Home Network File Sharing Issues

Question

Hello,   I have a Netgear 802 WAP and 2 inspirion 9300 laptops with the intel 2915 and a dell 4100 desktop with a netgear 314 wireless adpater configured in a home network. All are running Windows XP pro with SP2.   Issue 1: Although all can connect to the internet and the networked printer, they cannot 'see' each other on the networks with shares configured. I have run the 'wireless network setup wizard' with no luck in resolving this. In ddition I have tried this with the windows firewall on and off, no difference either way.   Issue 2: When using the windows software to manage the wireless adpaters, I get frequent drops in connection (about every 3 to 4 minutes).  I have checked and verified the Authentication button is off. The signal strength ranges from good to excellent. This drop occurs on all 3 machines. When I use the adapters software to manage the connection this does not occur. This is the intel software for the laptops and the netgear software for the desktop.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.   All Netgear fw is up to date.  Thanks.

volcano11 · Answer

For issue 1, are you absolutely sure that there are no other firewalls running that are blocking local network access? Most Dell computers ship with either a Norton or McAfee security suite that have firewalls.

For issue 2, do you have any 2.4 Ghz wireless phones in the vicininty? If so, try changing the channel on the router to one of the extreme channels (1 or 11) to minimize interference.

Steve

WestCoastWeasel · Answer

Thanks for the response.   Issue1: The Trend firewall is disabled as well. Another piece of info that may help. On the other side (wired) of the WAP is a Windows 98 PC. All the wireless machines can see the shares on this PC. The wired sid of the network connects to a Netgear FR114P that provides the interface to the outside world and the print server. The only place I have the problem is the XP boxes.   Issue2:   The access point is set to channel 11.  I will try channel 1to see if the signal drops cease. Again...  I only gte these drops when running the windows management software for the connection. The laptops work fine when using the provided Intel management software and the desktop works with the netgear software enabled.   The entire network looks as follows:   Netgear FR114P firewall/router providing acces to the cable and printer. This is connected to a Windows 98 PC and the 802 WAP. The wireless network consists of the 2 laptops and the desktop mentioned earlier. The wireless machines are all at SP2 of XP pro.   Again, Thanks for the response..... banging my head against the wall on this one...this should not be this hard.

WestCoastWeasel · Answer

Ok..Good news. Found the file sharing issue. A setting on the access point which blocked wireless peer-to-peer communication. Cleared this and now all is well. This solves issue 1. I am sill having trouble with the network dropping out every 4 minutes when using the windows connection management software. Tried many different channels on the WAP and unplugged the cordless phone (shut it off). Using the management software from the various wireless adapter suppliers does not have this issue.

Rick

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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