Slow to recognize wireless signal

Question

Hi, I've searched around the forum to see if this topic has been addressed, but I haven't found anything. I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop with a Dell TrueMobile WLAN card. I use a Comcast cable modem for broadband service, which is connected to a Linksys broadband router (for Vonage VoIP) and that is connected to a Belkin wireless router. I have no problems connecting my two Macintosh laptops to the internet wirelessly, but for some reason, the Dell takes a really long time to recognize the wireless signal and log on. It sometimes takes 5-10 minutes, but it's often 20-30 minutes. It always connects eventually, but is there something I can do to speed it up? I have Windows XP installed, with the firewall, and I have my home network as the preferred network under the Network Settings tab, along with my WEP key. Connecting the laptop directly to the modem via Ethernet solves this problem, but I'd prefer using it with the wireless router. Incidentally, the Dell is only 4 feet from the router, but my Macintoshes are in different rooms. Any advice? Thanks!

volcano11 · Answer

Can I ask why you have two routers installed?  Are both of them running in router mode or is one running in 'access point mode'? Steve

DCGuy64 · Answer

Thanks very much. :manvery-happy: Is changing a router from router mode to access point mode very difficult? Any idea why the Macintosh laptops aren't experiencing the same issue? Do you recommend downloading the latest drivers for my wireless card, too? The Belkin router is 802.11b, by the way. I was thinking of upgrading to an 802.11g...   Thanks again!

volcano11 · Answer

If you are running two routers on the same network, then you have 2 dhcp servers trying to assign IP addresses which will be very confusing. You should set the Belking wireless router to run in access point mode instead of router mode.

Steve

DCGuy64 · Answer

Thanks for responding. The reason I have two routers is that the Linksys one came with my Vonage stuff for Voice over IP, and I already had the Belkin wireless router from when I had Verizon DSL. The Linksys is not wireless, BTW. The hookup is cable outlet > Motorola cable modem > Linksys router (via Ethernet cable) > Belkin wireless router (also via Ethernet cable). I don't remember setting either up as an access point. Thanks!

_Paladin · Answer

Steve & DCGuy64,   I just thought I would add in here that I'm running a similar setup to DCGuy64's and it works fine.  Let me explain a bit.   My Vonage router (an RT31P2 -- wired only) assigns private IP addresses in the range 192.168.15.x.  The first 3 octets are locked and cannot be changed.  My Linksys WRT54G WAN port is connected via ethernet to one of the 3 LAN ports on the Voange router.  In my case I have configured the WRT54G with a static IP address in the range the Vonage router assigns, although DHCP would do the same thing dynamically.  Of course my WRT54G assigns IP addresses in the 192.168.1.x range, so there is no conflict with the DHCP servers in the two routers.  DCGuy64's Belkin router is similarly using a different range.   So the two routers in series should not cause a problem.  Provided all of DCGuy64's PCs are connected to the Belkin router and none are connected to the Vonage router all should be well.   One thing extra I do: configure the Vonage router to place my WRT54G in it's DMZ.   I run the two routers as described so I can have two distinct ethernet subnets, one for personal use and one for business use.  It all works fine.

DCGuy64 · Answer

Hi, and thanks for your last message. Now I have another problem: last night, I attempted to reconfigure the wireless router to function as an access point. However, I never got connected to the Internet. Let me explain: I had the same problem before, i.e. my laptop wasn't getting a signal from the wireless router. Since I can't configure the wireless router until I DO have Internet, I waited and waited, then I tried disabling the wireless radio and enabling it, several times, to no avail. Finally, I unplugged the Ethernet cable from my wireless router and plugged it directly into the Dell laptop. I did get Internet at that point, but it still didn't help with configuring the wireless router (obviously). So at that point I was essentially running a wired Ethernet connection from my cable modem to my Linksys router and then directly into the Dell. Then, I unplugged the Ethernet cable from my computer and replugged it into the wireless router. At that point, the wireless signal was detected by my laptop, and the little signal strength bars went green, etc. However, when my computer attempted to acquire a network address, it failed. I tried using the prompt to disable and re-enable the wireless connection, and each time the result was the same: I was connected to my wireless network, but no Internet. I checked the wireless router, and the "connected" light was on. So, if my Internet connection is working and my laptop is receiving the signal, why no connectivity? I tried turning the wireless connection on and off several more times, and I restarted the computer twice. No change: I always get a signal, but it always ends up saying: limited or no connectivity (which is to say, NO connectivity.) The problem seems to be with the IP address, but it shows that I DO have an IP address, so I'm not sure what to do. Can you help me out?

Thanks

DCGuy64 · Answer

I forgot to mention this: my wife and I were discussing this situation on the way to work, and she mentioned something about a dial-up connection. I doubt it's related, but here goes: I got a thing from Motorola called 'Phone Tools' that allows me to connect my Motorola cell phone to my computer via a USB cable, so that I can transfer images/ringtones/calendar and email items from my computer to my cell phone. With the software disk it also installs a Conexant modem, so that I could conceivably use my cell phone as a modem, and ask the computer to dial that number. I don't really plan on using this function, since I have no dial-up service whatsoever, only broadband. Every once in a while, a dial-up connection dialog box pops up and asks me for my username and password. I always click 'cancel.' The problem I have been having with the slow wireless connection precedes my purchase of the 'Phone Tools' CD, but the problem with 'limited or no connectivity' started just last night. I've had the 'Phone Tools' installed for about a week so far. Could this be the problem that is screwing up my having a correct IP address? Also, I should add that my Macintosh computers continue to be totally unaffected by this problem. This morning, my Macintosh PowerBook had full signal strength and connected to the Internet wireless and immediately. Wish I could say the same for my Dell. :smileysad:

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Slow to recognize wireless signal

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