself is suspect, because it's the only USB device that's failing.

(edit) Have you tried both the front and back sets of USB connectors? Do the status indicators on the back of the machine indicate a USB fault? ("A" yellow, "B", "C", and "D" green)

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 04-07-2004 02:44 PM

Those sounds often mean that an adapter has been removed - or perhaps powered off!

Check the power management settings for the adapter and make sure it's not being turned off because of inactivity.

Jim

Thank you Jim for trying to help.  Dumb question...how do I check my power mgmt settings?  I just now have plugged in the adapter to the front usb.   All 4 status indicators on the back of the machine A,B,C,D are GREEN.  FYI...my XP firewall was already turned off.

Regina

how do I check my power mgmt settings?

It can be checked using the XP Device Manager. Find the USB network adapter, right click on it, and select "Properties", and select the "Power Management" tab. Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

I've also seen suggestions for making the same setting change for the USB Root Hub.

(edit) Here's an  illustrated example of use of the XP Device Manager from Microsoft, and an even better one showing all the tabs from the University of Maryland.

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 04-07-2004 05:04 PM

Message Edited by jimw on 04-07-2004 05:24 PM

Jim, I will check this out right after I plug the adapter back in and the pc recognizes it.  I am going to buy another adapter today as I truly feel the problem is in the adapter itself.  I think as it heats up, the connectors just lose power and that it is just defective.  (We have a ski boat with the same sort of problem with the coil right now!)  However, I will check the power management and will let you know the results.  I really appreciate your help :^)

Regina

I truly feel the problem is in the adapter itself. I think as it heats up, the connectors just lose power and that it is just defective.

I agree - that seems likely. It'd be nice to know what the two beeps mean! It's possible that there's more power available from some of the USB hubs than from others, but I haven't been able to find anything in Dell's service manual that actually says that. Even so, if the adapter heats up and starts drawing more current, the fault's likely with the adapter.

Jim

Jim, finally some success!  We purchased another adapter and it's working.  It's SLOW ranging from 6 to 18 Mbps and I've only seen it go as high as 24 once.  But, at least I'm staying connected.  I can't figure out how to get to device mgr on XP.  It's a new world for me.  Do you happen to know any way I can speed things up?  I'm only about 40 feet away from the router, but it is upstairs with structures to interfere with the signal.  Thank you!!

Regina

We purchased another adapter and it's working.

Good deal! Did you get another Linksys, or something else?

I can't figure out how to get to device mgr on XP. It's a new world for me.

The link to the University of Maryland help desk page illustrates how to get there.

Do you happen to know any way I can speed things up? I'm only about 40 feet away from the router, but it is upstairs with structures to interfere with the signal.

That's unfortunately common. I have two access points in our house to get the coverage I wanted. Try mapping the signal by moving the laptop around and see if you can determine what's causing the problem. Sometimes reorienting the router, or moving it higher, helps. Maybe there's interference (2.4 GHz wireless phones are one source) on the channel you've selected for the router. Try Channel 11. If the router can be moved to a more central location, that might help - but often that's not possible because of wiring constraints.

Johnallg's the resident expert on wireless radio problems. John, are you here?

Jim

Jim, I got another Linksys Wireless-G USB Adapter.  This is for a desktop, not a laptop, so I don't have a lot of choice as far as location of the adapter.  My broadband router is also with a desktop upstairs.  I left the channel on the default, which is 6.  I can try changing to a different channel.  Once I get going with the adapter, it moves pretty smoothly, so I may just live with it if changing the channel doesn't help.  Thanks again for your help.  I was to the point of calling Dell and figured they would just tell me to call Linksys (caught in a loop).  I appreciate your quick responses in my time of need!!

Regina

I don't know whether any of the USB or PCI adapters support external antennas. We have two laptops with the Proxim-Orinoco Gold Card/Truemobile 1150 PCMCIA cards, and those have a small jack for an external antenna. We bought an antenna before we bought the second access point, and the antenna definitely helped. Now the antenna's attached to the Orinoco AP/500, which uses the PCMCIA card internally. That improved the range somewhat, but we still needed a second access point for good coverage.

Jim

Hi Jim.........I'm back.  Things went pretty smoothly for a while, but my internet connection is soooo slow it's like I'm back in the days of the 56K modem.  Many times the adapter just shuts itself off.  I've not tried checking the power mgmt tab, but just reread all your notes here and will try that when I get home.

Here's a dumb question...would it be possible to just attach a cable modem box to my XP machine and run firewall software?  I would just forget about the wireless adapter.

I have no idea if that's feasible or not.  Of course I would have to also purchase some firewall software because I would not longer have the Router firewall protection, which was one of the purposes of purchasing a wireless router whereby 2 pcs could also share the cable connection.  I'd appreciate your thoughts on this (there is no way to attach an antenna to my adapter, as you suggested).

Regina

Here's a dumb question...would it be possible to just attach a cable modem box to my XP machine and run firewall software? I would just forget about the wireless adapter.

Does the XP machine have an Ethernet adapter? If it does, and you can somehow move the cable modem, you could connect directly. But that eliminates the shared connection entirely! What about just running a long Ethernet cable between the router and the XP machine? What about moving the wireless router around to see if there's structural interference? Last but not least, what about using an access point connected to the router via a sufficiently long Ethernet cable to make the reception at the XP machine acceptable?

What does the XP's wireless signal strength show? If it's good, and traffic from the Internet is slow, that still suggests interference. The fact that the USB adapter keeps shutting off is disturbing. I've not heard of needing to use a self-powered USB hub to run a wireless adapter, but trying one wouldn't cost very much. The powered ones seem to run around $25, judging from the results of a Google search for powered usb hub. Note that the term "bus-powered" means that the power to the hub is supplied by the PC. What you should perhaps try is a "self-powered" USB hub. The idea is to have the power to run the wireless adapter supplied by the hub, rather than by the XP system.

I have no idea if that's feasible or not. Of course I would have to also purchase some firewall software because I would not longer have the Router firewall protection, which was one of the purposes of purchasing a wireless router whereby 2 pcs could also share the cable connection. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this (there is no way to attach an antenna to my adapter, as you suggested).

It's feasible, but you'd lose all the benefits of the shared connection. I'd look at wireless router versus wireless client location, possible sources of interference, and power issues associated with the USB adapter before I'd give up the idea of bypassing the router and giving up on sharing the connection. So you should consider all the tradeoffs before you give up!

One more thought...rather than a USB wireless adapter, what about a PCI-based adapter, like this one? I wonder how much difference an antenna like that would make?

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 04-26-2004 07:58 PM

Jim asked me to read this thread.  As I read I suspected the first USB adapter as you proved out.  I had overheating problems with my notebook D-Link PCMCIA card and it acted similiar.

As to the range problem with the new working USB adapter, I would suggest a simple thing to try is to use a USB extending cable or longer USB cable to be able to move the wireless adapter around for better reception, monitoring with the wireless utility the signal strength as you move to look for an improvement.  Sometimes just a couple feet can make a big difference in signal quality. 

Does the XP machine have an Ethernet adapter?

Yes.

What does the XP's wireless signal strength show?

It ranges from No Signal  or Very Low to Good.

One more thought...rather than a USB wireless adapter, what about a PCI-based adapter, like this one? I wonder how much difference an antenna like that would make?

I think I should have got the PCI-based adapter in the first place!  I'm going to try John's suggestion first.  I don't want to spend any more $ unless absolutely necessary  Thanks Jim.