Bloody WiFi

chrisms · 10-31-03, 12:40 PM

Well,
After the last thread fixed my initial connection problems for my wifi network I now have another problem. The Axim is able to connect to my ad-hoc network but it only does so successfully on time in about ten, the rest of the time it is connected but has a faulty IP address(169.xxxetc).

I am running an onboard Belkin PCI 54g adapter and ad-hoc wifi with a wired broadband router. The two networks have been bridged to allow me to use the broadband internet.

I presume it is some dhcp settings but as the router acts as the dhcp server not mcuh I can do really, i think!

All help welcomed

Chris

JmE · 10-31-03, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisms
the rest of the time it is connected but has a faulty IP address(169.xxxetc).

Not much help, but that IP range is common for NICs to default to when it can not get an IP from DHCP and an IP is not set static.

It appears that the computer that is acting as the DHCP (the desktop? don't know what you are Ad Hoc - ing to.) is not always giving an IP. Are you sure you have enough IPs reserved? Your other sessions might still be linked to the old IP.

Also, for AdHoc, I usually set a static IP for the PDA in the range of the other device I want to connect with.

-JmE-

volwrath · 10-31-03, 12:59 PM

There is a nice program called net profile that lets one switch from static to dhcp with the push of a button rather than having to go in and change the settings.

isosceles · 10-31-03, 02:45 PM

Sorry I can't help you but I feel your pain. My Axim X3i WiFi connection is a total crap shoot with my Netgear router. Sometimes it connects right away, other I have to renew the IP address from 1 to about 5 or 6 times before it gets one.

Not sure where the problem lies but if I run across anything I'll post it.

Also, I noticed that if I had MAC filtering on it would not connect at all. So right now I have no MAC filtering, but 64b WEP works fine.

Teech · 10-31-03, 03:24 PM

Sounds like your router not seeing the X3i and is not allocating ip address.

Have you tried with static ip?

Assuming all devices have ip 192.168.0.xxx

Pick a number for xxx
On the network devices tab (accessible from connections) select use specific ip address.
Type ip in box
subnet mask 255.255.255.0 (if all your ip addys start 192.168.0...)
Gateway is ip address of router (likely 192.168.0.1)

You may have to enter your ISP's DNS servers on your X3 as well.

Not too sure if this will work as I have no experience with ad-hoc wireless but when I found trouble with wired networks in the past could be solved like this.

Worth a try anyway.

stevepierce · 11-01-03, 01:10 AM

Actually it is the other way around. The X3 is not seeing the router. The only solutin is to manually rescan. But when you do, if you are in an environment with multiple Access Points, the X3 has a bad habit of locking on the next AP in sequence and not the best.

I can pretty much say WiFI with the X3i sucks. I am not sure of the problem is PPC 2003 or the implementation by DEll, but this is not ready for prime time.

- Steve

JmE · 11-01-03, 01:24 AM

Maybe you got a dud?

The X3i I have here connects with everything under the sun perfectly. I have hit all kinds of routers in different places and can surf fine.

You might just have a bad X3i.

-JmE-

JmE · 11-01-03, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevepierce
But when you do, if you are in an environment with multiple Access Points, the X3 has a bad habit of locking on the next AP in sequence and not the best.

I suggest messing with the profiles to minimize the effect.

-JmE-

aximx3dude · 11-01-03, 11:10 AM

Quote:

I can pretty much say WiFI with the X3i sucks. I am not sure of the problem is PPC 2003 or the implementation by DEll, but this is not ready for prime time.

That's funny - seems to work great with every access point I try ... sounds like someone needs wifi 101

stevepierce · 11-01-03, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JmE
I suggest messing with the profiles to minimize the effect.

-JmE-

What do you mean? _ Steve

stevepierce · 11-01-03, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aximx3dude
That's funny - seems to work great with every access point I try ... sounds like someone needs wifi 101

Are you testing with multiple AP in the same area all set to different channels. IF so what AP's are yo uusing and what channels are they set to?

- Steve

chrisms · 11-01-03, 03:22 PM

well, thanks for all the comments. This is the only wifi network in the area, but it isn't an access point but a card in my pc working as ad-hoc.

I have tried connecting with a laptop and it worked straight away so I know that my desktop is configured correctly. I have assigned a static IP on my broadband router to the axim and configured the axim to use that IP but still no luck!!!

I hate this as the wifi was one of the things that made me get the x3 in the first place(well one of many).

If it is the x3 that has a dodgy wifi adapter what should i do???Dell tech support, won't they just blame my wifi network?

Thanks for any help again.

Chris

aximx3dude · 11-01-03, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Are you testing with multiple AP in the same area all set to different channels. IF so what AP's are yo uusing and what channels are they set to?

Dlink 614+ airplus, a linksys wifi, and a netgear. I only know the model for the dlink cuz that's mine, and the rest are my neighbors - they know i switch to their sometimes :).

Anyway, my x3i worked out of the box with my neighbor's wifi networks which have no encryption, channels 1,6. I'm using channel 11. All our access points are in the same area (so pretty much i can connect to any 3 no matter where i am).

I have the following configuration (i've said this on another post too):

1) disable 4X mode (only with airplus dlink series)
2) mac filtering (entering entries for my 5 mac addresses - 1 print server, 2 pc's, 1 xbox, 1 x3i).
3) static dhcp enabled with 5 entries (dhcp also enabled)
4) BroadCast SSID
5) WEP Enabled to 128bit (since most wifi cards don't support dlink's 256bit)
6) Entered a simple WEP key like all 1's. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE. Just count twenty-six 1's. I think 128bit is twenty six hex digits.

On my x3i i did the following (start from hard reset ):

1) turned it on
2) automatically detects my wifi (since i enabled broadcast ssid from my access point)
3) i think it asks me if i want to connect - say yes or something
4) asks me to enter the WEP key, again i enter the WEP from above by COUNTING the digits.
5) hit OK. It connects.
6) if it dissconnects, then go back to the wifi configuration thing and click on "profiles". tap and HOLD on the connection (profile) you just made earlier - a box under your tap+hold should show a "connect" option - click on that. wait 2-5 seconds and the status for your profile (it shows the wifi access points ssid as the name) should show as connected.

That's it. Sometimes if you have multiple access points in the same area, and the x3i disconnects for some reason, you might need to go back and select which ap you want to connect to. that's it. swear. it's just that simple :)

stevepierce · 11-01-03, 04:05 PM

Do all three access points share the same SSID?

- Steve

stevepierce · 11-01-03, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chrisms
If it is the x3 that has a dodgy wifi adapter what should i do???Dell tech support, won't they just blame my wifi network?

Thanks for any help again.

The problem isn't the WiFi adapter. The problem is the software and right now I am trying to figure out if it is Microsoft or Dell that can fix the problem.

- Steve