Wireless -- works sometimes then stops

kjfox · 08-04-03, 10:46 PM

Recently got an Axim X5 with PPC 2003 and the latest rev. A05. I use the Dell True Mobility 1180 card in conjunction with a Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless Router. The ISP is Time Warner's Road Runner. The Dell card is using the latest Dell drivers and the Linksys has been flashed with the latest of their drivers.

Everything works fine from the wired PCs. But the Axim is constantly flaky when accessing the network. In pIE, I can click a link and it goes nowhere unless I reclick it about 10 times. It's like I have to wake something up! Same in email in the Inbox. I have to click Receive a few times before it will really connect.

I played with the Linksys Advanced wireless settings to no avail and have set them all back to the defaults.

Is there by any chance a missing piece of the puzzle that I don't know about??

Thanks in advance.

Howard2k · 08-04-03, 10:53 PM

Are you using power saving? have you got the speed set for auto or 11Mb/s?

kjfox · 08-04-03, 10:57 PM

I've had power mgmt both on and off. Which is better?
Speed set in the Linksys or on the Axim?

nemattoad · 08-04-03, 10:57 PM

How far are you from the router, the 1180 is notorious for its absolutely terrible range.

Howard2k · 08-04-03, 11:00 PM

Set the speed on the Axim.

kjfox · 08-04-03, 11:04 PM

I'm sitting next to the Linksys. Where do I set the speed on the Axim. I've never seen that setting.

The Linksys is set to "Basic Rate: 1-2 mbps (default)"
Transmit 1-2-5.5-11

I read that RTS and Fragmentation should be the same and I tried that and they can't talk at all. I also tried short preables instead of Long.

You guys know anything about those types of settings?

Howard2k · 08-04-03, 11:17 PM

The preambles should all be the same. But generally if it's wrong it just won't talk.

FYI the preamble is the start of the frame send. Basically it sends a 72 bit preamble (short) as opposed to a Long preamble of 144 bites.

Most stuff now uses short preambles as it improves performance.

RTS is more complex lol.

kjfox · 08-04-03, 11:21 PM

Update: Seems to be related to "Power". Even though my battereies are almost 100% charged it has the problem when running on batteries, but if I plu in the power adapter, web browsing runs very fast and smoothly. Why would that be???

bodizadfa · 08-04-03, 11:24 PM

where is the AC adapter in relation to the AP? maybe there is something blocking the signal.

Howard2k · 08-04-03, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kjfox
Update: Seems to be related to "Power". Even though my battereies are almost 100% charged it has the problem when running on batteries, but if I plu in the power adapter, web browsing runs very fast and smoothly. Why would that be???

Jeez never heard of that.. Maybe the Axim is not supplying it enough power from the battery?? I don't know enough about CF slots..

kjfox · 08-04-03, 11:29 PM

AC adapter is anywhere in the house...

I meant to say the Axim works fine when running on AC, but has all of the problems when in battery mode. So my wireless connection is not really wireless because I have to be wired to an AC outlet!!!

nemattoad · 08-04-03, 11:32 PM

only thing i can think of is returning the axim....

bodizadfa · 08-04-03, 11:33 PM

I wonder if your CF card isn't flaky and the battery can't supply enough power to the card. do you know another ppc user with a wifi card you could do some swapping and testing with?

bodizadfa · 08-04-03, 11:34 PM

sorry about the spelling....

Howard2k · 08-04-03, 11:35 PM

or get another battery from somewhere?