How do I get my Wireless to access the correct channel

formula1 · 07-05-04, 12:57 PM

My Wlan utility site monitor on my new X30 correctly identifies my access point as being on channel 6 but on the main screen that shows my X30 searching for a network seems to only search the incorrect channels (2, 10 and 11). How do I get it to search the correct channel? I have the correct network key? Frustrating part is that the manual and help is pretty basic and doesn't go into a lot of details.

Fightncomet · 07-05-04, 03:01 PM

Hey there,

I had and continue to have the same problem. It seemed my axim liked to search channel 4, 11, then 6. So, what I did was change my wireless router channel to 4. Honestly, it didn't really change things. Eventually, I discovered (after working extensively with Dell's support, whether they liked it or not) that my wireless card in the Axim was faulty. I exchanged it and got a new axim. This time the wireless connected better, but the screen was unresponsive. But that's a different story.

So anyways, I suggest you go into your router settings. Go to the wireless options and change your channel to the first channel the axim seems to search for. For me, it was channel for. Just try to connect with your axim, and while it's connecting take a look at the wireless properities to see what channels its checking for first. It might not work, but it's worth a try.

BTW, what brand router are you using? The other threads here say that D-link has problems. Which is true, 'cause I have a D-link and have trouble connecting wirelessly.

Good luck,

Fightncomet

formula1 · 07-05-04, 08:01 PM

Fightncomet, I will try to change the settings on the router, I was starting to think that might be the issue. I have a Dlink, thing is, I've tried an Ipaq and it works fine on my wireless network. Thanks for confirming what I was starting to suspect - I may call up Dell and get a replacement.

BradmanOH · 07-05-04, 09:01 PM

I have been fighting with the channel thng since I got mx X30. I really don't want to change my router channel so I have found that by just cycling the wireless on/off it will "catch" my channel (11) about every other time.

Bradman

Fightncomet · 07-05-04, 09:32 PM

Yeah, I didn't want to fool with the channels either but it's not so bad. At least, the rest of my other wireless computers (my laptop and my bro's) weren't affected by the change.

The cycling wireless on/off helps. But thing that I found the most helpful, in terms of turning things off/on, is on the wireless profiles. If you can't seem to connect, check out the wireless profiles. Underneath the box that shows what networks are available, there is an option. I think it's connect to non-preferred networks, or something like that. If you click that on or off, depending on what it was set on before, you should be able to connect. I did this 'cause I didn't like the identy of physically turning the antena off and on. But whatever works is cool.

Also, I when I was talking with Dell support, they told me that their Axims have been having problems with DLink wireless routers specifically. That's too bad. Apart from this connection problem with my Axim, my Dlink 614+ has served me pretty well. However, it does disconnect from time to time. This is why I started another thread asking what routers people recommend.

Anyways good luck,

Fightn "Just trying to give back" Comet

cjdiii · 07-05-04, 10:53 PM

I just set up a wireless network with a D-Link Airplus Xtreme G DI-624 router and a D-Link DWL-G650 PCMCIA card. I was able to set up my Axim X30 high to browse and sync no problems. I do have WEP enabled and I have installed the latest updates from D-Link. Also my Axim seems to find the correct channel right away.

:)

G-Rex · 07-05-04, 11:56 PM

Just my unofficial thoughts but I see this often on wireless network cards. I think it has to do more with the refresh rate of your WLAN info screen.

Lets say the screen refresh on the WLAN info screen is 3 seconds, meaning every three seconds you see an update as to what channel it appears to be searching. Now assume that the network card scans each channel every second. Out of twelve channels it would only APPEAR to be searching 4 channels but really it is searching all of them, you're just not seeing each one because the screen is not refreshing each second.

Since I'm just guessing at the refresh and scan times it could be that maybe the refresh is 4 seconds and you're only seeing 3 channels. Or maybe it's 2.5 seconds and now it appears to be randomly scanning channels, etc. I don't know, but that's how I always figured it worked because it doesn't make sense for the card to scan whatever channels it feels like scanning - it should be scanning them all. Whether you're seeing them being scanned or not is the question.

Fightncomet · 07-06-04, 01:34 AM

Yeah, that's probably true. Honestly, I'm just passing on some advice I got from other people on this cool board. Most people here are pretty helpful.

Anwyays, I don't know a lot about refresh rates and stuff. All I know is that once I set my router on the channel my Axim "appeared" to be scanning, the axim connected more reliably.

I was wondering if it's possible to change the refresh rate manually. I could be totally off here. So please don't flame me if I am.

Fightn "tryin' to learn about refresh rates" Comet

Startrek · 07-06-04, 02:10 AM

It seems that I am not the only person having this problem with my X30 high. Most of the time it seems as though my x30 scans
all of the channels but the correct one. It will usually find the correct router channel when I turn wifi off and then back on again.
By the way I am using a D-Link 614 .
Thanks,
DG

formula1 · 07-06-04, 01:14 PM

I tried switching the channel on my Dlink Router but that did not work...in fact the Dell Wlan utility now reported that it was not trying to use WPA or WEP to access the NW...also found out that if I change to any channel other than 6 would drop me down to 54 Mbs instead of 108 Mbs - not a big deal with a PPC but with my laptop I'm used to LAN speeds with G+ so I wanted to use channel 6.

I played around then remembered that the Odyssey Client looked interesting. I tried using that instead, went through a minute of configuration and it worked! I'd recommend trying the Odyssey Client instead of Dell Wlan - it worked much better for me than Dell's utily.

BradmanOH · 07-06-04, 08:39 PM

How much is the odessy client software? Do you have any screen shots?

Bradman

07-06-04, 08:55 PM

If anyone is interested, I put together a document on setting up a D-Link router for optimal compatibility with the Axim series. PM me and I'll send you a copy. It can be used with other routers, the settings will just be in different areas or named a little differently.

formula1 · 07-07-04, 06:56 AM

Bradman, the Odyssey client comes with the x30 for free.

Sirswain · 08-09-04, 03:48 AM

Wooch06:

I'd like to get that router setup information. I have a DLink 624 and the AXIM X30 high.

Thanks,
Sirswain

PropHead · 08-09-04, 03:15 PM

I totally agree about the Odyssey client. I was having very similar problems with my router at home. With Odyssey client I get a connection straight away. It is available as part of the A02 Rom update Bradman.